Stayed at this hotel for several days while completing the adoption of our young daughter along with some other couples and found this hotel to be of 5 star quality (except for the offsite pool). The hotel is in a city of 32 million people!. The rooms were elegant and comfortable, the downstairs restaurant was topnotch but rather pricey considering the close proximity of outside restaurants. We found the staff very friendly and most spoke enough english to serve our needs. The hotel is located directly above a large subterrean shopping mall that had several small restaurants, shops and a supermarket. I spent a considerable amount of time browsing around and drawing loks (and smiles) from the locals. Their is also a park and other shooping opportunities directly outside the hotel too.

The Empark also seems to go by the name Golden Resources Hotel. It is located in the north central part of Chongqing. It is rated as a five-star hotel, but by U.S. standards, I would give it four stars. The rooms are a good size, clean, and attractively furnished in dark wood, but not exceptional. The bathroom contained both a deep tub and a separate shower. The business center on the top (33rd) floor has a wonderful view of the city and has an open-air patio that is worth an elevator ride. The buffet is a high point. It contains a wide variety of tasty Chinese and western food. I paid $62/night, which I think is an excellent value given the high quality of this hotel. The hotel is connected to a medium-sized underground mall, which is fun to browse. The hotel advertises a fitness center, but there is not one.

Stayed here for ten nights on a business trip. Like most everywhere in Chongqing, the staff speak limited english but do try very hard.

My room was a good size, with comfortable bed and pillows. Minibar is reasonably priced, but hotel laundry service is more pricey. Decor is quite attractive.

Breakfast is plentiful, though focussed around the asian market.

Location is excellent, with plenty of shopping and nightlife in the immediate vicinity. Taxi from the airport cost about 45RMB, though the driver attempted to rip us off by not wanting to give change from a hundred.

Only complaints:
Internet is slow - painfully at times
The gym and pool are not free

Then again, at less than $65USD a night for a 5* hotel, these are minor complaints.

I am writing this review from my room at this hotel. Decided to try this five-star hotel given that I never stayed in this part of Chongqing before.

Positives

* Location. This hotel is located in the Jiangbei area adjacent to a very nice park that has fountains replete with water shows and music at various times during the day and night -- many people come to enjoy this park. The park is attached to your typical walking/shopping street itself containing stores and restaurants. Nearby is an upscale shopping mall with all of the creature comforts. Underground is an interesting entertainment mall full of restaurants, net bars, ktv, sauna, etc.

* Hotel common areas are very nice; very comfortable lobby bar nestled in the corner of the lobby area, tea room on the lower level, an elevator bank with glass doors that enables you to enjoy the view on the way up or down.

* Service was good. I found most people to be very helpful; I was very pleased with the service I received at reception and in the hotel lobby bar.


Negatives

For your typical American (or other western country resident), these may be negatives.

* English not so widely spoken as this hotel caters more to Chinese. When speaking Mandarin (albeit my basic/intermediate level), I had no problems getting things done but I think that your average non-Mandarin speaking foreigner may struggle here.

* Rooms more geared towards Chinese-style. Beds were hard by American standards but sometimes I like a hard bed. Things like towels and slippers were sparingly dispensed to the rooms.

* If you are noise sensitive, know that music from the adjacent park starts up around 7:30am and ends about 9pm. If your room faces the park, you will hear this music in your room.