Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund 上海外灘蘇寧寶麗嘉酒店 (Shanghai, CHINA)

After a whirlwind 18 hours in Changzhou, we took the train to Shanghai (上海站) Station for the second leg of our journey. From that point on, everything was on cruise control. The ride took about an hour and as soon as we got off, we caught our pre-arranged hired car at Exit B. Ten minutes later, we already arrived at our hotel.

I didn’t realize it but it's been almost nine years since I last visited Shanghai. My previous trip was during the winter of 2017 and I had an amazing time touring the city as a solo traveler. Knowing that I probably won’t get another chance to return to Shanghai anytime soon, I decided to splurge on our hotel accommodation this time around.

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai on the Bund (上海外灘蘇寧寶麗嘉酒店) is a five-star luxury hotel located on the edge of the North Bund, offering stunning views of the Suzhou River and the Lujiazui skyline. With limited time left on our trip, I thought it was essential to stay close to the action.

The moment we stepped through the doors, I knew I have made the right choice. The Italian white marble and a grand staircase at the lobby set the tone early.

Our corner room was tastefully designed with touches of neoclassical design that effortlessly blend art deco glamour with modern luxury.

The spacious layout (60 square meter) features generous living areas, two comfortable double beds and a plush sofa.

I especially loved the light-flooded space, thanks to the ceiling-to-floor windows positioned across different corners of the room.

Amazingly, our room offers a partial view of Suzhou River (蘇州河) and the Pudong skyline from one of the windows, making it a joy to wake up to every morning.

The closet and dressing room are located in the foyer away from the living area creating more space and extra privacy — an excellent touch from the design team.

The bathroom was just as elegant, with white and black marble throughout as the main theme.

As always, I’m a big fan of the double-basin design.

Shower room

Toilet

One of the nicest things about staying at Bellagio Shanghai was its walking distance to the Bund. I’m not talking just about the North Bund but the Bund in general. It was just steps away from Waibaidu Bridge (外白渡橋), the famous all-steel bridge (from 1856) making it an easy connection to Chen Yi Square (陳毅廣場) and of course, the spectacular view of Huangpu River.

I don’t think anyone will get tired of watching this view over and over again. I know I won’t.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥¥

Address: 188 Beisuzhou Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China

上海市虹口区北苏州路188号

Closest Metro Station: Tiantong Road (天潼路)

Tel: +86 (021) 3680-6666

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/5b/sOhM

WenPu Hotel 常州文璞酒店 (Changzhou, CHINA)

WenPu Hotel (文璞酒店) is a luxury landmark in the heart of Changzhou's Culture Plaza (文化廣場), known for its striking “arch bridge” theme. Opened in 2020, the hotel blends modern design with traditional Jiangnan bridge culture featuring a unique cantilevered structure that serves as a dramatic visual centerpiece in the city’s new cultural and commercial district.

Its location is ideal for exploring the city as it's right besides the Changzhou Library and Art Museum, and only a short walk from Citizens’ Square Metro Station (市民廣場站).

With less than 24 hours in town, choosing WenPu Hotel was an easy decision for us since we wanted to experience Changzhou’s heritage and energy as effortless as possible. That’s why I made this booking the first one for our Jiangnan trip.

When we arrived in Changzhou, it was already around 10pm. Not surprisingly, the lobby wasn’t busy. 

Our room looked almost exactly like the photos online — very spacious, with two comfortable double beds. 

The décor mainly in beige and light wood tones, created a calm and warm atmosphere.

The bathroom was also impressively spacious. Unlike some of the modern designs we’ve seen lately, both the shower area and the toilet are within the main bathroom space.

Shower room

Toilet

This guy didn’t care that it was nearly midnight. He wanted more game time and he wanted it now.

We woke up early the next morning to explore the area around the hotel. Besides the library and museum, Wonder World (藝象天地) — a shopping, dining, and entertainment hub sits directly underneath the hotel. There’s also plenty of open space for kids to run around, making it a great spot to spend a relaxed afternoon.

