Business-oriented Shenzhen tends to be expensive. But if you must spend a night, the best place to stay is the Holiday Inn Express (Luo Hu Kwai Jie Jia Er Jiu Dian) on 6 Guiyuan North Road (tel. 0755/2559-6999; fax 0755/2559-6222), is a luxury hotel at budget prices. All the basics are done extremely well as would be expected from such a big name, comfortable beds, excellent buffet breakfast, and full coverage Internet. It is well worth booking this hotel over the Internet where rates are usually in the region of ¥320 to ¥360 for a standard room. If you are doing more than just passing through, then the Shenzhen Loft (Qiao Cheng Lu You Guo Jie Qing Nyen Lu She) at 3 En Ping Street in Hua Qiao Cheng (take the metro to the Qiao Cheng Dong stop), (tel. 0755/2694-9443; fax 0755/2660-1293; loftyha@yahoo.com.cn) would be a better choice. This is part of the Overseas Chinese Town, one of the largest construction companies in China, who have taken and old worker's dormitory and renovated in contemporary style as part of their art park project in this area. At ¥188 standard rooms are comfortable with a certain flair, but there are also dorms, a kitchen, and laundry making it popular with budget travelers. At the other end of the scale, the same company, OCT is about to launch three new boutique hotels in the same area that will certainly be worth checking out if you are in the area. The Mahayana OCT will have just 22 Zen-inspired guest rooms, all decorated with religious frescoes. Among the facilities will be a vegetarian restaurant, along with meditation and chanting rooms for those looking to do some soul-searching. The Aqua OCT Boutique is hidden inside a 70m (230 ft.) waterfall, while the Parkview's guest rooms will all be state of the art, fully fitted, German imported "Motohomes."
