Shenyang's BEST Jinjiang Inn? (Xinggong North Street Metro Review!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into the gloriously messy world of the Jinjiang Inn in Shenyang (Xinggong North Street Metro Review!). Forget those sterile, perfectly-curated travel blogs – this is the REAL DEAL. I'm talking sweatpants, lukewarm coffee, and brutally honest opinions.
First things first: Location, Location, Location! This Jinjiang Inn’s proximity to the Xinggong North Street Metro is a LIFESAVER. Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. Shenyang is HUGE. Trying to navigate it without the metro is like trying to herd cats… in a blizzard… wearing mittens. So, Accessibility? CHECK. Major plus! Getting around? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. (And yes, I saw people use the metro like pros– even grandmas with mountains of groceries! This is important!)
Alright, let’s talk rooms.
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning? Okay, check! I needed that. Seriously, the struggle is real, and you'll be grateful for the AC. Air conditioning is non-negotiable for me. And then we have Alarm clock (yawn), Bathrobes (nice touch!), uhm… Bathroom phone (WHO USES THESE ANYMORE?!) a Bathtub… Okay, okay, yes, there's a lot going on!
- Carpeting is… well, it’s carpeting. Closet (again, standard). Coffee/tea maker (saved my mornings). Complimentary tea (yay, free stuff!). Daily housekeeping (bless them, I'm messy). Desk (actually used it, shocking!), Extra-long bed (good for a lanky dude like me), Free bottled water (hydration is key!), Hair dryer (essential!), High floor (didn't request, but okay!), In-room safe box (trusty, but I mostly just left my stuff lying around– don't tell anyone!), Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN (haven't used those in years), Internet access – wireless (HELLO, WI-FI!), Ironing facilities (didn’t touch them, wrinkled clothes are my aesthetic), Laptop workspace (again, useful!), Linens (clean!), Mini bar (didn't touch it, probably overpriced anyway).
- The thing is, I'm pretty simple. A clean bed, hot water, and functional wifi are the core needs met.
Wi-Fi? Here's the kicker. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! They tout it, and they deliver. The connection? Pretty solid. Streaming those late-night dramas? No problem. (Don't judge me.) Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas? Seems like the internet is EVERYWHERE, which is FANTASTIC! But, like, do you think the internet is important? Because it really is.
Cleanliness and Safety. Okay, this is where things get serious. In these post-pandemic times, you NEED to know a place is taking hygiene seriously. This Jinjiang Inn goes above and beyond! Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE, (Thank you!) Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol… They even had a Professional-grade sanitizing services that I can see in the hallways, which made me feel a lot better (and safer)! I saw the staff cleaning and disinfecting everywhere. They just don't mess around! I even saw the Sterilizing equipment being applied.
(Dining, drinking, and snacking)
- Okay, let's talk about the food. This is where things get… interesting. Breakfast in room? NOPE, at least not for me. Asian breakfast. What about that? Well, I couldn't resist the Asian cuisine in restaurant! It was pretty great. So, that's a plus.
- They had the Coffee shop. So, you can get your caffeine fix, which isn't the worst idea when you are in a foreign country. Sometimes you need a little bit of home.
- The Buffet in restaurant and Breakfast [buffet] were… well, it's a buffet. You've got your standard fare: pastries, eggs (of questionable origin, but eatable), and some kind of… mystery meat. Look, it was convenient, it filled a hole, and sometimes that's all you need.
- Room service [24-hour]: Ah, the siren song of room service. I did NOT use it, but the option is there, especially if you're feeling lazy after a long day of exploring.
- I skipped the Salad in restaurant, but I saw other people and the Soup in restaurant sounded tempting.
- A la carte in restaurant
- Alternative meal arrangement
- Bottle of water
- Desserts in restaurant
- Happy hour
- International cuisine in restaurant
- Poolside bar
- Vegetarian restaurant
- Western breakfast
- Western cuisine in restaurant
- Snack bar
Things to do, ways to relax.
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]
- I wish I would have had time for all the things listed!! I wish I could relax more!
