Shanghai's Ji Hotel: Expo's Hidden Gem? You WON'T Believe This!
Ji Hotel, Shanghai: Expo's Hidden Gem? Hold My Tsingtao! (A Totally Unfiltered Review)
Okay, so I just stumbled out of the Ji Hotel, Shanghai, after a whirlwind stay, and honestly, I'm still processing it. The "Hidden Gem" tag on some sites? Well, the jury's still out, folks. Let me just spill the tea (or, rather, the lukewarm coffee from the in-room maker) on my experience. Buckle up, this is gonna be a ride.
Accessibility & Overall Vibe: The Good, The Slightly Clunky, and the "Wait, What?"
First off, navigating the place… not a cakewalk, but not a total disaster either. They have an elevator (phew!), which is crucial. Facilities for disabled guests are listed, which is a HUGE plus, but I didn't personally test these out, so, caveat emptor. The exterior corridor kinda gave me motel vibes, but hey, it's Shanghai! And then… boom! Right in the lobby, a shrine. Random, but hey, adds to the personality, right? Maybe blessed by the gods of good Wi-Fi, which I'm desperately hoping for (more on that later…). Check-in/out [express] was a lifesaver, especially after a red-eye.
Internet Access: Pray for a Connection, People
This is where I NEED to vent. The all-important internet. They tout "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" and "Internet access – wireless," but good lord, the signal was weaker than a politician's promise. I'm talking buffering nightmares, dropped video calls, and that soul-crushing spinning wheel of doom. I even tried the Internet [LAN], which sounds all techy and efficient, but it was like wrestling with a grumpy panda. Seriously, I spent half my time staring at the ceiling, willing the internet to behave. Wi-Fi in public areas wasn't much better. This is a HUGE black mark, especially for someone who needs to work remotely. Internet services? Don't even get me started. Just… sigh.
Cleanliness & Safety: A Masked Ball of Security
Okay, on the bright side, Shanghai takes hygiene seriously. The Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas were reassuring. You know they’re on top of it. Rooms sanitized between stays? Check. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. They were all masked up, and there was hand sanitizer everywhere. Hand sanitizer. I'm practically sparkling from all the alcohol, folks. The CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property definitely made me feel safe. I am pretty sure there was a doctor/nurse on call, but I didn’t try to test that. The Safe dining setup and Individually-wrapped food options are also a win. The Staff trained in safety protocol.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Mostly)
Right, the food. That's where things got…interesting. Restaurants? Yes. Coffee shop? Yes. Poolside bar? Also yes. Good start! The breakfast [buffet], (which I’m going to talk about again) was… a mixed bag. The Asian breakfast options were actually pretty good, full of savory and delicious flavors. Western breakfast? Less so. Let's just say my "eggs" resembled rubbery hockey pucks. I did appreciate the bottle of water in my room to wash down my awful-tasting-eggs. They offered a Breakfast takeaway service, which was a smart move in this COVID era. Desserts in the restaurant were a saving grace, though. The A la carte in the restaurant was pricey but delicious. The Poolside bar was AMAZING.
Let me tell you about the buffet I had: I went for breakfast one morning. It was a buffet in restaurant. The food was fine. There was fruit and some other stuff. It was an Asian breakfast. I really don’t know anything about it. It was whatever. I didn't feel any great emotions about it.
Rooms: The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly…Off?
My room (I’m not sure which type) had air conditioning, praise the heavens! Blackout curtains were a life-saver. A Complimentary tea and Free bottled water (essential after the internet battles) were a nice touch. The bathrobes and slippers were a nice touch. The bed? Big. Extra long bed! The soundproofing was pretty good, considering the city noise. The mirror was definitely an important feature for taking selfies. The separate shower/bathtub in the bathroom was a nice touch. But here's the thing: the room's decorations. It's hard to describe, but there was a… uniqueness to it all. A bit dated, a bit… eccentric. Not bad, necessarily, just… different. I had a window that opens, but it was a high floor.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day or Bust!
Alright, let's be honest, I didn't get around to everything. But the Fitness center, the gym/fitness and the swimming pool did catch my eye. I saw a spa/sauna. I was too tired to go. I need to get a massage. I was really hoping for the pool with a view. I am a sucker for a good view. I was a bit disappointed by my work experience.
