Wyndham Garden's Nanjing Debut: A Wonderful 'Extraterrestrial' Surprise – I'm in Love!

Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties.

Within the historically rich city of Jinling, it’s brimming with timeless charm.

Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.

A progressive international metropolis, ever forging ahead.

Nanjing Airport Wyndham Garden Hotel, a gathering place,

perhaps perfectly blends these two worlds.

The trendier, the more immortal

# Breaking the mold, a 'flying' garden

Since the first Wyndham Garden Hotel arrived in Suzhou in 2016, over the past five years, 15 more have taken root across China. Among them, the Nanjing Airport Wyndham Garden Hotel, which opened in May this year, is undoubtedly the most eye-catching.

'Eye-catching' isn’t just a figure of speech – it was my very first impression upon stepping into the hotel! I never expected such a powerful visual impact within such a sleek and luminous exterior.

If you think I’m exaggerating, just take a look at the photos below:

Unexpected! As a high-end leisure brand within the group, Wyndham Garden has always given me an impression of being natural and down-to-earth, but this Wyndham Garden completely shattered my perception. It dazzles, filled with whimsical and ingenious design details everywhere – anyone would be captivated at first sight.

Right in front of you stands a 'Tree of Life,' the hotel’s most prominent symbol. The tree is one of Wyndham Garden’s signature motifs.

This Tree of Life, unlike classic real trees, creates a distinctive fantasy atmosphere. Its modern, 'impressionistic' silhouette gleams, perfectly complementing the hotel’s other fashionable décor elements. The leaves of the canopy are shaped like the turbofan blades of an aircraft engine – this is the core design concept: part of a futuristic aviation theme.

The entire public space of the hotel, like the endless vitality conveyed by this Tree of Life, expresses a timeless beauty through sharp fashion sensibilities and futuristic details.

Next to the Tree of Life, the front desk is conceptualized after future airport check-in counters. Three independent counters will gradually introduce smart check-in systems to enhance convenience. And from this moment on, a wondrous 'future flight' is just reaching its climax!

At this point, a group of round-headed, round-brained silver little figures are greeting you!

They are the hotel’s custom-designed IP characters – 'astronauts.' They are the hosts of the hotel, guiding guests and welcoming everyone in every corner.

Look, following their guidance, Instagram-worthy spots throughout the hotel are waving at you! This spiral staircase is perfect for the elegant you.

And these two playful figures wearing captain’s hats – you’ll definitely love them if you’re the fun type!

Standing at their feet, don’t forget to look up! You’ll discover the building’s unique design: a set of scenic elevators leading to guest rooms in the center of the building, reaching straight up to the dome. And this elevator bank itself is photogenic!

But don’t rush into the elevator just yet – why not sit in the 'airport VIP lounge' before 'boarding'? Across from the elevators, separated by a wall of iridescent plexiglass pillars, is the hotel’s lobby bar, the 'Mei Lounge.'

The 'wow factor' in the lobby bar comes precisely from this color-changing glass wall. Every shift in hue brings a different ambiance to the space.

This is a highly theatrical lobby bar, with photo-worthy elements everywhere. It presents different beauty by day and by night depending on natural light. I especially love it at night, as if soft starlight has been woven into the space.

The design also perfectly integrates the zoning concept of an airport VIP lounge – different zones serve different functions, whether you’re sitting around a small table with a couple of friends or chatting at a large table with a group of fifty.

Even if you’re alone, having a drink at the bar won’t feel lonely.

I also discovered a secret garden within the hotel – you can spot it by looking up from a corner of the lobby or peering down from the guest room corridors.

This dazzling giant light installation has a strong Art Deco style, closely tied to the aviation theme and inspired by hot-air balloons. It’s extremely photogenic. Clever you, try to find which floor they’re hiding on?

It has to be said that this Wyndham Garden Hotel has already made a name for itself on looks alone – truly a 'flying' experience.

Wyndnam Garden

Nanjing Airport

What I least expected

is that the guest rooms here also 'fly'!

# First class brought down to earth

When taking the scenic elevator to the guest room floors, there’s a small design detail worth noting. On the balustrade of each floor, white lights are placed in a staggered arrangement – some rectangular, some square. At night they light up, and as the elevator moves, they suddenly appear before your eyes, like sky lanterns slowly ascending, a beautiful blessing.

The guest room floors are arranged in a shuttle shape around the atrium, giving each room slight differences in size and layout. The room numbers are displayed via floor-level lights, which is quite unique.

The room I stayed in this time was a Deluxe Lake-view King Room, about 42 square meters. The bright color palette and transparent design create an excellent sense of space.

If you’ve flown in an Airbus A350 or A380 first-class cabin, you’ll feel very much at home in this room. It’s like a magnified first-class suite moved down to earth, brimming with aviation vibes! Take a look at the design elements:

Outside the walls, an enclosed recessed paneling forms a continuous box structure. The combination of matte copper and ivory champagne hues is quite elegant. The windows that look like scenic views are actually designed as 'viewfinders,' evoking the feel of oversized curved portholes, echoing the electronically fogged glass partition of the bathroom area.

The bathroom continues the same style, but the material is switched to Alpine-veined marble. All rooms have bathtubs, which should win over many guests. The wet-dry separated design, Kohler intelligent toilet, and high-quality fittings greatly enhance the bathing experience.

Looking closely, you’ll find many exquisite and playful little details in the room. A small pot of decorative moss echoes the 'Garden' brand; a few golden pomegranate ornaments align with the local 'Red Pomegranate+' brand in Jiangning, highlighting regional character; and the cute Band-Aid on the white vase – all showcase the designer’s ingenuity.

