I normally stay at the Soffitell but its still being refurbished and having eaten at the Shandong before, decided to give it a go. The lobby & swimming pool are much better than the Soffitel and it has a wider choice of restaurants, although the food was only average this time. The location is better, being opposite the Botanical Gardens and easy walking distance from the Thousand Budda Mountain Park. The only real downside is that its dead after 9pm, you'd find more nightlife in Mao's Mausoleum and there are no bars in walking distance. I even started to miss the Philipino bands in the Sofitel - entertaining when they have a good one, but just loud and irritating at other times! I had no trouble booking everything to my room, but worth doing so when you order otherwise they're very slow!

Top tips - do book a room on the executive floors - 13 floor upwards as you get a neat glass walled wet room with bath & shower, so much better than the usual wet shower curtain in the bath.

Don't bother with the executive breakfast - its better on the ground floor - although still not as good as the Soffitel breakfast

Do ask for a room at the front with a park view

Do take a good book to compensate for the "nightlife"

Don't pay more than 980RMB weekdays / 860RMB weekends!