Shangri-La Properties in Shanghai

The location is fantastic, just a short walk to Lujiazui Binjiang, offering splendid views of the sunset and the Bund. The Pujiang Building was built in 1998, and the Zijin Building in 2005. I stayed in the Zijin Building this time, but it felt very old-fashioned. There's no sound system, no smart toilet, and although there are many movies on TV, the color and picture quality are quite poor. The hairdryer is also very old and slow. I specifically checked out the gyms in both the Pujiang and Zijin buildings. They're similar in size, with very vintage equipment, though there are minor differences. The equipment is packed in tightly, but you can still get a good workout. Some machines, however, have exposed wires. Breakfast runs from 6 AM to 10:30 AM (till 11 AM on weekends). There are a lot of foreigners, and while the variety is extensive, it wasn't quite to my taste. Replenishing dishes was a bit slow at times. I feel the price doesn't match the outdated facilities, but the location truly makes up for it. I hope they renovate soon, especially the bedside outlets, hairdryer, and bathroom.

The room I initially booked had a lingering smell, either of smoke or mildew, so I was upgraded to a different room. There was a minor misunderstanding which they promptly rectified with a complimentary fruit plate. I have a deep affection for Jing An Shangri-La; it is, without a doubt, the best hotel in Shanghai. While some facilities might be showing their age, the cleanliness and service consistently remain top-notch. I once witnessed a guest spill coffee on the carpet during breakfast. The manager immediately stood by the stain, waiting for colleagues to clean it up, and the entire process from discovery to clean-up took less than two minutes. I hope the hotel team maintains this level of professionalism. Shanghai may have many luxury hotels, but your efforts truly demonstrate what an industry benchmark looks like. The Qiantan Shangri-La, in my opinion, leans more towards an influencer-driven style with mediocre service, and I haven't stayed at the Pudong or Hongqiao Shangri-La. However, due to its prime location and excellent amenities, I will always support the Jing An branch. The turndown service is excellent; I just wish they'd add a small dessert or chocolate in the future.

Took the baby to a hotel where we could watch planes ✈️ take off and land. The lobby is on the 3rd floor, or you can check in at the Executive Lounge on the 12th floor. We stayed in a room on the 9th floor where we could see the planes, and my baby was so excited! However, the room design was a bit odd. I thought there would be a bathtub, but it was just a shower, and the shower curtain wasn't long enough, so the bathroom floor was completely wet after showering… not very user-friendly. The food was quite good, all served in the Executive Lounge on the 12th floor. The view there was even better than from the room – I just wanted to stay in the lounge forever, haha! Afternoon tea started at 2:30 PM, and the brownies were delicious. A cup of tea and a brownie, watching planes and daydreaming – so chill. Happy hour was at 5:30 PM. If you're not too picky, it could easily pass for dinner. They had fried rice, BBQ meats, vegetables, meat soup, sweet soup, and dim sum. There was also a good selection of drinks, including hawthorn juice which my baby loved. Breakfast the next day was a mix of à la carte and buffet, with a Chinese focus. The wontons were delicious, I'm not sure why they weren't on the menu, they tasted very fresh, probably freshly made. The plain congee wasn't great; it felt like old congee that had been re-boiled with added water. The black tea was also a letdown, with tea dregs sticking to the cup walls, which felt a bit cheap. As for the service, well, it's really hard to rate. Individual service was excellent. For example, the lady at the Executive Lounge remembered my baby's favorite drink, and when we left, the bellboy helped us load our luggage into the trunk at P parking. However, when it came to anything requiring communication, things really fell apart: - For instance, during check-in, I asked for baby slippers and toiletries. The front desk lady said housekeeping would send them right away. But after a long wait, I called again to follow up, and when the service staff finally arrived, there were only toiletries?! I waited a long time again before the baby slippers were finally delivered (sigh). - Another example: dining at Xiangju Jiangnan Zao on the 2nd floor, I asked to charge it to the room. Even though I had paid a substantial deposit, they claimed it wasn't enough. Only after reconfirming a second time did they say they had made a mistake?! It's like, if you're not embarrassed, then everyone else is. - And finally, the package included a 200 RMB dining credit. At check-out, I specifically confirmed with the gentleman on the 12th floor to apply it, and he said no problem, the deposit would be refunded shortly. An hour later, they overcharged me by 200 RMB… (facepalm) So frustrating.

Excellent location, and I loved the elevator area – the little pointer design was a fun touch. The room was small, but the view was great, and it had a super large sofa. I really liked the consistent design of the bedside tables, which were very convenient for charging devices. The mirror was oddly dim, and there was only one sink. It did come with a Laifen hairdryer. The shower was fantastic; the water pressure was perfectly controllable, and there was a wide range for temperature adjustment. The toiletries have been changed, and they're no longer the slippery kind from before. The bath towels were even thicker than those at the airport Shangri-La. The pool is on the first floor and the gym on the second. The equipment is comprehensive, and the space is huge. They even have a massage gun! A minor regret is the lack of dedicated machines for glute exercises. I'm not sure why there weren't any weighing scales anywhere. Breakfast was a bit disappointing, served on the first floor from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM. During my stay, it was the APEC conference, so even at 10 AM, there were lots of people and a constant queue. They generally kept replenishing dishes until 10:30 AM, but at precisely 10:30 AM, everything was cleared out very thoroughly. There was no pickled vegetable and shredded pork topping, and the noodles were just so-so – the topping wasn't salty enough, making it taste bland and watery. I'd suggest extending breakfast by half an hour when there are many guests, otherwise, eating feels like a battle.