A Summer in Shanghai
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Review: Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
Mandarin Oriental Pudong Opened in 2013, the 362-room Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai stands as the centrepiece of the Harbour City development in the emerging ‘East Bund’ area. Its debut marked Mandarin Oriental’s third venture into Mainland China, arriving in the same year as its sister property in Guangzhou. Conceived by Peruvian architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, the…
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Review: Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Grand Hyatt Shanghai The Grand Hyatt Shanghai stands as an undisputed icon of hospitality and a powerful symbol of the city’s rise on the global stage. Opened in 1999 within the landmark Jin Mao Tower, it debuted as the highest hotel in the world. Even though newer neighbouring skyscrapers have since surpassed it, the 548-room…
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Review: Kempinski Hotel Hangzhou
Kempinski Hotel Hangzhou The Kempinski Hotel Hangzhou opened in 2019 as the German group’s 19th property in China, further cementing its presence in the country. Set within the modern Grand Canal Place development, the 344-room property became the first five-star hotel in the Grand Canal area. Designed by Singapore’s Avalon Collective, its debut also represented…
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Review: Shangri-La Hotel Yiwu
Shangri-La Hotel Yiwu Opened in 2017, Shangri-La Hotel Yiwu has cultivated a reputation of being one of, if not the best hotel in the city. Rising high within the 52-storey Yiwu World Trade Centre – the tallest building in the city – the hotel features 366 guestrooms and suites in a contemporary setting. Its debut…
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Taking the China High-Speed Rail
Although Japan has long been known for its exceptional high-speed rail system (Shinkansen), China has been playing a lot of catch-up lately. In fact, ‘catch up’ might be an understatement considering how the country now operates more high-speed railways than every other country combined. Having heard nothing but good things about the system, I was…
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Review: Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge Manila (MNL)
Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge When the Mabuhay Lounge finally opened in November 2023, it ended a four-year wait for Philippine Airlines passengers at Manila’s Terminal 1. Since the carrier shifted part of its operations there in 2019, travellers had been relegated to the lacklustre PAGSS Lounge. Its arrival couldn’t have come at a better time,…
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Review: The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
The Portman Ritz-Carlton Opened in 1990 as a Shangri-La hotel, The Portman Ritz-Carlton has the unique distinction of being the first foreign-operated luxury hotel to open in China. As denoted in its name, the 593-room hotel was designed by the venerable American architect John C. Portman Jr., famous for his atrium hotel designs in the…
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Review: Philippine Airlines 777 Business Class (MNL-PVG)
Philippine Airlines flight details After spending about four hours in Manila, it was finally time to head to Shanghai! I was particularly excited for this flight as it was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, which usually flies longer flights to Europe or North America; this would certainly be a contrast to the regional Airbus A321-200…
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Review: Philippine Airlines A321 Business Class (CGK-MNL)
Philippine Airlines flight details Founded in 1941, Philippine Airlines (PAL) holds the distinction of being Asia’s first commercial airline. Over the decades, it has evolved into the Philippines’ flag carrier, maintaining a prominent role in the nation’s aviation landscape. Today, PAL operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A321s, A330s, and Boeing 777s, serving a wide…
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Review: Garuda Indonesia Lounge Jakarta (CGK)
Garuda Indonesia Lounge The Garuda Indonesia International Lounge at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3 is the flagship facility for the airline. Being the Indonesian flag carrier’s hub, the terminal is home to two adjacent lounges in the international section – a First Class lounge and a Business Class lounge; this review will focus on…