Shanghai's Perfect Getaway! Discover the Newly Opened Hilton Hotel, Where Nature Meets the Art of Slow Living.

In all my years working in Shanghai, I've visited Fengxian only a handful of times. In the past, Fengxian only reminded me of Bihai Jinsha. In recent years, major projects like Haiwan Forest Park, Shanghai Fish, and Nine Trees have gradually taken shape. For hotel enthusiasts, more and more international brands have been settling in Fengxian, putting it on the map as a travel destination.

On the final days of 2021, the Hilton Shanghai Fengxian opened its doors in spectacular fashion, marking the Hilton group's southward expansion in Shanghai.

1 · Natural Beauty

Before driving into the hotel, lush pastoral scenery flanked both sides of the road. This is Shenlong Ecological Park, a natural oxygen bar in South Shanghai, where airborne dust is only a tenth of that in the city center. The Hilton Shanghai Fengxian is embraced by this greenery. The 75,000-square-meter garden injects vibrant vitality into the hotel—a luxurious natural environment that's rare even among Shanghai's hotels.

Driving up a gentle slope, we arrived at the drop-off area. Behind it, a sculpture resembling a Möbius strip rests quietly on a pond, symbolizing the endless cycle of nature and reflecting the hotel's natural surroundings.

From above, the drop-off area forms the tail of the seagull-shaped hotel building.

Walking through the lobby, I arrived at my favorite spot: the outdoor area of the lobby bar. In that moment, I felt as if I were at a seaside resort in Southeast Asia.

Sitting in the sunken lounge area beside the mirror-like pool, nearby was the inner lake and outdoor swimming pool semi-enclosed by the two wings of guest rooms, and in the distance, the lush wedding lawn and the vibrant greenery of the ecological park.

|Outdoor Pool|

At this moment, what could be more delightful than indulging in the 'Nest for You' afternoon tea, accompanied by the warm winter sun, and savoring this perfect afternoon?

The log-colored decorative pillars around the staircase, encircling the main building, hint that visitors can break free from the concrete jungle and truly enjoy nature's bounty. As for me, I was even more enchanted by the fiery sunset glow at dusk.

In your leisure time after checking in, I highly recommend taking a stroll in the hotel's garden. The crisscrossing waterways, the occasional groups of wild ducks swimming by, and the scent of fresh grass in the air—all are reasons why I fell in love with this place.

Adjacent to the garden is the outdoor pool I absolutely adore. This summer, it's destined to be a hit!

Although it's too cold to take a dip this season, just walking along the poolside and imagining the warmer days ahead makes me feel content.

To compensate for not being able to swim outdoors in winter, the hotel has also built an indoor heated pool by the lake.

The pool is comfortably warm, spacious, and inviting, with natural lighting and excellent views, along with a children's pool, jacuzzi, and more.

The adjacent gym is equipped with Precor fitness equipment and a separate yoga room, enough to meet your daily exercise needs.

2 · Cultural Wonder

Walking through the hotel's spaces, I could strongly feel the abundance of traditional Chinese cultural elements woven into this modern architecture. The renowned Singapore-based design firm Blink Design Group (whose last major opening for Hilton was the Asia-Pacific's first LXR hotel, Roku Kyoto) interprets the story of 'Zi You Teaching' in their own way.

Zi You, whose real name was Yan Yan, was a distinguished disciple of Confucius known as the 'Master of the South' and a fervent advocate of rites and music education. Fengxian District in Shanghai is the place that most reveres Zi You nationwide. The name Fengxian means 'revering the sage,' in memory of this wise man who dedicated his life to teaching and promoting rites. Legend has it that in 444 BC, Zi You established a school by the East Sea, filling the coastal area with the sounds of rites and music. Today, this Hilton hotel in Fengxian draws inspiration from rites and music, recreating the cultural wonder of over two thousand years ago.

|Many screen elements in guest rooms and public areas are inspired by the strings and body of the guqin|

The most eye-catching design in the entire hotel is undoubtedly the decorative sculpture at the center of the lobby bar, 'Chao' (Nest).

With hundreds of birds above and a nest below, it symbolizes that this is a home away from home for guests.

The patterns on the metal screens in the lobby bar are abstract representations of bird nests through the four seasons, further reinforcing the concept of 'nest' and home.

The 401 guest rooms spread across the two wings subtly incorporate details of 'Zi You Teaching' with delicate, enduring touches.

|The ancient-inspired guest room corridor|

Starting at 55 square meters, the rooms are exceptionally spacious, with a texture that is both composed and dynamic.

Understated wood tones, grays, and light browns form the main palette, complemented by large-scale traditional landscape paintings and contrasting metal frames, skillfully blending serene Chinese classical aesthetics with contemporary decorative art.

