Shangri-La Pudong

The Pudong district

Shanghai, once accused of being both the seat of the bourgeoisie as well as a depraved city, now a represents modern and economically expanding China looking towards the future and the western world. Appropriately called the “Pearl of the Orient”, the city continues to innovate and construct according to the latest trends, and is constantly in search of the avant-garde. Thousands of glass-towered skyscrapers fill the Shanghai landscape, each rivaling the others by their daring and ingenious architecture. Located on the banks of the Huangpu River near the Yang-Tse river mouth, the Pudong district embodies the dream and the success of Shanghai. In 1990, motivated by the reforms undertaken by the Chinese leader Den Xiaoping, this abandoned former shipyard was converted into a special economic zone, beginning what would become the city’s largest financial quarter. Nicknamed “the Manhattan of Shanghai”, its unique décor has made it a popular site for filmmakers. A great many scenes for example, of the American film, Transformers 2 were shot here.

A breathtaking hotel

Lujiazui, Shanghai’s largest financial center, is a neighborhood overflowing with construction projects ranging from taller and taller skyscrapers to totally unorthodox complexes.

For a little more than a decade, Chinese and well-known foreign hotel chains have been opening hotels here to take advantage of the incredibly dynamic atmosphere. With the addition of the Grand Tower, opened in 2005, the Pudong Shangri-La can take pride in possessing the largest and most daring structures, which dominate the center of Pudong. Created by the New York architectural firm of Kohn, Pederson, Fox, famous for their skyscrapers, the building, which resembles a crystal tower is 180 meters high. The contemporary and elegant Grand Tower is in stunning contrast to hotel’s highly original one, whose architecture invokes the European style of the buildings along the Bund, and is visible on the opposite bank of the Huangpu River. 375 rooms have been added to the 577, which comprise River Wing whose interiors were entirely renovated in 2008. The hotel is ideal for business travelers in search of relaxation and provides the indispensable services necessary for a successful stay, in addition to the extra-added attraction of an uninterrupted view over the “Pearl of the Orient.”

“It’s been fascinating to watch Shanghai grow over the past ten years, and it was a great honor for KPF to have contributed to the urban renewal of the city. From our offices, we can admire several of our creations. It’s very exciting to see how they transform Shanghai’s urban appearance. (Paul Katz, CE of KPF Architects)