Chengdu is a city we had been really looking forward to exploring as part of our family holiday to China, from the pandas to the neon-lit nightlife, and the Shangri-La Chengdu gave us a great base in the city. We did visit twenty years ago and we couldn’t wait to return with the children to explore this remarkable city. The Shangri-La Chengdu sits right in the centre of the city, overlooking the Jinjiang River, and turned out to be a brilliant choice for our family stay.
We were impressed by how much space we had, which as a family of five was a real bonus. We stayed in a beautiful two-bedroom river view suite, with plenty of room for everyone to spread out, relax and have a little bit of breathing space after a busy day travelling. It feels much more like having a comfortable apartment for a few days than simply a hotel room.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
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Location: Chengdu city centre – Shangri-La Chengdu
The Shangri-La Chengdu is in a brilliant spot for discovering the city, sitting right in the heart of downtown beside the Jinjiang River. From here, we walked to some of Chengdu’s most lively areas, including Anshun Bridge, Lan Kwai Fong and the city’s Bar Street which comes alive as night falls.
We loved the contrast between the busy, modern city and the river views around the hotel, which give this part of Chengdu a completely different feel at different times of day. For families, it is particularly useful to have so much within easy reach, meaning you can head out for sightseeing, shopping or food without spending hours travelling across the city.
The hotel is also well placed for Chengdu East Railway Station and both of the city’s airports, making it a convenient base whether you are arriving in Chengdu or using it as part of a wider China adventure. There’s a fast and easy to use metro in Chengdu with the Mozi Bridge Station just a ten minute walk away.
Accommodation: our spacious two-bedroom family suite
Our two-bedroom suite at the Shangri-La Chengdu was a real highlight of our stay. Travelling as a family of five, having this much space makes such a difference, particularly when you are staying for several nights and want somewhere to properly relax between exploring the city. With two separate bedrooms and a generous living area, there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out, while the large windows gave us lovely views across Chengdu.
The suite has a contemporary feel and all the practical touches you would expect from a Shangri-La, including Wi-Fi, a television, tea and coffee-making facilities, a good-sized work area and plenty of storage. The bathroom is spacious too, with a separate shower and rainfall showerhead and Shangri-La toiletries. After busy days travelling and sightseeing, being able to come back to somewhere that felt calm and spacious made our stay much more enjoyable.
Facilities: everything you need for a relaxing family stay
One of the things we really enjoyed about the Shangri-La Chengdu was having so many facilities available without needing to leave the hotel. After busy days exploring Chengdu, it was lovely to have the option of slowing down and spending some time swimming or relaxing, and the indoor swimming pool is particularly useful when you are travelling as a family and the weather isn’t quite on your side.
Shangri-La Chengdu’s fitness centre
There is also a well equipped fitness centre, with a good range of cardiovascular equipment and satellite TV screens, so you can keep up with your usual exercise routine. For me, having a proper gym in a hotel is always a bonus, particularly when there is so much delicious food to enjoy.
For a little more relaxation, the hotel is also home to Chi, The Spa. The treatments draw on traditional Asian therapies from cultures along the old Silk Road, creating a lovely sense of calm away from the energy of the city.
There is also a sauna, steam bath, whirlpool and massage facilities, making it very easy to turn a stay in the hotel into a proper opportunity to relax and recharge.
The Horizon Club Lounge
The Horizon Club Lounge is another lovely space to escape to during your stay, particularly if you fancy a quiet place to sit and relax. Guests can enjoy food and drinks throughout the day, making it a useful option when you don’t want a full restaurant meal but still need something to eat.
We liked having somewhere else to sit as a family, away from our suite, with plenty of space to unwind. Whether you’re catching up on emails, enjoying a coffee or simply taking a break between exploring Chengdu, the lounge adds another layer of comfort to the hotel. For families, having this sort of flexible space is always a welcome bonus.
Eating in: our meals at Shangri-La Chengdu
Breakfast
Breakfast at the Shangri-La Chengdu is a lovely example of where east meets west, with a huge choice of dishes to suit everyone in the family. For those wanting to start the day with something distinctly Chinese, there are plenty of local classics to discover, alongside a tempting selection of freshly prepared dishes.
