Top Hotels in Shanghai Region
- 1. Fairmont Peace Hotel
- 2. Pullman Shanghai Qingpu Excellence
- 3. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
- 4. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
- 5. Wanda Reign on the Bund
- 6. Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai
- 7. Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai
- 8. The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai
- 9. The Langham Shanghai Xintiandi
- 10. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, an IHG Hotel
Top Things to do in Shanghai Region
10 hotels in Shanghai Region: Best hotel deals for 2023
Shanghai is the cool, confident face of modern China, and its energy is infectious. Go to the Bund to watch ships on the river and marvel at the huge variety of architectural styles on display, or watch the crowds go by in People’s Square. Shoppers should make a beeline for the Fabric Market, where you can have a suit or dress tailor-made for you at bargain prices. At night, explore all manner of fashionable restaurants, bars and nightclubs, or just stroll through the city enjoying the spectacular neon lights.
Things to do in Shanghai Region
1. Fairmont Peace Hotel
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10398 reviews
Since 1929, the Fairmont Peace Hotel boasts a history that overshadows any other hotel in Asia. Its origins date back more than a century, serving as a glamorous playground, where every night was an extravagance. Each guestroom is an indulgent, exquisite and modern experience. Its dining venues are the most prestigious on the Bund, with magnificent views of the Bund and Pudong skyline, the European elegance defines The Cathay Room with terraces while Chinese art and legend characterise the Shanghainese cuisine of the Dragon Phoenix. The Jasmine Lounge is famous for its high tea tradition while the Jazz Bar faithfully continues a Shanghai institution: The world-famous Old Jazz Band. Consisting of six veteran musicians whose average age is 82, has drawn an audience of locals, international travelers, celebrities and heads of states, Clinton, Reagan, Obama and Trudeau to name a few. People come from all over the world for this unique experience. Not to be missed.
Excellent service & location
Reviewed By AndrewEsteMy wife and I booked a Gold room for our wedding anniversary, and we were blown away by how well we were treated by Nana and all of the staff executive lounge staff. They went out of their way to make our stay and the occasion special for us, and we felt everything at this hotel was absolutely top notch! The Fairmont is a big step up from other luxury hotels in Shanghai. The service throughout the premises is the most attentive and friendly we have seen at a big hotel in China, and the prime location, decor, and well-known history are added bonuses. We enjoyed a drink and watching the oldest jazz band at the bar downstairs, and had a nice dinner at Dragon Phoenix. We appreciated that you can enjoy a lively bar and a nice dinner without leaving the hotel; usually it’s difficult to get one of these during your stay. We have stayed at other reputable hotels in Shanghai since the pandemic began, but we often find the facilities to be limited, the rooms slightly worn, and the food and service mediocre. However, the food both in the lounge and at the breakfast buffet was very fresh and varied during our stay at the Fairmont, and the room appeared to be meticulously maintained. If you are wanting a true 5-star experience, this hotel will definitely not disappoint. Thank you again for the memorable experience!
2. Pullman Shanghai Qingpu Excellence
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2426 reviews
It locates Pullman Shanghai Qingpu Excellence in the Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Zone. It delivers an upscale, upbeat experience. The hotel offers 292 modern guest rooms and suites, an 800 m² pillar-less Grand Ballroom, 3 restaurants, function rooms, fitness lounge, and an indoor swimming pool. International channels and Executive Lounge are not open for the time being.
Greathotel
Reviewed By steffanloveA long stayingwith pullman ，from the first arrival the concierge，front dest they show good hospitality for us，the room was nice with good view，we enjoy the lounge on the 22F，free drinks and snacks every night，
3. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6841 reviews
Our conveniently central location is ideal for both business and leisure travellers. As sophisticated as they are spacious, our 362 rooms and suites offer a sublime blend of comfort and contemporary design. With innovative cuisine, cutting-edge cocktails and a stunning design, our bar and restaurants are among the best in Shanghai. Offering space to relax, rejuvenate and work out, our spa and wellness facilities are among the best in Shanghai. With a stylish, contemporary design and convenient riverside location, we offer a peaceful and inspiring venue for meetings, weddings and events.
