Folk Inn

Stayed one day on return from Shanghai. This is the first "themed" hotel I've stayed in during my stay in China. The theme here is "Sichuan guesthouse," and so each of the rooms has an antique style. My initial impression (at 1am) was great - I really got a kick out of the tea set and design of my room. There was a nice, big shower head and a lovely bowl sink. The beds were comfortable and everything was clean. The noise from other rooms was muffled. Breakfast was good - lots of local fare, though by 8:30am most of it had settled to lukewarm. The staff does not speak much English (my boss checked me into the hotel to save trouble). There is also a stage, where they put on traditional shows on certain evenings. I arrived too late for a show, but I think it's a great idea. There were some immediate problems as well - the biggest being that my adapter plug did not fit any of the sockets in the room. Each of the sockets is just slightly too narrow for a Chinese adapter plug, though my laptop plugged in well enough. Based in my room, I have to say that there is a disappointing lack of available plugs in general. You will be sharing plugs with what's already in the room. My thermostat also seemed to be not functioning. And, unfortunately, there was a call girl card waiting for me when I arrived. It was just the one, though - not so bad. The location for the hotel is also less than convenient - no metro stops in the immediate area. It's quiet, though, which is saying something. But I have to say that even with the annoyances, this place is charming. I'd recommend staying here if you don't mind being a little off the beaten track.