Gym, Swimming Pool & Sauna of Westin Hotel Chongqing

One thing I’ve noticed about the luxury hotels here in Chongqing is that they don’t really skimp on their amenities. The Westin Liberation Square Hotel Chongqing is no different. When I went and checked its gym and swimming pool areas, I was actually impressed by what I saw. It was by no means complete but it pretty much had everything you’d want to have in terms of equipment and facilities.

Westin Chongqing Liberation Square Hotel Booking

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My Detailed Look at the Gym, Swimming Pool & Sauna of Westin Hotel Chongqing

Gym

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The Westin Liberation Square’s gym can be found on its sixth floor. It was fairly easy to get to and you could always call customer service if you’re unsure of how to get there. Going there from my room was relatively uneventful.

The gym is also called the WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio and access to it is limited to guests who’ve already checked in. There’s a reader just under the sign for the fitness studio that should grant you access once you swipe your keycard on it. Like with the breakfast buffet at Seasonal Tastes, access to the gym is complimentary.

Once inside, you’ll be greeted with this area that’s used primarily for yoga, stretching, plyometric, and free weight exercises. Probably the highlight of this area is the mirror spanning the lengthwise wall of the room that’s perfect for taking those before and after gym selfies. You’ve also probably noticed that there’s a television set here that you’re probably not going to be paying any attention to once your workout starts.

In this corner of the area are a couple of the gym’s plyometric equipment. The large boxes are called plyometric boxes and they’re basically used for step-ups, box jumps, and box squats (among other exercises). If you want to increase your explosiveness, agility, and speed then these are probably going to help you out a lot. That said, I’m not sure if there’s a plyometrics coach here so beginners might want to steer clear of these.

Rather than plyometric boxes, beginners are probably going to get more mileage out of the Bosu ball and the battle ropes seen in this image. There are also exercise balls here of varying sizes in addition to dumb bells and kettle bells. Of these, I’d probably recommend the battle ropes as they’re actually quite fun yet still strenuous enough to make you feel like your muscles are working overtime.

Here’s another look at the rack with the free weights and other exercise balls. You’ll also notice there are yoga mats here as well as some skip rope and even boxing gloves and a heavy bag. From here you’ll also get to see the gym’s cross training machines which are separated from this area by a glass door.

These are the rest of the yoga mats in this area. Other yoga equipment that are available here include these yoga rollers and a yoga wheel just behind the push-up bars. You’ve also probably noticed how expansive the area behind the glass door is. Don’t worry as I’ll make sure to run down the equipment you’ll find in that area later on.

Now I’m not quite sure if this was being used for exercise or just as a plain door mat. What caught my eye though is what was written on it. If you haven’t read it yet, what’s written is “2024 Great China Rooms Workshop Chongqing”. I tried looking it up online and couldn’t seem to find another hotel or even an organization with that name.

So this is a mat that I found on top of some aerobic risers near the plyometric boxes earlier. Much like the yoga mat in the previous image, this one was also perplexing since the instructions for the durations of the stretches shown here were in Italian. It’s quite possible that these were just left behind by a previous guest.

This is a closer look at the free weights here. I was honestly a little disappointed that I couldn’t find a barbell here. I mean, I tried looking but for some reason I just couldn’t find any. Now it’s not really a big deal but the dumb bells here are also a little undersized. If you’re someone who is used to heavier weights then you might have to up your reps or do them really slowly to compensate for the lighter weights. Conversely, there are much larger free weights inside the gym equipment area.

You’ll find these exercise balls and boxing equipment on the top shelf of the storage rack where the free weights were. Other than cardio, I think boxing is a great and fun way to burn off calories. My only issue here though is that while they do have mitts and a punch shield, the gym seems to have forgotten to install a heavy bag (or even speed and/or reflex bags).

The gym does make up for the lack of punching bags (this is really just a minor nitpick) with this sign featuring its guidelines for workouts. Basically, it wants you to structure or plan your workouts around warm-ups, cardio, weights, and cooling down. Very straightforward and I guess kind of needed as there might not be a trainer around to help you out (I was told there typically are but I didn’t see any when I was there).

So this is inside the second area of the gym. Here is where you’ll find all the heavy equipment and the first of these that you’ll probably notice are these exercise/stationary bikes. In the foreground is an upright bike which is really good for targeting the quads, calves, glutes, and core muscles. To the right of the upright bike is the recumbent bike which offers a much more relaxed exercise experience with the glutes and hamstrings being the muscles most targeted through its use. Regardless of which you choose, these are both great for improving your cardio.

Other than the exercise bikes, there are other machines here that you can use for your cardio workouts. The cross-trainers here are great if you want a workout that’s full body yet low impact. If you want to get your daily 10000 steps or just want a quick jog without leaving the hotel then the treadmill to the right of the cross trainers might just be what you need.