I wish Shanghai could have a true MO
Reviewed By BingX2643WF"You are the son of the chairman. Therefore, to convince others that you have scored 100, you need to get 200" – this is a quote from a Hong Kong television series many years ago and it quite aptly sums up the situation facing the Mandarin Oriental, Shanghai. Conclusion first: as a luxurious hotel, this Mandarin Oriental was fine; but as a Forbes five-star hotel bearing the legendary title of Mandarin Oriental, this property was not yet on that level, at least during my stay. Part of the reason I love the MO brand so much is that its hotels often have a refined interior design that gently but beautifully celebrates the oriental culture. Also, one thing I respect MO hotels a lot is that they tend to pay great attention to taking care of their hardware. It is to the extent that it is not an exaggeration to state that every corner of a MO hotel would radiate a strong sense of delicate elegance. This elegance cannot just be built but also needs to be carefully maintained, like how a royal gardener takes care of a royal garden. Need not to say, MO Guangzhou designed by Tony Chi is a good example of that. It can always wow its guests when they first step into the hotel and the room. More than that, it is never those super luxurious but vulgar properties like the Wynn hotels that one typically would become increasingly annoyed if they stay in the room there for longer despite the enormous wow effect at first sight. MO Guangzhou is a place where, the longer we stay inside, the more we can appreciate it – just like a piece of fine sandalwood. I am sure MO Guangzhou is not an exception in the MO family since its neighboring sister property in Macau is more or less so. They are not like St. Regis, in which one can find the same luxuriousness no matter which city we are in. Each MO hotel is sharply distinguishable, but they all ultimately end with endearing elegance. These are why I love the MO brand so much; for its characters, refinement, and attentiveness, not to mention its hostmanship for which MO should be really proud of itself. Unfortunately, MO Shanghai does not seem very relevant to the above description. Its public area is conventional: you walk in, and you see the check-in desk on your right and multiple sets of sofas on your left. One of my favorite hotel Youtubers once said that a characteristic of MO hotels is that they always abundantly but softly fill themselves with art pieces and careful craving. Art pieces are unfortunately quite absent in the public area of this MO. Nonetheless, I could still see that the hotel did pay some attention to the crafting of its lobby; at least I did not see a large blank golden wall behind the check-in desk hanged with some clocks titled Paris, New York City, or Tokyo. Therefore, to be fair, despite being a little bit surprised that this MO merely used the very conventional interior layout and lacked the artistic element of a typical MO hotel, I could still recognize it as a member of the MO family. In terms of artistic decorations and careful crafting, the room was far more recognizable than the lobby as something MO. For instance, I can see that the hotel did pay quite a lot of attention to the details of the rooms during construction, since many parts of the room, even they were just small corners like the desk that other hotels would easily ignore, were crafted with some brief but adorable cravings. However, even though I appreciate the effort the hotel spent when building its rooms, I cannot do the same when coming to the maintenance of the room: the beautiful room was obviously undermaintained, to the extent that I could already feel the age of the hotel. A sense of history is not necessarily bad; see Peace Hotel across the river as an example. However, the sense of age in MO Shanghai was not the elegant type. It was the run-down type, the vibe one would find when entering those once glamorous but now decayed hotels (like Lisboa Hotel in Macau). The problem of under-maintenance was not only with the big furniture and the physical setting of the room, but also appeared in some small details. For instance, I was pretty surprised to find out that the papers on the office desk had already wrinkled. It is, of course, not a big problem, and I would have happily let it go if I had been in a hotel like Sofitel. However, the thing is that the hotel I was staying in was Mandarin Oriental! What do the wrinkled papers represent? It represents a housekeeping team that is not attentive enough, or, at least, not attentive according to the MO standard. Unfortunately, this MO spirit of pursuing exquisiteness is precisely the soul of a MO hotel. Without this insistence, no matter how well-built and well-designed a hotel is, it is merely an empty physical construction. At least for me, it is the most significant difference between those KOL hotels and the truly great hotels like MO and the Peninsula. Unfortunately, MO Shanghai does not seem to be close to having this pursuit of exquisiteness. Without this spirit, even a Mandarin Oriental would seem like a Sheraton. Another key reason why I struggled to feel that this property was a MO hotel was about the check-in experience. I always believe that, like the custom control at an international airport is the face of a nation, the reception desk is the face of a hotel. What a guest experiences within the short three minutes of check-in has an enormous influence on how the guest thinks about the service of that hotel. If the check-in process is a mess, no matter how excellent other departments perform, it would be hard for the guest not to have a bad impression of the hotel. Things are sometimes not that terrible; maybe what a guest experiences is not a mess but just a highly mechanized administrative process without any temperature. In that case, as a guest, I would easily come up with an impression that the hotel is not a bad one but not an exceptional one either; something like a Sheraton (I hope Sheraton would not mind me keep on quoting it in this review). Usually, MO hotels would not fall into these traps. They can often effectively make use