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Recent Visitors
Pudong Shangri-la: The Shangheight Of Luxury
2009. 3 September
Maybe I just like the idea of home being a double-towered complex linked by a marble walkway lined with delightful goods in the shops and delectable foods in the mouth courtesy of the fine eateries that make Pudong Shangri-la a popular destination for locals as well as visitors. The River Wing was the first five-star hotel on the Pudong side of Shanghai's Huangpu River;
(etbmice.com)
It's always a pleasure to return to a hotel that feels like home. The fact that a 948-room property can pull this off is a credit to Pudong Shangri-la, one of the first five-star hotels of international standard in Shanghai and still setting benchmarks for competitors striving to match its level of excellence.
The newly renovated rooms in the River Wing recall an era of Old World European opulence with chandeliers and plush carpets, while the Grand Tower is more contemporary in style and attitude.
People thought Mr. Kwok was crazy to open a hotel on the Pudong side back when it was little more than marshland; thanks to the Shangri-la Group's canny owner, the Pudong Shangri-la sits on a prime piece of real estate today.
A previous stay at Pudong Shangri-la three years ago left a deep impression of gracious hospitality; how pleasing it was to see the standards of accommodation and service have risen yet higher. At a time when other hotel groups are cutting back on services and amenities in obvious ways, there is no evidence of obvious economic effect at Pudong Shangri-la. And shouldn't it be that way? The last thing guests want to experience, especially return guests, is a diminishment of standards. No worries about that here.
Pudong Shangri-la's restaurants range from family-friendly Gui Hua Lou offering an array of Chinese dishes; unusually, the restaurant does not specialise in one region's cuisine, but rather offers dishes from various parts of China. The apotheosis of sophistication, Jade On 36 is a legend on the Shanghai dining scene not content to rest on its laurels. With the recent arrival of affable French chef Fabrice Giraud, Jade On 36 had recreated itself as a venue for classic French cuisine. Gone are the seltzer bottles shooting pureed potatoes and giant tiger prawns steamed and served in Mason jars, though that was fun while it lasted. Chef Giraud came to Jade On 36 on the recommendation of none other than epicurigod Alain Ducasse and justifies his appointment with subtly complex dishes created with painstaking care. From foie gras, foie d'oie, and tuna tartare appetisers to wagyu beef served with a perfect Béarnaise, the new Jade On 36 summer menu is a taste of good things to come under the leadership of Monsieur Giraud.
With some of the most spacious rooms in town, Pudong Shangri-la is well positioned for next year's World Expo, to be held on the enormous grounds just a few kilometres away. As various nations prepare their pavilions for the big event, which will take place from May to October 2010, Pudong, long regarded as Shanghai's business district, will flourish as a cultural destination as well. Not that it is devoid of cultural attractions under normal circumstances; the magnificent Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, a performing arts venue designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, is just down the road.
With another Shangri-la hotel under construction in Puxi's Jing An district on the other side of the river, Shanghai will be one of the few cities in the world with two Shangri-la properties. How lucky for visitors to Shanghai.
Source: www.etbmice.com