5-Star Hotels in Gansu, China

A Princess Treatment Stay in Zhangye From the moment the hotel staff picked me up at the train station, I have received nothing but princess treatment. Whether this is standard or something special because I'm a solo female traveler in an area that doesn't see many foreigners outside of tour groups, I genuinely don't know. What I do know is that I felt looked after from start to finish. The arrival set the tone. A friendly staff member was waiting right at the train station exit, and the ride to the hotel was barely five minutes. I ended up on the top floor with a mostly unobstructed mountain view, and on a clear day you can apparently catch sunrise and sunset from up there. My room is enormous for one person. Two full bathrooms, a separate living room, separate bedroom with an additional couch. The little touches genuinely surprised me: a real sewing kit (not the sad three-thread version), a loofah, nice lotion, a plastic liner for the tub, cute slippers I may have to ”accidentally” pack, shower shoes, multiple teas, and a pod coffee maker. Speaking of the tub liner, it came paired with a sachet of ”red wine bath liquid” in this blood-red color, and combined with the plastic sheeting the whole setup gave me serious Dexter vibes. IYKYK. Slightly disturbing, completely awesome. Free laundry down the hall on my floor with washers, dryers, and soap provided. The breakfast spread is plentiful and genuinely good, tons of dishes, real variety. The one issue during my stay was the climate control. My room hit 28°C and I called down for help. They sent an army of staff. When they realized moving me wouldn't solve anything because the issue affected another room too, they rebooted the system instead of just shuffling me around. By the time I finished dinner and used my included dining credit, my room was cool and comfortable. That's not just good service, that's good problem-solving. They adapted, communicated, and fixed it properly. The staff deserves their own paragraph. Reception and the kitchen team were complete standouts. Everyone was gracious and warm, and the ones who spoke English did so beautifully even though they kept apologizing for it (they really shouldn't have, they were great). There was a moment at check-in when two excited staff members brought me up to my room and we all forgot the room key in the lobby. One of them ran back down to get it while we laughed about it together. That kind of warmth you can't fake. And it isn't just the front of house, there doesn't seem to be a moment when somebody isn't cleaning something, whether it's the windows, the chairs in the outdoor seating area, the bikes available for guests, or the koi pond. This hotel is genuinely well taken care of by its staff and ownership, and it shows. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to in Zhangye, which means I'll be back. And when I do come back, I'll be staying right here. I honestly can't say enough good things about this place.

The location is excellent, right across from the Yellow River Park. A ten-minute walk along the park leads to the Dunhuang Art Museum. The hotel staff were also very helpful. However, the hotel needs to improve its communication with guests regarding important operational details. For example: 1. In some room types, the wall power outlets for the hairdryer aren't powerful enough. Guests need to use an additional outlet installed inside the drawer. This isn't communicated in advance, so how are guests supposed to know? My hair stayed wet for ages, and I couldn't tell if the hairdryer was broken or if there was another issue. 2. While relaxing in the room, all power suddenly shut off, the curtains closed, and the room became completely dark, which really scared my child. The power also went out again in the middle of the night. This happened in both rooms we booked. After inquiring, we were told that if the power card isn't inserted, the smart infrared sensor automatically cuts power if it detects no movement in the room. The premise of this design is that the infrared sensor must function correctly; otherwise, a sudden power outage significantly disrupts normal use. At the very least, guests should be informed of this mechanism beforehand. 3. The air conditioning in the room wasn't cooling, and I didn't know why. After a technician came to the room, we learned that some room types have a hidden dual-channel control switch. The AC's in-room control needs to be set below 23 degrees Celsius to activate the cooling mode; otherwise, it only operates as ventilation. This also needs to be communicated to guests in advance! I hope these issues can be improved.

I was very satisfied with the room and the service was excellent; the front desk responded very quickly. Especially Owen, the manager, who recommended their Chinese restaurant when I asked him for recommendations. We ordered several signature dishes and shrimp roe noodles, and it was a pleasant surprise – the food was delicious and the price was reasonable. Thank you, Manager Owen, for the recommendation!

During the May Day holiday, we traveled to Dunhuang. The hotel was very unique, located in the desert, with a typical Northwest and Xinjiang folk house style, yet it exuded a sense of elegance. The room facilities were complete, and the service was thoughtful. There were a few things that pleasantly surprised me: first, they proactively provided and covered the bathtub with a liner; second, they offered a complimentary laundry service once; and although breakfast officially ended at 10:30 AM, they were considerate of late sleepers and still provided a rich breakfast spread even after the cut-off time. While the breakfast options were limited, they were exquisite and distinctive, leaving us very satisfied. The hotel's travel photography service is highly recommended; the results were excellent – it would be a shame to miss it! Overall, Dunhuang is a very worthwhile travel destination. We spent four nights and three full days, which was quite leisurely. On the first day, we visited Yumenguan Pass and Yadan National Geological Park. We set off around noon and these two spots were conveniently located in the same direction. At Yumenguan Pass, we only explored the Small Square City and didn't go further. Then we headed to Yadan. I recommend chartering a car for the tour, as it offers much more freedom. Otherwise, taking a taxi means a two-hour journey each way. A private car allows you to see some hidden gems and control your time, as most of the scenery is somewhat similar, and too much can lead to aesthetic fatigue. On the second day, we went to the Mogao Grottoes. Remember to book tickets in advance; ours was for 3 PM. First, you watch a film at the digital center, then take their provided transport to the grottoes. Each group is assigned a guide who explains everything during the tour. This model is excellent as it protects the cultural relics while allowing you to appreciate their essence. I recommend it to those visiting Xi'an's Terracotta Army, so you don't just see a sea of tourists' heads. On the last day, after 4 PM, we went to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. The sun wasn't as intense then, and you can buy tickets at the entrance anytime. The scenery was magnificent, and Crescent Spring was beautiful; I was surprised at how well it's preserved. We skipped the evening's large chorus as we weren't young enough for that. In general, Dunhuang is indeed a great place to visit, and it's well worth coming here. Don't worry about the service; the local government is very dedicated. Lastly, Dunhuang Night Market, also known as Shazhou Night Market, is worth a try for its flavors and atmosphere.

