Grand Hyatt Shanghai – The World’s Tallest Hotel
written by John Chow on May 16th, 2008
So far, I’ve shown you how inexpensive Shanghai is to shop and eat. Now it’s time to show you the “To Get Rich Is Glorious” side. Nothing shows the rise of China more than the Pudong side of Shanghai. A little more than a decade ago, Pudong was nothing but rice padi fields. Today, it’s the heart of the financial district and the most expensive piece of real estate in all of China.
Pudong is home to the world’s tallest hotel. The Grand Hyatt Shanghai starts on the 54th floor of the Jim Mao Tower and goes all the way up to the Cloud 9 bar on floor 87 (world’s tallest bar). It’s one of the best hotels in the world. However, the best does not come cheap.
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Trackbacks
- Dot Com Shanghai - Missing Pho Edition | John Chow dot Com - May 17, 2008 at 3:01 pm
- The City of The 21st Century | John Chow dot Com - May 18, 2008 at 10:00 am
- How Much Do Workers Make In China? | John Chow dot Com - May 22, 2008 at 11:00 am
- Dinner At The Grill On56 | John Chow dot Com - June 2, 2008 at 7:31 pm
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That’s one heck of a tall hotel!
Wow, that’s amazing! Great architecture there.
Pretty nice and the price is ok
Absolutely amazing hotel! We are all living large through you John.
Since you’re posting (working
) while you’re there, does that mean you can write everything off come tax time?
~Terry
China is now amazing country of many developments. Great Travel Mr. Chow.
have to agree with that … Even the elevator will take time to get to the top.
Enjoyed watching the video John, anyone know what that writing means on the wall? Are you not scared of heights then?
$800 a night!
Amazing hotel though, thanks for the tour.
- Carl
Wow, $800 per night! I was going to guess around that before you said it. That’s a pretty sweet place - nice choice!
Also, those glass sinks are awesome! I’d love to have those in my home…think they have them at Home Depot? hehe…
Probably, but they are likely VERY expensive.
That is a high amount but this hotel definately deserves it
I have been to Pudong and Jin Mao Tower before.
Pudong is indeed an awesome area in SH!
It’s tall, but it’s not as tall as the Taipei 101!
Yeah, but the Taipei 101 is a commercial tower and not a hotel.
yes it is a commercial tower so it doesn’t count
Ah… veggie burgers really do grow on trees, in rice patties?
Um.. it’s a PADI, John.
Wow that is ridiculous, 800$ a night? I want to build me a hotel like that
Imagine the money made.
The real-life French Spiderman Alain Robert did try to climb the Jinmao Tower with his bare hands in May 31st, 2007.
Yeah, I’ve seen that guy climb buildings. That is some crazy stuff.
~Terry
To pay $800 per night you have to make a lot of money per month. I believe you maney money online but I don’t think you’ll stay in this hotel for the whole time you visit there.
umm have you been seeing his monthly income just from this blog……………………..Avg. 30k wondering what his other sites make
It’s very nice as I’ve been there. I wonder how much the presidential suites are at the Hyatt though
32,600RMB +15% service charge per night. However, the top suite is the Chairman suite at 42,600RMB +15% service charge.
What would be that amount of money in US dollar?
About $5,000 and $6,000.
Ahh I forgot that they don’t call the top guy presidents over in China!
$6k is pretty expensive… Maybe I should flash my media name card over next time I’m there and see if I can get a night and blog about it
I can’t imagine what you get for $6,000 a night when yours was $800. I mean your suite was sweet.
must be some hot chinese giving a massage .. I would expect that with $6000
5000$ is big money man
We have grand Hyatt here in Mumbai but its not as costly as Grand Hyatt Shanghai
the costliest Hotel in India is J W Marriott and they charge 3000$ for their best suit
Damn John you’re slacking. Needa make more money!
John,
The world’s tallest bar - Hence the name - Cloud 9… with an enhanced heighten sensation if you are also drunk
800 bux a night is a bit tall order - but I guess it’s well worth it.
Cheers
I’m all for making money online, but I really dig these posts from your trip. Can’t wait to see what the city looks like at night!
$800 a night? That’s pretty pricey, as you said, especially when compared to how much the average Chinese factory worker makes.
For the size and quality of that suite, on the 65th floor no less, $800 is not too bad considering a comparable suite at the Pan Pacific Vancouver costs about $2300/night.
