Waking Up to Shanghai’s Skyline: My Banyan Tree On The Bund Review
Personally, the most anticipated part of my recent Shanghai trip was my stay at the Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund (上海外滩悦榕庄). My two nights in their ‘Panoramic Riverside Retreat King’ room turned out to be an unforgettable and satisfying experience. Banyan Tree is renowned as a top-tier luxury 5-star hotel brand, and its Shanghai location boasts the significant advantage of offering unobstructed views of the beautiful Bund nightscape, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, directly from the rooms. Let’s take a look around this captivating hotel together.
[Find more hotel reviews on Trip.com]
Arrival and Check-in at Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund
The moment I stepped out of the taxi, I experienced a warm welcome from the Banyan Tree staff. With service befitting a top-tier 5-star hotel, the staff kindly took our luggage directly from the taxi, allowing us to head to the check-in counter effortlessly. The check-in process itself was swift and efficient, and the security deposit was processed via credit card.
While I’ve stayed at the Banyan Tree in Seoul several times, this was my first experience at one of their international locations. Upon entering, I immediately noticed the signature relaxing ambiance and distinct aroma characteristic of the Banyan Tree brand. Although the lobby area is relatively compact, it never felt crowded and always maintained a quiet and pleasant atmosphere.
There are four elevators serving the guest floors, ensuring quick access with minimal waiting time. The system requires tapping your room key card on the panel inside the elevator, which automatically selects your floor. This restricts access not only for non-guests but also for guests staying on other floors, giving a strong sense of security.
The corridor leading to the rooms was also carefully curated to evoke the unique Banyan Tree scent and atmosphere. The hotel building features a gentle curve, likely designed to maximize the views from the rooms. Our assigned room, number 916, was located quite a way down the corridor.
Banyan Tree Shanghai Hotel: Panoramic Riverside Retreat King Room
Upon opening the door to the Panoramic Riverside Retreat King room, a large desk first catches your eye, followed by a generously sized king bed and a long sofa lining the window. The highlight of this room is undoubtedly the massive floor-to-ceiling window, offering fantastic external views from the desk, bed, or sofa. Additionally, there was an unexpected romantic touch of red rose petals beautifully arranged – thoughtfully placed on a thin sheet of plastic to protect the bedding, which was a nice detail.
The View from the Room
The window-side sofa was large enough for two adults to lie down comfortably, making it ideal for enjoying the scenery outside. It was particularly impressive that this huge window was seamless, without any dividing frames. Thanks to this, we could comfortably enjoy the dynamic cityscape of Shanghai from inside the room, like watching a living painting. Time flew by just lounging on the sofa and taking in the view. During the day, you can witness the bustling energy of the city, and at night, savor the brilliantly lit, glamorous nightscape.
In-Room Amenities and Supplies
Fresh fruit, sparkling water, and sweet chocolates were thoughtfully prepared in the room as a welcome gift.
Near the desk, a comprehensive range of amenities was readily available, ensuring convenience: an electric kettle, an espresso machine with 6 capsules, various tea bags, 6 bottles of complimentary water (replenished daily), a paid minibar, and even subtly fragrant incense sticks.
On another side, there’s an area leading to the bathroom, along with ample storage space for closets and luggage. The space is generous, easily accommodating travelers even with a lot of luggage. The provided disposable slippers are the same type sold in the hotel spa – exceptionally plush and high-quality.
Room Bathroom Facilities
The bathroom was designed mostly for dry use and conveniently equipped with double sinks, making it easy for two people to use simultaneously. A large mirror, along with plenty of plush, soft, high-quality towels, added to the comfort. Due to environmental policies, disposable items like toothbrushes and toothpaste aren’t provided by default, but they can be requested from the concierge if needed.
The absolute highlight of this bathroom was the bathtub, boasting a magnificent city view. While photos might make it seem smaller, it’s incredibly spacious, large enough for two adults to soak comfortably. This area was also beautifully decorated with tea lights and rose petals. After a day of activities, returning to the room, soaking in the warm bath while gazing at Shanghai’s glittering night view simply made me sigh, “This is happiness.”
Aromatic bath salts, perfect for relaxation, are also provided as standard.
Enjoying the Night View from the Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund Room
The view from the room window, especially at night, was so mesmerizing that I hardly wanted to leave the room. The ever-changing nightscape evokes the feeling of watching a giant, living canvas, truly breathtaking 👍. Starting around 6 PM, buildings begin to light up one by one, constantly changing the city’s color palette. Sometimes, laser shows add to the spectacle, and the colorful cruise boats gliding along the Huangpu River ensure the view never gets boring. I truly felt that Shanghai is worth visiting for this night view alone.
Shanghai’s night view reveals different charms depending on the viewing angle. While enjoying it comfortably from the hotel room is wonderful, stepping outside for a bit to see the night view from nearby can be a different kind of experience. Since the city lights stay brilliantly lit until around 11 PM, I highly recommend taking a light evening stroll after dinner. However, while the immediate hotel vicinity is relatively quiet and uncrowded, it’s good to keep in mind that it gets very crowded closer to the central Bund area, making it difficult to hail a taxi.
[Find more hotel reviews on Trip.com]
Summary of the Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund Stay Experience
So far, I’ve shared my detailed experience in the ‘Panoramic Riverside Retreat King’ room at the Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund. Honestly, even though I had high expectations, the actual experience surpassed them. Above all, the ever-changing view of Shanghai through the window, especially the stark contrast between day and night, was the most impressive aspect 👍. If you’re planning a trip to Shanghai, I strongly recommend experiencing at least one night here. While viewing the scenery from outside is great, enjoying Shanghai’s charm comfortably and leisurely from the privacy of your room will undoubtedly create special memories. In my next post, I plan to talk about the dining experiences at this hotel, including breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner, so please look forward to it.
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