This was my second time in Shanghai so I opted to go a bit further inland in West Shanghai, and stayed at the Jing An Shangri-La. The hotel is located on the PuXi side of the Huangpu River in the Jing An Business District – one of Shanghai’s most prestigious and fashionable business and commercial districts.

The Hotel

The hotel is perched atop the Jing An Kerry Centre, from floor 30 to 59, boosting incredible views of the city. Every detail of this contemporary hotel has been meticulously considered, from the employees’ uniforms, to heated bathroom floors, and artwork found throughout the property.

The Room

As we walked into our 42nd floor room, we were blown away by the view! There were floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the corner, providing 180-degree views of Shanghai. We were able to see all the way to the famous Shanghai Bund and the tall buildings in the Pudong area across the river. It was truly breathtaking. We stayed in a Horizon Club Grand Premier Room, and the room itself was elegant and contemporary, with a large bathroom with heated marble floors as well as a LCD TV and digital clock embedded in the bathroom mirror.

The Food

Jing An Shangri-La offers diverse dining experiences. Guests can dine at the Cafe Liang, which offers an international buffet and all-day dining menu – there’s something for everyone, at any time of the day. There is also Tsuru, which features classic Japanese Kaiseki cuisine; The 1515 West Chophouse, with its classic American bar and grill; Summer Palace, which is inspired by Chinese ink paintings of poetic landscapes for traditional Chinese food; and Calypso Restaurant & Lounge, a modern Mediterranean restaurant and lounge.

We were fortunate enough to visit during their Celebrity Bartender series at The 1515 West Bar, where we were able to enjoy special cocktails made by Jose Luis Leon (from Mexico City). This was followed by an amazing meal at The 1515 West Chophouse with Chef William Mahi, a Michelin Star Chef who just recently joined the Shangri-La team. I can’t wait to go back to try out his new menu!

The Lounge

Horizon Club Lounge is located on the 55th floor and is complimentary to hotel guests staying in the Grand Premier Room category and above. The spectacular 360-degree panoramic view from the lounge offers guests the ideal place to soak in the city view of Jing An and beyond, from the top of the world. There is complimentary breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés, and snacks throughout the day.

The Location

Situated in West Shanghai, Jing An Shangri-La is a 45-minute drive from Pudong International Airport and 20 minutes from Hongqiao International Airport. The hotel is just steps away from the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Jing An Temple, French Concession area, and the famous Nanjing Road shopping street. Jing An Shangri-La has direct underground access to Metro Lines 2 and 7, making transportation around Shanghai easy and convenient. That said – although a taxi ride is easy enough to get you around, if you are visiting for vacation and have limited time, you may want to be closer to the Bund and other popular tourist attractions.

Between the amazing service, the phenomenal views, and the diverse dining options, Jing An Shangri-La had everything I needed for my Shanghai getaway!