A genuine Yangzhou experience! The Yitel + amazing private kitchen, unfiltered guide and practical tips.
Before coming to Yangzhou, I did a lot of research, my biggest fear being disappointed by trendy restaurants and hotels with misleading advertising! This time, I personally tested the Hanting Hotel Experience Store and Tai Private Kitchen. This is a completely unfiltered record of my experience—location, service, and food are all my honest impressions. For those of you who need accommodation, just copy this!
🏨Real Stay: Hanting Hotel Experience Store (Qionghua Building, Grand Canal East Gate Street Branch)
Address: No. 3 Pifang Street, Guangling District (Navigation was accurate, and there's a clear sign at the entrance)
As an experience store under BTG Homeinns Hotels Group, it was renovated in 2018. Although the building is a bit old, the interior facilities are not outdated at all, and the cleanliness is perfect!
✅ Absolutely fantastic location (actual distance measured):
- 7-minute walk to Heyuan Garden (tested and confirmed, no navigation needed, the walk along the ancient canal path is incredibly pleasant)
- 12-minute walk to Pishi Street (a collection of artsy shops, you'll pass several local snack stalls along the way)
- 3-minute taxi ride to Dongguan Street/Geyuan Garden (taxi fare starts at 10 yuan, saving time compared to walking)
- Super convenient for those driving! The hotel has a large free parking lot (priority for guests, we parked there immediately)
- Nanhexia Historical and Cultural Street is right outside the hotel, and within a 5-minute walk are Garden Teahouse and Lion Tower, so you don't have to go far for morning tea.
✅ Genuine experience with facilities (no exaggeration):
- Smart room type! Floor-to-ceiling windows with electric curtains – waking up to sunlight in the morning is incredibly pleasant; the SIMONS mattress is truly soft yet supple, and the Carnation 80-thread-count bedding feels incredibly smooth – my travel companion said it's even better than my bed at home!
- Bonus details: Smart toilet seat, rainforest shower (strong water pressure), Spanish capsule coffee machine (two free capsules daily, excellent flavor), mini-fridge with complimentary bottled water and carbonated drinks
- Practical and understated common areas: The 24-hour gym uses genuine imported Technogym equipment, quiet and unobtrusive when running; the self-service laundry uses imported equipment, a washer-dryer combo – our T-shirts dried completely in 2 hours and had a light, pleasant scent.
- Must-see for families with children: A room with a rubber duck slide (our family of four had a blast with their two kids), and the front desk proactively provides small gifts like children's hair clips.
✅ Service truly Haidilao-level (personal experience):
- Before check-in, the butler added us on WeChat to send our location and Yangzhou travel tips. They even asked if we needed a crib or playpen (though we didn't use them, it was incredibly thoughtful).
- The security guard at the entrance was such a fan! He proactively helped with our luggage as soon as we got out of the car, and when we left, we noticed the car windows were spotless. We later learned that the driver had cleaned them during his free time and even left a note to say hello.
- The cleaning lady is incredibly meticulous every day, cleaning up even the smallest hairs on the floor. She greets us politely and reminds us to bring umbrellas (Yangzhou's weather is unpredictable).
- During breakfast hours, the restaurant manager proactively asks about our preferences. We mentioned wanting softer buns, and they immediately had them steamed and brought to us. Upon check-out, the front desk gave us Yangzhou's specialty nougat, which was sweet and not sticky.
✅ Real breakfast review (88 RMB/person, great value):
- Hours: Monday to Friday 6:30-10:30, Weekends 7:00-11:00 (Even if you sleep in, you can still catch it)
- Menu: A fusion of Chinese and Western styles, featuring freshly cooked Yangchun noodles, wontons (choose between spicy or clear broth), Yangzhou steamed buns (all freshly steamed with soft skin and generous filling), and hot dried bean curd strips (authentically seasoned with a rich sesame oil aroma), as well as bread, fruit, coffee, and soy milk.
