This time I came to Guangzhou to attend an academic seminar at CUHK, I directly booked my accommodation at Sun Yat-sen University Kaifeng Hotel Guangzhou. I had heard from friends who work in universities before that this is the preferred place for many scholars who come to exchange ideas on campus. However, after actually staying here, I realized that it completely breaks away from the stereotype of ordinary business hotels, and even the air is filled with the unique relaxed and scholarly atmosphere of the old campus.
I took a taxi to the hotel around 6pm in the evening. As soon as the car drove into Kangleyuan Road near the west gate of Zhongda University, the tall banyan trees on the roadside filtered out most of the heat. The hotel's entrance was hidden behind a row of green plants, without the noisy atmosphere of a downtown hotel, quiet and elegant. When checking in, the front desk staff whispered softly and learned that I was here to attend an academic conference. They specially arranged a quiet room on the inner side for me and handed me a hand drawn guide map of the CUHK campus, indicating the locations of nearby canteens, libraries, and century old buildings, reminding me to take a walk in the campus during my free time.
The first feeling when entering the room is that the space is spacious and bright, with a 28 square meter area without redundant fancy decorations. The dark wood desk is spacious and flat, paired with a warm light eye protection desk lamp. The network cable interface and multi port charging socket are located on the side of the desktop, so there is no need to bend down and explore the wall. I spread out and organized the conference materials, connected them to the hotel's high-speed WiFi, and had online discussions with colleagues from other places without any lag throughout the entire process. The most surprising thing is that the softness and hardness of the bedding just fit the waist and back. After a busy academic conference all day, lying down on the bed, only the rustling sound of the wind blowing on the leaves outside the window, there was no sound of the traffic noise in the bustling city, and I slept soundly all night without being disturbed.
The most comfortable way to live here is to walk to the campus of Zhongda University. In the morning, take a walk around Kangle Park, where the century old banyan tree covers the sky and the red brick old building peeks out in the shadows. You can meet students studying in the morning and old professors taking a walk, even slowing down your steps unconsciously. The restaurant of the hotel is on the first floor. For breakfast, you can eat authentic Cantonese Braised Pork Intestines and raw porridge. You can also taste the same old hot soup in the middle and large canteens. The taste is light and delicious, which is totally different from the perfunctory taste of ordinary hotel buffet breakfast.
The hotel's facilities also fully meet the needs of academic exchange. Meeting rooms of different sizes are equipped with high-definition projectors and high-speed internet. Free books and journals are also prepared in the tea break area. During meetings, you can sit down with peers and chat about ideas, creating a particularly comfortable atmosphere. The 24-hour self-service book bar is hidden on the side of the lobby, filled with various books from Zhongda Publishing House. After revising a paper late at night and flipping through two pages, one's mind and spirit can calm down.
Finding such a peaceful place amidst the hustle and bustle in the core area of Guangzhou is truly an unexpected surprise for academic travel. Sun Yat-sen University Kaifeng Hotel Guangzhou does not have luxurious decorations, but has carved a "scholar friendly" atmosphere into every detail. You don't have to waste time commuting and can immerse yourself in the cultural atmosphere of the century old campus. Next time I come to CUHK for academic activities, I will definitely choose to stay here as soon as possible.Show more