ZZuihuasuPerhaps it's because I studied at the most authoritative university program concerning Chongqing's history, but I've always been intensely curious about buildings with historical significance, especially hotels that have transformed from them. Whether I'm sitting on the sofa or lying in bed in my room, I can't help but imagine the stories that once unfolded here. While every space, given enough time, surely holds a fascinating past, spaces with explicit historical information make these fantasies more concrete, or less ambiguous, by narrowing the scope of imagination. I recall a story about an elderly French woman in the last century who came to the French Navy Barracks on Chongqing's Nanbin Road to search for her birthplace. The Ren'ai Hall, built in 1902 by the French Catholic Church, served as both a church and a hospital. During the Anti-Japanese War, it sheltered abandoned infants, earning it the nickname 'Orphanage' among older Chongqing residents. Where did the children born or raised at Ren'ai Hall go? Did any try to return and explore their past? What did they discover? These imagined scenarios could form a novel, and with a large enough sample size, they might even be true historical events. Regardless, the current Ren'ai Hall, both in terms of its guests' physical and mental state and the hotel's physical space, feels far more relaxed and peaceful than it did in the past.
After booking the room, several concierges were responsible throughout the entire process. The whole arrangement was very meticulous, and thanks to these arrangements, I personally had no questions that I needed to proactively ask during my entire stay. Before check-in, the concierge would inform me of the exact drop-off points for various transportation methods, and upon arrival, staff members were there to greet me. If I had a lot of luggage, even more staff would assist. The concierge also pre-booked a travel photography team. Teacher Zihao from Zixuan Photography, who handled our travel shoot, was very professional, both in his understanding of light and his ability to capture fleeting moments. A tip for friends who plan to do their own hair and makeup before the shoot: pay close attention to the final effect (the photography team has their own hair and makeup artists who can do it at the hotel, but due to time constraints, I did my own before check-in). It was my first time getting professional makeup, and I had no experience, so the result was so drastic I barely recognized myself, which unfortunately wasted many good photos. The afternoon tea was unremarkable, but whether it was breakfast, afternoon tea, or the evening sweet soup, a concierge could deliver it to the room. As for the room's interior design and the hotel's scenic views, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. (P.S.: Luckily, my room was upgraded to the Qiongyu Fanhua Suite, which I heard is the same one a certain celebrity stayed in.)
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