Shanghai's Hidden Gem: Ji Hotel Nanxiang Guyi Garden - Unforgettable Stay!
Shanghai's Best Kept Secret (Maybe?)… Ji Hotel Nanxiang Guyi Garden: Spill the Tea! (and the Noodles)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just stumbled out of the Ji Hotel Nanxiang Guyi Garden in Shanghai, and my brain is still processing. This place… it’s a vibe. Forget those sterile, cookie-cutter hotels - this one feels like it knows a secret. A delicious, steaming bowl of Shanghai noodle soup kind of secret. So, let's break it down, shall we?
(SEO & Metadata Alert! Keywords: Ji Hotel Nanxiang Guyi Garden, Shanghai Hotel Review, Accessible Hotel Shanghai, Best Shanghai Hotel, Nanxiang Attraction, Guyi Garden, Shanghai Spa, Pool with View, Family-Friendly Hotel Shanghai, Free Wi-Fi, Shanghai Breakfast, Chinese Cuisine, International Cuisine, Clean Hotel Shanghai, Wheelchair Accessible Shanghai)
First Impressions (and that initial "OMG, Did I Book the Right Place?" Moment)
Let’s be honest, navigating Shanghai can be intense. Finding the Ji Hotel… well, it's about a 40-minute taxi ride from downtown if traffic cooperates (which it rarely does, I swear the traffic gods have a vendetta against tourists). But hey, the airport transfer option made things ridiculously easy. And the car park [free of charge] was a massive win - especially for a city like Shanghai.
Stepping into the lobby, I was met with a surprisingly sleek and modern aesthetic. Clean lines, minimalist décor… and a faint, almost ethereal scent that I think was jasmine. (My nose isn't the best, okay? But it smelled good). The front desk [24-hour] staff were friendly, but… here's my first little imperfection - my Mandarin is a little rusty (read: non-existent). Thankfully, they were fluent in English and helped me with a contactless check-in/out, I really appreciated that.
Accessibility: A Real Score! (Important, Even If You're Not Disabled)
Okay, HUGE shoutout to this hotel for nailing accessibility. I'm not wheelchair-bound, but I've seen enough hotels with terrible access to appreciate the effort here. The elevator was smooth and swift, the pathways were wide, and I spotted proper ramps throughout. This is a major win, folks. Even if you're perfectly mobile, it makes for a far more relaxed and comfortable experience. This hotel gets it. Plus, knowing they cater to everyone made me feel… more welcome? Weird, I know. Also, I found that Facilities for disabled guests were good.
Room Sweet Room: Where Comfort Meets "Wow, This is Peaceful"
I booked a standard room, and it was… well, it was perfect. Not a palatial suite, mind you, but seriously comfortable.
- Available in all rooms: Let me list as much as I can. Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains (bless!), Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens,
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathtub, Bedside electrical outlet, Blackout curtains, Cable channels, Closet, Coffee/Tea maker, Complimentary bottled water, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Electric kettle, Extra-long bed(s) (> 2 meters), Flat-screen TV, Free toiletries, Hair dryer, Heating, In-room safe, Ironing facilities, Linens, Mirror, Non-smoking rooms, Private bathroom, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Shower, Slippers, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, TV, Wake-up service, Wardrobe, Wi-Fi [free].
The bed was heavenly, and the blackout curtains were a godsend after a day of sightseeing (and avoiding the Shanghai sun). The Wi-Fi [free] was speedy too - a lifesaver for posting those Instagram stories, obviously. I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud. Ok not really, but still nice.
I really enjoyed the complimentary tea. Also I loved the complimentary bottled water.
I felt like I should list it, but I did not use the Bathroom phone.
My room was not a Non-smoking room, but it was a nice Smoke detector, a plus for me.
They had a Seating area, and the Sofa was super comfy, and the Slippers were soft, super comfy.
The shower was great.
The separate shower/bathtub was a plus.
On the other hand, I didn't like the In-room safe box, it was too complicated.
The mini bar was ok, but I did not touch it.