I also visited several other room types, each distinctive. It felt like staying in each one for a day still wouldn’t be enough for a whole week! The Specialty Room is a corner room with more generous space. Besides the king bed, there’s a bunk-bed style wooden frame bed. The separate, oversized bathroom features an egg-shaped tub by the window – a real eye-catcher. This room type suits families with two children.

The Junior Suite is an open-plan suite, with the bed facing a curved scenic window. The curved sofa by the window and the bathroom with dual vanities further elevate the experience.

The Deluxe Lake-view Suite is room 01, situated at the head end of the floor. You can tell its specialness just from the room number. The same curved scenic window directly faces Ruyi Lake, but with a more spacious 78 square meters. There’s a separate walk-in closet, and even the vanity has a view. But what attracted me most was the leisure platform by the window – great for working or simply daydreaming, it’s incredibly cozy.

Take a look at the hotel’s best suite (with a huge scenic terrace – perfect for a BBQ!). It’s truly unique; the living room could easily host a banquet. That’s a highlight, isn’t it?

Deluxe Garden Suite with terrace

Beyond the rooms, beyond life

After waking up, you’ll need to eat, drink, and be merry, right?

# Savoring delicacies, and also finding scenery

'A hotel without food and beverage service has lost its soul,' said Mr. Lin Zisheng, the hotel’s general manager – a sentiment I fully agree with. When we talk about hotel staycations, without good dining, there’s only the 'stay,' so where does the 'cation' come from? At Nanjing Airport Wyndham Garden Hotel, I was first drawn to the all-day dining restaurant, 'Fei Cafe.'

This vibrant all-day dining restaurant is a stark contrast to the cyberpunk style of the lobby area, giving me the illusion of being in a trendy restaurant in garden-city Singapore. At the entrance, there’s a semi-independent bakery and a bar area serving coffee drinks. With an ice cream cart and a candy house, it feels like stepping into a gourmet emporium, deeply connected to community life.

Inside, each area has distinct character. The relaxed Southeast Asian style complements the greenery elements of the Wyndham Garden brand, and the natural light from the circular central courtyard adds a touch of peaceful nature to the entire restaurant.

All seating is arranged around the central island counter and open kitchens, so every diner can clearly see the chefs cooking live. Inspired by global cuisines, tasting international flavors is a signature of this restaurant.

Breakfast is served buffet-style, with dishes presented in small pots. There’s an extensive selection of both Chinese and Western options. Fans of local flavors should try the duck blood vermicelli soup, which is no less authentic than the famous 'Huiwei' version. The Malaysian-style dry-tossed wonton noodles are also outstanding. Individually portioned fruit plates are a thoughtful touch. I was even more surprised to find kaya toast – a must-try Singaporean street food – here, freshly toasted!

A rich array of Singaporean, Malaysian, and Thai Nanyang flavors has become the restaurant’s signature offering. At lunch, try the Hainanese chicken rice or nasi goreng set meals – authentic and satisfying, they’re popular with nearby office workers. For dinner, you can leisurely savor more exotic delicacies. For instance, I’m not exaggerating when I say their durian pizza has the most solid, sweet, and creamy durian flesh I’ve ever tasted (the complimentary bread and salad were delicious, too).

Nanyang cuisine

Currently, the most popular item among diners is the baked lobster and salmon set, priced at only 298 RMB per set. You get two seafood dishes, three vegetable sides, and two desserts – excellent value. Notably, the salmon is cooked at a low temperature, served with a lemon-butter sauce that enhances freshness and cuts richness. The texture is wonderfully succulent. Don’t forget to try the rosemary roasted potatoes and mushrooms – combinations I really love.

Meat lovers shouldn’t miss the Provençal-style grilled lamb chops, crispy on the outside, tender inside. Just the greenish sauce looks mouthwatering. The signature beef burger, with a patty oozing with juices, is equally tempting.

For Huaiyang cuisine, head to the Man Ting Fang Chinese Restaurant on the second floor. It has an elegant à la carte dining area where guests can also watch tea ceremonies. There are also eight distinctive private rooms themed around technology and strength.

The restaurant uses seasonal ingredients to create authentic Huaiyang dishes and regional specialties. From Nanjing’s must-try salted duck, to nourishing autumn health tonics, to Sichuan-style pepper and numb-spiced wagyu beef cubes – all signature dishes that delight the senses. Pigeon lovers shouldn’t miss the hand-shredded crispy pigeon, with a glass-like crispiness comparable to Cantonese versions; the charcoal-grilled sea bass is unique in both presentation and taste; and the double-snow fungus with rock sugar soup is the perfect nourishing sweet soup for autumn.

After feasting, don’t forget to exercise. On the same floor as the Man Ting Fang restaurant is the hotel’s fitness center.

The 24-hour gym has a separate yoga room, is fully equipped, and offers personal training services.

But what I like more is the swimming pool. A pool with natural light is already a big plus, and when you see the loungers – uniquely shaped and brimming with resort vibes – it’s absolute bliss!

Of course, you can also use the hotel as a base to explore nearby Jinling sights. The hotel is located in Jiangling’s Airport New District, adjacent to Xiangyu North Road Station on Metro Line S1. Ruyi Lake Park is right across the street, and it’s only a 25-minute subway ride to Nanjing South Railway Station. Whether you’re heading to traditional attractions like the Confucius Temple and Laomendong, or trendy destinations like Niushou Mountain, the Grand Baoen Temple, and Fangshan, it’s all very convenient. See, isn’t this Qinhuai River scenery enchanting?

Shopaholics also have great options: a 15-minute drive to Sasseur Outlets, or 30 minutes to Nanjing Eastern Suburb Outlets, both satisfying any retail therapy needs. So, aren’t you ready to visit this Nanjing Airport Wyndham Garden Hotel yet?

|The hotel is part of the Airport Convention and Exhibition Center|