Gaocheng Hotel (Chengdu Happy Valley Jinfu Metro Station)
I've stayed in Chengdu over 200 nights a year, usually booking major chain hotels directly through official channels—mainly for the best rates, member perks, and loyalty tier status (Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Huazhu Platinum, Jinjiang Black). This time I got a local stay voucher and tried booking through the platform into one of those big brands, but it wasn’t the most cost-effective option. So I decided to go for a standalone property instead, maximizing the value of the voucher.
Choosing a standalone hotel is always a bit of a gamble. I was almost locked in on another place when I stumbled across this one last minute. The room photos immediately caught my eye—it looked exactly like a recently rebranded Holiday Inn Express. After applying the voucher, the final price was incredibly competitive, so I didn’t hesitate much. A quick glance at the reviews confirmed it was worth trying.
I arrived from a distant Fairfield by Marriott in the southern part of the city, taking a direct subway ride of over 30 stops to Jinfu Station—no transfers needed. It took just five minutes to walk from the exit to the hotel. Check-in went smoothly, and the front desk staff were training a new team member, which made them extra attentive and patient.
The room matched my expectations closely—almost fully retaining the recent Holiday Inn Express design language. Some features weren't in use anymore, like the in-room safe. The central AC had been turned off and replaced with a standalone unit, with the outdoor condenser installed in a section near the floor-to-ceiling window, slightly reducing the view and natural light. But thanks to a complimentary room upgrade, the overall sightlines remained excellent.
There’s a laundry room with a regular-sized washing machine—definitely not commercial-grade, but functional enough. I noticed they’re installing a dryer too, which will be a nice addition soon. Amenities-wise, the bath products aren’t from HIX anymore, and towels and face cloths are single-use by default, though you can request reusable linens if needed.
Besides clear remnants of the former Holiday Inn Express identity, there are subtle traces of Starway Hotel as well. As a standalone property now, maintenance and service details don’t quite match the standards set under IHG or Huazhu management. But honestly, considering the price point, the quality-to-value ratio is outstanding. If you're staying around Jinfu area, this is definitely a solid recommendation. Too bad it’s not part of any major brand group—I’d have stayed here multiple times otherwise.