The color-blocked cushions and carpets add a touch of playful liveliness. The room also features one of the few complimentary minibars in Hilton hotels, where I found my childhood favorite malt chocolate balls (Mylikes) and the local craft brew 'Wufang You Tao'.

Glass sliding doors and screens inspired by the guqin organically partition the bathroom area, while a bathtub divides the bedroom; with the toilet completely separate from the bathroom, it adds romance while emphasizing functionality.

All rooms have spacious balconies with views—overlooking the lake, the woods, and the distant setting sun. Just sitting here in a daze is utterly comfortable.

Opting for a suite gives you even more spacious interiors. The deep soaking tub placed centrally in the bathroom exudes a resort-like feel.

The living room with a separate dining area also better suits family needs.

The most special room type is the one with an outdoor jacuzzi. A rarity among Shanghai hotels, it's destined to be a hit as soon as it opens! (Currently, the equipment is undergoing final adjustments and is expected to open after Chinese New Year.)

3 · Gourmet Enjoyments

The hotel has three restaurants and one lobby bar. I absolutely love their names: when read together, they sound like 'Chao Mi Tang,' which reminds me of a local Shanghainese snack—puffed rice candy. It's a fond childhood memory and perhaps a little surprise the hotel offers its guests.

The lobby bar 'Chao' (Nest) captivated me with its design. Whether it's the interior space full of lines and visual impact or the outdoor dining area with stunning views, it infuses the hotel with a tremendous resort vibe.

All-day coffee, tea, and snacks, along with the must-try 'Nest for You' afternoon tea, are all reasons I'm smitten with this place.

At night, it transforms into a characterful gin bar. Here, over 60 types of gin from around the world and nearly 100 tonic waters are offered, making endless gin and tonic combinations possible.

Even more special is the hotel's 'Golden Classic Nest' gin cocktail menu, where the tonic, soda, and garnishes can be adjusted to each guest's preference. This means every guest can enjoy a personalized gin and tonic—just pick your favorite from the menu and leave the rest to the bartender!

The all-day dining restaurant 'Mi' (Rice) has an airy and elegant atmosphere, with pillar lamps and chandeliers inspired by the vertical beams and curved roofs of Confucian temple architecture, exuding a refined scholarly air.

It offers all-day Chinese and Western cuisine, with a buffet dinner on weekends. Breakfast is also served here, and during the soft opening period, it's à la carte on weekdays, and the presentation is stunning. The authentic Shanghainese snow vegetable yellow croaker noodle soup is exceptional in both appearance and taste, surpassing even many specialized noodle shops.

Here, you can also taste the famous 'Four King Kongs' of Shanghai breakfast. The chef's freshly fried youtiao (dough sticks) are fragrant and fluffy—dipping them in the provided soy sauce is the most local way to enjoy them. The cicerone (zi fan gao, crispy rice cakes), long unseen, also makes a surprise appearance, still retaining the flavors of childhood.

The Chinese restaurant 'Tang' (Tang Dynasty) interprets Tang style in a modern way, with maple leaf motifs everywhere subtly echoing the 'Feng' (which also means maple) in Fengxian.

Using local seasonal ingredients, it combines classic Shanghainese cooking techniques with the essence of Cantonese and Zhejiang cuisines, and further incorporates Fengxian's local flavors to create distinctive Chinese dishes. For example, the trendiest winter ingredient, lamb, is transformed into a Fengxian lamb and winter sea cucumber casserole, braised in the Shanghainese style for the richest flavor.

Other signature dishes include wine-marinated fish slices, whelks in black vinegar and chili sauce, pickled shrimp and dried tofu braised in soy sauce, innovative lemongrass-braised old duck, and even the finishing crystal dumplings with fresh pork—all leave a lingering aftertaste.

The specialty restaurant 'Le' (Joy) feels like a late-night diner to me, with an innate warmth. Gathering around with a few close friends here is endlessly enjoyable.

I love sitting at the counter area, watching the chef prepare fresh ingredients right in front of us.

At this moment, whether it's a bowl of authentic tonkotsu ramen, a plate of fresh sashimi, or a skewer of tender, flavorful yakitori, it's enough to warm my heart. But the most unforgettable is the freshly grilled eel rice, rivaling many specialized eel restaurants—truly amazing!

This meal stretched from daylight into darkness. At night, in the courtyard next to Le, an artistic abstract installation lights up, with light beads circulating endlessly, as if drawing a perfect end to this delicious meal.

With its rare outdoor jacuzzi rooms, both indoor heated and outdoor scenic pools, rich and delicious dining options, and the pleasant natural environment of Shenlong Ecological Park, the Hilton Shanghai Fengxian is truly appealing. Since we're already 'staying put in Shanghai,' why not take some leisure time and invite friends and family for a couple of days to enjoy life here?

So, when are you planning to check out this new hotel?!