Hotel Shangri-La’s China World (Beijing, China)

This luxurious hotel’s fitness room is the best-equipped many guests have ever encountered. The indoor lap-pool also impresses. Travellers love hanging out in the opulently furnished lobby. The lounge bar scores points for its live music. Reviewers adore the Cantonese cuisine served in the Summer Palace restaurant.

The international breakfast buffet served daily at this hotel is a hit with reviewers, who rave about the vast variety of freshly cooked and hot items, including yummy made-to-order omelettes. Featuring Asian and Western favourites, the bountiful buffet comes freshly prepared and is regularly replenished.

Travellers frequently praise the front-of-house team for their friendly attitude and swift response to every request. Many reviewers recommend booking trips to the Great Wall and other Bejing attractions through the capable concierge. The housekeeping team receive frequent compliments for keeping rooms sparkling clean.

Due to its prime location in Bejing’s Central Business District, this 716-room hotel can be very busy at certain times of the year. During such times, the public areas of the hotel can become rather crowded and checking in and out can take longer than guests bargain for.

Some returning guests claim this stately hotel’s once-glorious guestrooms are past their best and in need of an urgent facelift. Travellers describe the furnishings as aging and request more plug sockets. They occasionally note smoky smells. Some encounter grubby and malfunctioning bathroom facilities.

Guests occasionally gripe about the complimentary broadband and Wi-Fi access offered at this five-star hotel. They experience technical difficulties trying to connect due to patchy coverage in some areas. However, most travellers manage to get online without difficulty and find the facility adequate for their needs.