The Jinling Hotel (Jinling Fandian) holds pride of place in Nanjing as the first Chinese five-star to open in the city and, in general, the Jinling lives up to its reputation, though the discrepancy in China's star rating system and that used in the west may leave experienced travelers feeling a little disappointed.

Centerally located in Xinjiekou, Nanjing's main shopping district, the hotel houses eight restaurants offering Japanese, Continental European and American dishes as well as excellent Chinese cuisine. The Sky Palace, perched atop the 44-story building, is a pleasant revolving restaurant and good spot to take in the cityscape, while the German Brauhaus does a respectable job of creating a suitably Teutonic atmosphere for enjoying a good brew. The hotel is popular with business travelers, and it's rather unique (for China) and well-stocked Cigar Bar is a good place to find stogie-chomping camraderie and hand-rolled Cubans.

The facilities are generally up to five-star level, the service is attentive and respectful, and, all in all, you'd be hard-pressed to do better in Nanjing.