So one thing that I learned from my travels is that climbing the stairs is actually much more strenuous than just walking. If you want to really challenge yourself with your cardio workout then these stair steppers will be perfect for you. I will say though, don’t overdo your workouts on these machines as they do put a lot of strain on your knees and other joints.

Personally, if I’m looking to work on my cardio then I’d be heading to the treadmills. Walking or even jogging on one is pretty straightforward and I oftentimes find these activities meditative (especially if you have music playing in the background or on your headset/earphones).

Moving on from the cardio equipment, I’m now in the strength training section of this area of the gym. If you’re on leg day and want to work on your hamstrings then these leg curl machines are where you want to be. The type of exercise you can use this for are seated leg curls which primarily strengthen the hamstring muscles.

Working on your chest? These chest press machines will be your best friends. Much like most of the equipment here, these are made by Technogym and are relatively easy to operate. If you’re unsure, take a seat then look to your right. You should then see a sticker with instructions for using the chest press machine properly.

Aside from your pectoral muscles, you can also work on your lats with this lat pulldown machine. Like with a lot of the equipment here, this is very easy to use provided you’re not going overboard with the weights. I particularly think this is great for beginners especially since other exercises for lats like bent over rows, free weight rows, and pull ups (just to name a few) tend to be very relatively technical and strict when it comes to following the right form.

With a lat pulldown machine, all that you’ll really need to do is set the weight and start pulling. Yes, you’ll still need to be mindful of form but it’s going to be a lot easier to work on your technique when you’re sitting down. Overall, I think this is one of those machines that are highly underrated especially for beginners.

Now this is a piece of equipment that I’m really not a big fan of. Yes, a crunch bench is great for building your core. My problem is that core exercises (especially crunches) can really be a pain in the butt at times. To be fair, doing crunches on this piece of equipment does make the exercise tolerable.

Now if there’s one piece of gym equipment here that you’re going to want to be familiar with, it has to be this Dual Adjustable Pulley (by the way, they also have this machine at the gym in JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur). It’s pretty similar to a multifunctional trainer in that it’s like a one-stop shop where it can be used to exercise various muscle groups. This one looked rather impressive and you could see it’s got some wear and tear on it which just means it’s getting a lot of use here.

So these are the upper body exercises that you can use the Dual Adjustable Pulley for. As you can see, these are relatively easy to do and really, you just need to set the weight and change the position of the pulleys to be able to transition through these exercises. Like a multifunctional trainer, this also has a pull up bar that you can use for calisthenics movements like pull ups, L-Sit pull ups, and their variations.

Opposite the sign earlier that featured upper body exercises are these signs for the lower body and the trunk. One thing you’ll notice is that there are relatively fewer exercises for both regions compared to the upper body exercises in the previous image. That said, I think these are going to be more than enough to give you a holistic workout.

I think I mentioned earlier that the larger free weights can be found in this area and guess what? Here they are. This specific rack features dumb bells that vary in weight from as little as 8 lbs. to as much as 26 lbs. Unfortunately, I still didn’t see a sign of a barbell here which is kind of a missed opportunity in my opinion.

The rack next to the dumbbells earlier had these kettlebells and medicine balls displayed on them. Additionally, you’ll find some of the smaller and lighter dumbbells here. The kettlebells are arguably what you’ll want here though as they can do wonders for improving your cardio, explosiveness, and strength.

Once you’ve chosen a dumb bell, you’re then going to want to head on over to the inclined bench for your reps. This is especially useful for workouts targeting shoulders, arms, back, and chest. The bench’s backrest can be adjusted for up to 7 positions and the seat goes to three (if I remember correctly).

Done with your workouts? Get some face and hand towels in this area to wipe off your sweat. I personally liked the fact that the towels were inside this towel warmer/hot towel cabinet. The heat from this sanitizes the towels and just gives an added layer of protection for guests like me who might not have brought their own.

The same cabinet has a shelf containing these bottles of distilled water. Now I know most people swear by electrolyte drinks but I personally just go with these. Provided you’re drinking in moderation, distilled water can be just as effective for hydration and for cooling down.

Underneath the hot towel cabinet, you’ll find these separate bins for the trash and the towels. Now you might be tempted to bring the used towels with you but you’re not actually allowed to do so. Instead, you’re just going to have to drop them off at the aptly labeled bin.

Other than the bottled water, you can also opt to drink from this water dispenser. It’s not really anything to write home about. Perhaps its best feature is that it can dispense both hot and cold water. Kidding aside, it was working fine when I was there so it shouldn’t be an issue whether it has state of the art features or not. So long as it gets the job done, I don’t think guests won’t have any issues with it.

Swimming Pool

The gym isn’t the only health and wellness facility that’s available for guests to use here at The Westin Liberation Square Hotel in Chongqing. Paying guests will also have access to the hotel’s swimming pool. This is also on the 6th floor of the hotel and is adequately sized.

