Shangri-La Hotel, Qingdao

🌸My first visit to Qingdao, with its red tiled roofs, green trees, and the clear blue sea and sky, left an unforgettable impression, like a beautiful painting. The Shangri-La Hotel, Qingdao, certainly added a bold stroke to this masterpiece. 🌸The hotel boasts an excellent location, right next to MixC, a shopping mall brimming with diverse culinary options and retail therapy. A subway station is right outside, with Lines 2 and 3 providing convenient access to all major Qingdao attractions, as well as Qingdao Station and Qingdao North Station. The iconic May Fourth Square is just a few hundred meters' walk from the hotel, and next to it lies the charming coastal scenic area. During the day, strolling along the seaside boardwalk, the sea breeze carries the distinct scent of the ocean. The azure water gently kisses the ochre reefs, stirring up white waves. Under the clear blue sky, white gulls spread their wings and soar, their cheerful cries blending with the sound of the waves to form an ocean symphony. The flowers along the shore also vie for attention – white hydrangeas, red roses, yellow wild chrysanthemums… adorning this beautiful coastal scenery even more exquisitely. At night, a captivating light show illuminates hundreds of buildings along the shore, as if draped in colorful neon, glittering and shimmering. The kaleidoscopic reflections in the water are then fragmented by the waves, making it hard to distinguish between buildings and their reflections. 🌸Before arriving in Qingdao, I admit I was a little apprehensive due to some online reviews and the hotel's age, which made it feel a bit dated. To my surprise, upon arrival, I was greeted by a grand floral welcome ceremony! Not only did the hotel upgrade our previously booked Grand Executive Suite to a Specialty Suite, but two managers personally escorted us to our room. Seeing the thoughtful welcome snacks, fruit platter, and beverages arranged on the coffee table, all my previous doubts vanished. 🌸The suite itself was spacious and bright, especially with the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the vast blue sea dotted with sailboats. There was also a bar area and a well-equipped kitchenette. Perhaps due to its earlier construction, the room lacked a separate walk-in closet, having only one wardrobe, which made it difficult to organize clothes. The bathroom space was a bit small, and the heated towel rail was temporarily out of service. The toilet wasn't smart, but the seat was heated. Despite these minor points, the long and large living room and two separate bathrooms made me overlook any shortcomings. 🌸Room service was incredibly responsive. When I mentioned needing a screen mirroring device for the TV, they immediately installed one. Housekeeping was also impeccable; fresh fruit was replenished daily, along with complimentary 'Laoshan Three Delights,' which were promptly restocked after consumption. Tissues were amply placed, always within easy reach wherever needed. Mineral water and glass bottles of Jiangnan Spring water were also replenished daily. What truly moved me was that when I requested a makeup mirror and a power strip, they brought brand new, unopened ones without a moment's hesitation. 🌸The Executive Lounge service was also excellent, with all staff being warm and attentive, especially the Japanese manager who always greeted us with a smile and respectful demeanor, even personally pressing the elevator button for us. Assistant Manager Tina was also highly professional, handling issues efficiently and methodically. She was receptive to guest suggestions and implemented improvements immediately. She even provided us with sightseeing tips, and knowing we wanted to try mackerel dumplings, she arranged for a special plate to be made for us in the morning – truly thoughtful. Du Haijian, the Guest Relations Manager, was also very concerned about our stay, even helping us reserve a restaurant while on vacation and assisting with any problems. 🌸The hotel's dining is a major highlight of Shangri-La Qingdao. The Executive Lounge breakfast offered a à la carte menu with a good variety. However, the beef in the beef noodles felt a bit too shredded and not chunky enough, though the seafood egg drop noodles were quite good. The Eggs Benedict were somewhat ordinary compared to other hotels. The wontons were decent, and the French toast was quite tasty. Afternoon tea was relatively simple, with only some biscuits, fruit, tea, and drinks, but no small cakes. The hot dishes during happy hour weren't numerous, but the cold dishes were exquisitely prepared and delicious, and the desserts were superb. Moreover, if we desired any other food, the Executive Lounge staff would try their best to accommodate. 🌸The breakfast buffet in the ground floor restaurant was even more lavish, especially the handmade Shandong steamed buns, which were exceptional. The buns had thin skin and generous fillings, bursting with juice with every bite, offering a truly satisfying experience. There were beef, pork, and sweet potato noodle vegetarian fillings, catering to everyone's preferences. The freshly fried dough sticks were crispy and delicious. 🌸Additionally, we sampled the dinner buffet, which offered a wide variety and excellent value for money. The salmon was incredibly fresh and genuinely thick-cut. There were many types of sushi; I particularly loved the torched cheese durian salmon sushi. All the durian-series desserts were quite good. There were also Qingdao's unique pan-fried shrimp dumplings and abalone dumplings, lavishly prepared with thin dumpling wrappers encasing whole large shrimps and abalones, with a crispy, fragrant bottom crust. With one bite, the shrimp and abalone were springy, the filling juicy, and the crust crunchy – truly indescribably delicious. Haha, just talking about it makes me want to go back to Qingdao!😛. 🌸The seafood here is caught fresh every morning: huge, plump oysters, swimming crabs bursting with roe, various shellfish, conches, and even poached red snapper with incredibly flavorful fish soup… It's undeniable that as a coastal city, Qingdao boasts a unique geographical location and abundant marine resources. The restaurant manager, Guo Wen, was also very enthusiastic. When we missed out on sea stars that evening, she specially prepared a portion for us and sent it to the Executive Lounge the next day, allowing us to taste sea stars for the first time. 🌸In conclusion, the Shangri-La Qingdao truly left us with so many wonderful memories. Having stayed at Shangri-La hotels in many cities, the service here in Qingdao was arguably the best. As we left, Tina even gifted us a limited-edition Qingdao Shangri-La blind box, featuring the lighthouse of the Olympic Sailing Center, which was a very meaningful souvenir. 🌸I hope to visit Qingdao and the Shangri-La Qingdao again in the near future!

