I stayed at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan to experience the new Waldorf Astoria property in Pudong, from its river-view rooms and balcony to its dining, wellness facilities and riverside setting.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan opened in October 2025 as the second Waldorf Astoria property in Shanghai. Located in Qiantan on the southern stretch of Shanghai’s new Bund, the hotel occupies a riverside position overlooking the Huangpu River and Qiantan Youcheng Park.
The hotel has 204 rooms and suites, with rooms starting at 52 square metres. Many have balconies or terraces facing the river or surrounding skyline. The property was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), with interiors by Cheng Chung Design (CCD), incorporating contemporary interpretations of Shanghai’s Art Deco heritage.
I stayed in a river-view room with a balcony, and that combination became one of the most memorable aspects of the stay.
A new Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai
The hotel opened on 20 October 2025, making Shanghai one of only three cities worldwide with two Waldorf Astoria properties, alongside Dubai and Doha.
The new property is very different in setting from Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund. The older hotel is closely connected with Shanghai’s historic waterfront and the city centre, while the Qiantan property is part of a newer riverside development in Pudong.
Architecture by KPF gives the building a contemporary profile, while CCD’s interiors draw on Shanghai’s Art Deco heritage through geometric patterns, curved forms and a combination of marble, metal, wood and textiles.
I found the design more restrained than some traditional interpretations of luxury hotels. The river and surrounding landscape are also important to the experience, particularly from the guestrooms and public spaces facing the waterfront.
My river-view room
I stayed in a King room with a balcony and river view.
At 52 square metres, the room is considerably more spacious than the word “standard” might suggest. The layout gives enough room for a proper sitting area without making the guestroom feel crowded.
The design uses light colours, marble and soft textures, with curved forms appearing in several details. The overall effect is contemporary and relatively calm.
The king bed was comfortable, and I particularly appreciated the amount of natural light coming into the room.
But the balcony was the feature I used most.
Having a private outdoor space overlooking the Huangpu River changed the way I used the room. I spent time there in the morning with coffee and returned in the evening to watch the city lights.
Most of the hotel’s rooms have river or skyline views, and many include balconies or terraces. The hotel also has larger suites, including the 119-square-metre Waldorf Suites with outdoor hot tubs and a 272-square-metre Presidential Suite.
For me, however, the 52-square-metre river-view room already provided the combination of space and outlook that made the stay distinctive.
Other Room Types:
A bathroom with space to unwind
The bathroom continues the room’s contemporary design, with marble finishes, a soaking bathtub and a rain shower.
The generous proportions make the bathroom feel more like part of the guestroom than a purely functional space.
After spending time walking around Shanghai, I found the bathtub particularly useful as a place to slow down at the end of the day.
The bathroom also benefits from the natural light and clean lines used throughout the room.
Dining at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan
The hotel currently has four dining and social venues: ARAME, Fu Cheng, The Starlight Room and Peacock Alley.
The venues have noticeably different identities, ranging from the all-day dining restaurant to the Fujian restaurant on the upper floor and the more relaxed atmosphere of Peacock Alley.
ARAME
I had breakfast at ARAME, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant.
The breakfast selection included both Western and Asian dishes, with pastries, dim sum, fresh juices and other choices available.
What I particularly liked was the length of the breakfast service. ARAME currently operates a long brunch-style service from 6:30am to 2pm on weekdays, with extended hours on weekends.
That gives guests more flexibility than a conventional hotel breakfast window, particularly if they prefer a slower morning.
Fu Cheng
Fu Cheng occupies the hotel’s upper floor and focuses on Fujian cuisine.
The restaurant is led by Quanzhou-born Michelin-starred Executive Chef Justin Yang and presents dishes associated with the Eight Flavours of Fujian. The restaurant also has indoor and outdoor seating.
I found the setting particularly interesting because of its elevated position and views towards the river and West Bund.
Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley occupies a more relaxed position within the hotel and serves coffee, cocktails, pastries and Waldorf Astoria’s signature afternoon tea.
The lounge has large windows looking towards the river and surrounding greenery, making it one of the hotel’s more naturally social spaces.
For me, it was less formal than the hotel’s main dining venues and worked well as a place to pause between activities.
The Starlight Room
The Starlight Room is the hotel’s reservation-only chef’s table, with an open kitchen and terrace on the top floor.
It is designed around a more intimate dining experience and takes advantage of the hotel’s elevated position above the river. The space can also be used for private celebrations and events.
I did not dine there during my stay, so I would not assess the food or service firsthand.
Meetings and events
The hotel also has a substantial meetings and events operation.
Hilton currently lists 1,243 square metres of total event space across nine meeting rooms, with the largest room measuring 737 square metres. The event facilities are located on a dedicated floor.
