Recently refurbished, the Nanjing Central hotel is an improvement on its previous state but not quite there...!

Much has been re-built and much has changed, mostly for the better. The Reception, bizarrely, is on the 4th floor now.

The decor is quite nouveau-riche throughout, with plastic trees and flowers all over the place, except in the bed-rooms which are comfortable, even tasteful, with sizeable beds, soft pillows and the like. Silence reigns throughout the small hours. A good night's sleep is certainly very likely.

There are eccentricities, however, such as net-curtains in the sitting room but not in the sleeping-area.

The bathrooms and kitchenettes are adequate, if small-ish.

The restaurant and wine-list is plus or minus over-priced.

Verdict: the hotel needs a thorough re-design!

Despite many plus points not really up to 5 star standard. On arrival the safe was not working, there were no bathrobes, the cupboard was small and contained only four coat-hangers – not enough for two people for a long weekend., shower gel etc only enough for one person. On the second day there was no shower gel at all. Breakfast on Sunday finished at 9:30: at this time service stopped immediately and within ten minutes everything had been cleared away. In general too much unsmiling service and too little English spoken for a hotel in this category.

On the positive side the problems were dealt with quickly and efficiently, the staff at the door were friendly and helpful, the breakfast was excellent (if you got up in time) and the hotel has a good downtown location. Our room was clean and comfortable.

We stayed here with our kids (ages 8 and 15) during a monthlong trip to China to show our adopted daughter her homeland. We stayed at the Central Hotel because it's where we first met our daughter in 2002, but the hotel has improved greatly since then. Rooms have been nicely upgraded as have all the public spaces. The two rooms we had were both comfortable and spacious enough, though not as big as some we had in China. Service was consistently excellent. The breakfast buffet was extensive and had lots of options we enjoyed, but we found the lunch buffet less satisfactory. The pool was small but fine. The fitness center is basically a couple of treadmills near the pool -- less than expected. The hotel is close to restaurants, supermarkets, shopping, and the subway, so location was good. We chose this hotel out of nostalgia, but were very pleased with our choice.

At best this is a 2 star hotel. My colleague and I got a deal of ~500 RMB for our room, which seemed a great deal for a 5 star hotel.

It's NOT a 5 star hotel.

Lobby is startlingly ugly, the international buffet is strikingly pedestrian. Even before getting to your room, there is no way you would consider this equal to other 5 star hotels like the Hilton. A 5 star hotel should make you feel special for being there, and take away the stresses of travel by wrapping you in luxuries that you do not have at home.

You probably have a nicer home.

Which brings me to the rooms. One of the hardest beds I've ever slept in, with a bedspring digging into my ribs all night is not my idea of luxury. Mismatched cheap furniture - some I recognized from ikea - not my idea of luxury. Relly old shower/bath combo with a handle you have to throw your weight into to turn on - not my idea of luxury.

Oh, and if you're about 176 cm or taller, watch your head in the bathroom. Ceilings quite low. First time I've seen that in a 5 star.

All in all, if it had been rated as a 2 star I wouldn't have been dissapointed at least. Still would've had a poor nights sleep though.