of the magic three minutes of check-in to convince its guests that they are in one of the finest hotel brands in the world. Unfortunately, at least during my stay, the reception desk at the MO Shanghai did not seem to treasure these magic three minutes. The lady who helped me with my check-in was polite and efficient. However, I am afraid that I need to say that the whole process is more or less mechanical without much temperature. The only feeling I had after getting the room key was that the reception desk was super busy that they tried to finish everything as quickly as possible, without much regard for guests' experience. I understand that this was not necessarily a mistake of the lady who helped me with my check-in. The hotel might have been super busy that day, so she had a lot of work and needed to be quick. However, if that was the case, I hope the hotel would seriously evaluate the problem of manning. Ultimately, from a guest's perspective, all one could see was a cold, dry, and unpassionate check-in process, which I believe is not something that MO strives to achieve. I did encounter some highly respectable personnel during my stay. For instance, the lady at the spa passionately showed me the MO Shanghai fan, while Joy from the concierge desk was super helpful when I needed to print my VISA documents (thanks for even helping me to print two copies in case I lose one of them, Joy!). Also, it remains very clear in my memory the two ladies who withstood the strong winter wind of Shanghai to arrange the outdoor tables at 10 PM – a heartwarming and touching work ethic! Unfortunately, despite the fantastic works of these people, when I recall my stay at MO Shanghai, it is still difficult for me to not first pop up with an impression that it is a hotel without much temperature – I suppose it is the consequence of the loss of the magic three minutes. Overall, I would say it is tricky to comment on this Mandarin Oriental: I cannot say it is bad since it does not have any significant problems, while the MO heritage is still evident in some aspects of it. However, I cannot say that it is exceptional either since it clearly lacks some core elements of being a MO hotel. Therefore, I am afraid I need to conclude that Mandarin Oriental Shanghai is, at best, a mixed kid of MO and Sheraton instead of a pure blueblooded MO. It is a regret since Shanghai and Mandarin Oriental have such similar DNA: both are a lovely mixture of east and west. Shanghai deserves to have a true MO, like how New York City needs a St. Regis. I sincerely hope Mandarin Oriental Shanghai can fill this gap.
4. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5563 reviews
Nestling at the heart of Shanghai’s financial district and offering sweeping views across vibrant Huangpu River and historical Bund, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong’s guarantees guests a memorable experience and an unforgettable Shanghai visit. Situated on the upper floors of a stylish 58-floor tower in Lujiazui at the very heart of modern Shanghai’s commercial center, the 5-star luxury hotel occupies a prime location with stunning views of the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, overlooks The Bund and is just minutes from the historic Yu Gardens. The hotel’s location also affords rapid access to both Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. A thriving business and retail center, Shanghai ifc mall above which the hotel is located provides access to some of Shanghai’s very best upscale shopping. Designed in elegant Art Deco style, the air-conditioned rooms come with large windows and a flat-screen TV. Modern comforts include a Blu-Ray DVD player, BOSE sound systems and Nespresso coffee maker. Club rooms also include access to 24-hour Club Lounge, where guest can enjoy 5 exquisite food and beverage presentations daily. The Ritz-Carlton Spa features a 24-hour gym, indoor swimming pool, relaxing massage treatments and a dry sauna. The hotel also conveniently provides a business centre, 24-hour room service and a 24-hour front desk. Scena Restaurant serves Italian dishes, while the Michelin-starred Jin Xuan Restaurant offers fine Cantonese dining. Other dining options include Flair, the highest rooftop restaurant & bar in China, and afternoon tea at Aura Lounge.
Birthday tour
Reviewed By PerthFoodieeeI had an unforgettable birthday yesterday at The Ritz-Carlton, Pudong, Shanghai. On the day of my stay, I was notified that I was upgraded to the Bund View Suite, and I was very excited. But the surprise from the hotel is far more than that! Here I would like to thank a team from the Cuest Recognition Officer, member namely Michael, Jessee, Barry, Chelsea and Ashin. They did an fancy job, especially Jessee, Barry and Ashin, who stayed with me the day I checked in. Ashin is a very professional, attentive and enthusiastic staff. She took me for a room tour and introduced me to the facilities and locations of the hotel. With her help, I quickly learned about the facilities of the entire hotel. In addition, Jessee, Barry and Ashin meticulously prepared a birthday cake for me and sent me birthday wishes when I had dinner at the restaurant. But It's a pity thing that I was too excited and didn't take a photo with them. Furthermore, When I got back to my room after the meal, the turn-down service was ready for me. On the bedside was a birthday present prepared by their team for me, a Ritz-Carlton lion cub and a hand-painted birthday card. What a beautiful day! Moreover, The surprise continued, when I checked out today, Jessee and Barry, on behalf of the entire team, sent me a custom room card with my name and birthday date on it. It's unbelievable, something I've never experienced in other Ritz-Carlton branches. The entire team of Michael, Jessee, Barry, Chelsea and Ashin injected new vitality into the development of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong with their professional and enthusiastic service. At this point, I don't think they are hotel staff anymore, I think they are more like my friends! Thank them for a really wonderful birthday for me. All the love it! See u in the future!
