ผผู้เข้าพักA Hotel You Literally Have to Find Underground
Hefei South Railway Station
I arrived in Hefei at night, impressed by China’s almost legendary punctuality — something my own country once specialised in, long ago. The airport shuttle glided through wide, perfectly straight roads lined with glowing skyscrapers. A good start.
Then I reached Hefei South Station, opened Trip.com, and was told: “Your hotel is right here.”
Technically true — but only if you know it’s directly underneath your feet.
After wandering around the huge empty square, a very kind police officer rescued me, pointed to a lonely elevator in the middle of the plaza (it looked more like modern art than an entrance), and down I went into the hidden world below.
The hotel is built inside the station itself — small clusters of rooms tucked between luggage areas and service corridors. From reception to my room it was about 300 metres of underground sightseeing. My VIBRAM-soled hiking boots even stuck to the floor at first (someone must have spilled a bottle of very enthusiastic orange soda), but the cleaning staff fixed everything with great care and many smiles.
Breakfast was the most unforgettable part: served inside a convenience store full of police officers and station staff queueing for their morning noodles. No English menu, lots of friendly confusion, and eventually I received three cold eggs and a massive seaweed-wrapped rice block the size of two fists. I decided to spare myself — life is too short for certain experiments — and found a latte upstairs instead.
Summary
What I liked:
Unique location inside the station
Clean rooms
Very friendly staff
Great price
Be aware:
Entrance is hard to find (think: treasure hunt, but underground)
No English spoken
Breakfast not ideal for foreign travelers
Verdict
A memorable stay — perfect for Chinese-speaking guests or adventurous travellers who enjoy stories as much as comfort.
If you don’t speak Chinese: bring patience, humour and your own breakfast.
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