I wanted a cheap but comfortable option near to the Zhongda fabric market and Garden Inn gave me exactly what I was looking for. It's modern, has unlimited Internet (via a cable in the room, wifi in the breakfast area), the beds are firm but the linen is nice, and the rooms are super clean where it counts (ie: bathroom, floors... Walls and paintwork need some fixing up).
The Yile road neighbourhood is really nice, with lots of great eating options on the doorstep, and a nice safe feeling in a quiet enclave. It's a comfortable walk or 80c cycle ride to the textile market, even closer to the Metro. The metro is super easy to use, and connects one to the rest of Guangzhou, necessary as Garden Inn feels a little far away from 'the action'.
Very few of the staff speak English, and they were absolutely unhelpful in terms of booking taxis, tours and finding an interpreter for a shopping trip. The breakfast is awful, but will put food in your belly so that you can concentrate on the real work of getting out and about in this bustling and fun city.