Review: Park Hyatt Guangzhou

I stayed at the Park Hyatt Guangzhou as part of my whirlwind SAS Millionaire trip. Sadly, I didn’t venture out and explore Guangzhou at all as I was busy planning the final segments of my journey. However, the hotel provided an excellent refuge from the hustle and bustle of airports, offering fantastic views of the surrounding Guangzhou area.

Booking

I booked this stay with cash as it was relatively inexpensive for a Park Hyatt, as the one-night rate of 1,455 CNY converts to ~$275 CAD. If you’re unfamiliar, Park Hyatt hotels are in the same level of luxury as the Ritz-Carlton or the Waldorf Astoria.

While this was one of the most expensive hotels on my journey, it was undoubtedly a lot better to pay cash than pay the 20,000 Hyatt points the hotel was charging for the night. World of Hyatt points are typically worth approximately 2 cents USD or more, so this redemption of 1.38 cents CAD is below average.

Check-in

I arrived at the hotel quite late after taking Kenya Airways’ 5th Freedom Route from Bangkok to Guangzhou. I would have liked to arrive earlier, but this Kenya Airways flight was required as part of the challenge and operated only once a day, three times a week. Due to that lack of flexibility, I met quite a few other challengers in the boarding area.

The hotel is located on the top floors of Yingkai Square, which stands 938 feet tall. You begin your journey by heading up to the 65th floor, where you step out into floor-to-ceiling windows and a beautiful lobby.

I added a Guest of Honor certificate to my booking thanks to my wife’s World of Hyatt Globalist status, and the agent at the check-in desk acknowledged I would have complimentary breakfast and a late checkout, but there were no upgrades available. I was a bit disappointed, but once I saw the room, I was perfectly happy.

Location

The Park Hyatt Guangzhou is right downtown, so it’s a bit far from the Guangzhou airport (CAN), but considering I had a long layover, I was happy to make the 45-minute drive into town rather than see another airport hotel.

It’s also right around the corner from the Canton TV tower and provides incredible views of the surrounding area as you’re at the top of a tall skyscraper.

Parking

Self-parking is complimentary at the Park Hyatt Guangzhou.

Room – 1 King Bed Park View

To arrive at your room, there are separate elevators that only serve the lobby, guest room floors, and the spa. On the way to the elevators, you’re met with some incredible traditional Chinese architecture.

I was given a room on the 61st floor. The hotel’s corridors are dimly lit, providing a distinctly premium feel with creative design choices throughout.

Stepping into the room, the plush carpets of the hallways are replaced with beautifully polished tiles and clean design lines.

To the left is a small powder room with one of the most advanced toilets I’ve ever experienced, and it’s equipped with very lavish Le Labo amenities (that bar of soap absolutely came home with me).

Turning to the right at the entrance, you’ll find the master bath and the hallway to the living room. I was very impressed that a base room was equipped with so much space.

The master bathroom is the best bathroom I’ve ever had in a “standard room” and challenges some suites I’ve had the privilege of staying in. For example, the tub has a built-in TV!

The bathtub is also equipped with a sliding door, allowing you to enjoy the Guangzhou views or socialize with your living room guests while you’re in the tub, if that’s your thing!

The double vanity features every amenity you could need, with additional options available upon request if required. I am still savoring my complimentary bottle of Bergamote lotion!

The shower was huge and had the best combination of rainfall and handheld shower heads. Also in the shower was a mirror, which is a feature I hadn’t encountered before. The Le Labo amenities are also labeled Park Hyatt, which is an excellent personalized touch. I probably took three showers here just for the luxury of it!

Stepping out of the bathroom and into the hall, you will see that the entrance to the closet is on your right.

The closet was massive and featured a huge full-length mirror that passed the Danny test with flying colors. You’ll also find some slippers, a robe, a luggage rack, and ironing equipment.

The main area of the room consisted of three distinct sections: the bed, the living room, and a small dining area.

As I had arrived late, the turndown service had already been completed, and it was beautifully done, with slippers set up and an inviting setup in the king bed. The bedside tables are elegant and straightforward, with easy-to-use light switches and universal power ports.

The dining area offered a welcome amenity of fresh fruit, along with multiple welcome letters and hotel information.

Just behind the dining table was a small side table with some stationery and the room service menu.

