One of the definitions of Shangri-La is:

“a remote beautiful imaginary place where life approaches perfection”

After weekenduae visited the Pudong Shangri-La in East Shanghai, I have to disagree on two things about this definition.

First, the hotel is not in a “remote” location, it is in the heart of Shanghai near the futuristic Pudong financial district, right on the Bund.

Second, the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel is definitely not “imaginary”, it is well established and was the first high tower to have been built on the East side of the Bund, the waterfront area in central Shanghai, and it is one of the most famous landmarks in Shanghai.

The name Shangri-La encapsulates the serenity and service for which the chain’s hotels and resorts are renowned worldwide.

Presently the hotel consists of two towers: the River Wing, and the Grand Tower; both showcase spacious, well-appointed rooms and suites with views overlooking the historical Bund and the mighty Huangpu River.

The River Wing blends a style of classical elegance with oriental touches and boasts a cozy environment, while the Grand Tower has a more contemporary design which fits in well with the business-oriented guests.

weekenduae was lucky enough to stay in one of the Horizon Premier Bund Rooms in the Grand Tower, and I have to say it was definitely stylishly appointed, luxurious and spacious and enjoyed a spectacular view of the Bund!

The room was exceptionally quiet and comfortable, and I slept heavenly in the luxurious cozy bed.

There was a personal welcome card showing the detail to attention which this hotel is well known for.

Besides the “usual” hotel amenities (gym room, swimming pool, etc. – all up to par with the highest quality expected) I have to say that there are two features that I appreciated the most:

Chi, The Spa is an amazing heaven of tranquility with some of the largest and luxurious private spa suites in Shanghai (it covers an entire floor of the hotel). It has won several awards (Forbes.com, Baccarat Asia Spa Awards) and the skilled therapists will most certainly rejuvenate your body and senses with an extensive menu of treatments to chose from – it even has an unique ‘Crystal Energizing Facial’ which consists of a series of pampering treatments employing the power of gemstones scientifically blended in the cream to treat skin with crystal wands for optimum results!

And the second is Yi Café, the all-day dining restaurant which invites guests on an international culinary journey with ten show cooking stations of different countries. Yi Café is a “walk though market” style restaurant where the guests can select the cuisine of their preference, and appetizing food is constantly being prepared, and served hot off the pan, wok, grills and ovens. The selection is really outstanding: you can select from Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Malaysian and Western, each having their own selection of signature dishes to chose from.

If travelling with children, be advised that there is a complete stall dedicated to desserts and candies so if by any chance your children wander off, that’s the first place to look.

Overall, the Pudong Shangri-La operates at a level of pure excellence and most certainly will satisfy all your needs, whether you are travelling for business, holiday, honeymoon, or for leisure.

The Pudong Shangri-La Hotel is easy to find, and here is their website.

Here is an interactive Google map.