5. Wanda Reign on the Bund
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4966 reviews
Located in the heart of Shanghai, Wanda Reign on the Bund features spectacular views of the Bund, Huangpu River and Pudong skyline. Apart from its superior location, the much-anticipated Wanda Reign on the Bund also presents extravagance and high-tech amenities, a diversity of fine dining options in a luxurious setting, and crafted hospitality that ensures guests enjoy an unforgettable stay.
Wanda Reign Lockdown
Reviewed By William GI have had the pleasure to stay in the Wanda Reign on the Bund, my time here was spent during the covid lockdown, not all hotel facilities were available to me but the staff have more than made up for this especially Mayn has been a ⭐️ any request has been met. And to top it off I received an early birthday present as I am due to leave on my birthday ?. The views from the hotel are second to none!
6. Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai
Overall Ratings
5 based on 9954 reviews
As Shanghai's preeminent hotel, Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai offers business and leisure travellers the perfect combination of comfort, service and convenience. Located on the Huangpu River in Shanghai's vibrant Lujiazui financial district, directly opposite the historic Bund, the hotel enjoys easy access to the city's most famous sites. Hongqiao Airport can be reached in just 35 minutes and Pudong Airport in 45 minutes.The hotel comprises a luxurious collection of well-appointed guestrooms and suites in two distinctive wings: the 577-room classic River Wing and the 375-room contemporary and exclusive Grand Tower. All rooms feature panoramic views of the Bund, the Huangpu River or Pudong's spectacular skyline.The prestigious Grand Tower provides some of Shanghai's most luxurious and spacious accommodation. It is also home to the Horizon Club, which offers guests the highest level of personalised service and attention.
Great services!
Reviewed By jinli625My stay at the Shangri-La hotel was perfect. There were some issues with the reservation, which led me to believe that I was given a different type of room when I checked in. Mr. Ma, the lobby manager, solved my problem in a very timely and thoughtful manner. My whole family has left with a wonderful memory. Thank you very much!
7. Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3072 reviews
Jing An Shangri-la, West Shanghai is located in the Jing An Business District, one of Shanghai’s most prestigious and fashionable business and commercial districts. The hotel sits on a network of public transportation, including Metro Lines 2 and 7. It is about 45-minute drive from Pudong International Airport and only 20 minutes from Hongqiao Airport via the adjacent elevated Yan’an Middle Ring Road.Jing An Shangri-La is also the prime focus of the Jing An Kerry Centre, a new city landmark that encapsulates a lifestyle of affluence and vibrancy. Integrating 450,000 square metres of hotel, retail, office and residential space, the Centre is bounded by four major roads – West Nanjing Road, Changde Road, Yan’an Middle Ring Road and Tongren Road. It is adjacent to the Shanghai Exhibition Centre and only steps away from the Jing An Temple and the famous Nanjing Road shopping street.
Warm welcome by swimming
Reviewed By Vael64Finally the amazing swimming pool from Shangri-la Jinan has been reopened!! As since the first day I went there, Mr. Li Qing offers me a cup of coffee after one hour swimming!! That's very kind of him and it is also an example of the Hotel staff's kindness! ?? Thank you Mr. Li Qing!! ??
8. The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5648 reviews
Discover a breathtaking luxury hotel - The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. Our award-winning hotel in Shanghai, China sits in the upscale Nanjing Road entertainment, dining and shopping complex, enthralling guests with an unparalleled and impeccable accommodations.
Lockdown stay!
Reviewed By 281riteshnI have been staying at the Portman Ritz Carlton Shanghai for the past 5 weeks now during the lockdown. Hotel staff have been very helpful during these challenging times. Special recognition to Joselle Basa whose customer service has been exceptional. Hotel management has tried to make our stay (quarantined in our rooms) as comfortable as possible. The hotel GM (Tarik Temucin) is also very accessible and supportive. I am rating 4 stars because I haven’t experienced much of their bar/restaurant, fitness center, etc as they are all shut down due to the lockdown.