Nice hotel next to Tuanjie Xincun Metro Station Line 2, but not up to 5star level. We stayed for 3 nights, as I had prepaid. No English spoken either at the front desk or breakfast cafe. Room was on the 26th floor with a magnificent view looking South. Quiet room, smallish and with little hanging space and no safety box. Breakfast was Chinese and underwhelming. Nice indoor heated pool, but quite crowded with outsiders allowed to swim there. Fantastic gym with everything you could need and all to yourself. Probably stay here again for one night if the price was right. As a day trip, we went to Bingling Si. Take Metro to QiLiHe station on line 1. Walk east past KFC, take the 2nd pedestrian overpass, turn right then left after the touts near the public toilets. This is the Lanzhou West Bus Station. We caught the 9am bus for 23 yuan cash only and only available on the day. At the other end, organised a car for 4 people for 320 yuan. Last bus back at 5:30. It will leave earlier if full. Near QiLiHe station, great coffee place at 76 Jian Gong Xi Jie. Back from the bus station, past KFC, past Metro, left into Jian Gong Xi Jie. Try the 'dirty coffee '

This hotel is great! The room was clean, the bed was super comfy, and being on a high floor, the view was fantastic. We booked this hotel for both the start and end of our major loop trip. When we were considering adding breakfast, the front desk recommended Mo Gou Yan Beef Noodles, a famous old establishment nearby, which was less than a 5-minute walk away. We ended our trip perfectly with a relaxing bath. Thinking about my child's upcoming final exams, the front desk even helped print some homework for them for free! I highly recommend this place to anyone stopping in Lanzhou.

The facilities are complete, and the hotel is clean and hygienic. It's very convenient for getting around, and the breakfast is abundant. What's more, the hotel's service is excellent. The front desk staff are skilled and efficient, making check-in and check-out quick. The housekeeping staff are very warm, meticulous, and attentive.

The hotel is new, clean, and bright, with soundproof windows. The restaurant also serves delicious food. A special shout-out to the front desk lady – she was absolutely wonderful! Smart, thoughtful, and incredibly smooth in communication, she perfectly arranged our airport transfer for an early morning flight the next day, even considering our breakfast time. The only downside was the male bellhop at the entrance. It seemed like his eyes only registered 'big spenders' as worthy of his service. My female friend and I had three large suitcases to get out of the car, and he offered no help whatsoever, even though there were no other guests at the entrance at the time. I thought maybe he hadn't seen us, but then, right after we finished moving our luggage, he immediately rushed over to tell me to move the car. Later that evening, when we went down for dinner, I saw him eagerly run to help several men in their 50s/60s, who only had a carry-on each, push their bags. Shocking! It made me wonder if this was discrimination against women! Or perhaps he thought women are generally easy-going, easy to bully, and not really 'guests' worthy of attention? The reason I'm elaborating so much is to highlight the unfairness if this bellhop and the front desk lady are earning the same salary.

The room's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a spectacular view of the Yellow River and the main city, truly first-class! The hotel service is also excellent, and all kinds of facilities are well-equipped. If I ever come back to Lanzhou, this will definitely be my top choice for accommodation again! It's not far from Jinqiang and Mogouyan beef noodles, both are delicious, but Jinqiang's beef feels a bit softer and more fragrant!

As Dunhuang's first international brand hotel, the Four Points by Sheraton Dunhuang, with its high-quality facilities newly opened in 2025 and design that integrates Silk Road culture into every detail, provided an unexpectedly superior stay experience during our desert journey. The hotel's exterior blends Han and Tang elements with a desert yellow color palette. The impressive wooden雕刻 background wall in the lobby, replicating classic patterns, is stunning. The room facilities are brand new, featuring Sheraton's signature soft bedding. To combat the dry climate of Northwest China, the rooms not only come standard with a humidifier but also thoughtfully provide 8 bottles of water daily. Front desk staff Sunny provided incredibly thoughtful service from check-in to check-out, anticipating our needs and offering many conveniences. She prepared sand toys for the kids, glow sticks for the sunset party, and even arranged a late check-out for us due to our flight schedule. Our Dunhuang trip was awe-inspiring because of the Mogao Grottoes and heartwarming because of the Four Points by Sheraton. For us, having such a high-quality place to stay on a desert journey was incredibly comforting!