We usually stay in this hotel to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Shamian and spa days in the area. This hotel is bigger and carries less "local Chinese atmosphere" compared to Victory Hotel nearby. If you are non-chinese and not so used to China, i recommend this hotel to the other one there, because there are less hassle(and more choices) at White Swan in ordering breakfast compared to at Victory hotel.

Anyway, the best part of this hotel is the breakfast venue. You can literally watch the river(somewhat murky still yet grandiose ) very closely. Since the hotel's distance from the river is not that far, it appears quite impressive from a table.

The second best is its proximity to the park and the promenade. You would imagine Guangzhou is so noisy and dirty and crowded(if you are subjective as I am) but this hotel and its location gives you all so different impressions about China. Even my family member who doesn't like China so much, actually likes here and says wants to come back occasionally.

What we do while we are there is actually to enjoy Chinese Spa. There is a spa in the walking distance and we enjoy going there twice a day for our three day stay from Tokyo.

Wish though in general, this hotel improves on its food and its way in serving. Not quite yet too westernized. Doesn't have to be, but if it can be more Westernized, would probably be more comfortable to stay for me even a Japanese. I don't know where(because it just doesn't click to me,) but there are certainly things to improve.

Also, you'd better be prepared to spend some money since the prices in this hotel are quite high. Also the rate of this hotel has gone up quite a lot compared to several years ago, so expect some changes(better or worse) if you have stayed here once before and are looking to stay here again.

we stayed in a room overlooking the Pearl river. Wandered the river banks each day. Nearby fishermen and swimmers. Good shopping, excellent food and a terrific hotel with an array of good breakfast choices and comfortable rooms.

Usually stay in this hotel on trips to Guanzhou. The staff is wonderful and quite helpful. The rooms are clean, and the buffet breakfast is quite extensive also. The unfortunate thing is that they will close for one year for major renovation. Much better than before as they do not allow smoking in the buffet. Wait for next years update!

We stayed at the White Swan in March 2010 with our adoption group from the USA. What a beautiful & well kept hotel! The beds were very comfortable, but I like a very firm mattress. The bathrooms were beautiful with all the marble, & our room was spotless. The housekeepers were very helpful & we were brought ice many times a day whenever we asked for it! The carvings in jade & wood are magnificent throughout the hotel, I wish there had been more time to appreciate all this hotel encompassed! We enjoyed the breakfast buffet & the inside eateries, not to mention the beautiful inside waterfall & live plants! We took advantage of all the shops up & down the block by the White Swan. We also enjoyed eating at Lucy's & getting Diet Coke, as there was no Diet Pepsi, at the little 7-11 a couple of doors from the hotel! Our guide directed us to an office where we had to have many copies of papers for our traveling made, also they arranged for our tickets to take a train to Hong Kong, as our baby was on oxygen, therefore couldn't fly. The only derogatory thing I can think to say is how smoggy it was most of the time we were there. It would have been nice to look out the window & see more of the city & river.