Mom and I may be going to that destination for travel soon. I assume you traveled on your own and not with a tour guide group...as is very common in China.

More rural areas are likely to have no staff who can speak english. Though still surprised that a Hilton brand couldn't procure someone who was at least basically decent.

Your experience of being treated as a foreigner is not surprising. But I think it has less to do with racial prejudices vs they felt more comfortable speaking to someone who knew the language.

Thanks for the review!