Green Oriental Hotel (Urumqi International Grand Bazaar Renmin Road)

Although from outside the hotel does not present an attractive face, the room was very nice and the very plain small lobby very friendly and efficient. Hotel location is however excellent being less than ten minutes from metro station and one stop from Grand Bazaar, where there is so much to see, do and eat. I went there every night! Unfortunately the metro does not yet go to the main Urumqi fast train station (I arrived from Turpan) even though station signs point to the metro station it is not yet open. It was though very easy to reach the airport by metro in 45 minutes. I found that the best way to get to the excellent Xinjiang Museum is to take metro four stops to Nanhu Square, and after enjoying Nanhu Lake Park, get a taxi / Didi to the Museum. It takes 15 minutes and costs about ¥20/25. The museum is free and I did not need to queue or pre-book for a ticket. There is no power switch inside the door where usually you place your key card. So not clear how to cut off room electricity when leaving unless firmest switch off in more than ten switches around the room! Bed was very large and comfortable and huge TV had all the channels…once you discover that - among the many light switches on both sides of the bed - there is one labelled TV and without this neither of the two remotes will switch on the TV! The shower was a little out of date but effective, though the hot water was not really that hot. The breakfast on the top floor was a really good Chinese buffet although coffee was from a machine and very average. One morning fresh wanton were prepared by a chef.

The bed was comfy and the room had a great selection of English movies available! The view was nothing special. The gym had a ping-pong table which is unique. Also odd, but I noticed the grout in the bathroom was metallic or had some kind of glitter mixed into the paste! The hotel location was in a walkable distance to the Grand Bazaar as well.