The 27-storey crescent shaped hotel features 427 contemporary guestrooms, five eclectic restaurants and lounges, including All Day Dining room JING, creating an array of global cuisines. Riva Mediterranean Steakhouse, serving up premium char-grilled steaks and roast seafood. XIU Chinese Restaurant, combines the finest flavors of Cantonese and Suzhou cuisines. The Lounge serves delicious afternoon tea. Also the luxury indoor infinity pool – all boasting panoramic views of the willow-fringed Jinji Lake and the new Suzhou skyline. Hotel concierge provides travel tips for guests anytime and helps guests plan ancient city touring route, rent bicycle for riding around Jinji Lake, which brings guests colorful experience of Suzhou Style.
"Location: Superb! Stepping out of the hotel, you're greeted by lush greenery, and just a 3-minute walk leads you to Jinji Lake, right in a very lively and bustling area.
Breakfast: The spread was incredibly rich and comprehensive, offering everything you could possibly want. Be aware there's a queue between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM. When we first went in, there were no available tables, but the staff were incredibly attentive and proactive – they didn't ignore us but quickly helped us find and clear a table, getting us seated promptly. The variety was dazzling: soy milk, fried dough sticks, pork ribs, tofu skin rolls, red soup noodles, three-filling buns, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, salads, coffee, ice cream, various beverages, bread, pan-fried buns, Jianbing Guozi, oatmeal... The breakfast experience itself felt like a highlight of our trip.
Pool: Absolutely loved it! There were adults and children swimming, but it never felt crowded, probably fewer than 20 people at any time. The pool was clean, luxurious, and offered views of the Gate of the Orient. Guests only need to bring themselves, swimwear, and a change of clothes; the changing rooms provide plastic slippers, tissues, cotton swabs, water, large (very comfortable) towels, and more. Swim caps are mandatory for entry.
Room: The size was just right, and the bedding was very comfortable. They provide two types of pillows, which I highly recommend: one firm and one softer – I loved both. We booked a lake-view room, which also offered views of the Ferris wheel. The large windows provided expansive views and excellent natural light.
Service: Staff member Jack was highly efficient, polite, and professional, providing all sorts of excellent services to guests. The InterContinental also showed great flexibility. After checking out, we went to Tongli, leaving our luggage at the hotel. We returned to pick up our bags after exploring Tongli and were able to organize our belongings and rest in the hotel lobby without being rushed by the staff. I had initially planned to dine in Tongli, but I decisively chose the InterContinental's restaurant instead. The ambiance was great, the service was excellent, and the air conditioning was perfect. As we had a 7:30 PM train to catch, I communicated with the staff in advance about dining earlier. It was absolutely no problem; the transition was seamless, and the dishes were delicious. My parents even said the Yangzhou Dried Shredded Tofu was better than what they'd had in Yangzhou. The Mango Pomelo Sago, at first glance, looked like steamed egg custard, but one taste revealed it was incredibly delicious – silky smooth and rich. Even my usually thrifty father commented, 'It would have been great if we had also had dinner here yesterday.' What I really want to convey to the hotel is that with excellent service and delicious food, customers will definitely be willing to pay, regardless of the price.
We were satisfied with our entire experience at the hotel, including the accommodation, pool, breakfast, and restaurant. Due to the extreme heat and a sudden thunderstorm, we didn't get to explore Jinji Lake much. So, we'll definitely have to come back to Jinji Lake. I told my mother, 'Next time we visit, let's try a different five-star hotel.' But she replied, 'No way, we're staying at the InterContinental again. It has to be the InterContinental!'"