There is also everything you might expect from a more traditional Western breakfast, from eggs cooked to order and cereals to pastries, breads and plenty of sweet and savoury options. With five of us all having slightly different ideas about what makes the perfect breakfast, having this much choice was a real bonus.
We particularly enjoyed being able to mix things up each morning – trying something new alongside some familiar favourites. It is the sort of breakfast that sets you up well for a day exploring Chengdu, whether you are looking for something light or a much more substantial start. With so much on offer, there is definitely no need to rush breakfast here.
A Sichuan feast at Shang Palace
We had a lovely meal at Shang Palace, the signature Chinese restaurant at Shangri-La Chengdu, and it was the perfect place to settle in for an evening of Sichuan flavours. Set across the second and third floors of the hotel, it is an elegant, spacious restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows. We particularly loved the views across towards the Jinjiang River Bridge, which looked beautiful lit up at night.
The restaurant’s Sichuan menu brings together traditional cooking techniques with more modern ideas, and for us it was a wonderful opportunity to try some of the flavours that Chengdu is famous for. We opted for a vegetarian feast, with plenty of interesting dishes to share, and it was a real highlight of our stay.
Our meal started with Daylily in Superior Broth and Flowering Choy Sum before trying the local Dan Dan Noodles, with each dish bringing something different to the table. We finished with Sichuan Ice Jelly with Brown Sugar, which was a deliciously refreshing end to the meal.
With its spacious setting and private dining rooms, Shang Palace would work particularly well for a special family meal, too. For us, it was a delicious introduction to Chengdu’s famous Sichuan cuisine – and one that left us all very happily full!
Dinner – other restaurants
Cafe Z
Cafe Z is another of the hotel’s dining options, offering a wide-ranging menu and plenty of choice for families and hungry travellers. There is a lavish selection of seafood, including shrimp, crab and shellfish, alongside thick-cut salmon sashimi and freshly grilled beef steaks and lamb chops. You can also enjoy crispy Beijing roast duck, as well as a tempting selection of beautifully made desserts. With such a broad choice, it is an easy option when everyone is looking for something different, and another reason why you don’t necessarily need to venture out of the hotel every time you want a great meal.
Things to do nearby with kids
Being right in central Chengdu means there is plenty to do close to the Shangri-La when you are travelling with children, and it is a lovely mix of modern city life and more traditional Chengdu. For shopping, head towards the impressive Taikoo Li and IFS, where you’ll find a huge range of international and Chinese brands, smart cafes and plenty of places to stop for food. It is a very different side of China from the historic sights, and teenagers in particular will love exploring the shops.
The Jinjiang River is right alongside the hotel, so you can also head out for a stroll along the waterfront and take in the city from a different perspective. Anshun Bridge and Hejiang Pavilion are nearby and particularly atmospheric as the lights come on in the evening.
And, of course, no family trip to Chengdu would be complete without seeing the famous giant pandas. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is one of the city’s biggest attractions and can easily be combined with time exploring the centre.
With excellent transport links, including Chengdu East Railway Station and easy connections to both airports, the Shangri-La also makes a great base for exploring further afield.
What we thought about our stay at Shangri-La Chengdu
We really enjoyed our stay at Shangri-La Chengdu with an ideal combination of a central location and the space and comfort of our two-bedroom suite. Having somewhere we could properly relax as a family of five made a huge difference, particularly after busy days exploring.
We also loved having such good dining options within the hotel, from the excellent breakfast to our memorable vegetarian meal at Shang Palace. The range of facilities meant that we could have a slower day when we wanted to, without feeling that we were missing out.
Most importantly, the hotel gave us a really easy base for discovering Chengdu. We could walk out to the river, explore the shops and restaurants of central Chengdu and easily connect with the wider city. It has been a comfortable, convenient and really enjoyable hotel to stay as a family, and somewhere we would happily return to when we next visit Chengdu.
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