- Key point: Not pre-made! The noodles and wontons are cooked to order, and the buns are juicy and flavorful. You don't need to go to a teahouse for morning tea after eating here, saving you time queuing.
🍽️Real review: Tai Private Kitchen (unfiltered photos) I made a reservation one day in advance by phone. The window seats were indeed in high demand; I recommend making a reservation early if you want a view!
✅ Authentic Environment Review:
- The restaurant's name is derived from the poem "Even the smallest moss flower aspires to bloom like a peony." Upon entering, you're greeted by an ancient wooden corridor, where water and stone reflect each other, and light filters through the wooden windows, creating an atmosphere perfect for photos without needing editing.
- The decor is filled with Yangzhou intangible cultural heritage elements: velvet flowers, Song brocade hair ornaments, mother-of-pearl inlays, and woodblock printing decorations. It's elegant yet not overly heavy; my friend took many photos in this traditional style, and the results were fantastic.
- The courtyard features greenery and lanterns, creating a "half-moon" effect when lit up at night. It's not crowded or noisy, making it a pleasant place to chat and dine.
✅ Authentic Food Review (Average Price: 120+ RMB):
- Black Truffle Asparagus Stir-fried Rice Cake: Full of wok hei (wok aroma), the black truffle flavor is not overpowering, the rice cake has a slightly charred exterior and a soft, chewy interior, and the asparagus is crisp and tender.
- Plum-infused Pork Ribs: Sweet and sour, very appetizing, sprinkled with dried osmanthus flowers, the fruity aroma balances the richness of the meat. The ribs are stewed until tender, falling off the bone with a single bite.
- Wasabi-flavored Shrimp: Deveined, very mild wasabi flavor, leaning towards Thai seasoning, with a noticeable seaweed taste, even those who don't eat seafood can enjoy it.
- Nourishing Pork Rib Soup: A sweet and savory broth, similar in texture to coconut chicken, containing morel mushrooms, snow pear, yam, and figs—a very rich selection of ingredients. The soup is clear, sweet, and nourishing.
- The shop's homemade fruit wine: I chose the plum flavor; it's not very strong, just the right amount for a light buzz, and it pairs perfectly with Huaiyang cuisine.
🗺️Real surrounding area sightseeing and eating route (no detours)
Day 1: Hotel walk → Heyuan Garden (9:00-11:30, avoid peak tour times) → Pishi Street (12:00-14:00, eat street food + check out artsy shops) → Return to the hotel to rest (use the laundry room to dry clothes) → Evening stroll along the ancient canal (walk from Dongguan Ancient Ferry to Xu Ningmen Bridge for a beautiful sunset) → Dinner at Tai Private Kitchen (18:30-20:00)
Day 2: Hotel breakfast (8:00-9:00) → Taxi to Slender West Lake (9:30-12:00, 10-minute drive) → Dongguan Street (12:30-14:30) 0. Simple meal (lotus root starch dumplings, Huangqiao sesame cakes) → Grand Canal Museum (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, free with advance reservation, 10-minute taxi ride) → Return trip
💡Real Tips (Avoid Pitfalls):
1. Some hotel rooms are under renovation, so there may be slight construction noise. If you mind, choose a room on a higher floor.
2. The portions at Tai Private Kitchen are not large. For 3-4 people, it's recommended to order 4-5 dishes and add more if needed to avoid waste.
3. It's a 15-minute walk from the hotel to Xichun Spring. After sightseeing, a soak in the spring is a great way to relax and enjoy the scenery.
4. The Nanhexia Historical Street near the hotel has many local snacks, which are more cost-effective than Dongguan Street. I recommend trying the tofu pudding and fried dough sticks.
This trip to Yangzhou was completely fantastic! The location and service of the Yitel Hotel made the trip so much easier. The atmosphere and taste of Tai Private Kitchen exceeded my expectations. These are genuine experiences, no exaggeration. I will definitely visit both restaurants again next time I'm in Yangzhou!