This time in Shanghai, I deliberately avoided the internet famous check-in hotels and chose the Oriental Riverside Bund View Hotel (Shanghai International Convention Center) hidden in the core of Lujiazui. After staying for two nights, I finally realized that this double sphere landmark, which has been named one of the "Top Ten Classic Buildings of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China", is not just a "backdrop" for international conferences. It blends the calmness of old Shanghai with the comfort of modern hotels into the most down-to-earth hotel experience.
It's only a 7-minute walk from Lujiazui subway station. Pushing open the thick glass doors, there's no deliberate sense of luxury. The tall lobby is filled with a faint fragrance. When checking in at the front desk, I was specifically reminded that the balcony of the room faces the Huangpu River, so there's no need to set an alarm in the morning. You can open the curtains to watch the sunrise. The newly renovated guest rooms in 2019 have no sense of the old buildings. The 40 square meter river view room I stayed in was caught by a 270 degree view at the moment I opened the door - the world's buildings on the Bund spread along the river, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is located 60 meters away from the slope, and even the light band of the cruise ship on the river can be clearly seen.
What surprised me the most was the attention to detail: foldable tables and chairs were reserved on the viewing balcony, a cup of Qimen black tea prepared by the hotel was brewed in the afternoon, leaning against the railing to blow the river breeze, and even the faint sound of the Bund bell in the distance could be heard particularly clearly. The softness and hardness of the bedding are just suitable for someone like me who travels all year round. I won't make any abnormal noise when turning over at night, and I won't feel any discomfort when sleeping until dawn. The bathroom has a full glass dry wet separation system, with 24-hour constant temperature hot water that can be turned on and out. Even the wind speed of the hair dryer is adjusted just right, unlike many old hotels where hair is still wet after blowing for half a day.
What's even more striking is the sense of relaxation hidden in daily life: the indoor heated swimming pool on the 9th floor is almost deserted, swimming a few laps and leaning against the edge of the pool. Looking up, you can see the neon lights of Lujiazui through the skylight. After swimming, you can go to the nearby fitness center to stretch, and all the equipment is imported professional. Running in front of the river is much more comfortable than in a closed gym. I didn't want to go out to look for food at night, so I ordered the Jinjiang food in the Chinese restaurant and sold it to my room. The cooking temperature was just right. Even the dishes were the same as those in the dining room. I ate in the night view of the Bund outside the window, which was much better than the online celebrity restaurant waiting in line outside.
I originally thought that this hotel, which had hosted the APEC summit and the World Expo welcome party, would exude a serious sense of distance everywhere. However, when I actually stayed there, I realized that it was completely different: when I passed by the corridor when I returned to my room at night, the cleaning lady would smile and remind me that the river breeze was cool at night, so remember to close the balcony door; I wanted to find a nearby niche walking route, and the front desk directly drew me a map of the riverside trail from the hotel to Pudong Art Museum, clearly indicating where I could take pictures of the deserted Bund view.
Previously, when I came to Shanghai, I always thought about rushing to tourist attractions and crowded with internet famous hotels, but this time I slowed down after staying at Oriental Riverside Bund View Hotel (Shanghai International Convention Center). There's no need to search for a spot, no need to rush for a check-in spot. Wake up and see the sunrise on the river dyeing the building orange. Lie down at night and watch the lights on both sides sway along the water flow. The most touching thing about this landmark hotel, which has seen countless grand scenes, is never its highlight passing by, but its willingness to safely hand over the most relaxed river scenery to every guest.Show more