Shenyang's BEST Hotel? Liming Square Metro Hotel Review! (Hanting Hotel)
Shenyang Showdown: My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Review of the Hanting Hotel (Liming Square Metro)
Alright, folks, buckle up. This isn't your typical, sterile hotel review. I'm here to give you the REAL scoop on the Hanting Hotel near Liming Square Metro in Shenyang. And trust me, after my stay…well, let's just say it was an experience. Prepare for a rollercoaster of opinions, random tangents, and maybe, just maybe, a genuine recommendation wrapped in a whole lot of… me.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, But Mostly Okay
Okay, first things first: accessibility. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I always try to see things from that perspective. The elevator was a godsend, especially after lugging my suitcase around the metro. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, but I didn't see any specific examples. It's worth confirming with the hotel directly if you have specific needs. The metro access itself is super convenient, which is a massive win.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Now that I can't answer. I didn't check the dining areas closely and this would be a significant oversight for someone in a wheelchair.
Wheelchair accessible: As mentioned above - potential oversight.
Internet – My Digital Drama!
Oh, the internet. The bane of every traveler's existence. Let me tell you, finding a decent connection can be…well, let's just say it caused some serious internal screaming sessions.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Claimed and appreciated, but the speed? Oh, the speed. Let's just say dial-up would've felt like a step up some days. Uploading a single photo took an eternity. I ended up tethering to my phone (which thankfully had a decent signal) more often than not.
- Internet: Technically there. Useable? Debatable.
- Internet [LAN]: I'm not even sure I saw a LAN port. Maybe it's hidden in the depths of the carpet fibers?
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Again, spotty. Prepare to wander.
The "Things to Do" Question: More of a "Things to Eventually Do"
This is where I was really testing the hotel's limits for fun.
- Fitness center: I saw the words “Fitness Center” on a sign. I didn't see the actual fitness center. Maybe it’s in Narnia? I didn't look for it.
- Pool with view: Nope. Not in this hotel.
- Spa/Sauna: (Sigh). I'm getting the feeling I'm not dealing with luxury here. No spa. No sauna. I'm in Shenyang, not the Swiss Alps.
- Other amenities? Essentially non-existent. Don't let the website fool you. This isn't a resort, it's a place to sleep and hopefully eat.
Cleanliness and Safety: Trying to Breathe Easy
Look, traveling during… these times… is stressful. So, how did the Hanting fare?
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Listed. I couldn’t verify this.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn't see this, but I was too busy trying to find the internet to ask.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Hopefully. They seemed clean, at least…
- Hand sanitizer: Present in the lobby, which was a plus.
- Other safety protocols (listed above). Generally, they seemed to be following protocol.
My Personal Sanitizing Anxiety: In the age of COVID, you're naturally a bit twitchy. I packed my own wipes and went through the rooms meticulously before settling in. I'm not saying it was dirty, but I'm also not saying it was spotless. My neuroticism might be to blame.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Gastronomic Gamble
Here's where things get interesting. Food is a major component of any experience, right? (Especially for me, always.)
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes, and it was…adequate. The usual Asian breakfast spread, which meant a lot of noodles, some questionable meats, and a decent (but not amazing) coffee situation.
- Restaurant: There's a restaurant.
- Coffee shop: Didn't seem to exist, unless “the breakfast area” counted.
- Room service [24-hour]: Nope.
- Snack bar: Nope.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant/Western cuisine in restaurant: You are in China. You will mostly get Asian.
- Other Dining: Don't get your hopes up. There were very limited options. The area is near the metro, so you can go out on the town…
The Breakfast Debacle: Okay, I have to stop here. The coffee. It was this weird, brownish liquid that tasted vaguely of burnt… something. I’m a coffee snob, I’ll admit it. But this was a crime against caffeine. I ended up buying instant coffee and making it in my room. It was a small victory, but I tell you, the sweet taste of my own bad coffee was a triumph after the hotel's efforts.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the "Meh"
- Air conditioning: Essential. And it worked. Thank god.
- Elevator: As mentioned, a lifesaver.
- Luggage storage: Available, which was helpful.
- Laundry service: Apparently offered, but I didn’t use it.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Helpful. Got the key card sorted, even if my Chinese is… well, let’s just say pointing and miming were involved.
The Great Wall (of Annoyance) of Convenience
The convenience store? Bare. Seriously, it was like they’d forgotten to restock it in months. I needed a bottle of water at 11 pm. Fail. I needed a snack? Double fail. Luckily, there's a convenience store outside the hotel. Again, the metro access saving the day.
For the Kids: Leave Them at Home (Or, at Least, Be Prepared)
- Family/child friendly: This is not for children.
