The Best Banquet and Events Hotel on The Bund

The Scene: The Sky's The Limit

The Pudong Shangri-La evokes the Gilded Age of hand-tailored waistcoats, hand-set bricks and wood-paneled elevators. And the best part is, it's thoroughly contemporary - aka - everything works with precision. Moreover, the views from the upper floors are positively grand. Nowhere in Shanghai compares with the Pudong Shangri-La for corporate event planners looking for a combination of fine gastronomy, inspiring meeting spaces and beautiful, state-of-the-art ballrooms. With memorable views of the Bund and the Huangpu River, the award-winning Pudong Shangri-La offers warm and attentive service and truly world-class dining.

The handsome lobby wings, light-filled with soaring ceilings, feels like a diplomatic drawing room, with tasteful art, blooming orchids and iron lamps. The hotel's grand lobby is a parade of stylehounds holding court on the plush sofas: decorators with Prada man-bags, svelte Italians in fur, financiers on PDAs and emo hipsters in hoodies and skinny jeans.

One of Asia's most prominent hotels, the Pudong Shangri-La, enjoys easy access to both Hongqiao and Pudong international airports and is also close to the tunnels and subways connecting Pudong (East Shanghai) to Puxi (West Shanghai). Comprising two towers - River Wing and Grand Tower - the hotel showcases spacious, well-appointed rooms and suites with views overlooking the historic Bund, the scenic Huangpu River, as well as that of the contemporary Pudong financial district cityscape.

The Grand Tower, designed by New York-based architect Kohn Pedersen Fox and unveiled in September 2005, features 375 rooms and suites, including the Premier Room which offers 54 square meters (581 square feet) of comfortable space. Located between the Grand Tower and the River Wing which houses 577 rooms and suites, are comprehensive conference facilities, CHI: The Spa, two Health Clubs, two swimming pools, a floodlit outdoor tennis court and
two of the city's biggest ballrooms. In fact, China's NBA star centre Yao Ming married his long-term girlfriend, Ye Li at China Hall, Pudong Shangri-La in August 2007. The 7'6 Houston Rockets centre and his bride Ye Li celebrated their wedding at a Chinese-style ceremony. The three-hour wedding ceremony was attended by more than 70 family members.

The Room: Best Turn Down Gift Ever

The Grand Tower rooms are graceful without being dainty, with décor that suggests baroque romanticism with an executive twist: contemporary lamps with dark wooden cabinetry. There are lovely custom touches throughout gold leaf on the ceiling, bespoke headboards. Thick terry bathrobes and aromatic toiletries from L'Occitane, the traveler's beloved apothecary, completes the old-world look. The minibar offered snacks and a surprisingly large variety of liquor. And we're seriously impressed to report: The Wi-Fi in our room worked flawlessly (as it did throughout the hotel). Turndown services included a box of yummy chocolate, a red rose and my very own Shangri-La Panda!

Sublime Dining

Gui Hua Lou, the Shangri-La's award-winning fine Chinese restaurant, offers authentic Huaiyang, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Sichuanese cuisines. I nearly passed out at my first savory bite of Curry Shrimp with Specialty Fresh Bread. It was so perfectly spiced, and the shrimp was impressively sourced. A bowl of special noodles were silk thin and delicate - a triumph. We also enjoyed the pork ribs served on a bed of fries and the knockout delicious crab.

For the best people watching at the Pudong Shangri-La, be sure to stop into the Yi Café. This lively hub is an international culinary experience featuring 10 open-view kitchens and a lively atmosphere. The walk-through design evokes a public market, with gourmet showcases and spectacular live cooking stations presenting cuisines from China, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, Middle East as well as Europe and North America. Typically, we cringe at mass-made food. But the Yi Cafe completely dispells this myth that volume = poor quality. In fact, it just means that you get everything your heart desires, with no compromise!

Best Business Value: Horizon Club