- There were, alas, no pools or spa facilities at this particular Jinjiang Inn. While that was a bit of a bummer, it wasn't a deal-breaker. I was there to explore, not lounge around. Don't expect a resort.
Services and conveniences: Okay, this is a long section.
- Air conditioning in public area (thank god!)
- Audio-visual equipment for special events (huh?)
- Business facilities (they had some, I didn't need 'em)
- Cash withdrawal (always useful)
- Concierge (never actually used, too introverted)
- Contactless check-in/out (THANK YOU, tech!)
- Convenience store (a lifesaver for late-night snacks)
- Currency exchange (again, useful)
- Daily housekeeping (bless them, I’m messy)
- Doorman (very polite)
- Dry cleaning (nice touch)
- Elevator (YES, essential)
- Essential condiments (um, what kind?)
- Facilities for disabled guests (good to know they're there)
- Food delivery (tempting, but I wanted to eat out)
- Gift/souvenir shop (didn't see one)
- Indoor venue for special events (again…?)
- Invoice provided (necessary for any trip)
- Ironing service (wrinkled clothes are the look)
- Laundry service (didn’t use it)
- Luggage storage (always useful)
- Meeting/banquet facilities (not my thing)
- Meetings
- Meeting stationery
- On-site event hosting (like, a wedding?)
- Outdoor venue for special events (again…?)
- Projector/LED display (too techy for me)
- Safety deposit boxes (good for valuables)
- Seminars
- Shrine
- Smoking area (smokers rejoice)
- Terrace (didn't see one)
- Wi-Fi for special events (are you kidding me?)
- Xerox/fax in business center (it's 2024…)
For the kids:
- Babysitting service (nope)
- Family/child friendly (seemed like it, but I'm single)
- Kids facilities (if they exist, I didn't see them)
- Kids meal (they had it, I guess)
Access:
- CCTV in common areas (made me feel safe)
- CCTV outside property (same)
- Check-in/out [express] (super fast!)
- Check-in/out [private] (fancy)
Other Stuff:
- Couple's room (not relevant)
- Exterior corridor (standard)
- Fire extinguisher (SAFETY FIRST!)
- Front desk [24-hour] (always there)
- Hotel chain (it
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this Jinjiang Inn Shenyang Xinggong North Street METRO Shenyang, China itinerary is about to get REAL. Forget those perfectly curated travel vlogs. This is the raw, unfiltered, "did I just eat something that's still looking at me?" version. Consider yourself warned.
Day 1: Arrival (and Immediate Regret, Kidding… Mostly)
- 14:00 - Landed in Shenyang! Ah, the sweet, stale air of an airport. I swear, those airplane pretzels are specifically designed to cling to your molars for eternity. The immigration process was… efficient. Which is a nice way of saying I felt like a prized heifer being inspected.
- 15:30 - Taxi to Jinjiang Inn: Okay, the cab ride. Let's just say the driving here is an art form I don't understand. It's a blend of kamikaze pilot and bumper car enthusiast. Miraculously, we arrived. The Inn itself? Functional, but not exactly "rustic charm." Think beige on beige on beige. My room key promptly failed, so I spent a good ten minutes awkwardly trying to explain to the front desk guy (who spoke limited English) that I wasn't a ghost trying to break in. Success!
- 16:30 - Room Check and Immediate Contemplation of Leaving: The room is… fine. Clean-ish. The air conditioning sounds like a dying walrus. I’m already fantasizing about the end of this trip. What have I gotten myself into?!
- 17:00 - Deep Breath and Metro Adventure: Right, metro time. I'd heard it was the best way to get around. Easier said than done. The ticket machines are a maze of flashing lights and indecipherable characters. A kind older lady, bless her heart, took pity on my bewildered face and practically wrestled the ticket out of the machine for me. The metro itself? Surprisingly clean and efficient. Though I did witness a guy loudly eating a bag of sunflower seeds, shells and all. Culture, people, culture.
- 18:00 - Dinner at "Random Noodle Joint": Found a place near the metro exit. No English menu. Pointed and hoped for the best. Ended up with something that might have been noodles, swimming in a broth of questionable origins and a mysterious meat-adjacent substance I'm fairly certain wasn't on the menu. But hey, I'm still alive! And it was… an experience. Let's go with that.