9. The Langham Shanghai Xintiandi
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2407 reviews
Located in the heart of Shanghai’s vibrant Xintiandi entertainment and restaurant precinct surrounded by glamorous boutiques, galleries and outdoor cafes. The Langham’s elegant rooms and suites provide a haven for discerning guests. Cachet Restaurant and Bar; Chuan Spa offering Traditional Chinese Medicine and spa treatments (opening Q2 2011); 24hr fitness centre and indoor pool (opening Q1 2011). For meetings and special events, the hotel features a multi-purpose space, adaptable for any conference, function or business event
Great place
Reviewed By dowling19841Great stay at the Langham. What a service. The lounge was relaxing and enjoyable. A shout out to Jenny and Daisy for the service above and beyond. Much much appreciated. The lounge is a relaxing place with good food and drinks for all visitors
10. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, an IHG Hotel
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1029 reviews
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland located in Songjiang, the root of Shanghai, nearby Shanghai’s Hongqiao area, 40 minutes from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center. Sits the landmark of China, at 88 meters closer to the heart of earth. The hotel is an epitome of innovations in architecture and design with breakthroughs in engineering, an awe-inspiring destination bringing together affluent travellers to experience the glamour of InterContinental life in business, leisure and adventure travel. Here, guests from all over the world will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a true man-made miracle.
DO NOT STAY AT THE WONDERLAND…
Reviewed By Stanley1588Do not stay at the Wonderland! Yes, that is a completely BOLD statement for those future guests who are considering an overnight stay at the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland. Let me explain why: As a loyal InterContinental Spire Ambassador member, that is one statement that I cannot BELIEVE that I’m making right now. In just under 2 years, I have visited many InterContinentals in the United States and Mainland China. This stay marks a milestone: The 20th InterContinental I have stayed at. The General Manager Paul Hugentobler should take this review seriously because this is not just a review reflecting my stay, this is a review that is whistleblowing worthy to tell you the absolute truth. I write this review in protest of how bad my stay was and expose the flaws behind this hotel that make guests paying thousands of RMB to stay feel in vain. This review is not about slandering a hotel but holding this hotel accountable to the last RMB. My goal in writing this review is to make sure that guests who have earned their hard money’s worth, get spent appropriately. Throughout my stay, I have consulted with an anonymous manager at the InterContinental Shanghai National Exhibition and Conference Center (NECC), who is an expert at InterContinental’s customer service and standards. This helped me enlighten my understanding of the hotel, and to determine whether the situations encountered at the hotel were managed appropriately. I checked into the hotel on February 23rd, 2022 for my overnight reward night stay. I initially booked the 1 King Bed Superior Garnet Room, which is a room on the non-circular curved section of the hotel on a high floor. I received a lovely phone call from the Reservation Office confirming my stay, in which they have upgraded me to the 1 King Ruby Room on the Club Floors. The hotel reservation staff member confirmed my stay preferences, and I was all set for my arrival the next day. On the day of my arrival, I arrived at the hotel before 3PM. I was greeted at my taxi door by concierge bellman Jeff Zhu and a trainee. From there I got in line for check-in. By the way, there is no dedicated check-in lane for the Ambassadors and IHG Elite Members. I had to get in the standard line, which diminished the welcome recognition of my loyalty to this hotel brand at this hotel. Whilst in line, I was greeted by Wendy Zhou of the Lobby, who asked for any restaurant reservation requests. I promptly requested a reservation for myself at the Commune Restaurant for a Dinner Buffet a 6PM. Zhou professionally made that reservation, and straight after that, it was my turn to check-in. Check-in was conducted by Front Desk Staff Member Justin Tang. Noticing my US Passport, the check-in was performed in my preferred language of English. He introduced the room I was in, my membership vouchers, collected deposit bank information and passport, and made me do the standard paperwork. Overall, a great check-in was done by Tang which was done in 4 minutes and 15 seconds according to my stopwatch. So far the stay was looking promising for a 5-star review. However, it would have been nice to have an Ambassador Check-In area opened. Such a busy atmosphere at the time, there should be more than 2 staff members manning the front desk. I was assigned Club Room 1125. To give everyone a detailed overview of the Club Ruby King Bed Guest Room: It is a 40SQM (430 SQFT) space with a comfortable luxurious King Bed, Philips TV, Daybed, closet, chair, desk, JBL speaker, a Baidu AI unit, and a complimentary minibar. In the bathroom is a bathtub with an open partition to the bedroom, Toto Electrical Japanese Toilet, Shower, Rustic Sink, and many amenities