Hotel Of The Month: Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen
Shenzhen’s Futian District has the promise of becoming one of the hallmarks of this rising Chinese city. The financial industry has already set its sights on making the district its new home. Its commercial Coco Park development and surrounding bars and restaurants boast some of the city’s best shopping, dining and nightlife. A rail link is already under construction which will offer passengers transit to Hong Kong in a matter of minutes. All of this makes Futian District an exciting place to be, and the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen is right in the heart of it.
After stepping into one of the hotel’s Deluxe City View rooms for the first time, you’re greeted with the refined opulence that the Shangri-La brand is known for. Five-star comforts gleaned from the Western hospitality tradition blend seamlessly with a focus on Eastern flora. Furniture filled with prints of plum blossoms and Japanese maples give way to traditional Chinese paintings of flowers and birds. And through the room’s spacious windows, you can enjoy stunning views of the Shenzhen skyline and nearby Lotus Hill Park, vistas perfect for contemplating over the complimentary tea served at your arrival.
When your tea's done, it's time to eat. The Futian Shangri-La Shenzhen's dining options feature some of the best in Chinese and Eastern cuisine, while also offering a vast selection of international foods catering to the cosmopolitan palate. Cafe Zen infuses five-star style all-day dining with a distinct local Cantonese flair, featuring not just dim sum and char siu (barbecued pork) but also traditional double-boiled soups using exotic ingredients like crocodile. Look for immense clay pots with dragons on them in the middle of the restaurant to try a bowl for yourself!
A trip to the Futian Shangri-La Shenzhen would also be in vain without having a meal at the Shang Garden, featuring huaiyang cai (food from the lower parts of the Yangtze River). Head Chef Anthony Dong's contemporary takes on classics like shizitou (large pork meatball in broth) and fusion dishes such as the coconut curry prawns with multicoloured mantou (steamed buns) are all executed with the kind of delicacy and refinement that makes for a satisfying dining experience. And if you’re looking for a truly authentic Cantonese fine dining experience, Fook Lam Moon on the second floor offers some of the best around.
Of course, if you're staying at the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, chances are you are not just there to play. Although to get some work done, you won't have to go far. With a 93-seat auditorium, seven function rooms and two ballrooms, including the Grand Ballroom with a capacity of up to 2,100 persons, attending or holding a conference at the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen is a snap.
And when the day is through, you can unwind with a few laps in the hotel's indoor pool or enjoy an invigorating workout using the state of the art facilities in the hotel’s gym. Or you might just want to retreat to the comfort of your room and lounge in the bathtub for a while, catching up on the news or enjoying a TV show on the bath-side TV. Lying there, you might think that this is all too good to be true. If only you could live in a place like this. Well, don't forget to give your boss a call. Did we mention the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen has got serviced apartments as well?
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen. 4088 Yitian Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen. Tel: (755) 8828 4088, Web: www.shangri-la.com/shenzhen/futianshangrila
