Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Centre: A Flowing Feast Under the Canton Tower
I. Overview | Overview
Where Urban Buzz Meets Tranquil Heights
As a skyline icon in Guangzhou's old town, this hotel—once locally nicknamed "the 63-story building"—was China's tallest in the 1990s, embodying both city memories and the passage of time. Nestled in Huanshidong Road's prime business district, it’s just 200m from Taojin Metro Station and steps from landmarks like Friendship Store and The Garden Hotel. Beyond its prime location, the 56th-floor executive lounge offers panoramic views of Zhujiang New Town, the Canton Tower, and Baiyun Mountain.
Balancing business and leisure, the hotel boasts a pillarless crystal ballroom for grand events alongside a heated pool and kids' club. Notably, its cosmopolitan vibe shines—the executive lounge swirls with aromas of Indian curry and Mexican tacos, while Middle Eastern traders and Western travelers mingle like a global microcosm.
II. Room | In Room
Cloud-Level Living with Meticulous Touches
Our Deluxe Twin Room on the 50th floor featured walnut wood and warm gray tones, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the skyline as a living canvas. Evening deliveries of rotating Cantonese soups surpassed standard hospitality.
The bathroom combined a walk-in shower with a deep-soak tub for efficiency and relaxation. The only drawback? High-floor safety restrictions prevented full window openings, slightly missing natural breezes.
III. Dining | Dining
A Global Gastronomic Journey
The executive lounge breakfast dazzled with made-to-order masala dosa wrapped around spicy potato curry, while runny eggs mirrored the Pearl River’s morning glow. At happy hour, prosciutto paired with chilled Riesling as the Canton Tower donned violet hues outside—a true "moveable feast" of flavors and vistas.
Down on the 5th floor, Huanshi Food Quarter buzzed with wok-fried mackerel’s charred aroma and kids tiptoeing at pastry counters. Must-tries: customizable congee with pork liver or fish slices, and silky rice rolls rivaling street-side classics.
IV. Facilities | Facilities
Dual Harmony for Families and Professionals
The year-round heated pool was a delight (though note lifeguard gaps on holidays). Crown Playland packed punch with ball pits and reading nooks despite compact size.
Business features shone: the 9m-high pillarless ballroom hosts 1,000, while the 63rd-floor Star Bar—a converted helipad—pairs champagne with telephoto views of the Pearl River. The Technogym-equipped fitness center is best at dawn when Baiyun Mountain emerges through mist like a screensaver.
V. The Moments | The Moments
Tipsy Twilight Romance, a Gift from the Skies
Nightfall at the Star Bar was orchestrated magic. Riding a dedicated elevator up, the open-air lounge—still bearing helipad rivet marks—unveiled Guangzhou’s light symphony: CITIC Plaza’s sudden blue glow, CBD neon wildfires, the Canton Tower’s spiraling lights, and finally, cargo boats dotting the Pearl River with starry fishing lamps.
As the moon peeked over Baiyun Mountain, almond slivers gleamed like silver shards. Champagne flutes fogged under moonlight; the breeze carried brandied cherry notes just as the tower flashed rainbow hues—the city became a jazz improvisation of light.
Here, Hemingway’s "moveable feast" took new meaning: not Parisian cafés, but neon swirling in glasses, moonbeams as secret menu items, and the night whispering, "Tonight, Guangzhou belongs to the sleepless."