Hotele Family w: Jilin, China

The high temperatures persisted, so we came to Changbai Mountain to escape the heat and stayed at the Yunshuilanting Hotel. Upon check-in, Manager Dong, knowing we were two seniors over 70, provided us with the warmest service imaginable. She patiently explained the surrounding area, important considerations, and evening activities, and even brought us local seasonal blueberries. It felt like home, with the warmth of children around us. Despite it being peak tourist season and the hotel being fully booked, the cleanliness and dining were still top-notch. Of all the places we've stayed in Changbai Mountain over the past few days, this was by far the best experience. Manager Dong is an excellent leader, managing an outstanding service team.

Although the room was a bit old, the cleanliness and service were still excellent. The butler checked in with us daily, provided weather updates and information about hotel activities. They were especially attentive to safety during rainy weather and readily provided anything we needed. When our child accidentally got a bump while playing outside, they immediately sent up iodine after a phone call. The breakfast spread was plentiful and suitable for both seniors and children. It started as early as 6:30 AM, which was perfect for visiting Tianchi Lake, as many other hotels only start serving breakfast after 7 AM. Going to Tianchi early in the morning greatly increases your chances of seeing the lake, and we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse. On the 17th, Tianchi closed and stopped admissions after 10 AM. The Wanda Realm Suite practically included access to all Wanda resort activities. If you visited the water park, the hotel provided a laundry room with dryers, as well as disinfectant and laundry detergent. Just be aware that there can be long queues during peak times, so plan your schedule accordingly. Regarding Wanda perks: The cable car offered incredibly beautiful views (complimentary on first stay, unlimited rides on the same day), but it only operates on clear days. Other perks included the Wacool boat ride, a choice between the slide or luge, hot springs, and the water park. The boat rides and slides are also weather-dependent (clear days only), while grass-sliding is an additional charge. I recommend prioritizing the slide/luge queue first (children must be 12+ years old and over 155cm to ride alone; otherwise, an adult must accompany them) as the wait times can be very long. You can then do grass-sliding later (it has longer operating hours and no queues). The boat ride also has long queues. We didn't get to it in the afternoon/evening, but we managed to enjoy all the most exciting activities.

The air is fresh, and the hotel environment is comfortable. The convenient mountain trail makes it feel like the entrance to the Old Mountain Gate is just a few steps from the hotel. A hotel car picked us up after we came down the mountain. Oh, and on the bus from the high-speed rail station back to the hotel, it was just our family – that kind of service was amazing! The real volcanic hot springs were a hit with both kids, especially the fish pond. The butler service was almost perfect; they went out of their way to help me with problems and various requests. We also tried all the experiences the hotel offered. If you don't want to experience the hustle and bustle of the town, are going up to see Tianchi Lake with kids and want to avoid hassle, and your budget allows, I'd say go for it without hesitation.

SONG JIANG BONANZA WINNING HOTEL — From Smoke Signals to Sacred Silence Arrival & First Sniff This old dog finally flopped down in Jilin City, relieved to rest my paws at the grandly named Song Jiang Bonanza Winning Hotel. “Winning,” I thought—until my non-smoking room greeted me with a stale tobacco haze. One whiff and I nearly cancelled the stay on the spot. Room Rescue Cue Mr Hong Dejian—calm, English-speaking, and clutching the keys to redemption. He patiently showed me alternative rooms until we found one that didn’t smell like a poker night. Had I left, I would’ve missed what came next. Comfort Food = Home Dinner delivered a miracle: stewed chicken with potatoes and mushrooms. One bite and—boom—mummy’s cooking. After days on the road, I finally found food in China that tasted like home. Tail wagging resumed. Care Beyond the Call Mr Hong returned with a portable heater, pointed out city landmarks, and even taught me how to take a non-reflective photo (yes, this dog learns fast). His easy friendliness softened the edges of dirty window panes and mostly Mandarin-only staff. I even showed him the ink-black towel after wiping the window—evidence, not barking. Menu Meltdown & A Win At the restaurant, I was handed a Chinese-only menu after saying I don’t speak Mandarin. I hit the roof. To their credit, reception listened: I received a call from the lady boss, and the issue was acknowledged. Then a hero appeared—the restaurant lady, who patiently translated dish names so I could choose lunch and dinner without guesswork. Gold bone earned. City Interlude: Jilin Catholic Church Between meals and meetings, I visited Jilin Catholic Church (吉林耶稣圣心堂)—a quiet pause from hotel hiccups. The church offered a moment of stillness, a reminder that even on a bumpy stay, the city holds pockets of grace. Logistics That Worked Back at the desk, the reception lady manager efficiently arranged my transport to Wusong Island—quick, competent, and reassuring. Breakfast & The Fine Print Breakfast surprised me in the best way: healthy, balanced, a thoughtful mix of local and Western dishes. One final bone to chew—early booking didn’t pay off as prices dropped later. A truly Winning Hotel would honour the lower rate at check-in. Verdict Despite communication bumps, this is a solid winter hideout: good Songhua River views, comforting food, and fast service when it counts. It really does take one good sheep—thank you, Mr Hong—to dim the rest of the flaws. #Dogevangelistauthor #patiencechee #BoneofLoyalty #BoneofBranding #AdoptDontShop #DontBuyAdoptADog #ResponsiblePetOwnership #SongJiangBonanzaWinningHotel #JilinCity #JilinCatholicChurch #吉林耶稣圣心堂 #SonghuaRiver #WusongIsland #WinterTravelChina #HotelReview #ComfortFoodChina #StewedChicken #CustomerServiceMatters #OldDogNewJourneys

