Shangri-La Jinan

Shangri-La used to be my regular choice for business trips in Jinan, thanks to its top-tier environment and service in the city. But since earlier this year, the property has stopped offering any non-smoking rooms. The head office confirmed that this was the property's own decision. That feels especially unreasonable and hard to understand alongside Marriott hotels in South China, where every room is smoke-free. I'm disappointed and shocked.

The room was lovely and clean, and the service was good. I liked the pool, though having to wear a swimming cap wasn't ideal. The central location is great, but reaching the park across the road takes an inconveniently long route. I had trouble falling asleep because the rooms aren't as soundproof as they could be. The thermostat kept switching on and off with a sound like a hairdryer in the next room. The windows could use a wash, too.

Right beside the Betou spring garden and city square park, this hotel puts you in the middle of everyday life in Jinan. One of the best Shangri-La hotels in Jinan, Shandong, China.

The hotel was amazing, and at the time of my review it felt very new and clean. My room was lovely, with a great city view, plenty of bathroom space including a bathtub, and universal outlets. Service was extremely courteous, and staff could speak English, though Chinese was obviously preferred. I did need to call service to get a Wi-Fi account set up. Apart from that, everything was amazing.