The views from the dining area were fantastic at night, and they only got better in the morning! If you leaned against the window, you could get a clear view of the unique Canton TV tower as well.

The final feature of the room is the mini-bar, which was artfully contained in this old wooden dresser. Inside, you’ll find complimentary coffee and tea as well as snacks and premium drinks to purchase. 

For reference, 10 CNY is roughly $2 CAD, so things were priced at a premium but not quite as steep as some hotels. The glassware in the cabinet was also wonderfully organized.

Restaurants & Bars

Dining Room – Hyatt Globalist Complimentary Breakfast

I only dined at the Dining Room for breakfast as I opted for the traditional Chinese restaurant for dinner. The breakfast spread is vast and occupies half of the restaurant. As a Globalist or Guest of Honor, simply write the cost of breakfast on your room bill, and it will be deducted from the total as part of the Hyatt breakfast benefit.

There is a wide variety of food to order directly to your table, as can be seen here on the menu.

The views from the restaurant are spectacular, and as I visited near Christmas, the table was decorated with some faux pine branches.

I found some delicious meat, cheese, and amazing pastries at the buffet and ordered the red bean puff and French toast from the menu.

Some servers will float around the breakfast area and take your order. They offered me an assortment of beverages, and I ordered the lot with sparkling water, a cappuccino, and orange juice. It was the best breakfast I had during my trip by a wide margin!

Living Room

I didn’t dine in the Living Room, but I did enjoy the spectacular views of the Canton TV tower.

Also in the living room was a massive Christmas tree, which became even more stunning in the evening.

The Living Room is open for Lunch and Dinner service daily, as well as a Dim Sum brunch on weekends.

Yue Jing Xuan – Chinese Fine Dining

Yue Jing Xuan was a fantastic dining experience, and I’m not the only one to make that statement, as it has been included in the Michelin Guide as a selected restaurant for the past seven years.

I was the only Westerner in the restaurant, but I was greeted warmly and received some excellent service. I wish I could have enjoyed it with company! Truthfully, I didn’t know about any of the accolades before dining; I just wanted a traditional Chinese meal, and this delivered. 

I ordered the pumpkin, steak medallions, and pork buns, which was a lot of food but an excellent meal to set my taste buds right after too much airport lounge food.

The Roof Bar

After my fantastic meal at Yue Jing Xuan, I needed to make a trip to the bar, as it has direct views of the Canton TV Tower. Sadly, it was raining, so I couldn’t sit on the patio, which is the true highlight.

I was still able to grab some of my images of the light show, which was beautiful.

The bar is aesthetically pleasing, with a similarly dark and moody theme. I stayed on a Wednesday night, but the hotel still had a live band playing, accompanied by an amazing singer. I wasn’t planning on sticking around for long, but I opted to have a cocktail. The cocktail was wonderfully presented and was served with seasoned nuts.

Facilities

Fitness Center

I opted to visit the pool to loosen up my stiff muscles after all that flying, but the fitness center looks lovely.

Pool

The pool is a true highlight of this property, situated on the 63rd floor with amazing views of the Canton TV tower. Arriving on the 63rd floor, you’ll need to check in at the spa reception to use the pool. 

As is customary in most of China, you’ll need to use a swim cap in the pool. I didn’t pack one, but the staff provided me with one.

At the reception, you’ll also be given a bracelet for a locker, which will provide you with access to the changing rooms. The changing rooms are stunning and far more luxurious than I anticipated.

The changing rooms are stunning and far more luxurious than I anticipated.

Exiting the change room, you’ll find yourself in a private bath area with stunning views of the skyline.

Finally, you reach the pool area, which features a dramatic entrance with a motion sensor shower to provide one last clean before jumping into the pool. Hygiene is important in China! At the top of these stairs, you’re met with a poster-worthy view of the Canton TV tower.

The pool is large, and I enjoyed taking quite a few laps before settling in on the window side to enjoy the views. The pool chairs are also exceptionally plush.

Spa

As a 5-star hotel, it’s only natural that a spa is on offer, however, I did not opt for any treatments.

Conclusion

The Park Hyatt Guangzhou is an incredible value for the money, being one of my favorite hotels that I visited in 2024. While you’ll need to stomach the ~$300 CAD per night cost, it’s worth the splurge unless you’ve got more World of Hyatt points or Chase Ultimate Rewards than you know what to do with.