My first review on Trip.com, and unfortunately, it wasn't a good experience. First, regarding the environment, I can only say the location is great – convenient for getting everywhere, and right next to MixC shopping mall. However, as for the hotel itself, the lobby is constantly bustling and extremely noisy! It seems you can cut through the lobby to get to the subway. Next, the service: I experienced the longest check-in wait of my life. I was shocked to see so many people queuing when I arrived at 3:30 PM, so I decided to go shopping at MixC first. After more than an hour, they still made us wait! It was nearly 6 PM, and I was getting really annoyed. When I went to the front desk, they said they'd 'coordinate' and a room would be ready immediately. I have no idea what I was waiting for all that time before! Then, the soundproofing – absolutely non-existent. I could hear the TV and phone calls from the next room! Upstairs was even worse with constant thudding, and calling down didn't make much difference! I can't believe this is a Shangri-La hotel! It was terrible. The room was small, and the facilities were old, but even worse, the staff training was poor, and there was hardly any service to speak of. I do not recommend it!

The hotel is very grand and luxurious, especially the lobby. The location is excellent, with a subway entrance right outside. However, the service needs improvement. Upon check-in, I paid a deposit, and the front desk clearly stated that items in the mini-fridge were complimentary. Yet, when checking out, I found 179 RMB deducted from my deposit. After calling the front desk to inquire, I was then told it was due to a system error that hadn't deducted the cost of the free beverages.

The transportation is super convenient. To the left out of the hotel, you'll find Metro Line 2 and 3, and to the right, a bus station. It's incredibly easy to get to attractions, the train station, and the airport. The hotel itself is grand and beautiful. While the facilities show a bit of age, they are well-maintained. Room service is very enthusiastic and prompt. I stayed for three nights, and the breakfast had a great variety, including local specialties. Next time I'm in Qingdao, I'll definitely choose Shangri-La again!

Our stay at Shangri-La Qingdao was fantastic, and a special thanks goes to our personal concierge, Jessica! From providing directions and confirming room preferences before our arrival, to promptly fulfilling all our requests after check-in, her service was incredibly timely and thoughtful. Upon learning we were traveling with a child, she proactively prepared kids' toiletries, a step stool, a children's rocking horse, and plenty of water, plus a delightful little surprise gift – truly exceptional attention to detail! Jessica also shared a very practical Qingdao travel guide, including attractions like May Fourth Square, Olympic Sailing Center, Xiaoyushan Hill, Signal Hill Park, and recommendations for local cuisine. Her service consistently anticipates guests' needs. This feeling of being valued and cared for made our stay incredibly warm and memorable.

I was a bit hesitant before booking, worried the hotel might be too old, but my stay was very satisfying. The hotel is well-maintained, the bedding is comfortable, and I was especially pleased with the shower pressure – it was strong and very comfortable. The service was also excellent; staff would bring up food deliveries. Even though it was a standard room, I could still catch a glimpse of the sea.

The facilities are a bit dated, but the overall maintenance is good, as expected from an established five-star hotel. The service is excellent. The location is superb, making it convenient to get anywhere. The price was a bit high during the summer, but overall, I'm quite satisfied.