Arriving at night, the Lanzhou Olympic Sports Rosy Huaxi Hotel looked like a hotel that had just arrived from the future with its black windows with blue light stripes. The impression did not change when morning came, as the Wanda Mall next door looked like it had just dropped out of orbit. Of course, having delivery robots wandering the elevators and floors helps with that impression.
Rose Stadium and the Tulip Sports Complex are nearby, and guest reviews specifically mention walking over for concerts. If you are coming for a big show or a game, this address saves a lot of time.
This section of Lanzhou, China, is modern and filled with new developments. The property opened in 2023, and the common areas still feel fresh. Check‑in was efficient with a staffed front desk, although the front desk employees I encountered did not speak English.
The nearest subway station is the Olympic Sports Center Subway Station on Metro Line 1, which is less than 1 km away. The hotel’s published figures put it about 3 km from Chenguanying Railway Station and roughly 53 km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport.
I stayed at the hotel for two non-contiguous nights as part of a press trip to the Gansu province with the Chinese Tourism Board.
View of the Wanda Mall from 5th-floor lounge
Public spaces
The lobby reads new and deliberately upscale, with lots of seating and a calm, businesslike feel in a multi-story atrium. Off the lobby is the Stone Art Museum, which is more of a shop than a museum.
This hotel is part of a purpose‑built Olympic Center “ecosystem” whose buildings are themed after flowers. It has a stadium and three halls, Rose Stadium, Tulip Complex Hall, and Lotus Tennis Hall. The hotel building is referred to as the “Orchid Complex,” and its design blends sports motifs with elements of the Silk Road. That theme carries through to meeting spaces and the signature restaurant upstairs.
Room features
My room was spacious by Chinese city standards, with a sitting area and a table for working. Guest feedback consistently calls out generous room sizes, good water pressure, and quality toiletries. Wi‑Fi, a big TV (but don’t expect English channels), and windows that open.
Colors were muted, and room decorations were minimal.
It had a wood floor, which is good in a Chinese hotel, as non-smoking rooms are hard to come by in China, so for non-smokers, a room with fewer fabric surfaces to retain the odors is a plus.
Soundproofing was solid. I faced the complex and still slept well. If you are sensitive to light or noise, request a higher floor away from the main roads. Elevators were quick, which is not always the case in new towers.
Special features
Two features stand out. First, the top‑floor revolving restaurant with 360‑degree city views, which receives praise ,but we didn’t see it during our stay.
The hotel positions itself as part of an integrated leisure complex. Facilities include a spa, an indoor pool, a fitness room, and an outdoor sky garden. There are EV charging facilities and airport or station transfer services available for a fee. Pets are not allowed. Check‑in is from 14:00 and checkout is by 12:00.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
- To get to facebook and other sites from China you will need a VPN.
Food and dining
Breakfast skews Chinese with a few Western staples like waffles and eggs to get you started. Guests rate it as decent rather than destination-worthy, but I would give it higher marks than that compared to the other five hotels where we stayed in Gansu.
Facilities and amenities
For business or media trips, the hotel checks practical boxes. There are ballrooms, multifunction rooms, smaller meeting rooms, and support services. A 24‑hour front desk, luggage storage, currency exchange, and taxi booking are available. The pool and gym are welcome if you are here for several nights, and the spa is a good recovery stop after long train or bus rides across Gansu.
Things nearby
• Lanzhou Olympic Sports Center and Rose Stadium. Walk over for matches, concerts, and weekend festivals.
• Wanda Mall. Dining, coffee, supermarkets, and quick shopping.
• Lanzhou West Railway Station. Reach it directly on Line 1; the North Square station is two stops east of Olympic Sports Center. Trains and subways interconnect here.
• Yellow River sights. Plan for a taxi or a metro plus short walks to reach Zhongshan Bridge, Waterwheel Garden, White Pagoda Mountain, Dongfanghong Square, and the old lanes around Dazhong Alley. If you want to be steps from these, choose a central hotel; if you value space, quiet, or event access, stay here.
Who it is for
This is a strong choice for travelers attending events at the Olympic Sports Center, families who want larger rooms and a calmer base, and business groups that need modern meeting space. If your priority is late‑night strolls along the Zhongshan Bridge or quick access to Lanzhou University, the city center will be more convenient; budget an extra 25 to 40 minutes each way by metro and foot from this address. That tradeoff buys you newer hardware, bigger rooms, and easy logistics for the west‑side venues.
Practical tips
• Getting there. From Lanzhou West Railway Station, ride Line 1 west toward Chenguanying and get off at Olympic Sports Center, then walk about 1 km or take a short taxi. From the airport, expect around an hour by car, depending on traffic.
• Ask for a high floor. Views are better, and you’ll be farther from traffic.
Bottom line
I am not easily wowed, but this property earns its keep with space, quiet, and comfort. If your Lanzhou plans center on the Olympic Sports Center or you prefer a modern base with straightforward transport into the city, the Lanzhou Olympic Sports Rosy Huaxi Hotel is a sensible, comfortable choice.
Rooms start at around $100 a night.
I visited Lanzhou Olympic Sports Rosy Huaxi Hotel on a press trip to the Gansu Province with China’s Tourism Board. They covered the cost of my stay, but the opinions expressed are my own.