I did not attend an event during my stay, but I explored the meeting spaces and ballroom.
The ballroom is the largest event space, while the smaller meeting rooms provide options for business meetings and more intimate gatherings. The hotel’s marble staircase is also one of the more visually distinctive features of the events area.
The spaces are therefore relevant not only for hotel guests but also for companies and private groups looking for a newer event venue in Pudong.
Indoor pool and fitness centre
The hotel’s wellness facilities are located indoors and include a 25-metre swimming pool, fitness centre and spa. Hilton currently lists the spa as a full-service facility offering treatments.
I liked the indoor pool for its bright, relatively calm atmosphere. It provides a useful counterpoint to the activity of the city outside.
The fitness centre operates daily and includes functional training equipment as well as cardio machines.
One of the things I appreciated about the hotel’s wellness facilities was that they did not feel disconnected from the surrounding environment. The riverfront location remains part of the wider experience, whether viewed from the guestroom or experienced on foot outside the hotel.
A walk along the Huangpu River
One of the simplest things I enjoyed during the stay was walking outside the hotel.
Qiantan’s riverside promenade provides a very different experience from the more crowded areas of central Shanghai. There is more open space, landscaped areas and a direct connection with the Huangpu River.
The area is also close to Qiantan Taikoo Li, giving the neighbourhood a combination of waterfront space, shopping and dining.
For me, the riverside walk helped define the character of the hotel more than any individual design feature. The property feels connected to a newer version of Shanghai — one that is less about historic landmarks and more about the relationship between architecture, public space and the river.
How the hotel feels as a stay
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan is a new hotel, and that is noticeable.
The finishes are fresh, the guestrooms feel contemporary, and the public areas have the polished appearance expected from a recently opened luxury property.
But what I found more interesting was the combination of the hotel’s modern design and its location.
The river-view rooms and balconies give the property a sense of place that would be difficult to reproduce in a more central urban setting. At the same time, the hotel is close enough to Qiantan’s retail, cultural and transportation infrastructure to remain practical.
Service during my stay was attentive and professional, while the overall atmosphere was relatively calm.
The hotel is not trying to replicate the experience of staying at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund. Instead, it offers something different: a newer building, a more contemporary design and a quieter riverside setting in Pudong.
Final thoughts
After staying at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, what I remember most is the relationship between the room, the river and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The 52-square-metre room gave me plenty of space, but the balcony made the bigger difference. Having the Huangpu River directly outside turned an otherwise comfortable hotel room into a place where I actually wanted to spend time.
The dining options also give the hotel enough variety for a multi-night stay, from breakfast and brunch at ARAME to Fujian cuisine at Fu Cheng and the more relaxed setting of Peacock Alley.
The indoor pool, fitness centre and spa add another dimension, while the riverside promenade makes it easy to step outside and experience the Qiantan neighbourhood rather than remaining entirely within the hotel.
The main consideration is location. Qiantan is not the historic centre of Shanghai, and guests focused on the Bund, Nanjing Road or the city’s older neighbourhoods will need to allow additional travel time.
For me, that distance was part of the appeal.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan feels most distinctive when experienced as a riverside hotel in a changing part of Shanghai, rather than simply as another luxury property carrying a familiar international name.
After my stay, the balcony overlooking the Huangpu River was the detail I remembered most.
I didn’t attend events during my stay, but I explored the spaces. The 737 m² ballroom fits up to 470 for banquets or 564 theater-style. There are eight smaller meeting rooms, all filled with natural light, and the spiral marble staircase makes quite an impression. There’s even a car elevator—perfect for launches. If you’re planning an event, the hotel is clearly well equipped.
Qiantan: What to see near the hotel
Qiantan is one of Pudong’s newer mixed-use districts, with a combination of residential, commercial, cultural and riverside spaces.
Qiantan Riverside
The riverside promenade is an easy place to walk, jog or simply take in the Huangpu River. I particularly enjoyed it in the morning, when the area felt quieter.
Taikoo Li Qiantan
Taikoo Li Qiantan is a major retail and lifestyle destination within the district, with shops, restaurants and open-air public spaces.
West Bund
The hotel’s Pudong location also provides access to the West Bund area across the river, including museums, galleries and other cultural attractions.
Getting around
The hotel is connected to the wider city through the local metro network and taxis. For attractions in central Shanghai, I found taxis the more convenient option during my stay.
Hotel information
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan
No. 18 Linyao Road
Pudong District, Shanghai 200126
China
Rooms: 204 rooms and suites
Location: Qiantan, Pudong, Shanghai
Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and Cheng Chung Design (CCD)
Dining: ARAME, Fu Cheng, The Starlight Room and Peacock Alley
Wellness: Indoor pool, fitness centre and spa
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