- Babysitting service/Kids meal/Kids facilities: Haha! Absolutely not.
Access, Security, and the Ever-Present CCTV
- CCTV: Everywhere. So much CCTV. Made me feel…watched. Whether that’s a good thing for security, or a slightly creepy thing, depends on your paranoia level.
- Other security features: The usual.
Getting Around: The Metro Magic
- Airport transfer: I took the metro. Super easy.
- Car park [on-site]: Available. I didn't need it.
- Taxi service: Available. But the metro is the real hero.
Available in all rooms: The List (and the Truth)
Here’s a rundown of things you'll likely find in your room:
- Air conditioning: Yep. Working AC!
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Bathroom phone: Nope!
- Blackout curtains: Yes, thank goodness, I'm a light sleeper.
- Coffee/tea maker: Yes. Bad coffee, but a maker nonetheless.
- Free bottled water: Usually.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, and it seemed pretty efficient.
- Desk: Yes.
- Hair dryer: Yep.
- Mirror: Essential.
- Refrigerator: Maybe.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes, and there were some English channels.
- Seating area: It depends on if the seat counts. Yes.
- Shower: Yes.
- Smoke detector: Hopefully!
- Wi-Fi [free]: Technically.
My Verdict: Lower Your Expectations, and You Won’t Be Disappointed (Maybe)
Look, the Hanting Hotel near Liming Square is not a luxury experience. It’s a budget-friendly place to sleep, and it serves its function.
- The Good: The location (metro access is amazing), the air-conditioning, the (mostly) clean room, the relatively easy check-in.
- The Bad: The internet (seriously, can we fix this?), the underwhelming food situation, and the lack of any real amenities.
- The Ugly: The coffee. THE COFFEE.
Would I stay there again? Maybe. If I needed a cheap stay near the metro, and I was prepared with my own coffee, snacks, and a good book - probably. Just don’t expect the Ritz. Expect…Hanting. And manage your expectations accordingly.
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Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly-polished travel itinerary. This is the raw, unfiltered truth of tackling Shenyang, China, from the Hanting Hotel near Liming Square Metro Station. Prepare for a rollercoaster. And a potential dumpling overdose.
Shenyang Shenanigans: A Messy, Hanting-Hotel-Based Adventure (Expect the Unexpected)
Day 1: Arrival, Dumplings, and a Deep Breath
- 10:00 AM (ish): Arrived in Shenyang. The airport felt… well, like a Chinese airport. Efficient, yes, but also a bit overwhelming. Finding a taxi was a chaotic dance of pointing, nodding, and hoping you end up in the right car. Success! (Mostly. My driver seemed to have a vendetta against the steering wheel.)
- 11:30 AM: Checking into the Hanting Hotel. It's… functional. Clean enough. The lobby smells faintly of something I can't quite place. (Possibly laundry detergent and a hint of "maybe a little bit of old cigarette smoke.") But hey, for the price, I'm not complaining. My room is tiny, but it's mine.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. The hunger pains were REAL after the flight. Found a local eatery near the hotel. The menu? Mostly pictures. This is where my rudimentary Mandarin skills truly shine. (Or maybe crash and burn spectacularly.) I pointed at a picture of glorious-looking dumplings, prayed, and ended up with… a mountain of delicious, juicy, pork-filled heaven. I’m talking the best dumplings of my life. Seriously. I ate like a wild animal. My face is still stained with soy sauce. Worth it. All of it.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Attempted the Metro. This is where being a foreigner is tested. Navigating the Shenyang Metro is an adventure. The signs are in Chinese, the ticket machines are… challenging, and the crowds are relentless. But I survived. (Mostly thanks to a kind young woman who took pity on my confused expression.)
- 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Wandering. Walked around the Liming Square area. It's… a mix. Some gleaming modern buildings, some crumbling older ones. The air is a little hazy. The street food smells incredible. I got a "bing" – a savory pancake – from a street vendor. It was delicious! Just… a tad greasy. (I’m on a culinary mission to eat everything.) The sheer density of humanity is something else. People everywhere, talking loudly, zipping past on scooters. It’s… exhilarating. And exhausting.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner. Went back to the dumpling place. I HAD to. Ordered the exact same thing. Ate another mountain. No regrets.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Watched something mind-numbingly terrible on Chinese TV. Language barrier? Not a problem. The visuals are universal. (Mostly wrestling and exaggerated dramatic acting.)
- 9:00 PM: Sleep. Collapse. Utter food-coma bliss.
Day 2: Imperial History, the Hustle, and Heartbreak (Maybe)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. Surprised I survived the dumpling onslaught. Breakfast: instant noodles from the 7-Eleven downstairs. (It’s a cultural experience, okay?)