supplied by Salvatore Ferragamo. The balcony outside has a view of the quarry’s waterfall, cliffs, and quarry pond to show the light shows. A typical rate for this room on a weekend night goes as high as 4,500 RMB for this exact room. On the day I booked this stay due to the pandemic and a working day, this was scaled back to 3,000 RMB. To put this into perspective, you could use that 3,000 RMB to book a 100SQM (1075 SQFT) King Bedroom Suite at the InterContinental Shanghai NECC. To pay that much for a small room, you would think that the room would be well-delivered to the standards of the Luxurious InterContinental Brand. My expectations were certainly high for a room that cost so much, that was when things went wrong. When I entered the room, I headed straight to the balcony for that amazing view of the quarry. I got in my InterContinental slippers and walked out the balcony, only to find the entire balcony WET. Bear in mind that it was a clear sunny day, and there was a light rain that stopped during the night before my arrival. According to “Time and Date”, a website that records weather forecasts in the past 24 hours, the rain stopped at 1:30AM. That means that the staff had the entire morning to dry down the balcony before I arrived at 3PM. This was below InterContinental standards according to the anonymous InterContinental manager. The hotel knew that I was going to stay in Room 1125 the day before I arrived because they assigned me that room. I had to bring this issue to the front desk, and the other front desk staff member was never SINCERE or APOLOGETIC about the housekeeping mishap. I had to bring this issue to the attention of Guest Service Manager Simon Gu, who was a professional manager who took in my concerns very well. The explanation he gave was that this room was prepared days ago and was unused for days, and nobody came to dry the balcony floors. I won’t blame Mr. Gu for this, but according to the anonymous manager, it is a stupid excuse for such a mishap. To put this point-blank: if you knew a guest was coming after a rainy day, the balconies are to be dried down before arrival. I commend Mr. Gu for his response to this situation, and he did it very well despite his obvious struggle to communicate in English. However, if someone was to pay 4,500 RMB for this room, that customer would be certainly disappointed by this experience. The lovely housekeeper Patty Wang helped dry down my balcony and was sincere and apologetic about this situation. I would also like to raise a safety issue that is of great concern to the safety of staff members and customers at the She Shan Lounge. Whilst I was waiting for the balcony issue to be fixed, I decided to redeem 1/2 of my membership drink vouchers at the Lobby Lounge. The lounge was quite busy, with many customers opting to have afternoon tea at the lobby lounge. Out of respect for this young waitress, I will redact her full name to address this safety issue. N@#$%e Zhang of the Lobby Lounge served a can of Soda Water as I kindly requested. As Ms. Zhang was serving my soda water, she opened it and some of the soda water fizzed out onto the floor. She kindly replaced my drink but did nothing to clean the spilled soda water on the floor. The spill was in the middle of the lobby lounge passageway between the lounge area and the kitchen, with many foot traffic to and from the kitchen. I counted about 7 customers and staff members stepping onto the spilled soda water. This is an obvious tripping hazard. I could not understand why Ms. Zhang or any other staff member grab a mop and cleaned the spilled soda water up. I witnessed staff members carrying afternoon tea snacks on fragile plates that could have fallen on the ground and could injure someone. The neglected spilled soda water on the floor was a sign of dysfunction in the lobby lounge, where safety should become first. What if someone tripped and fell because of that spill? Either way, I left not knowing how long the soda water spill stayed in place. Once again, Front Desk Manager Gu was kindly notified of this. He granted me access to the Club InterContinental Lounge for Afternoon Tea, which is very kind of him. I thank him for his sincerity and professionalism. My return to the She Shan Lounge an hour before my departure was nowhere near better, as the Manager V@#$%^n Wu was on her phone upon my arrival and told me to wait before I settled into the lounge. It was simply unprofessional. I was served by N$&%*e Zhang again, and I ordered Red Tea. I was only given a cup without the teapot, which normally comes with any membership tea order at InterContinental. Only being given a small cup of tea without extra tea from the pot is as ridiculous as it sounds. Furthermore, there were dry tea stains on the cup, in which the cup was not properly cleaned before I used it. The afternoon tea service at the Club Lounge was lovely and was done by the sole Club Agent at the club lounge: Kanac Xing. The club lounge is lovely, but it is the smallest out of the 5 other Club Lounges I have been to buy this brand. If I was a full-paying Club InterContinental Guest, I honestly would not pay for the Club InterContinental service. There just wasn’t enough personalized service at the lounge. That is in stark contrast to the Club InterContinentals in NECC, Shanghai Expo, Chongqing, Wuxi, Ningbo, and Sanya. It may have been because barely anyone was using the Club Lounge. Either way, it