With Citizens’ Square Metro Station directly connected to Wonder World, we decided to grab lunch there instead to avoid the crowds. More on that later.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥

Address: Building 5, 2 Jinxiu Road, Changzhou Cultural Plaza, Tianning District, Changzhou, China

常州市天宁区锦绣路2号常州文化广场5号楼

Closest Metro Station: Citizens' Square (市民广场)

Tel: +86 (0519) 8567-8888

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/fa/-ihM

InterContinental Hotel Foshan 佛山保利洲際酒店 (Foshan, CHINA)

We were supposed to stay in a hotel close to little nugget's tour group but once we found out that their hotel accommodation was in no-man's land, I had a quick change of heart. After much research online and going back and forth a few times, I finally decided that we would stay at InterContinental Hotel Foshan (佛山保利洲際酒店) — an upscale, 5-star high-rise hotel located in the heart of Nanhai District's financial zone, overlooking Qiandeng Lake Park (千灯湖公园).

Built in 2010, the InterContinental Hotel Foshan stands as one of the few true luxury hotels in the city, offering 445 rooms spread over 39 floors.

Thanks to the good guys here, we got a complimentary upgrade to a room with a stunning lake view. 👏👏

A closer look revealed that the room had been partially renovated. However, some of the furnishings were clearly retained from earlier years, creating a slight mismatch in color and style.

We were informed beforehand that the upgraded room had rather small single beds. Typically, a standard single bed is around 1.2 meters in width, but here, we had two single beds that were just 1 meter wide. I didn't know they make such small beds and mattresses!

The bathroom featured marble walls, countertops, and a spacious layout — exactly what one might expect from a hotel built over 15 years ago. 

The toilet was positioned right next to the shower room, without a separate dividing door.

The highlight, of course, was the sweeping view of Qiandeng Lake Park right from our window. A nice treat to wake up to.

After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll along Qiandeng Lake (“Thousand Lantern Lake”). At 8:20 pm sharp, a light show began with all of the iconic buildings around the lake lighting up in sync. The dazzling display was accompanied by live music and a video presentation highlighting the best of Foshan’s heritage, projected onto a massive screen. We stayed and watched for a bit before continuing our journey up the lake.

We began making our way to Foshan Denghu West Street Night Market (佛山灯湖西街夜市), a popular spot just 10 minutes away. 

The night was a bit cold but the walk along the lake remained pleasant and refreshing.

All in all, we had a fairly comfortable and enjoyable stay. The complimentary breakfast buffet was a nice touch, and the hotel staff were friendly and courteous throughout. The location was ideal — right by the lake, with easy access to the night market, shopping malls, metro and more.

If there’s one downside, it would be that some facilities looked a bit dated, and while signs of recent renovation were evident, a comprehensive makeover would certainly help recapture the hotel’s former glory.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: 20 Denghu East Road, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangzhou, China

佛山市南海区灯湖东路20号

Closest Metro Station: Qiandeng Lake (千灯湖)

Tel: +86 (757) 8626-8888

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/03/0Ok

Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen 深圳文華東方酒店 (Shenzhen, CHINA)

Our Shanghai trip for hairy crab is officially off the table. While the team was disappointed to hear the news from me, I decided to soften the blow with a last-minute getaway to Shenzhen. To make it worthwhile, I booked us a room at one of the city’s top hotels — Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen (深圳文華東方酒店).

Check-in was quick and effortless.

Our room was on the 75th floor, just a few levels below the reception. The moment the door opened, we were greeted by sheer luxury and elegance (little one dashed right in ahead of us!).

There’s a massive walk-in closet — almost the size of a Yotel room!

The space is bathed in natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a bright and airy vibe. 

With a room this large, of course there’s a cozy living area complete with a sofa by the window to soak in the view (Someone is a real happy camper now!). They even provide a telescope — can’t wait to see if it works tonight!

