Crowne Plaza Chengdu Panda Garden by IHG

I can tolerate a day without breakfast, but can’t stand the non-functional air conditioning.

The hotel is conveniently located near the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda and offers a free shuttle service. However, shuttle times are limited, so I recommend checking with the reception upon check-in. We chose this hotel because we wanted to arrive at the Panda Base as early as possible. That said, the location is quite remote from the city center, so I wouldn’t recommend staying here if your goal is to explore Chengdu itself. During our weekday stay, the hotel felt somewhat empty and abandoned, with most restaurants either closed or completely empty. The staff does not speak English, which is surprising for a Crowne Plaza, though we’ve come to expect this when staying in more remote hotels in China. Overall, this is a good option if your primary focus is visiting the Panda Base.

Very nice hotel and wonderful service.

It’s very clean and the staff are very helpful.

Food selection and quality can be improved. The Hotel Guide and the stationary inside should be refreshed.

We were greeted by lovely, friendly reception staff who upgraded us to panda-themed rooms. First response when entering the room/suite - wow! Office space, curved sofa, full wall of windows, view over lovely garden, tea & coffee area, huge TV, big comfy queen sized bed - decorated with panda soft furnishings! It made us smile. Good enough already, but the bathroom was stunning - big bath, separate shower, dressing room, double sink, toilet cubicle. Absolutely amazing. Breakfast was superb - without doubt, the best breakfast array of our 2 week stay in China. There was everything you could possibly want, and some things that you didn't know you wanted until you saw them! It's quite a way out of the city, but taxis to and from the airport are only around 120 yuan. And, of course, it's very close to the Panda Research Centre - which is why we were there. The hotel offers a free shuttle. The Panda Centre is vast, allow a few hours for a visit - and once you see those pandas, you won't want to leave!