Services & Conveniences: A Mixed Bag of Helpfulness
The Concierge was friendly, but… let's just say their English wasn't the strongest, so communication was a tad tricky. The Daily housekeeping service was efficient. The elevator was helpful. The luggage storage was a definite plus. Laundry service and dry cleaning are always appreciated. A convenience store in the lobby? Essential for late-night snack runs, especially after a long day of internet-induced frustration. Cash withdrawal available? Helpful.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Vibes
Family/child friendly seems to be the case. I saw Kids facilities. I didn’t specifically see Babysitting service.
Getting Around: Transportation Tango
They offer Airport transfer, which is a huge plus. The Taxi service seemed readily available. The Car park [free of charge] is a bonus.
My Overall Verdict: A Gem That Needs a Polish
So, is the Ji Hotel a "Hidden Gem?" Maybe. It has potential. It's got the location (Expo adjacent!), the safety features, the basic amenities… but the internet, oh the internet! The slightly wonky room vibe and the sometimes-questionable breakfast left me feeling a little…underwhelmed. So, in short:
- Pros: Great location. Decent price. Safety conscious. Clean.
- Cons: The Wi-Fi is a joke. The breakfast is hit-or-miss.. The rooms will take some getting used to.
Final thought: Would I stay here again? Maybe. If they fix that internet situation, definitely! But until then, bring a hotspot, a healthy dose of patience, and maybe a translator app. And for the love of all that is holy, pack your own coffee.
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- Meta Description: Unfiltered review of the Ji Hotel Shanghai near the Expo Center. Find out about accessibility, food, amenities, and the all-important Wi-Fi! Is this hotel a hidden gem? Read on.
- Title: Ji Hotel, Shanghai: Expo's Hidden Gem? You WON'T Believe This! (Honest Review)
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my chaotic, slightly-too-optimistic, and definitely-not-perfect adventure at the Ji Hotel Shanghai Expo Sanlin Road. Forget the polished brochures, this is the real deal.
The Ji Hotel Shanghai Expo Sanlin Road: A Symphony of Tiny Rooms and Questionable Air Conditioning (Days 1-4)
Day 1: Arrival, Airport Shenanigans, and the Quest for Noodles
- 6:00 AM (Local Time): Wake up feeling refreshed after a whopping 3 hours of sleep on a bumpy flight. My inner optimist is screaming, "THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!" My body, however, is whispering sweet nothings about a nap.
- 7:00 AM: Arrive at Pudong International Airport (PVG). Good lord, the sheer scale of this airport. I swear, I walked for a mile just to find the baggage claim. I’m convinced the luggage carousel was powered by hamsters running on a wheel.
- 8:00 AM: Baggage claim… finally. One suitcase lost. My own fault for checking that giant, ridiculous backpack. Found it, covered in stamps and looking like it had fought a war.
- 9:00 AM: Taxi to the Ji Hotel. Oh, the traffic! The honking! The sheer energy! This is Shanghai! I'm simultaneously thrilled and slightly terrified.
- 10:00 AM: Check-in. The lobby is… minimal. Let's call it "efficient." The front desk lady is lovely, despite my attempts at broken Mandarin (which, let's be honest, sounds more like a dying walrus than actual language).
- 10:15 AM: Room! It's… cozy. "Compact" is the polite word. "Slightly smaller than a prison cell" is the honest one. The air conditioning is definitely on the fritz. I suspect it's only capable of blowing slightly warm air.
- 11:00 AM: Noodle Quest Begins. Starving. Desperate for sustenance. I wander the streets near the hotel, armed with Google Translate and a deep longing for authentic Shanghai noodles. My first attempt leads me to a place that looks promising, until I see the live chickens squawking in the corner. Okay, maybe not.
- 12:00 PM: Success! Found a tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot. The language barrier is strong, but the noodles are divine. Absolutely, unbelievably, ridiculously good. It was a simple bowl of noodles, but in that moment, it was the most delicious thing I’d ever eaten. (This starts a lifelong, possibly unhealthy, obsession with Shanghai noodles.)
- 1:00 PM: Nap. That flight really did a number on me. Attempting to sleep with the aforementioned malfunctioning air-con unit.
- 2:00 PM: The city of Shanghai is calling.
- 3:00 PM: Walk to the nearest metro station. I am so turned around, and it is hot.
- 4:00 PM: Attempt to get to the Bund. It's a long ride.
- 6:00 PM: The Bund! Finally. The dramatic skyline, the sparkling lights, the river… Stunning. Truly. I feel a little overwhelmed, and a lot in love.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner: More noodles! Of course. This time, a slightly more "touristy" place, but still tasty.
- 8:00 PM: A stroll along the Bund. The crowds are massive, but the energy is infectious. I take a million photos. Probably too many.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Exhausted, but euphoric. This is living!