Next to the bedroom is a spacious bathroom featuring a long counter with double basins — a definite winner.

The shower room offers the same stunning city view, and like most upscale hotels in Shenzhen, there’s a large bathtub right in the center. 

The little nugget wasted no time jumping in for a splash!

The toilet is separate from the main bathroom and located near the entrance. With a room this size, it actually takes a short walk to get there.

Our stay at Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen was everything we expected from a luxury hospitality brand and more. Plus, its location atop UpperHills Shopping Mall (深業上城) makes it an excellent choice for an overnight stay in Shenzhen.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥¥¥

Address: 5001 Huanggang Road, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区华富街道莲花一村社区皇岗路5001号深业上城A栋

Closest Metro Station: Donggualing (冬瓜岭)

Tel: +86 (755) 8802-6888

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/c7/oM5c

Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan 深圳中洲萬豪酒店 (Shenzhen, CHINA)

Little Nugget’s school year is officially over! 🎉 To celebrate this special occasion, we decided to spend a night in Shenzhen — giving ourselves plenty of time to indulge in good food and arcade games.

I hit up social media in search of a hotel that checked all our boxes: close to the metro, and within walking distance of a shopping centre with great variety of food and games. I ended up booking the skyscraping Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan (深圳中洲萬豪酒店) in the Nanshan district (it's the tall building on the left below).

Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Nanshan is a 6–8 minute walk from Houhai (后海) Station, and sits conveniently next to the spacious Coastal City Shopping Mall (海岸城). Though it would’ve been nice if the hotel and mall were directly connected, the short walk wasn’t a dealbreaker.

After checking in and picking up our room keys at the front desk, we headed straight upstairs. As soon as we opened the door, the blinds automatically rolled up in “welcome mode” — a fun little touch!

I loved the spacious layout and sleek, minimalist design. 

The all-white palette paired with light wood tones gave off a warm and cozy vibe.

The bathroom wasn’t as spacious as the one at The St. Regis Shenzhen, but it checked all the right boxes for us.

It featured a decent-sized rainforest-style shower room.

And a separate toilet area right next door.

We had a wonderful night’s sleep, and the next morning, little nugget and I eagerly rolled up the blinds to check out the view — only to find the window a bit smudged. Somebody please clean that window! It kinda ruined the skyline moment.

I dropped around $50 per head for the hotel’s signature breakfast buffet, and I have to say, it was impressive.

They have a station dedicated to Hong Kong-style milk tea (港式奶茶). 

Of course, I had to check out a cup myself. Smooth, robust and just the way I like it.

The juice counter wasn’t as prominent as the ones I’ve seen in Bangkok hotels, but it did the trick for us.

There was also an "egg station" whipping up fried eggs, scrambled eggs, and eggs Benedict made to order. Little nugget wasted no time diving in.

As expected, most hotels in Shenzhen include a small dim sum section, and this one didn’t disappoint.

A bakery section, with pineapple buns, croissants, pancakes, egg tarts and more.

My first round included har gow, siu mai, and some bacon which was a bit hit-and-miss.

I forgot about my sunny-side-up eggs on my first round but I didn’t make that mistake again.

They have all kinds of stir-fried vegetables, fried noodles and rice. A bit heavy for breakfast but hey, most folks probably skipped lunch after this.

After enjoying the amazing breakfast, we took a stroll around the hotel lobby. The view from there was much better, thanks to the spotless floor-to-ceiling windows.

Surprisingly though, the best skyscraper view came from the elevator ride — definitely worth a slow ride up and down!

      

The warm vibe, stunning city views and excellent breakfast buffet are enough reasons to come back for.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: 88 Haide Yi Road, Nanshan District, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区海德一道88号中洲控股中心A座

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 (755) 8666-6666

Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/szxwt-shenzhen-marriott-hotel-nanshan/overview/

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/96/2wd