2-Star Hotels in Jiangsu, China

I arrived in pouring rain. I thought I could walk to my hotel but it was impossible in the downpour. I didn’t want to bother any hotel owner.   I didn’t and still don’t  have an eSIM that can make local  call but thanks to Trip.com, there is a link that I could call the owner for free.  I didn’t advise the owners my arrival time so they were off running errands.  I called the owner to pick me up and thankfully he answered. He was busy but gracious enough to turn around and picked me up. It knew Zhouhuang requires a ticket but I didn’t know that no cars, nor motorcycles, nor bicycles are allowed. Without him I would have arrived the hotel easily.  I always like to meet the owners instead of employees . They were very helpful and answered all my questions. They are honest people who dedicate their  blood and sweat to their business. The owner even offered to walk me to the bus stop  to Suzhou which was my next destination.  This  operates two hotels with 9 in one and 6 in the other. The one that I stayed in with 9 rooms is in a  lively and busy area . Just outside the hotel is a restaurant and there are plenty of places to eat. Inside the hotel is a peaceful oasis where you won’t hear any noise. The location is the best. The other hotel is in a quieter neighborhood a few minutes away. Each of the 15 rooms has it’s own personality, is different and has its distinctive decoration. The owners said they decorated them themselves. I love the decoration and especially the lighting.  After you reserve a room, be sure to contact the owner for the exact address in case you want to arrive on your own. I think it is best to request the owner to take you there because he/she will lead you to the ticket booth to buy tickets. There are a number of bridges so heavy big luggages can be a bit of a challenge .  If you arrive after 5 pm, you can enter free of charge as no one is there to check your ticket. . But once you are inside, and if you choose to leave the area after 8 or 9 am until 5 pm, you have to pay to come back in. You can buy a one day or in my case 3 days pass.  Do check with the owner for up to date information.  The room was quite clean. There were hot water all the time. There were other guests during my stay but they were not noisy at all. I barely heard them. I slept very well during my 3 nights there.  Zhouhuang is really beautiful. There are many canals, bridges, boat rides, good food of all kinds. I had some of the best meals there. In fact , I ate in the same restaurant that serves dumpling twice. One night I had grill (BBQ) meat just outside the entrance for 4 yuans. .  There is decent size supermarket just outside the turnstile and not too far away is a much bigger supermarket. It was there where I bought half a Peking duck for only 32 yuans . The seller sliced the meat and separated the meat from  the bones. The bones he fried so it was crunchy.  It was delicious. There is a theater that offers performances. The night view is great. If you step out your room, you will be overwhelmed in a good sense by the exciting surroundings.  This hotel definitely is one of the best that I have ever stayed in. Look at the beautiful pictures and find one that you like.  I stayed only 3 nights and one of those days I went to Tongli. In my opinion, one should spend at least 2 to 3 full days in  Zhouhuang (and especially this hotel ) savor the ambience. I don’t think Tongli is worth the time because it was twice as expensive and there are not that many canals and boat rides. It is much quieter and has fewer things to see. . The worst is that the sightseeing places require you to show your ticket. After 2 places, I lost mine ticket and I  couldn’t get in the rest of the places. It is unnecessary to require proof of entrance because you can’t enter the area without a ticket. 

I was asked by the hotel to leave a five-star review, but unfortunately I can’t do so in good conscience. There are genuinely strong positives to this property. The location is excellent—while it’s a bit removed from the city centre, it’s surrounded by fantastic restaurants, convenience stores, and a lovely nearby park. The area is quiet and peaceful, and although there is some construction in the vicinity, that’s understandable given the ongoing development. The rooms themselves are also very well designed: spacious, comfortable, and equipped with everything you might need, including thoughtful amenities like a washing machine. The layout and overall setup are great. The staff, for the most part, have also been kind, responsive, and helpful. One staff member in particular was consistently warm and welcoming, always greeting me with a smile. The team handled my complaints with professionalism, offered solutions, and even extended a discount for a future stay, which I genuinely appreciate. However, the major issue—and the reason I cannot rate this hotel highly—is the cleanliness. Upon arrival, I was initially placed in a room that had clearly not been properly cleaned. There was visible dust throughout, hair and toenail clippings around the bed, and most shockingly, a used condom left on the windowsill. This is completely unacceptable and raises serious concerns about hygiene standards and room preparation. After raising this with the staff, I was moved to another room. While I appreciated the effort to resolve the issue, I had specifically requested that the new room be thoroughly cleaned. Unfortunately, many of the same problems persisted: dust was still present, dirt was visible under the bed, and the glassware was not properly cleaned—one glass even had lipstick stains on it. These are basic cleanliness standards that should be met without exception. It takes a lot for me to complain, and I consider myself a very easygoing guest. For me to request a room change speaks volumes about how serious these issues were. This hotel has a lot of potential. With its location, amenities, and generally helpful staff, it could easily be a fantastic place to stay. However, until the housekeeping standards are significantly improved and consistently maintained, I cannot recommend it as a high-quality option. I do hope the management takes this feedback seriously and addresses these concerns, because with proper attention to cleanliness, this could truly be a five-star experience.

