Oh, here are some more of my recent experience - in brand new 2* hotels in smaller towns in Western China:

- No lights in the hallway to save electricity. Good luck finding the keyhole to get the door open.

- All lights and electric appliances are controlled by the "modern" circuit board between the beds. No light switch near the door. So, it remained totally dark even after I managed to get into the room.

- Western toilets, but no toilet seats

- "Modern" shower stall with massage features - but will no nothing but spray water jets all over the bathroom.

- KTVs right in the hotel or just outside blasting music till 2am - maybe that midnight "massage" is not the worse idea afterall.

And in brand new 3* hotels:

- Figure out what in the room is free, and what is not. In summary, in the bathroom basic soap, shampoo, conditioner are free, so is toothbrush/toothpaste. Everything else is not (including condom, briefs, panties, various creams, fancy towels). Outside, water in the 3-gallon water fountain is free, so is chinese tea leaves. Coffee and everything else is not.