In terms of floor area, I think the Ascott Raffles City’s pool area might be larger. That said, this one is also quite spacious. I could definitely see kids running around here without a problem.

Speaking of kids, there’s a sign here warning about possible drowning. There’s also a pool skimmer net and a lifebuoy which can both come in handy in case a drowning incident occurs. It should also be said that you’re going to have to watch over your kids if they do end up swimming here.

The area has these shelves where you can place your non-valuable belongings that you brought with you when swimming here. While there were staff here standing guard (not shown), I personally still won’t take the risk of having my belongings getting lost or stolen here though. For what it’s worth, I think there are CCTV cameras here. Now whether they’re effective as a deterrent is something that I’d rather not take a chance on.

Like I said earlier, there were staff watching the pool area when I was there taking these pictures. It’s a departure from Ascott Raffles City’s pool area where I was pretty much alone. Again though, if you have kids then you’d still need to make sure you or another guardian is around when they’re using the pool here.

After using a towel (you can find one on the table near the shelves where you place your belongings), drop them off here. Like with the gym, the towels provided here aren’t for you to keep or bring home. For other trash, just place them on the smaller bin right next to the larger one designated for dirty towels.

So this is a closer look at the swimming pool. I actually like that it’s not on the level of the floor but is rather elevated. I’m not gonna lie though, I’m not a big fan of the lane line but I do understand why it’s here. Basically, it allows swimmers some privacy and is quite effective at preventing accidents.

Here’s a sign showing the one end of the pool’s depth. As you can see, at 1.5 meters (or 4.9 feet) it’s not really that deep so diving face or head first here might result in you hitting your head on the pool’s floor. Even diving feet first might result in an accident so always exercise caution when swimming here.

Speaking of caution, here’s a lifeguard chair overlooking the pool. The chair has a lifebuoy which is easily accessible just in case there’s an accident. As I said earlier, there were staff here when I was taking these shots. They were quite shy though so they declined to have their pictures taken.

This is the kiddie pool area. It shares the same water as the regular pool but is separated from it by a steel fence. This area is noticeably smaller which is to be expected since it is targeted for kids after all.

At just 0.3 meters (.98 feet), the kiddie pool isn’t really that deep. It’s just about deep enough for kids to sit down and have their shorts wet. That said, it’s even more imperative that you (or a guardian) watch over your kids and warn them against diving here.

Here’s another view of the lifeguard’s chair that I took a picture of earlier. I initially thought that it was too low considering how elevated the pool is. Turns out, it’s actually just the right height and you still get to have a good view of the pool as you’re sitting on it. Aside from the lifebuoy, there’s also a satchel hanging from the chair that likely has a first aid and emergency kit.

From this angle, you won’t notice that the pool is actually elevated from the floor. I will say this though, the pool looked really pristine when I was there and the area itself was quite relaxed. If there’s anything I would have wanted changed it was the lighting. It’s not that the area wasn’t well lit, rather I would have wanted more natural light coming from outside.

Here you can see the opposite view of the image earlier. As I said, the area does have okay lighting just that it needed more natural light to come through. That said, my issue with the lighting is, I think, relatively minor in the grander scheme of things.

This is one of the other dirty towel bins here in the pool area. You’ll notice that there’s also a smaller regular trash bin here that’s right next to a water dispenser. The placement is I think quite convenient as once you’re done drinking from the dispenser you can just easily dispose of your plastic cups on the smaller bin.

Right next to the dispenser and the bin, you’ll find a pair of love seats. Now, I’m not really sure why they decided to get these instead of regular benches. I typically see these in living rooms or hotel lobbies so it was kind of surprising to see them in a pool area. Then again, these are very comfortable to sit in so I kind of understand why management would decide to place them in an area synonymous with relaxation.

If you’re not too keen on loveseats then no need to worry as there are lounge chairs here in the pool area. The ones shown here are at the other end of where we entered. I personally think that this is where you ought to be resting/relaxing since not only are the seats comfortable, but you also get to enjoy a view of the pool as well as get a glimpse of Chongqing’s skyline outside.

Now this is one of the views I was talking about in the previous image. You’ll also notice that the water in this end isn’t as deep. At just 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), this would be a great swimming spot for kids aged 8 and above. It’s not as shallow as the kiddie pool but it also is deep and wide enough for kids to be able to practice swimming (or really just play around).

Speaking of shallow, there’s also a jacuzzi here for guests who still want to take a dip in the pool but are too tired to swim. If you still have time in the evening, I’d recommend taking a dip here is going to be really relaxing especially if you’ve been walking around Chongqing.

