Beihai Xilaifeng Seaview Hotel

I found myself in Beihai almost by accident, and wanted to be near the beach. So, after a taxi from the rail station and walking a bit from the fishing harbor, I haphazardly happened upon a small group of hotels strung along the wide expanse of south facing Beihai beach. Some type of convention was in town, so the first few hotels had oddly expensive pricing. The last I visited, the Xilaifeng Sea-View, was most reasonable - but English was not spoken. Using a downloaded translation program helped, since I speak little Mandarin. The interesting thing about this hotel is that it was obviously built some time ago with a grand vision - but in the interceding decades, it has lost a lot of luster. This is China, and the hospitality industry is still finding its way. With this in mind, the reception staff was helpful, but ultimately didn't seem interested whether I actually checked-in or not. On the positive, the room was fairly comfortable and had one English news channel. Also, the open windows have screens and allow you to hear the ocean at night. Complimentary breakfast is located 50 meters away at a basic adjoining annex and is fairly rudimentary but, for me, satisfactory. This hotel is not for high-maintenance visitors. I think it is more than adequate for the solo explorer who wants a brief taste of the beach in Beihai. Beyond that, the hotel seems to cater to local tourists and, of all things, honeymooners. The hotel "pool" facing the beach is empty and devoid of water. The hotel offers a nice walk onto the beach. For my several night stay, I found it close to various Beihai attractions by taxi. In the end, the Chinese have not embraced beach culture (yet?), so this location seems a bit isolating. For other meals, there are nearby seafood restaurants up the street. There is also some life on nearby streets about 2 km towards the fishing harbor (to the east). Otherwise this Hotel is kind of a "one-off" experience best enjoyed in the context of a quick visit.