I did not see the scale.
I did not use the visual alarm either, or the wake-up service.
And the Umbrella was a plus, but I forgot to use it.
The reading light was fine, I guess.
The Mirror was fine too.
I enjoyed the desk.
I also appreciated the Internet access – LAN, however, the Internet access – wireless was the way to go!
Anyway, the fact that they had interconnecting room(s) available was just a plus. The room was really quite peaceful and soundproofed - I'd slept wonderfully there.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Secure in a Post-Pandemic World
My anxieties about cleanliness were immediately soothed. The hotel staff clearly takes hygiene seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Check.
And this wasn't just a superficial clean; the whole place felt spotless. Plus, they'd removed unnecessary things.
Dining: Noodles, Rooftop Views, and (Maybe) a Cocktail or Two
Ah, the food! Okay, this is where I really fell hard for the Ji Hotel.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet was HUGE. I mean, massive. Everything from Western-style bacon and eggs to genuine, authentic Asian breakfast options. They had everything from a full Asian breakfast to a simple Asian cuisine in restaurant. I am not the biggest fan of buffet in restaurant but it was good.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
The service was great, even if I did not particularly care for the location of the bar.
I indulged in a bit of both the Asian cuisine in restaurant and the Western cuisine in restaurant, and I did not regret it. My favorite part? The utterly divine, steaming bowl of Shanghai noodles from the restaurants. Seriously, I may have ordered it three times. Don't judge me.
Plus, the Poolside bar was amazing.
There's a Coffee shop that I didn't get to use, so I cannot comment on it.
I saw some delicious desserts in restaurant.
Things to Do (Besides Eat Noodles – Though That’s a Perfectly Valid Activity)
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: The Pool with view was stunning. Totally Instagrammable.
- Spa/sauna, Steamroom: I did not go to the Spa or the Sauna.
- Gym/fitness: I did not go to the Gym/fitness either.
- Fitness center: Nope.
- Massage: I did not have a massage, but I would like one.
- Body scrub nope.
- Body wrap nope.
- Foot bath nope.
The hotel is also near the Guyi Garden, hence the name. I explored the garden, and the Shrine.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
- Air conditioning in public area: They had it. *
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, 'cause this ain't your grandma's itinerary. We're diving headfirst into the delicious chaos of a Ji Hotel Shanghai Nanxiang Guyi Garden adventure. And trust me, it's gonna be a wild ride.
ITINERARY: SHANGHAI SHENANIGANS (with a dash of questionable choices)
Day 1: Arrival & Sensory Overload – The Honeymoon's Over Before It Started (Kinda)
8:00 AM (ish) - ARRIVE AT SHANGHAI PUDONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (PVG): Ugh, the airport. The fluorescent lights, the aggressive duty-free perfume spritzers… My first thought? "I need a nap." Second thought? "Where the hell is the baggage claim?" (Spoiler: it was far. REALLY far). Found it eventually, thankfully.
9:30 AM - TRANSPORT TO JI HOTEL (NANXIANG BRANCH): Okay, taxi time. Negotiating a fare with a Shanghai cabbie is like a contact sport. Lots of pointing, broken Mandarin (on my part), and the silent, judgmental stare of the GPS tracker. But hey, we made it! The Ji Hotel looked… clean. Surprisingly clean for a budget hotel. And the AC was a godsend. Whew.
10:30 AM - CHECK-IN & ROOM ASSESSMENT: This is where the cracks start to show. My room… it’s small. REALLY small. And the "view"? Let's just say it involves a brick wall and a faint chirping of birds that could either be charming or plotting my demise. Jury's still out. I’ll be polite about it, and I am, but…it’s a budget hotel, what do you expect?
11:00 AM - THE GREAT LUNCH DEBATE (Nanxiang Food Street): Okay, the real reason we came! This is the real deal. Nanxiang Food Street. I'm talking legit, ancient, authentic Shanghai food. I went straight for the steamed buns. Look at that thing! So good. I ate like five of them. Regretted it later. The food coma, and the slight feeling of ‘Did I just spend too much money on food?’ crept in, but it was worth it. The sensory overload of the sizzling woks, the chattering vendors, the glorious smells… My stomach is still recovering.