The environment is fantastic, especially the location. It's incredibly close to Fuzimiao, right next to the Fuzimiao Grand Market. Getting to Laomendong, the Fuzimiao Qinhuai Scenic Belt, Jiangnan Gongyuan, or Bailuzhou Park is super convenient – all within a 10-minute bike ride. The atmosphere here is also excellent with plenty of public areas (and charging points!). I didn't take photos of the rooms, focusing mainly on the public spaces, which include a dedicated drying area. Plus, there's an elevator and shared showers and restrooms.

Haha, I found a bargain. The check-in experience was great! The front desk staff is warm and thoughtful, the room is clean and tidy, the bedding is comfortable, the breakfast is rich in variety, and the location is very convenient. Highly recommended!

Choosing Sawmill was absolutely the right decision! It's a standalone building, with separate floors for men and women, and you need a key card to access them. The staff at the front desk were very patient during check-in and explained everything. You can get laundry detergent and earplugs from the reception. They also offer luggage storage, and the lockers are free for up to 8 hours. The beds have privacy curtains, so you can create your own little space. The bathrooms are equipped with hair dryers, and they even thoughtfully remind you of the usage times so as not to disturb others late at night. The common area on the second floor is great for working, and you can occasionally look out at the big trees outside the window to relax. Overall, it's excellent. I'll definitely choose Sawmill again on my next visit!

The concert was super close to the subway. I thought it was so cheap. It was very broken, but it was actually better than expected. Every day, my aunt cleaned it very seriously.

The hotel is super convenient for transportation, it's only about a five or six-minute walk to the subway station, which is incredibly friendly for tourists! I arrived quite early because I was on an early train, and the front desk staff proactively helped me with my luggage. Their service attitude was excellent, and they even arranged for me to check in early! The price is economical and affordable, and the environment is very clean. It's incredibly good value for money!

Location The hotel is near Dongliu Station, but you need to walk about 3 blocks (15 minutes). The walk is flat, but in July and August it can get very hot, so bring an umbrella. The area is quiet and feels isolated. Although the hotel is not far from Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, there is no direct train, you need to change lines and make an awkward turn. Shared bikes (Hello blue bikes) are convenient in Xianlin, but not around this hotel. A good option is to take the B3 shuttle bus from Sanyang Road, which goes to Nanjing University train station (walking distance to NJU). Around the hotel, you will find small eateries (like chicken and duck rice shops) and a few convenience stores, but no malls. Cleanliness The rooms are clean, but there is a smoke smell that stays for about a day. The staff suggested opening the window and using the aircon, but I also bought a reed diffuser from Miniso to make it smell fresher. Bedsheets were changed regularly (every 5 days). The toilet slippers looked dirty, so I did not use them. Also, the hotel does not provide floor towels. Staff & Service The staff were very kind and helpful. They upgraded me to a bigger double room with a sofa and work area, and also gave me a cheaper rate since I stayed for 40 nights. Cleaning staff came daily, bringing bottled water and keeping the toilet clean. The night-shift counter staff were also helpful. Facilities There is a washing machine that can wash and dry in one cycle. Do not overload it, or clothes won’t dry properly. Since the hotel is not very busy, I could use the machine anytime without queuing. Rooms have a hair dryer and a lighted mirror. The aircon makes a small dripping sound, but it is not a real problem. Noise The soundproofing is generally okay, but occasionally you can hear people talking loudly if there are guests next door. It’s not the hotel’s fault—just that people in China often speak very loudly, even inside their rooms or in the corridor. Nothing much you can do about it. Surroundings & Safety The area is safe, with big roads and many residential apartments. In the evenings, families with kids and dogs walk around, and I also jogged nearby. Food delivery is easy drivers can bring food to your room or the counter. Overall It is a quiet and safe place to stay, with helpful staff and decent facilities. The location is not very convenient for NJU Xianlin Campus, but manageable if you use the shuttle bus.

This hostel is absolutely fantastic! It's an all-girls hostel, and there's a police station right downstairs, so safety is definitely not an issue. The environment is great too. The showers and restrooms are very clean. I honestly thought with so many people, the cleanliness might not be up to par, but I was pleasantly surprised by how spotless it was! Plus, the sheets and duvet covers are given to you brand new upon check-in, so you can put them on yourself. I've stayed twice, once in a private room and once in a four-bed dorm, and both were very comfortable. The four-bed dorm has bunk beds with privacy curtains (which are excellent for blocking light), a small table, and a little lamp. Even though it's a shared room, once you pull the curtain, you have your own cozy space. Everyone was also really considerate, keeping quiet when it was late. The common areas were peaceful too, with everyone quietly doing their own thing. It felt so nice and safe being surrounded by other girls! The lady at the front desk was also very kind and enthusiastic, and she even recommended some great Nanjing food. Honestly, it felt cleaner and more comfortable than some hotels I've stayed in, and being around more people made me feel very secure. I'll definitely be back!

I always choose to stay here whenever I'm in Wuxi, and it's consistently a fantastic experience. The front desk service is excellent and attentive, the rooms are spotlessly clean, and the facilities are well-equipped. This is my absolute go-to for accommodation in Wuxi! Highly recommend!