Sunshine Hotel Zhangjiajie — Hotel in Zhangjiajie

My initial impression upon arriving at the Sunshine Hotel Zhangjiajie was one of genuine excitement. The stately exterior, with its arched driveway and classically symmetrical façade, promised a polished stay — and as I entered the grand atrium with its soaring ceiling, glittering chandeliers, dark marble columns and dramatic lighting, I had the distinct sensation of stepping into a high-end five-star property. The overall effect was lavish, if slightly theatrical, and certainly not lacking in ambition.||Check-in was swift and professionally handled, though notably cool in tone — a recurring pattern I’ve experienced in this region. Staff were efficient and helpful, but there was a lack of warmth that somewhat diminished the welcome. Sadly, this same issue would return rather more sharply at check-out, but more on that later.||My room, fortunately, made an excellent first impression. The design leans towards classic luxury with a strong Chinese aesthetic: gold-embroidered textiles, a floral brocade headboard, carved bedside lamps and a patterned carpet that extended the ornate style. While it may not appeal to lovers of minimalism, I personally found the space warm, inviting, and tastefully composed. The bed was large and comfortable, and I appreciated thoughtful features like the well-sized writing desk, a plush armchair by the window, and the generous wardrobe space. There was a minibar fridge (though unstocked) and a kettle, but no capsule coffee machine — a surprising omission in a hotel of this standard.||The bathroom was another highlight. Exceptionally spacious, clad in marble, and featuring both a large rain shower and separate bathtub, it gave a strong impression of indulgence. Cleanliness was immaculate throughout — sparkling surfaces, spotless linen, and no hint of wear or neglect. I felt entirely comfortable, which is not something I say lightly.||Unfortunately, I was once again assigned a room directly next to the lift. While the noise was not extreme, the soft hum and mechanical vibrations were noticeable enough for me to resort to earplugs. In a hotel of this size and calibre, I truly wish room allocation were handled with greater consideration — I seem to be consistently placed near elevators, and I find it baffling. Surely this should not require explicit request each time?||Breakfast the next morning was perfectly serviceable, though not memorable. The buffet offered a blend of Western and Asian options, but it fell short of excellence. Baked beans — a staple for me — were absent, and the muesli options were overly sweet and processed, with no sign of plain oats or nuts. Unsweetened yoghurt, once again, was nowhere to be found (a widespread issue in China, I’ve learned), and service staff were either invisible or simply disengaged. There was no offer of help, and certainly no proactive hospitality. I also missed my morning chocolate milk — a small detail, but one I had hoped might be available given the scale of the breakfast operation.||My final impression of the hotel was unfortunately marred by an unpleasant check-out experience. What began as indifference quickly veered into something bordering on arrogance. The farewell lacked not only warmth, but basic courtesy. It left a sour taste that completely overshadowed the otherwise positive aspects of the stay. A hotel can be grand, comfortable, and impeccably clean — but if staff at the front desk fail to embody even a basic spirit of hospitality, the entire stay suffers. It’s not enough to maintain five-star facilities if the human element lags far behind.||In summary: The Sunshine Hotel offers an elegant, traditional aesthetic and a genuinely comfortable room product. The décor is ornate but cohesive, the bathrooms are excellent, and the cleanliness is faultless. But the cool, at times unfriendly service culture significantly dulls the shine. Had my check-out experience been different, I may well have awarded four stars. Instead, I left feeling disappointed and, quite...

Luxury without warmth – more clouds than sunshine

Staff lacks hospitality completely, dimming what could have been an elegant stay.

The Sunshine Hotel Zhangjiajie makes a strong first impression. The grand exterior, circular driveway, and opulent lobby with dramatic lighting and soaring chandeliers give it a distinct five-star feel. Check-in was swift and efficient, though not particularly warm — a pattern I’ve encountered repeatedly in this region.

My room was spacious and tastefully styled in a traditional, slightly ornate Chinese décor — gold accents, a floral headboard, embroidered bedding, and patterned carpets. I found it cosy and refined, though a touch old-fashioned. The room included a kettle, a large wardrobe, and an empty minibar (which was fine to store personal items), but no capsule coffee machine — surprising for a hotel of this category.

The bathroom was one of the highlights: large, well-appointed, and spotless, with a generous rain shower and a separate bathtub. Everything felt clean and properly maintained.

Unfortunately, I was once again placed next to the lift. While not excessively loud, the mechanical hum and vibrations were noticeable enough to require earplugs. In a hotel of this scale, it’s disappointing that room assignment doesn’t take noise exposure into account unless explicitly requested.

Breakfast was decent but uninspired. The buffet offered both Asian and Western selections, but lacked several basics — no baked beans, no unsweetened muesli or yoghurt, and no healthy additions like oats or nuts. The muesli options were highly processed, and the yoghurt overly sweet. I also missed having chocolate milk, and there was no visible staff presence to ask or assist. As with other parts of the hotel, the atmosphere was competent but entirely lacking in warmth or proactive service.

Sadly, the hotel’s weakest point is its staff — not just at check-out, but across the board. While not unfriendly, they were consistently cold, detached, and uninterested. The check-out experience was the lowest point of my stay: completely indifferent, bordering on arrogance. No eye contact, no farewell, no hospitality whatsoever. For a hotel called “Sunshine”, the staff convey very little of it in their manner or service.

This is a real shame, as the hardware of the hotel is genuinely impressive — the grand design, clean rooms, and elegant bathrooms all point to a well-managed physical property. But the human element is a critical part of any hospitality experience, and here it falls far short of expectations. A beautiful hotel can only take you so far; the absence of genuine, welcoming service leaves a lasting impression — and unfortunately...

This hotel falls below average in every category but one. Our guide said it was the best hotel in Zhangjiajie. I saw a Hampton Inn not far away, and I wish I had spent the last two nights there.

Rooms. Our room constituted the weirdest hotel room I have ever stayed in. The bedspread, sheets, and curtain sheers were bright PINK! A PURPLE shag rug on the floor covered a defect in the BROWN-patterned carpet. A white wicker love swing in the corner sat on an ORANGE rug and was covered by a white and GREEN cushion. The color scheme was phenomenally ugly. Unbelievably, the toilet was encased in a glass enclosure similar to the shower. You felt like you were in a fish bowl.

Lobby and Property. The hotel is old, tired, and worn. The halls and rooms smell dusty and of heavy cigarette smoke. Visible dust covered chandeliers and other fixtures. There were few shops on the premises, giving the hotel a sleepy look and feel. The lobby looks better in the photos than it did live. But … the hotel is located close to some of the most spectacular mountain scenes and hiking that I have ever witnessed or experienced.

FOOD. Our package included a buffet breakfast and dinner. The Chinese food was horrible. Every dish with beef or pork included BOTH bone pieces and generous gristle. I had a dish billed as “Chinese short ribs.” After three bites I threw it out. All bone and gristle, not a speck of meat fit for human consumption. The grill cook prepared, while you waited, a sort of stir fry with chicken, pork, and potatoes. That dish was good, the only redeeming food served. The buffet served no Western food to speak of. Best advice: if you must eat here, wait for the grill and eat fruit.

Staff. We had little interaction with the staff. Curiously, though, the maid did not fill the empty shower gel or put out a roll of toilet paper. We ran out of both on our second night. We had to set the toilet paper core on the counter and take the shower gel bottle off the mount and set it next to the core to get both issues addressed while we...