1:00 PM - NANXIANG GUYI GARDEN, Attempt 1: The 'Lost in Translation' Edition: Okay, here’s where things get… interesting. Guyi Garden. Gorgeous, right? Think classic Chinese gardens, with ponds, bridges, and those picturesque pavilions. But the sheer volume of people doing nothing but photographing everything and everyone on a hot day? Man, it was a battle! I think I got a half-decent photo before being elbowed aside by a selfie stick. I also got hopelessly lost. But hey, at least the tea house was a welcome refuge.
4:00 PM - NAP TIME (or, "Why Did I Eat So Many Buns?"): Seriously, the food coma was REAL. Slept for a solid two hours. Woke up feeling… slightly less regretful about the bun situation.
6:00 PM - DINNER ROUND TWO: (Back to the Food Street, Naturally): Okay, more food. This time, I tackled some kind of noodle situation. Delicious, messy, and I'm pretty sure I got sauce all over my shirt. My travel partner thinks I’m a mess. I think I’m embracing the chaos.
7:30 PM - EXPLORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Looked for some night shops. Found some… questionable snacks. Bought some of them. Ate them. Probably won't survive this trip.
8:30 PM - COLLAPSE INTO BED. Zzzzzzz…
Day 2: The Grand Escape (And Some Minor Existential Crises)
7:00 AM - THE BIRD WATCHING DRAMA (AKA, My Roommate's Wakeup Call): Those damn birds! I’m pretty sure they’re mocking me at this point. They woke me up earlier than I’d planned.
8:00 AM - BREAKFAST (Sort of): The hotel’s breakfast looked… questionable. I grabbed a pastry from the bakery across the street. Pretty good, actually.
9:00 AM - GUYI GARDEN, TAKE TWO: The Redemption Arc (Maybe): Okay, armed with a new appreciation for the beauty, and armed with an extra-large iced coffee, I hit the garden again. This time, I explored more. Got lost again (naturally), but discovered a hidden pavilion. Felt like a secret agent.
12:00 PM - THE GREAT DUMPLING HUNT (Nanxiang Again): This time, I found the best dumplings. Juicy, flavorful, and not even slightly regretted. Seriously, this food scene is one of the best parts of this trip.
1:00 PM - THE BATTLE WITH THE WIFI (AKA, The Modern Traveler's Nightmare): The hotel wifi… let’s just say it wasn’t winning any awards. Lots of buffering and frantic hand gestures. Seriously, I need to post this on Instagram.
2:00 PM - Free Time (Or, "Contemplating My Life Choices"): Wandered around. Probably got lost. Questioned my life choices.
5:00 PM - The Great Goodbye (Kind of): Headed back. Another cab ride. Another round of intense price-negotiating.
6:00 PM - FINAL DINNER: (Nanxiang once more!) Okay, I am officially addicted. I went for something I hadn't tried before because, why not? Then, the food coma hit again.
7:30 PM - PACKING (and Existential Dread): Packing. Ugh. Reminds me of the fact that this great escape ends tomorrow.
9:00 PM - BED (Again).
Day 3: Departur & Goodbye (Until Next Time)
7:00 AM - One Last Look At The Birds
8:00 AM - CHECK OUT: Easy peasy.
9:00 AM - Taxi to Airport
10:00 AM - Depart from Shanghai!
So, there you have it. A semi-coherent, food-coma-fueled, emotionally volatile account of my Shanghai adventure. I hope you enjoyed it – and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be inspired to embrace the messiness of travel, the deliciousness of Shanghai street food, and the occasional existential dread.
Beijing's HOTTEST New Hotel: Songjiazhuang's Hanting Hotel Awaits!
Ji Hotel Nanxiang Guyi Garden - Unforgettable Stay! (Yeah, Right...Let's See)