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Imperial Palace (Shenyang Imperial Palace). Right. This. Was. Amazing. The grandeur! The history! The intricate carvings! It was… a sensory overload of beauty and power. I got lost in the courtyards and halls, imagining the lives of emperors and concubines. (I'm now convinced I should have been born imperial, because honestly, who wouldn't want a life of such luxury?) The sheer scale of it all blew me away.
- An Anecdote about the Palace: I tried to take a photo of a particularly ornate roof detail, but a security guard started yelling at me. Apparently, I was standing in the wrong place. (Whoops.) I pointed at my camera, then to him, using the universal language of “please don’t arrest me for being a dumb tourist.” He sighed, gestured for me to move, and then… smiled! A tiny crack in his stern façade. Small victories, people. Small victories.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. Found a place near the Imperial Palace. Ordered something… adventurous. Ended up with… well, I'm not entirely sure. Some kind of fermented tofu situation. It was… an experience. Let's leave it at that.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Strolled around Zhao’s Mansion. It's an impressive monument filled with all sorts of cool sculptures and decorations to admire. It wasn't the largest building and I would have liked it more but it's a must-see.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Shopping. Navigated the chaos of a local market. Bartering is a skill I need to hone. I clearly got massively ripped off for a knock-off t-shirt. (But the seller was so charming! And hey, if I get to call myself a "master negotiator" for a few days, it's worth it.)
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Late afternoon snack, as everyone does. I went to a bakery I had seen while shopping and grabbed a few pastries.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner. Dumplings. Yes, again. I think I’m addicted. I tried a new variety this time, some shrimp and chives this time. Perfection.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: This is the part where I tried to deal with the heartbreak i have been facing recently. Stared at the TV for a while, tried to distract myself, and then eventually fell asleep.
Day 3: Temple Time, a Train Ride, and Departure Blues (Sort Of)
- 8:00 AM: Another noodle breakfast. (This is my life now, apparently.)
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Back at the temple. Beautiful and brightful, a great experience to end the trip.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Last-minute souvenir shopping. I need to buy gifts! (Probably more dumplings, wrapped in some kind of fancy paper.)
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: That last dumpling meal. You know, the one where you try to savor every single bite?
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Head to the train station.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Train Trip.
- 3:00 PM: Back at the airport.
- 4:00 PM: Heading home. Maybe a little bit wiser. A whole lot fatter. And already craving those dumplings.
Post-Trip Reflections (aka My Shenyang Aftermath)
- The Language Barrier: Man, it's tough. Basic phrases get you so far. But the kindness of strangers? That's the real superpower. Gesturing and smiling and hoping for the best becomes a way of life.
- The Food: I came for the dumplings, and the dumplings delivered. But the whole culinary scene? Diverse, delicious, and a little intimidating at times. My stomach is a battle-hardened veteran.
- The People: Shenyang is a city of contrasts – ancient history, modern hustle, and a whole lot of soul. Even if it's a city of millions of people, you'll get the best memories with the best people.
- The Hanting Hotel: It served its purpose. It was my base camp, my refuge from the chaos. And, hey, the water pressure was actually pretty decent. (Priorities, people!)
Shenyang, you crazy, wonderful city. You were a whirlwind, a delicious blur, a challenge, and an experience I won't forget. I'll be back. And next time? I'm bringing a bigger suitcase… for more dumplings. And maybe a phrasebook. Wish me luck.
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Shenyang's Liming Square Metro Hotel (Hanting Hotel) - Let's Get Real!
Okay, folks, let's get one thing straight: I'm not a travel blogger, so don't expect flawless prose or perfectly curated photos. What you're getting is the raw, unfiltered truth about the Hanting Hotel at Liming Square in Shenyang. Buckle up, buttercups, because it's a ride.
Pre-Trip Shenanigans: What's the Deal, Anyway?
Q: Why this hotel? Seriously, why?
A: Look, budget constraints, okay? Shenyang isn’t exactly known for its five-star luxury, and I was pinching pennies. Plus, the reviews online... well, they were mixed. But the proximity to the metro? Major selling point. Walking distance, baby! Though... "walking distance" in Shenyang can mean anything from a leisurely stroll to a full-blown polar expedition, depending on the weather.
Q: Is it actually near Liming Square? That sounds… big.
A: Yup, it's practically spitting distance. You stumble out, squint at the glorious chaos that is Shenyang, and *bam* – Liming Square! That means easy access to the metro, which, let’s be brutally honest, is your lifeline. Seriously, learning the metro system is crucial. I almost got lost in the labyrinthine corridors the first day. Terrifying. Flashbacks to my childhood fear of the monster under the bed...
The Arrival – First Impressions & Initial Panic
Q: Okay, you're there. What's the lobby like? Is it… clean?