If you do have valuables with you then make sure you leave them here in the locker area before heading to either the pool or sauna area. Again, this area is monitored but I’m not too keen on leaving my valuables (cellphones, gadgets, etc…) anywhere so I usually just make sure I leave them in the security safe in my room.

Sauna

Speaking of the sauna, this is the path leading to it. You’ll notice that there is a foot bath here. From what I was told, this was to ensure cleanliness and to sanitize guest’s feet before they go inside the sauna. Think of it as a hygienic practice similar to showering before going into the pool.

Out of all the areas here, this was arguably the most comfy for me. I don’t know what it was with these chairs but sitting on them really made me feel sleepy. Anyway, you might end up sitting on these, especially if you’re waiting for other guests to finish their time on the sauna or steam rooms.

The steam room here is actually quite small at least when compared to the one at Ascott Raffles City Chongqing. That said, I kind of prefer this as opposed to larger steam rooms because I get to have a little more privacy. If you do come across issues or have concerns, you can get in touch with hotel staff via the phone just before the room’s entrance.

Here you’ll find the list of rules that need to be followed for safety inside the sauna and steam rooms. The list is actually quite short and straight to the point. Of the restrictions though, I think the one regarding pets is the most peculiar. Like I’m not sure if you could even bring a pet inside the hotel much less inside the sauna area.

And now I finally reached the sauna. Again, this is a little less spacious than the one at Ascott Raffles City. Aesthetically though, this looks much more appealing for me. Perhaps the only issue I might have with this is it’s dimly lit (at least when I was there).

Here’s the thermometer and hygrometer for the sauna. Current readings are normal but ideally, you’d want high temperatures and low humidity to induce sweating. Underneath the thermometer and hygrometer is a sauna sand timer which goes up to as high as 15 minutes.

What I really appreciate most about the sauna is its use of a wood-burning heater. This really makes using the sauna more immersive and genuine though it does take much longer to heat up. Still nothing beats hearing the crackling of the coals and smelling the unique aroma of burning wood as you’re inside a sauna.

After your shower session, it’s recommended that you make use of the showers here. Showering is going to help remove the bacteria, sweat, and toxins that typically accumulate on your skin after a couple of minutes in the sauna. Moreover, your body temperature is going to be a little high so showering should help lower and normalize it.

The shower area also has a washer and dryer that you can use for your clothes or swimwear. Take note though that the washer is only a single tub and isn’t meant for large loads (as is the dryer). If you want to wash all of your clothes then just have housekeeping do it for you rather than do it here.

The showers as well as the washer and dryer are all found inside the locker area. This was surprisingly spacious and the lockers were actually quite large. You could definitely slot in a bag inside of these though again, just make sure that you’re not bringing in too many valuables.

Here’s another set of lockers with another of the room’s benches in the foreground. It’s actually kind of nice how many chairs there are in the room. I’ve definitely been in plenty of locker rooms that skimped out on their chairs making changing clothes there quite tedious.

Here’s another bin for dirty towels which is also right next to a digital weighing scale. Now I’m not quite sure why they placed both of these here. My guess is that this was probably the most accessible section of the room.

Close to the dirty towel bin, you’ll find this water dispenser and a slipper disinfection cabinet. Now the slipper disinfection cabinet was something that I rarely saw in my travels. In fact, I think this was only the second or third time I saw one. As its name implies, it’s used to sanitize and disinfect slippers against bacteria and fungi.

In this section of the locker, you’ll find these vanity mirrors along with some hair dryers. For women, this is where you’re going to want to dry your hair and maybe touch up after your showers. I will say, it’s pretty neat that the women have this area in their lockers.

This is a sterilizer that you can use for the combs and other reusable toiletries that are found here (or that you might have). From what I understand, this functions similar to the slipper disinfection cabinet earlier and it uses UV-C radiation to disinfect and sterilize whatever you place inside of it. Unlike the slipper disinfection cabinet though, this is used mostly on combs, brushes, toothbrushes, and other personal hygiene items.

Speaking of hygiene items, here are a couple that you’ll find just in front of the vanity mirror. As I’ve said in previous write-ups, I typically bring my own toiletries and hygiene items with me so I probably won’t be using any of these other than maybe the hair dryer. Still, these are great to have especially if you didn’t bring your own.

With this, my tour of the gym, swimming pool, and sauna areas of The Westin Liberation Square Hotel in Chongqing ends. For a luxury hotel, these facilities were nice though I still think they could be improved on. The gym in particular could use a barbell and some more plates. The swimming pool could also benefit from being bigger though that’s probably a harder change to implement.

I’d say that despite what I perceive as its shortcomings, the facilities and amenities here are still top notch. I’m probably just a little too hard on the hotel since Ascott Raffles City set a really high bar with its amenities. Ever been to the Westin Liberation Square Hotel in Chongqing? If yes then share your thoughts and experiences with its gym and swimming pool areas with us down at the comments section!