During my stay at the hotel, the service was excellent, especially the concierge, Xiao Hui. He was incredibly helpful, answering all our questions and taking care of every detail – a huge thank you to him! Also, the young lady at the front desk on the night shift on the 19th was very enthusiastic. However, I have to complain about the Chinese restaurant. My dad took my child there and ordered black truffle fried rice and stir-fried beef. I don't know if it was because they ordered too little, but the food never came. When they asked a female server about it, her attitude was extremely dismissive, just saying, ”Just wait!” I'm not sure if she wasn't properly trained or if she was just being selective with customers. Later, they asked a manager, who also couldn't give a definitive answer. In the end, they just ordered takeout to the room. Besides this one issue, everything else was great.

The owner was very hospitable, and there were always drivers available at the entrance who were ready to answer any questions or help with travel plans. The aunties at the hot springs were also very warm and helped with towels. The indoor bath was cleaned daily, and overall, everything was quite good. The only issue was that the toilet wasn't clean upon check-in, but the front desk attendant came quickly to address it. Overall, it was a good experience, and I recommend it.

My expectations for Huazhu were pleasantly exceeded. I booked a transitional room last minute; it wasn't expensive, and it's located within the Enduli park area, offering a very quiet environment. We arrived late, around 10 PM, but a Baidu car was able to drop us off right at the hotel, and staff even brought our luggage to the room. The most surprising part was the breakfast – I didn't expect a hotel at this price point to offer a breakfast that could rival a 5-star hotel, complete with a noodle station and a great variety. The front desk staff were very professional during check-in. If I ever return, I will definitely book this hotel again. It offers excellent value for money.

1. Pick-up and drop-off service is available, which is super convenient! 2. The bunk beds were my kids' favorite! They said they want to come back to this hotel specifically because of them next time. 3. The sofa by the window spans the entire length of the room, so we could neatly line up all our clothes, which was incredibly handy. 4. The front desk staff and butler were incredibly responsive and accommodating. 100 points! 5. Perhaps because of the bunk beds, I noticed there were always two cleaning staff members, which is a big plus. 6. The evening activities were fantastic every day. After skiing, we'd soak in the hot springs, and right after dinner, we'd catch the iron flower show. The iron flowers were even more beautiful than fireworks. 7. The instructor was excellent. My 6-year-old was able to ski on their own after just two hours of one-on-one lessons. Overall, we were extremely satisfied with our trip to Changbai Mountain. We'll definitely be back next year!

Right at check-in, we were given two warm bottles of Changbai Mountain mineral water. The room was standard, and the heating was very strong – we had to sleep with the window open. The hot springs, however, are in a separate building, and you have to walk through the lobby on the ground floor to get to them. The lobby and the breakfast area on the second floor weren't warm enough, making it easy to catch a cold after coming back from the hot springs. The hot springs themselves are communal and only have a few small pools; it's not really worth going unless you just want a quick taste of Changbai Mountain's hot springs.

1. I booked this hotel two months in advance. The hotel told me the main building had mountain views. On the day of check-in, my butler told me a room on the 2nd floor of the main building was reserved for me. However, when I arrived that evening, the front desk said there was no such reservation. The front desk staff's attitude was poor, saying the manager wasn't available in the evening. Although they eventually upgraded us to a villa, the view from the villa was terrible. The next day, the butler said he was asleep and missed my call, claiming that in Switzerland, the low-lying terrain means you can't see much of the mountains. Very frustrating. The villa faced another villa, so the view wasn't good. It looked nice from the outside, but the lighting inside was dim, and being next to the road, there was noise from passing cars when the windows were open. Yet, when checking in, the front desk still claimed the villa area was the best, saying the main building had many tour groups and was noisy. However, the outside of the villa was quite picturesque for photos. 2. The breakfast at the villa was the same for two consecutive days. The pickled vegetables looked like leftovers and tasted terrible. When we asked the female chef in the villa area if she could make an omelet, she gave us a cold, stern look and said she couldn't. Later, we found out it was possible in the main building. It really depends on who you encounter here. Most staff were very enthusiastic, but a few bad apples really spoiled the experience. 3. The hotel offers some perks, like complimentary rafting, which wasn't great due to the crowds and poor experience. The butler even admitted that paying for it would be better. But they only told us the ticket price, not the full cost. We only found out upon arrival that there was an additional charge for the shuttle back from rafting. The butlers didn't mention any of this beforehand. 4. During summer, there are tons of families with kids and many cars. The experience is really bad; it's best to drive yourself. There are no good restaurants near the resort; you have to drive over ten kilometers to Wanda Plaza or even further to a town. 5. The facilities are supposedly newer than Wanda's, but in reality, the bathroom outlet was broken, the bathtub leaked in the middle of the night, and my child's tablet couldn't connect to the WiFi, so we had to use a hotspot. It was just a mess. In the villa area, what greets you in the morning might be the sun, or it might be a freshly woven spiderweb 🕸️ and a large spider. Hope the kids don't get scared. 6. Before coming, I asked about the temperature, and they told us to bring thick jackets. Turns out, we didn't need any thick clothes at all; short sleeves were perfectly fine. I honestly feel the service is quite subpar. Although the butler asked for a good review, I really can't give one. The service desperately needs training; it doesn't meet the standard for a good review.