was a good afternoon tea service. I’m glad I got to visit the lounge, and I thank Mr. Gu for the experience. There was a separate issue that was not raised to Mr. Gu because I thought I might get the attention of management. The partition sill between the day couch and the bathtub has not been cleaned in weeks. Because I was working on my laptop, my long arms were resting on that sill. I noticed unusual bathtub water stains on the sill, so I decided to wipe it down with the provided disinfectant wipe. When you look at the disinfectant wipe, you can tell that there was possible bacteria or dirt on the sill. There is an IHG Clean Promise Initiative, which promises deep cleaning whenever the guest rooms are used during the pandemic. This was a sign that the hotel has not taken careful considerable steps to enforce the IHG Clean Promise Initiative. The sill of the partition would be considered a high-touch area based on the basic ergonomics of the narrow day bed, my arm would naturally lean on the partition sill. Little did I know, it was not cleaned. I have to ask General Manager Hugentobler and the Director of Rooms this: If guests are paying at least 2000 RMB a night in a small room, why isn’t that money being funded to make sure guests stay in a respectable clean environment during the Omicron epidemic in China? It’s not just room hygiene that seems to be the problem that lurks around this hotel, food safety and quality seem to be an issue, especially with my evening dining experience at the Commune. My dinner experience in terms of customer service was pretty excellent, especially with the Commune Restaurant Supervisor Jackson Zhou overseeing and personalizing my dinner experience. The cost of the buffet was 500 RMB after a Spire Elite Ambassador discount. To put that in perspective, a buffet dinner of the better quality at InterContinental Shanghai NECC’s Five Live Restaurant would be almost half that price. Despite the great service, some of the buffet foods offered were POORLY maintained. At one point I saw a sign that warns diners not to eat undercooked food, and then I saw found myself accidentally eating completely raw sirloin steaks from the grill station. Just look at that redness in one of the buffet pictures posted. To Zhou’s credit, he got the chefs to redo a perfect piece of sirloin. I would have loved the Grouper Fish Soup if it wasn’t for the fish scale that I found in my soup. The Pumpkin soup served had that gelatin-like substance split on the top of the soup. Serving boiled broccoli in a complete soup of melted butter at the buffet is certainly a caloric step too far. The rest of the dishes were fine and well introduced by the great Supervisor Jackson Zhou. Though apart from appreciating Wonderland’s Light Show and Commune Food, 588 RMB for a buffet dinner based on my experience was completely not worth it. There were completely dangerous instances of food compromises, and even a breach of the non-smoking code in the bathroom. It is certainly a restaurant that I would be very concerned about based on food health and safety. It is a nice selling point to bring guests back to Wonderland, but only to eat and appreciate the architecture of the hotel. However, the food safety hazards contradict the idea of bringing guests back. I should note that I visited the Commune restaurant in 2019, which was significantly better than this visit’s dinner. The standards seem to be lower. The lower standards of Commune may have been the case during my breakfast experience as well. There are so many signature buffet items at this hotel that were missing, compared to the other 5 InterContinentals in Shanghai. This is the only Shanghai InterContinental that does not serve the bowl of small wontons. There are only large ones, but small wontons at the buffet at 13 other Chinese InterContinentals seem to be the standard. A lot of modern InterContinentals like the NECC, Chongqing Hotel, or Suzhou Hotel, have Eggs Benedicts. Finding out that there are no Eggs Benedicts at such a modern hotel, especially this being the most expensive buffet I have been to, was a shocking find. Most InterContinentals in China have freshly squeezed fruit juices at their buffet, this hotel also made the bold exception. The fried noodles had issues, in which it was already stone cold when I immediately ate it upon collection. The Commune isn’t bothered to maintain proper temperatures in hot food. This hotel is not maintaining its breakfast well. Now it begs to wonder whether the owners of Shimao are doing this because they are losing money. When you see a modern, exotic hotel doing this in their restaurant, you know this is cost-cutting. Other else, why else would another InterContinental charge 180 RMB instead of 230 RMB (DaZhongDianPing Rate) for a better quality breakfast? Just look at my other InterContinental Shanghai NECC or Shanghai Pudong Hotel Reviews, this is just appalling. At least the trainee who served me was a nice professional guy. Of all InterContinental buffets in China I have tried, this one ranks #10 out of 14. The light show consisted of two nightly shows: A show “Echo” at 7:30PM, and “Xia Ying” at 8:30PM. I watched them from my balcony, which was worth getting this room for the view. I honestly was hoping for a drone show as they heavily advertise on their WeChat account, I was deeply disappointed that it did not occur. I told the anonymous manager about the offering, and the anonymous