Okay.....is about as good as it gets here. Despite the well regarded name, the hotel is dated and tatty. The lobby is fine and the staff are friendly and helpful, but the rooms are tired, circa 1980 with many years of use evident. My room was large with a sofa and a desk, but the fixtures and fittings are well past their prime. An interior upgrade is overdue. The city of Beihai is a tough place to reach by air...very inconvenient connections. If you're thinking holiday destination, I'd reccomend you head elsewhere. Fortunately I was only there for one day of business. Michael W. Shanghai.

Having stayed at several Shangra La properties we were excited to try a new one. We arrived in Beihai for a two night stay, March 8 and 9, 2006. This review has two sides; and this hotel has two personalities. First, the nightly cost is somewhere near a Holiday Inn rate, stateside; around $55.oo; so one cannot be too critical given the price/value relationship. On the other hand, if you are accustomed to the stature of the Shangra La franchise, you will be dissappointed. The exterior and interior lobby is vintage Shangra La. Beautiful appointments and furnishings. The room was a different matter. The bathroom was old, unclean with mold or mildew growing in the grout. Obvious attempts were made to patch spots, with poor and unsightly results. Towels were over-used, gray and tattered. No robes for the guests. No safe in room. Furniture seemed to be missing as there were vacant areas in the seating area. The carpets were old and badly stained. The staff, while generally pleasant, were far less helpful than other Shangra La's. Little help with cabs..had to walk to the end of the parking lot to hail one. Doormen were almost non-existant. If a door was not open, one would have to struggle to get through. Difficult with an arm load of shopping bags. They offer a reasonably good buffet...breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The breakfast had good variety, although focused more on Chinese cuisine. We only observed a handfull of Western clientle. Apparently this property caters mostly to Chinese customers, which may explain the differences in customer service/attitude. Would stay again, but would try the Club floors (15-17) next time. The hotel sits right on the ocean, an ocean view room is probably attainable from the 3rd floor up. The extra cost was about $5.oo Beihai is the pearl capital of China and maybe the world. Every taxi driver will try to get you too one of the many pearl stores (they get a commission for bringing you there). We found the best prices at a wholesale outlet that also 'farms' pearls. It is about a 30 minute taxi ride out of Beihai; on the South China Sea. I am sure the hotel staff can assist in directions. Just remember that the prices shown on the pearls are no where near what they'll take. Bargain a lot, as is the custom in China. Happy travels....