- 10:00 PM: Attempt to sleep. The air conditioning fights back, but I will not be defeated! I wrap myself in one sheet and hope for the best.
Day 2: Temples, Tea, and a Failed Attempt at Bargaining
- 8:00 AM: Wake up sticky and frustrated. The air conditioning lost.
- 9:00 AM: After a very, very mediocre breakfast at the hotel (think: mystery meat and questionable juice), I grab the metro again, and head off to a temple.
- 10:00 AM: Jade Buddha Temple: Wow. Just wow. The intricate carvings, the incense, the sense of peace… It’s truly magical. I spend an hour wandering around, completely captivated. I may or may not have accidentally bumped into someone and knocked their incense burner over. (Sorry!)
- 11:00 AM: Tea Time! Head to a traditional tea house. It's all very fancy, with delicate teacups and a confusing array of tea leaves. The server is incredibly patient with my clumsy attempts at understanding the tea ceremony which felt very strange.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. Back to the noodle quest.
- 2:00 PM: Shopping. Visit the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. The shops are everywhere, and so are the crowds.
- 3:00 PM: Trying to buy a "genuine" watch.
- 4:00 PM: Failed Bargaining. I was absolutely terrible at bargaining. In the end, I felt sorry for the guy who sold it to me and paid more than I should have. The watch is probably fake. I don't care. It's a good souvenir!
- 5:00 PM: More temple-ing. Visit a beautiful temple with a courtyard and small pond.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Noodles.
- 7:00 PM: Attempt to visit the Shanghai Museum. Get turned around, and give up. Too many people, not enough willpower.
- 8:00 PM: Walk around, enjoying more street food. Try some strange things. Love some of them.
- 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. More sweating. More sheet-wrapping.
Day 3: Shanghai Museum (Finally!), Art, and Karaoke
- 9:00 AM: Finally, Shanghai Museum. It's a vast, impressive building. Spend the morning wandering through the exhibits, amazed by the artistry and history.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Noodles, of course! This time, with a side of dumplings. Perfect.
- 1:00 PM: Head to the local park. The people-watching is excellent.
- 3:00 PM: Head to the M50 Creative Park. It's cool and artistic.
- 5:00 PM: Karaoke! Now, this is where things get interesting. My Mandarin is nonexistent, but that doesn't stop me from belting out (badly) some classic pop tunes. The locals seem to find it hilarious. I definitely get a little too enthusiastic.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. You guessed it: Noodles.
- 8:00 PM: Return to the hotel, slightly hoarse but happy. (And smelling vaguely of soy sauce and regret.)
Day 4: The Maglev, Goodbye, and the Lingering Scent of Noodles
- 9:00 AM: Pack. Seriously, how did I accumulate so much stuff in just a few days?
- 10:00 AM: Last chance for noodles!
- 11:00 AM: Check out. The air conditioning is finally, finally, slightly cooler. Figures.
- 12:00 PM: The Maglev Train! The futuristic, super-speedy train to the airport. It's an experience. The windows blur with incredible speed.
- 1:00 PM: Ponder life.
- 2:00 PM: Airport adventures, the lost luggage, all the same.
- 4:00 PM: Boarding flight. As the plane takes off, I feel a pang of sadness. Shanghai, with all its chaos and charm, has stolen a piece of my heart.
- 5:00 PM: The scent of Shanghai noodles still lingers.
Overall Impression:
The Ji Hotel was…a hotel. It wasn't fancy, it wasn't perfect. The air conditioning was abysmal, and the rooms were small. But it was a base. It was a quiet place to come back to after a day of exploring. It's a building that held me, and gave me somewhere to keep my stuff safe.
Shanghai? Magnificent. Chaotic. Delicious. Unforgettable. I'll be back. And next time, I'm bringing my own air conditioner.
Jiuquan Getaway: Hanting Hotel Near Changxing Electric Market!
Ji Hotel: Expo's Hidden Gem? You WON'T Believe This! (My Take)
Alright, let's be real. "Hidden Gem" is thrown around *way* too much. But the Ji Hotel near the Shanghai Expo? Okay, maybe, *maybe* it deserves some of that hype. But buckle up, because it's a wild ride, this one.