- 19:30 - Evening Stroll and Mild Panic: Walked around the neighborhood. Lots of neon signs, bustling shops, and a general feeling of being very, very far from home. Saw a woman walking a tiny, fluffy dog that looked like a sentient dust bunny. Got a little lost. Briefly considered changing my name and becoming a monk.
- 21:00 - Bedtime and Air-Con's Symphony of Sorrow: The walrus is singing again. Good night, Shenyang. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.
Day 2: The Forbidden City (and an Abject Failure at Bartering)
- 08:00 - Breakfast: The Continental Buffet of Despair: The "continental breakfast" at the hotel was… an adventure. Think congealed scrambled eggs, mystery meat, and bread that could double as a frisbee. Coffee? Let's just say it would peel the enamel off your teeth. I may or may not have snuck out and grabbed a pastry from a street vendor. Don't tell anyone.
- 09:00 - Forbidden City Shenyang: Okay, this was actually pretty cool. The Forbidden City is impressive, filled with history and some serious architecture. Majestic and peaceful. Still quite a few tourists there
- 11:00 - Shopping Street Attempt (and Total Embarrassment): Right, went to this street market selling various stuff. I'm usually pretty good at bargaining, but here? I was a total disaster. I offered what I thought was a reasonable price for a silk scarf. The vendor just laughed at me. Laughed! My face turned the same color as the scarf. I ended up buying it for, like, triple what it was probably worth. Lesson learned: Learn to haggle. Or just embrace being ripped off.
- 12:30 - Lunch Fail (Second Verse, Same as the First): Found another "local" restaurant. This time, I think I ordered dumplings. Though, honestly, who knows? The waiter might have been a figment of my imagination. The dumplings were… interesting. Filled with something that resembled a mix of vegetables and mystery protein. I ate them. (Don't judge me.)
- 14:00 - Exploring More of the City: Went for a walk through a local park. Got lost in the crowd (the park was packed), and spent some time watching locals do Tai Chi, which was incredibly peaceful and gave a little bit more of a calming effect.
- 16:00 - Tea Ceremony (aka, More Confusion): Found a tea house. Thought I could learn something about the local customs. Instead, I sat there, looking lost, as a lady poured tea into tiny cups with bewildering rituals. I knocked over my tea cup, spilling a little tea into my lap. I think I may never be graceful.
- 18:00 - Dinner and Existential Dread: Another dinner at the 'random noodle joint', and my feelings are mixed about it.
- 19:30 - Back to the Room: The walrus is still going strong. I'm starting to think it's my new roommate.
Day 3: Leaving Shenyang (and the Sweet, Sweet Promise of Home)
- 08:00 - Breakfast (The Final Act): Scraped up the courage for a final round of the hotel breakfast. Managed to avoid the worst of it, I believe.
- 09:00 - Last-Minute Souvenir Hunt (and Another Bargaining Fiasco): Decided to find a decent souvenir. I bought a little trinket to remind me of this trip. I got thoroughly scammed but was so ready to leave that I didn't even care.
- 10:00 - Check Out: Said my goodbyes to the walrus (the air conditioning).
- 11:00 - Airport Bound: The taxi ride was… an experience. The driver seemed to be auditioning for a stunt driving school.
- 12:00 - Goodbye Shenyang, Hello Freedom!
So, there you have it. My Shenyang adventure. Did I find hidden gems and have profound cultural revelations? Maybe not. But I survived. I ate some questionable food. I got lost. I made some ridiculous mistakes. And, honestly, I wouldn't have traded any of it. It was messy. It was imperfect. It was, well, human. And I'm already mentally planning the trip back home.
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Shenyang Jinjiang Inn (Xinggong North Street) - The REAL FAQs (Because Let's Get Real)
Is this Jinjiang Inn actually "the best"? (Spoiler: Probably not, but...)
