Review : Twelve at Hengshan Shanghai

The Twelve at Hengshan, in Shanghai, is a hotel of the Luxury Collection chain that I discovered during a recent vacation there.

Location of the hotel

As its name indicates, the hotel is located on Hengshan which, for those who do not know the city is of no use. Let’s just say that the hotel is right on top of a subway station, which is very convenient, and it is actually less than 30 minutes by public transport from 80% of what is essential to see in Shanghai.

Another positive point, compared to those who would prefer to aim for a more central area like the “Bund”, it has streets around where you can walk and find restaurants without having to go from hotel restaurant to hotel restaurant.

Count on a good hour from the airport by cab but this is a relative figure: traffic jams can, depending on the time of day, considerably lengthen the journey.

Arrival at the hotel.

As soon as I get out of the car, the bellman takes care of my luggage. The building is a bit of a monolithic concrete block.

Well, it looks a bit better in real life and especially at night, but the blockhouse look can be off-putting at first.

I am escorted to the reception. The lobby is very airy and I appreciate the design.

The opportunity to realize that the building is in fact hollow and houses a green space and a terrace in its center.

A very flattering first contact.

The check-in is very friendly. Having checked in online on the Marriott application, once the proper courtesies were done, I was given my key and told that from a standard room I had been upgraded to a Grand-Suite.

La Grand Suite

I was accompanied to my room through the long corridors of the hotel.

The room opens onto the living room area.

A good sized space that extends into the desk area.

As far as hifi video equipment is concerned, it looks a bit “cheap” and cobbled together.

Then on the side the night part.

What to say?

As far as decoration is concerned, without being super design, it is still pleasant and, above all, without any major fault of taste. And then we are in China, so it is complicated to reproach a hotel for having Chinese markers while trying not to alienate Western customers.

Regarding the layout of the premises, some will regret that the separation between the day and night areas is not physical but due to the “L” layout of the premises. Traveling alone it did not bother me.

Let us finish with the bathroom, large, all in length, preceded by a small dressing room.

Double sink.

Separate shower and bathtub.

The toilets

I would add that there are other toilets available in the entrance of the room.

The visit in video to finish.

Bars and restaurants

The Twelve at Hengshan has a restaurant that I did not try. It also has a bar where an aperitif was served for the “Elite” clients of the loyalty program, as the hotel does not have a dedicated lounge for them.

Almost open to the lobby, I admit that the place did not inspire me at first and I don’t think I would have gone there if it wasn’t for the snack offered at the end of the afternoon for “Elite” customers.

Impression confirmed: if the place seems vast it is badly arranged: it is enough of few people to fill it in a not very rational way with single people occupying tables of 4 or 6… because there is only that.

The buffet is not very varied and restocked in a more than random way.

Little variety, average quality (it can be eaten and it keeps you busy), messy service. It doesn’t make you want to go further and discover what the hotel has to offer in terms of catering.

The hotel facilities

To get to the gym you’ll have to find the one of the 4 elevators that goes down to the “right” basement, get lost in the corridors before you get there.

It is large, bright, well equipped.

It has the merit, in addition to overlooking the pool. On the other hand, it’s literally and figuratively cold and it’s not very motivating to do a serious session without thinking about finishing it quickly.

As for the pool, it inspires me the same as the Westin Chosun in Seoul or the very luxurious Prince Gallery in Tokyo : competition pools with water lines are not suitable for this type of property. It’s nice to have a pool big enough for swimmers to swim laps, but the “back to the community pool” effect isn’t the best.

In short, being alone to do laps under the supervision of the “lifeguard on duty” did not inspire me at all, so I did not test the pool, which I must admit is really big.

I won’t try the spa either: the very cold and impersonal side of the gym and the pool will dissuade me from pushing the experience further.

Bottom line

A number of friends who live in Shanghai or frequently travel to China had warned me: “don’t expect the level of service you might get in equivalent properties elsewhere in Asia or Europe”. Duly noted. Et c’est d’ailleurs un d’entre eux qui m’avait recommandé le Twelve at Hengshan.

So indeed it is below what one could expect. Not much, but still. But if you put it in the context of local standards it is indeed a performance without much relief but solid.