1. Is the Ji Hotel Actually *Near* the Expo? (And What Does "Near" *Mean*?)
Okay, this is where things get tricky. "Near" in Shanghai can mean a 5-minute walk, or a 45-minute taxi ride depending on traffic. The Ji Hotel? It *claims* to be near the Expo. And technically, it *is*. Like, geographically speaking. But the walk? Let's just say, you'll earn that street food you're inevitably going to gorge on later. Think, "a brisk, slightly sweaty, wondering-if-you're-going-the-right-way, 20-minute power walk brisk." Especially if you’re schlepping luggage like I was. Oh, and the sidewalks? Prepare for a slalom course of scooters, oblivious shoppers, and puddles that have seen things you wouldn't believe. But on the plus side, you *will* get some serious exercise!
2. What's the Vibe? Is it Swanky? Basic? Somewhere in Between?
Swanky? Absolutely not. Basic? Also, not quite. Think... modern, clean-ish, slightly minimalist. The lobby had this weird, lingering smell of… well, something. Hard to place. Maybe cleaner, maybe… not. But honestly, after a day of Shanghai chaos, the quietness was a blessing. The design itself is actually pretty decent. I dug the clean lines. Did I feel like I was staying in a luxury hotel? Nah. Did I feel like I was sleeping in a slightly nicer, slightly more modern dorm room? Yeah, pretty much. But hey, that's fine! It had AC that actually worked, which is a HUGE win. Trust me. YOU'LL NEED IT.
3. Let's Talk Rooms. Were They... Comfortable? Clean? Were There Bugs? (The Real Question!)
Okay, this is where things get *real.* My room? It was small. Tiny, even. But hey, I'm not one for big spaces, so I didn't mind *too* much. The bed was comfortable enough, surprisingly. The AC, as I mentioned, was a godsend. Cleanliness... hmm. Let's say it was "clean-ish." I found a stray hair in the bathroom. One hair! I'm a clean freak, so that instantly threw me into a mild panic (which is probably why 90% of Asian hotels are not for me!) Otherwise, it was fine. No bugs! Thank GOD. Bugs, are the enemy. I *will* write a scathing review if I find bugs. Just saying. The bathroom was... serviceable. The shower pressure was decent. The water *mostly* stayed in the shower! That’s a win in my book.
4. The Breakfast: Worth it or Prepare for Disaster?
Breakfast. Ah, the breakfast. This is where my memories get a little… muddled. They *did* offer breakfast. It was included in my rate. Which I was *really* happy about until I saw it. It was a buffet. A *small* buffet. Mostly Chinese staples (which I love!), but also some… let's call them "Western-esque" options. The scrambled eggs looked a bit… anemic. There were these… mystery sausages... I, uh, avoided them. I'm pretty sure I stuck to congee, some noodles, and a lot of fruit. The coffee was *terrible*. Like, instant coffee quality. So, if you're a coffee snob like me (raises hand), pack some instant coffee! Or, you know, find a decent coffee shop nearby. Which, good luck with that early in the AM. I did find some really tasty, slightly spicy pickles, though. That saved the day (and my stomach!). Also, there was, a bread machine! I *LOVE* bread machines! *SO* it wasn't *all* bad!
5. The Staff: Were They Helpful? Did They Speak Any English? (Panic Mode ON)
Okay, the staff. Ahhh. This is where the experience gets… interesting. Some staff members spoke decent English. Others… not so much. There was this one older gentleman at the front desk, bless his heart, who *tried* so hard, but we were basically communicating with charades. I needed an iron. He understood "iron." The *problem* was actually getting it to my room. After about three phone calls, and a near-breakdown on my part, he finally showed up with an iron! It was a victory. A glorious, hard-fought victory. Overall, they were friendly, just… communication was a *challenge*. Download Google Translate. You'll thank me later. Or, be prepared to point and smile a lot. (I did both).
6. Seriously, This Hotel Is Near Shanghai Expo? (Let's Re-evaluate!)
Back to the Expo. Yes, in the broadest sense, yes, it is “near” Shanghai Expo. But you're going to have to put in some legwork. Or take a taxi (which, again, good luck with the traffic). Or the metro! Which is… a whole other experience (but a good one!). So, factor in that walk, okay? Factor in the heat, factor in the crowds. And pack comfortable shoes. Seriously. DO IT. Don't be like me, who showed up in (stylish, but definitely not practical) sandals and regretted it for the entire three days. I’m still recovering. Physically and emotionally.
7. Would You Stay There Again? The Verdict! (The Truth, Finally!)
Okay, the big question. Would I stay at the Ji Hotel near the Expo again? Honestly… maybe. If the price was right. It wasn't luxurious, it wasn't perfect, but it was clean enough, and it had air conditioning, and the staff, even with the language barrier, were trying!Hotels In Asia Search