A: Clean... *ish*. Let's just say it had the signature "budget hotel aroma." You know the one – a subtle blend of disinfectant, stale air, and… something else. Something vaguely industrial. The staff? They were… functional. Not overly warm, not overly cold. Just… there. Efficiently processing paperwork, I suppose. Getting my room key felt more like a transaction than a warm welcome. My initial thought? "Alright, let's get this over with."
Q: The room itself - what was the vibe?
A: Okay, imagine a small, functional box. That's the room. The bed took up most of the space. It wasn't a *bad* bed, per se. Firm. Unyielding. Like sleeping on a slab of concrete, but hey, at least it was clean. The bathroom? Tiny. REALLY tiny. Like, you-could-brush-your-teeth-and-shower-at-the-same-time tiny. My first shower felt like a comedy routine. I was convinced I was going to elbow myself in the face. And the water pressure? Let's say a gentle trickle was its forte.
Deep Dive: The Room Itself - Up Close and Personal
Q: Seriously, bed? What about the noise?
A: The bed, as mentioned, was like sleeping on granite, but it *was* clean. Sheets were of decent quality, although I suspect they were changed only on a bi-weekly basis. Noise? Oh, the noise. Shenyang is a city that *never* sleeps. You've got traffic, construction (always construction!), and the sweet, sweet sounds of people having conversations at full volume at 3 AM. Pack earplugs. Trust me. I learned the hard way. My first night was a symphony of honking horns and what I *think* was someone karaoke-ing in the distance. Sleep quality? Bleh.
Q. So, the amenities? Anything decent?
A: Basic, my friend. Very, very basic. There was a TV, but the selection of channels was, shall we say, limited. Mainly local channels, which, unless you're fluent in Mandarin, are just going to be a source of frustration. There was a tiny desk, good for spreading out your belongings and not much else. It had a kettle, which, to be fair, was life-saving for my tea addiction. Oh, and the obligatory complimentary instant coffee. Don't expect Starbucks quality. Expect… instant. And sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. Oh, and the wifi? It existed. Sometimes. Its speed was… variable, let's just say that.
The Breakfast Experience (Or Lack Thereof)
Q: Did they even *have* breakfast? And was it edible?
A: Yes, they had breakfast. And yes, technically, it was edible. Edible in the same way that cafeteria food is edible. Think… a buffet of questionable origin. I’m not going to lie. I saw some things. Things I'd rather forget. The options were… varied. Some sort of congee (rice porridge) that looked vaguely… swamp-like. Deep-fried dough balls (don't ask me what they were) that were both greasy and strangely tasteless. And… a selection of cold cuts that, let's just say, didn't exactly inspire confidence. I stuck to the hard-boiled eggs and the toast. You can't really mess up hard-boiled eggs, can you? Famous last words...
Q: Any breakfast-related horror stories?
A: Okay, this requires its own section. One morning, I was cautiously eyeing the congee (still contemplating), when I witnessed a small child (think, four years old) *full-on sneeze* into the serving spoon. The *serving spoon*! The spoon everyone else was supposed to use. I nearly choked on my toast. My appetite vanished instantly. I believe I ended up going to a nearby street food vendor instead, which, in retrospect, was probably a better choice. Lesson learned: Avoid the congee. And maybe everything else. Especially if children are present. *shudders*
The Metro - Your Lifeline (and Occasional Nightmare)
Q: Metro is important! How convenient WAS it?
A: Extremely convenient. Honestly, the proximity to the metro was the *best* thing about this hotel. Walk out the front door, a quick jaunt, and *boom* – metro entrance. Seriously, the ease of getting around Shenyang made the entire experience bearable. I could get to the main shopping areas, the cultural sites (the Zhao Mausoleum is stunning, btw), and even the train station without too much hassle. The metro is clean, efficient, and incredibly cheap. Just remember to have your phone charged to pay via the QR code. Or learn some basic Mandarin for the ticket machines. I did neither, which led to a few awkward moments of flailing and confused pointing. But hey, I eventually figured it out.
Q: Any metro-related mishaps?
A: Oh, where do I begin? Okay, there was the time I got stuck in the revolving door at the exit. Mortifying. Pure, unadulterated mortification. Then there was the incident where I accidentally boarded a train going in the opposite direction of my destination. Wrong side of the tracks, indeed. The metro is very crowded during rush hour, so be prepared to be squished. Very. Squished. Think sardines in a can. Personal space? Forget about it. But hey, that's the Shenyang experience! Embrace the chaos. And maybe invest in some good deodorant.
Overall Impression - The Final Verdict
Q: So, would you recommend it? Honestly.
A: Look, the HantingInfinity Inns
