Overall Rating: GOOD

Reviewed January 13, 2016
Visited January 2016

Like other rivers in China, Huangpu River is used for transportation even the big load like sands and coals. So you see frequently not just the sexy yacht passed by but also the tankers. But hay... you are in China, so enjoy the river with sky scrapers on every side of it. And don't forget to imagine that once upon a time these tall building weren't there... It'd take you back in time since the river stays the same.

Overall Rating: AVERAGE

Reviewed January 13, 2016
Visited December 2015

As stated many times in TripAdvisor, this attraction is a must see while you're in Shanghai, especially if you bring your children. The circus attraction, however actually just ordinary circus. Because in my mind I would see more Chinese acrobatic show, but instead the circus is dominated with animal show. Indonesia (my country) can give twice as many animal show then the one they performed. But none the less, my children loved it, and it all that matters.

One thing though, the area near the circus smells like toilet. I meant it! I don't know where the smells came from. May be from the circus animals they have or from the sewer nearby.

Oh one more thing... If you want to record the show, don't use your handy cam camera, because the security will asked you to stop. But if you recorded it using your cell phone, they didn't mind. I don't know the difference though, because you can still get (and sometimes) even better resolution video when using your cell phone camera on the dark environment :)

Overall Rating: EXELLENT

Reviewed January 13, 2016
Visited January 2016

The Huangpu River on the winter is still good to see and the place to enjoy it is from Wai Tan. Don't forget to bring your high quality camera to capture lights from cross the river to get good shots. And if you go here by winter, dress warm :)

Overall Rating: EXCELLENT

Reviewed January 13, 2016
Visited December 2015

First of all, it is a tower. So you come here to enjoy the Shanghai and the Huangpu River from above. If you are staying in the Oriental Riverside Hotel like I did, you'll get 2 free tickets entrance for the tower. I suggest you go there early in the morning to avoid the Que to get in to the elevator. And less people means less crowded at the window view (both on the main viewing floor and the glass see-trough floor).

Don't forget to take as many pictures and also selfie pictures especially on the glass see-through floor, because when you look once again from your laptop/TV the feeling that you were there came back to you.

On the ground level of the tower was the Shanghai History Museum with great collections of diorama and miniatures or even in the real size. You need to bring your night capability camera to capture every moment in this museum. Just don't miss this museum if you come here, especially for school children because this is one of the good museums I ever visited.

Overall Rating: EXCELLENT

Reviewed January 13, 2016
Stayed December 2015
Traveled with family

I rarely gave the 'excellent' for my review, so when I did, I meant it!

First of all is its location. A walk distance to every attraction on this side of the Huangpu River. Oriental Pearl Tower is only 10-minute walk, the riverside is only 3-minute walk, the 'tunnel of attractions' (shops, submarine adventure, multimedia tunnel) is just cross the street of hotel lobby's door, the Super Brand mall only 5-minute walk, and the Disney's store is also 5-minute walk.

The garden in front of the hotel is the one which make this hotel look outstanding from high above from glass floor of Oriental Pearl Tower. And taking pictures on this garden with the tower behind it, always gives the good shot.

Not that many hotel in China had their staffs could speak excellent English, but I spoke to one of guest relation manager Mr. Luca (from Italy) and gave him some of my input for this hotel. If you happened to stay here and looking for someone who can speak good English, I suggest you find him.

One input I addressed to Mr. Luca was that this hotel doesn't have the bath gel or shower gel to be used in the bath tub to produce bubble foam. My children love to take the warm bath in the bath tub while bubble foam around them, and they missed this opportunity in this hotel. Oh… the bath room has a see through glass from the bathroom to the room, so it's good for the couples and family, especially for honeymoon couple.

I stayed in this hotel on the new year's eve, but since Shanghai did not celebrate the solar new year's eve this year, I also missed the opportunity to watch the fireworks in the clear winter sky by the Huangpu river. The sky however, was very clear to the point that I can see from my room many stars and zoomed in to the surface of the moon using my handy cam and snap shot it :)

Room Tip: River view but choose the highest floor available for the good view.

Overall Rating: AVERAGE

Reviewed July 2, 2014
Stayed April 2014
Traveled on business

It's located near apartment complex. You can go figure yourself, what to expect. This apartment complex has two gates from different side of the complex. When the first time you get there you should ask the taxi driver to take you up to the lobby, or otherwise you have to walk on brick roads from the gate to the lobby. It is not far, may be around 50 meters, but if you have to drag your language on the brick road, that would be something!

As in most of hotel in Shenzhen, only few of the hotel staffs can speak English, even for the receptionist. It took us half an hour when we got there until they can find our room. Problem was, they have to spell our non-Chinese-names letter by letter to compare between their system and our passports. And as you may guess, they gave the room mixed up and was not as the booking preferences we made earlier in booking.com. Thankfully for us, our Chinese friend came and fixed the problems. Same problem happened when we had to ask direction and ask them to write it on the piece of paper for taxi drivers. The Point is, it was hard to communicate with hotel staffs in English.

I stayed in the 19th floor on Deluxe Business Room for 2 nights and on Executive Suite Room with 2 bedrooms for the last night. In my opinion, the Deluxe Business Room is better since it was spacious and has big bathroom with nice and cozy bath tub. While Executive Suite Room with 2 bedrooms has limited space to get around and the bath room is smaller and doesn't have the bath tub. Make your own choice.

I like to take MTR if I went to Shenzhen, and this hotel is located quite far from the nearest station. By foot it will take you about half an hour. Instead of walking, you can take a ride with electric bike from the MTR station to the hotel, and it will just cost you about CNY 6. But from the hotel to MTR station, you really have to walk, or just take the taxi to your destination, though it is not easy to stop the taxi near the hotel, most of the time the taxi is full.