White Swan Hotel Guangzhou

BACKGROUND

The White Swan Hotel opened in 1983. Over the years, the property has hosted many heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II and former US President George W. Bush. The hotel was closed for a three-year renovation before reopening to the public in July 2015. In 2016, it was the first hotel in China to become a member of the “Worldhotels Luxury” collection.

WHERE IS IT?

On the southern bank of Shamian, a sandbank island located in Guangzhou’s southwest. Shamian was a former concession established and divided by France and the UK in the 19th century. Today, there are still many heritage buildings on the island.

It’s a 40-minute drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, or a 35-minute drive from Guangzhou South Railway Station, the northern terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The nearest metro station is Huangsha Station on Lines 1 and 6.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

The lobby is on Level 2. Inside is a large ship made of jade, with the reception area on the right, and the lobby lounge and a three-storey wine tower to the left.

Behind the jade ship is the hotel’s centrepiece: “Homeland Water”. This iconic feature (pictured left) consists of a man-made waterfall, a koi pond, a rare stone rockery, a hexagonal-shaped pavilion perched at the top of the waterfall, and a red bridge.

ROOMS

There are 520 guestrooms and suites (from 30 to 90 sqm) in four categories: Standard, Deluxe and Club Deluxe rooms, and Club Premier suites.

I was staying in a 60 sqm Deluxe room with a king-sized bed and Pearl River views. On the left was a long work table, as well as large closets and a luggage rack, plus tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar. An iPad can be used to control the lighting and air conditioning in the room.

The bedroom area was separated from the work area with wood panelling, and the large bed was opposite an equally large window. Two nightstands on each side of the bed had panels controlling the gauze, blackout curtain and lighting. A socket was located within the drawer of both nightstands, but there were no USB plugs available at the bedside, so I had to use the ones on the work table.

The bathroom was spacious, with dual sinks, a dressing table, a bathtub and a shower.

FOOD AND DRINK

River Café on Level 1 is an all-day eatery with an international buffet for breakfast (6.30am-10.30am), lunch (12pm-2.30pm) and dinner (6pm9.30pm). Jade River is a one-Michelinstarred fine-dining Cantonese restaurant; lunch is served from 11.30am to 3pm on weekdays, while guests can choose to have traditional Cantonese “yum cha” (8am3pm) on weekends. There’s also an à la carte dinner menu every day from 5.30pm to 10pm.

Flavors of China features cuisine from other parts of China for lunch (11.30am3pm) and dinner (5.30pm-10pm), and there’s also the Silk Road Grill, which specialises in Mediterranean cuisine and other Western specialities. Other F&B options include The Deli Shop patisserie, and a lobby lounge for afternoon tea (2.30pm-5pm) and drinks (11am-1am).

The property has hosted many heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II and George W. Bush

LEISURE

The outdoor swimming pool is open daily from 7am to 11pm. A two-storey, 24-hour fitness centre is located inside the building next to the swimming pool. There’s also a spa located on Level 4 in the hotel’s main building, open daily from 11am to 12am.

VERDICT

The refurbished hotel looks modern and stylish, while still preserving some nice touches of local Cantonese culture. While most guests will be impressed by the views of the Pearl River or the range of dining and wellness options, what also surprised me were the extensive facilities and services available for business travellers, such as the business amenities and services in the Club Lounge and a ferry service that is available for guests to use during the Canton Fair. Jackie Chen