"Best" is a loaded word, right? Look, this ain't the Four Seasons. You're not gonna be wowed by marble floors or personalized service. BUT, for the price, and considering it's smack-dab next to the Xinggong North Street Metro station, it's a freaking lifesaver. Especially if you're like me, and can't navigate Shenyang's bus system without ending up in a rice field. "Best" in this context translates to: clean enough, convenient enough, and won't bankrupt you. I’ve seen worse. MUCH worse. I'm talking, places where the air conditioning sounded like a dying walrus and the "complimentary toiletries" were basically water and regret. This isn't *that*.
What's the deal with the location? ACTUALLY convenient?
Okay, let me gush for a second. The Xinggong North Street Metro station? Practically *underneath* the hotel! Like, roll out of bed, stumble through the lobby, and BAM! You're on the train. Total win. I'm talking even after a night of questionable street food (and, trust me, there will be questionable street food), and a few too many beers, it’s *easy* to get back. I once stumbled back at 3 AM, half-convinced I was hallucinating a talking dumpling, and still managed to find my room. That, my friends, is location bliss. This is the *only* redeeming factor, really.
Are the rooms... decent? Be honest.
"Decent" is the operative word here. Don't expect luxury. The rooms are... functional. Think slightly-worn furniture, a TV with more Chinese channels than you'll ever understand, and a bathroom that's small but *usually* clean. The air conditioning is a gamble, and I highly recommend checking it the moment you get there... you don't want to discover it's broken at 2 AM. One time, I swear the bedsheets looked like they'd seen a decade of action. I spent the first hour inspecting them under a flashlight. They were... clean enough to lie in, I guess. And the lighting? Fluorescent, harsh, and unforgiving. It will show you *every* mistake you've ever made.
Breakfast: Yay or Nay?
Okay, the breakfast... Let's just say it's... an experience. The pictures of the "buffet" on their website are *highly* optimistic. Expect a small selection of congee (rice porridge), some questionable pastries (possibly yesterday's), and maybe a few sad-looking boiled eggs. The coffee is... brown liquid. I usually end up eating a bowl of congee and staring wistfully at the fruit, wondering if it's worth the risk of getting a stomach ache. One morning, they ran out of everything except pickled vegetables. It was a moment of pure, existential despair. I went and bought some noodles from a street vendor. MUCH better.
The Staff: Friendly? Helpful? Or... Non-existent?
The staff... well, they're mostly functional. English isn't widely spoken. Be prepared to use a translation app (or just point and smile and offer vague gestures.). They tried their best, and honestly, sometimes I felt like they were bemused by my existence. There was one time, I *swear* I saw the front desk lady stifle a laugh when I asked for a map. But hey, they'll get you a taxi when you need one, which is a bonus, and they'll give you a keycard, assuming they don't accidentally give you someone else's. I've seen it happen. More than once.
Any weird or memorable experiences? Spill the tea!
Oh, the stories I could tell. One time, I woke up in the middle of the night to a *loud* banging on my door. I peeked through the peephole (which, incidentally, was about as effective as looking through a pinhole) to see a very confused hotel employee holding a small, wriggling fish. Turns out, my room was somehow assigned to someone else as well, they thought I wasn't there... AND they apparently forgot, they had a pet fish... I assume they were supposed to take care of it! He was just standing there, holding this poor little fish. Eventually, after a lot of frantic gesturing, I figured out the situation. They'd mixed up the rooms. I think the fish incident sums it all up. Shenyang, baby!
Is the Wi-Fi decent? (Because, you know, the modern world...)
Wi-Fi is... variable. Sometimes it's zippy, letting you upload your food pics and post frantic emails about the fish incident. Other times, it's slower than a snail crossing a highway made of molasses. Don't plan on streaming anything. Download your entertainment beforehand. And expect to have to log in every hour (or whenever they feel like it). Prepare yourself for moments of pure, unadulterated internet rage.
Should I stay here? The final verdict?
Look, here's the bottom line. If you're looking for luxury, or expecting perfection, then run, don't walk, to another hotel. If you're on a budget, need a convenient location (seriously, the metro!), and don't mind a few quirks (and maybe a pet-related incident or two), then the Jinjiang Inn Xinggong North Street *could* be alright. You'll survive. And hey, maybe you'll even have a story to tell. Embrace the chaos!
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