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Heya and welcome back to another hotel review post. I already miss my China trip and I’m hoping to have another chance to explore more places soon. In this post, I’ll be sharing my stay at Yifang Hotel in Guangzhou, a budget-friendly hotel that’s close to the city and super convenient for exploring.
First Impressions
We took a DiDi because the distance from our previous hotel was quite far. The hotel is located near an older part of the city, so the surrounding area feels more traditional, with older buildings and mostly elderly residents. Interestingly, just one street away, you can already see the newer, modern side of Guangzhou — it’s like two different worlds side by side.
Despite the “old town” atmosphere, the area is full of food options. The streets feel quite spacious, and the weather was pleasantly cool (although I still somehow ended up sweating while walking — typical me). I can’t even imagine how hot it would be during summer.
The ride took around 15 minutes because of smaller roads and traffic, but we arrived safely. The best part was that we reached at around 2 PM, so we could check in immediately.
Location
The hotel is located near 陈家祠 (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall) area. On our last night, there was even a Hong Kong singer performing nearby, but unfortunately, I completely missed it.
Also close by is the famous Cantonese dim sum restaurant 点都德, which is very popular in Guangzhou. However, we ended up trying other local spots instead (I’ll share more in a separate post).
The hotel is about a 7–10 minute walk from the metro station. The route is simple — basically straight all the way — and much easier compared to the previous hotel. There are fewer roads to cross, which makes walking quite comfortable.
Near the metro station, there’s also a shopping mall where we spent some time exploring and found some surprisingly good food.
Right outside the hotel entrance, there’s even a city walk map. If you’re not sure where to go, you can just follow it and explore the area on foot — it’s actually a really nice way to discover the neighbourhood.
The Room
My first impression of the room was that it felt like a very compact Japanese-style hotel, or more like small Hong Kong city hotels — designed to maximize space, so everything felt quite tight.
It was honestly very small. Even for someone like me, it still felt cramped. The biggest shock was the bathroom — the shower didn’t even have a door (my first time seeing that), which was unexpected.
The TV was also broken, so I couldn’t use it at all. But honestly, it didn’t matter much because I barely stayed in the hotel anyway. I usually left around 7 AM and only came back around 11 PM, so the room was mainly just for sleeping.
This hotel also didn’t include breakfast, but that wasn’t an issue at all since there were so many local food options nearby. There was even a cheung fun (rice noodle roll) shop with a constant queue, although I personally don’t love it, so I skipped it.
Dim sum, however, was a must-try. It was not only delicious but also surprisingly affordable. In Malaysia, a few dim sum dishes can easily cost close to RM100, but in Guangzhou, it was around RM60 for a similar amount — almost half the price.
That said, when travelling solo, I always struggle with portion sizes because I hate wasting food. Interestingly, I noticed that food waste seemed more common in some places, where people would leave quite a lot of food uneaten without packing it away.
Cleanliness & Service
Cleanliness was generally decent, but the bathroom design was definitely the biggest downside. Since there was no shower door, water would easily splash outside, making the floor wet after every shower.
I had to stand as far inside as possible just to avoid splashing too much water, which wasn’t very comfortable. Honestly, the design felt quite impractical.
I did try asking to change rooms, and they did offer alternatives, but the timing never worked out. By the time I returned, the rooms were no longer available. Since I was only staying for a few nights, I eventually just accepted it.
Klook.comOverall Thoughts
Overall, for a budget stay (under RM100 per night), this hotel was actually quite decent value, especially considering the location and convenience.
We only booked it last minute, so expectations weren’t very high, but it worked out fine for a short stay. One thing I noticed in Guangzhou is that everything feels very spread out, and sometimes even metro stations are farther than expected.
During the trip, I easily walked over 10,000 steps a day. For younger travellers, I think it’s a great city to explore on foot — though I often relied on DiDi when I was too tired because it’s affordable and convenient.
I also think Guangzhou is best enjoyed in the right season. The weather during my trip was quite comfortable, with only a few rainy days. Definitely better than extreme summer heat.
Walking around also comes with little surprises. I once came across a shop with my name on it, which made me weirdly excited. There’s even a restaurant in Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur with the same name — it always makes me wonder if my name is just unusually “shop-friendly” haha.
Between the two hotels I stayed at, I still preferred the first one for its space and comfort. But this one had a better location in terms of metro access. Both areas had amazing food options, although I still didn’t manage to try everything — I wish I had more time just to eat my way through Guangzhou.
Honestly, Guangzhou is a food paradise. It’s affordable, diverse, and one of the reasons so many Malaysians love visiting. Now that I’m back, I definitely find myself missing the food the most.
For more post:
- For more cozy content, here’s my post on simple joys in daily life.
- Want something travel-themed instead? Read my First Time Visiting China: What You Need to Know Before You Go.
- Looking for another hotel? Read this Preferred Convenience Hotel Guangzhou Review: Affordable Stay Near Metro
Thanks so much for reading.
Have a beautiful day.
— Jerserry
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