SHANGYING CHAO

Whenever I visit Shanghai, my favorite area to stay is still the Wutong District. This time, I decided to try the newly opened CHAO, and it was like opening a 'blind box' – I ended up staying in what felt like my 'dream apartment'! Even though I only booked a standard room this time, it was surprisingly spacious. I really loved the layout and flow of the entire room. It's not traditional, but they cleverly used glass partitions to let in a ton of natural light. The main color scheme of cream paired with black looks incredibly sophisticated and timeless. Both the fixtures and materials used are top-notch yet understated. The designer's aesthetic sense is truly on point. Unlike traditional hotels, breakfast here is an à la carte brunch, served until 2 PM, and you can mix and match both Chinese and Western options. The whole hotel is very quiet, and it genuinely feels like the comfort and relaxation of being in your own apartment. However, it still retains many of the services you'd expect from a luxury hotel. There's turndown service, the mini-bar is completely free, and restocking is super prompt. The service is also butler-style; they're always there with a smile when you call. The location is simply unbeatable. Just step out, and you're on the stunning Xinhua Road, with beautiful old villas nestled among plane trees. All the popular influencer-spot neighborhoods are within walking distance.

Seriously misleading, overpriced and underwhelming, an extremely poor experience. I stayed at the Shanghai Film Chao Hotel, marketed as a 'light luxury boutique hotel'. Even on a weekday, the room rate was 2600 RMB per night, a price point that puts it on par with top-tier luxury hotels in Shanghai. However, the overall hardware, service, and amenities fell completely short of expectations, creating a huge disparity. The hotel heavily promotes its selling point of being a converted ancient building, but in reality, it lacks any sense of historical charm. The old residence across the street was entirely closed off, and along the way, there were only scattered plants, no suitable photo spots. It was all hype with no substance. The internal layout was confusing, making for a poor walking experience. While the guest rooms appeared spacious, the materials used were ordinary, offering a quality comparable to an upgraded Hanting Hotel, lacking the premium materials and design details expected of a high-end establishment. The dining experience was full of complaints. The semi-buffet breakfast offered only three options, and the taste was terrible. The wontons were bland, like soy sauce water, and the texture was concerning. The staff showed little service awareness; when guests made requests, their attitude was perfunctory, and they explicitly stated that drinks needed to be self-served, completely lacking a service mindset. The most unacceptable issue was the lack of respect: after negotiating a late checkout for the afternoon, while the guests were still resting, the hotel directly and without permission cut off the water and electricity. This behavior was extremely rude. While shortcomings in hardware, design, and dining are understandable, such blatant disregard for guests and lack of basic respect are truly intolerable. For this price and central location, the overall experience was severely disappointing. It not only failed to deliver on the high cost but also negatively impacted Shanghai's tourism image. I do not recommend anyone stay here.

If you're particular about hotels, avoid this one. The value for money is incredibly low. For a hotel that costs 2300 RMB a night on a weekday, there are so many better options at this price point. You definitely won't stay here twice. The layout is similar to a slightly better budget hotel, but the room layout is very strange. The so-called 'walk-in closet' mirror even faces the bed! And what's with the curtain at the entrance? None of the facilities can withstand close inspection. The sink drains extremely slowly and is yellow around the edges. Every single fixture looks very crude upon closer inspection. From the facilities to the bedding and the layout, nothing justifies the 2300 RMB per night price tag. The only positive thing I can say is that the staff are friendly, but everything else is really subpar. If this hotel were around 1000 RMB a night, it would be acceptable, but for 2300 RMB on a weekday, Shanghai truly offers many better choices. It's a rip-off!

I stayed for two nights at the Shanghai Film Chao Hotel, located in the heart of the 'Wutong District,' which has a 'city soft focus' atmosphere. The 72 rooms are inspired by the classic film '72 Tenants,' and each room boasts a French balcony offering picturesque views of Shanghai's charming plane tree-lined streets and historic protected buildings. The complimentary canelé was also a delightful touch.

Great location, comfortable and spacious room, excellent experience and value for money. If you enjoy city walks like me, it's very convenient to get to Panyu Road, Shanghai Film Group Creative Park, Wukang Road, and Huaihai Middle Road. There are many popular bakeries nearby, so you don't even need hotel breakfast. Bread lovers will definitely appreciate it. The room design is very thoughtful, and the details are exceptionally well-executed. For example, the towels and tissue box are right where you need them. Soft music automatically plays when you enter the room, and Dyson hairdryer attachments are neatly organized next to the vanity. I was a bit worried after seeing some negative reviews before coming, but the experience exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended, I'd love to stay here again on my next visit to Shanghai.

I'm not a hotel snob, nor do I write reviews. I just genuinely love it. For me, staying in a hotel isn't about leaving home; it's about temporarily stepping away from my 'everyday self,' experiencing the present moment, and finding a sense of ease and relaxation. This is a hotel I'll keep coming back to. It's the ultimate 'chill' vibe, totally exceeding my expectations. 🤎

Really got that authentic 'Wutong tree-lined street' vibe! The hotel's design and service far exceeded my expectations. However, the cleanliness, especially the details, needs improvement – there were hairs on an unused bath towel.

The surroundings are fantastic, with a great cinema, restaurants, and cafes nearby. The hotel's film and TV culture is evident everywhere, and the room facilities are complete. The fact that brunch is available until 2 PM was a huge plus for me. Overall, a great stay.

Had a fantastic stay here! The location is superb, making it incredibly convenient to go out and explore for food and shopping. The front desk staff and all other hotel employees were excellent – you could tell they were very dedicated and professional. Breakfast was also delicious. When I checked out, I accidentally broke a glass in the room. I offered to pay for it, but the hotel surprisingly said it wasn't necessary. These little details really made an impression on me. I'll definitely choose to stay here again if I have the chance. Thanks for such a wonderful experience!