Shanghai - Grand Hyatt

The Pudong district of Shanghai is a set from Star Wars.

In the midst of Pudong is the Jin Mao Building.  The Grand Hyatt luxury hotel takes up floors 53 to 88 of the tower making it the highest hotel in the world.  It is a monster. 555 rooms, 6 restaurants and 3 bars.

The “Grand Café” restaurant is open 24 hours a day, another first for China.

The bar, Cloud 9, is situated on the 87^th floor and must be the highest bar in the world.

The rooms and suites have floor to ceiling windows.  Vertigo sufferers beware.  On the occasions I have stayed there I have left the windows uncovered, the curtains open. It is extraordinary to lie in bed and look down on such a surreal skyline.  The room décor is an extension of the outside world.  It is like no other hotel experience anywhere this side of space.

Enough of that.

The bars are full of hookers.

Any male or group of males entering one of the hotel bars, without female company, is immediately ambushed by an onslaught of very dodgy looking women, flattening each other as they scrap to raid his wallet.

They are ugly, cold and ruthless.  Even Austin Power’s “fembots” attempted charm and humour.  These Chinese prostitutes don’t mess about with pleasantries.  It's straight down to “give me your money”.

Cloud 9 was the bar where this was not the case and one was left unmolested to wonder at the city “miles” below.

If you are in Shanghai this is absolutely the place to stay.  It is a one off and therefore an essential addition to the experience portfolio of the avid luxury traveller.

Grand Hyatt
Jin Mao Tower
Pudong
Shanghai

 +86 21 5049 1234

http://www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com