manager was impressed. At least there were two light different shows. If I was to visit the hotel just for the light show, I would have not booked the room and just have dinner, and view the shows from the Commune’s balcony. I tried to the swimming pool in the health club of the hotel, to say the least, I’m only impressed with the view from the pool to the waterfall. I am not impressed with the swimming pool itself. The two pools are the smallest I have seen out of all the other Intercontinental hotels. There is no lap pool, so there would be a disadvantage for those looking to do swimming laps like me. The pool is likely just there for entertainment and just for show. The changing rooms are great though, because of their modern design. I’m not impressed by the locker room attendant, who used a pool towel to clean the used lockers. I’m also not impressed with the swimming wear electrical dryer between the locker rooms and the sauna. When I was using the dryer, the drying was spinning out of control to the point that the machine itself was tumbling around to the point it could have fallen off itself. I told the health club front desk about it, she asked the same room attendant and denied such allegations put forward. I decided to stay until 4PM, to use my Ambassador benefits and to make use of what I spent with 40,000 points. I have chosen to stay at the hotel for lunch since I have a 120 RMB food voucher I would like to use. I figure I wanted to order room service to enjoy the room view over a nice Wagyu Double Burger. I pick up the telephone in the room and pressed the In-Room Dining button. No Response. I waited 5 minutes to try again, once again no answer. The phone asked me to dial 5 for an “automatic response”. I dialed 5 and waited another 5 minutes. No callback. I decided to go back to the Commune to order my burger there to either eat there or get someone to deliver the burger to my room. I was told by Commune Staff Member Ikusan Yu that the Commune restaurant cannot be used as an A la carte restaurant. However, according to the IHG APP, the Commune Restaurant description says: “Guests enjoy international cuisines served in open kitchen stations or available a la carte.” Ohhh, so you CAN order something at the Commune. The restaurant description on the IHG APP is misleading. Either way, I was hoping I could just get the burger served in my room using the voucher. I got to meet Supervisor Jackson Zhou again to help figure my lunch out. It turns out that this hotel does not allow you to redeem the Spire Elite Food Voucher for Room Service. Bear in mind, this is one of the very few hotels that have such a strict policy. I recall the InterContinental Shanghai NECC, Sanya Resort, and Shanghai Expo allowing me to use the 120 RMB voucher for room service. Understanding this unique situation, Ikusan Yu and Jackson Zhou allowed me to seat in the Commune for my burger. The burger was delicious by the way. It is the best burger I had so far in this hotel brand. Well done to the chef for the great delivery on this dish. Jackson Zhou has to be the best staff member in the entire Food & Beverage Department of this hotel. It is a shame that the food quality and the service confusion became a menace to my experience. I checked out of the hotel at 4PM. Simon Gu gave me his Guests Service Manager card in case I planned on returning. If he listened to my request, Simon would have led the upper management to this review. He’s a great manager, I’m sure none of the issues raised was his fault. To anyone considering staying at this hotel. PLEASE DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL. The thousands of RMB spent here does not reflect the quality that blends out of that price tag. The hotel is only worth visiting for the light show and just some meal. If you want to stay at InterContinental, stay at any of the 5 other hotels in Shanghai. JUST DON’T STAY HERE. The experience here DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INTERCONTINENTAL STANDARDS I HAVE SEEN AS A LOYAL SPIRE ELITE AMBASSADOR MEMBER. To the entire management of InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland including General Manager Paul Hugentobler, this stay was one of the worst hotel stays I have ever had so far in an InterContinental in Mainland China. Something must be done to improve the hotel. The standards have declined in this hotel compared to the 5 other Shanghai InterContinentals I have been to. This is SUPPOSED to be the flagship InterContinental in this COUNTRY. Yet, nothing here reflects the InterContinental standards that I have seen my past 35 InterContinental stays. My experience was mostly an absolute nightmare! I am pretty upset about my stay at this hotel. This was a horrible InterContinental loyalty milestone for me. The 20th InterContinental I have been to happens to be one of the most disappointing I have ever been to. The 10 years it took to build this Wonderland turned into a land of disappointment. I feel sorry for the great staff members that I have met, who have to read the details of my overall poor experience. I hope this hotel can improve soon under the new ownership firm, and can in the future prove that all I said was wrong. All these issues raised, NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED!!! I rank this hotel out of the 20 InterContinentals I stayed at, at a shocking #19 out of 20.
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