Shangri-La Yangzhou

The rooms were awesome, and there were lots of great food choices at reasonable prices. The location was nice too.

The gym and pool were both awesome, and I had a really nice view from my room. Breakfast was very good, and the staff were friendly. Some of them can speak English. One of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in, and I strongly recommend it.

The shower was a major problem. It wouldn’t drain properly, and water started leaking onto the floor just a few minutes after I turned it on. When I checked in, towels were already covering the floor and made the room look as if it had been used. Housekeeping cleaned it, but afterward there was a strange smell. They also left no cups for tea after cleaning, so I was glad I’d brought my own cup and tea. At first, the restaurant staff seemed friendly, but communication fell apart as soon as I spoke to them. Being able to say “hello” or “you like coffee?” wasn’t enough when I had a question. One server looked alarmed and nearly ran off to find help, then brought someone who also spoke no English and seemed to be a manager. They kept nervously telling me “I don't speak english,” as if hoping I’d give up or leave. That took up a lot of my limited morning time. I had to use a translator because they didn’t seem to understand my Chinese. Eventually someone arrived who spoke a little English, but by then it was far too late. It would have helped to have better communication or to find the right person when staff couldn’t answer. After that, I only went back briefly on checkout day. Having to take very short showers or spend time mopping up afterward really spoiled the stay. The staff’s handling of my question added to the frustration. My company chose this hotel, so I know I’ll have to stay again for work, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It didn’t live up to its reputation. If work didn’t bring me back, this would have been my only visit. I can only hope things improve, though I’m not holding my breath.

The park area and lake are great for a walk or some exercise, and the surroundings are very clean. Staff are very friendly, with English-speaking employees available around the clock. Taxis are also available 24/7, and the staff help communicate with the drivers. The rooms were very clean too. The breakfast or dinner buffet, though, didn’t meet all my expectations for a Shangri-La Hotel.