Holy crap that is expensive. Maybe I will experience that one day
That spiral thing was really cool, too bad I’m afraid of heights
.
China is still listed on those organisations where you sponsor a child in a third world nation.
I’ve been following your videos ever since you started and still remember that one comment…
“What? You are nearly two years old and have accumulated x number of airline miles?”
Great! Great videos…makes us meet a new world. Really. Keep up the good work.
China is still a third world country mainly due to the population.
No doubt that it is developing faster..
You will see the real China once you see the inner area.
Coastal cities are advanced.
Agreed. There are tons of areas that look like this, and are highly advanced. But the majority of the Chinese are still in poverty. As you said, $125 USD/month isn’t very much at all.
I wouldn’t say it is a 3rd world country but it definately isn’t up to par in all areas.
pretty awesome stuff. as your last comment points out, most westerners do not realize how modern parts of china are. if anyone had any reason to question why some are calling the 21st century the China Century, this video highlights why. China is importing all these goods into the U.S., what do people think they are doing with all that cash? they are building a 21st century nation….
So I’d only need to make about 300k a year to live there
365 days of hotel is $292k so 300k only gets you the living area and there’s no more money to eat!
you could sneak in at night in the hotels kitchen and eat for free until you get caught
It’ll be very stupid to spend 300k in living and have to steal food because you don’t have money to buy it.
You’re making it HUGE, John! At $800/night, you sure know how to spend it
-Mike
Man these travel logs (trogs?) are the highlight of the year over here. I really feel like heading over there now. And they drive on the same side! Ughh when I lived in Japan all that opposite driving gave me a headache.
It must be SUPER great to travel and speak the language (without having to take years of classes like I did). But I don’t get why you could read the relief donation sight nut not stuff on the bedroom wall-the writing was maybe too fancy?
The sign asking for donations was written in both English and Chinese. I can’t read Chinese.
Besides English what other languages you’re able to communicate in?
How old were you when you came to Canada? Must be very small–I guess..
I was 7 years old.
Man these travel logs (trogs?) are the highlight of the year over here. I really feel like heading over there now. And they drive on the same side! Ughh when I lived in Japan all that opposite driving gave me a headache.
It must be SUPER great to travel and speak the language (without having to take years of classes like I did). But I don’t get why you could read the relief donation sight but not stuff on the bedroom wall-the writing was maybe too fancy?
Any reason to question why some are calling the donation for free for life. I don’t understand about chines language
I look forward to the video of day changing into night and seeing all the buildings light up!
John, I think the use of the phrase “how cheap Shanghai is to shop and eat” is not quite correct. You should said “how inexpensive Shanghai is to shop and eat” 8-D
Usually cheap means low quality, inferior, etc.
RMB 800 or US$800 per night?
Anyway, nice hotel though!
You’re right! I’ve changed it to inexpensive. And the hotel was $800US per night. However, the regular rooms start at $400US per night.
I am impressed that you really take my comment seriously!
Holy cow! US$ 800 is expensive!
800$….. wow. For class, yes i think its reasonable, but for me, i can’t afford to stay there yet… will be soon
Did you donate to Earth quake funds?
i cant imagine spend 800$ a nigh. better i use that money to purcase 20years of hosting service..
Yah I could think of better ways to use that money at this time, but when you are making enough to no longer worry, it will be nice to put that in your book of things completed in my lifetime
When you’re enjoying the Dot Com Lifestyle, you can shell out $800 a night for a phat hotel.
Wow… thats amazing architecture…. unbelievable…!! i guess i have seen this building in some movie and u show me in real
$800 works out at roughly £400 a night, I don’t think that’s too bad for a great room with a great view in one of the worlds top hotels. Not that I’d want to spend a whole month there!
Boy that’s a really nice hotel
Nice hotel…but hey, it’s all a right-off for business, right?
Hi John, thanks for showing the hotel it was a great flashback. I had drinks on the top floor 2 years ago and really was fantastic at night to see the city lights and river. Cheers!
Very nice hotel, I don’t know if I would even be willing to drop $800/night on a hotel, but I suppose I don’t make $30,000/month writing about my trip to shanghai either.
That was an excellent video, John. A little more relaxing than normal. It was a good change.
The hotel looks lovely, but I’m still waiting for you to hit up Dubai and stay at the Burj Al Arab.
I knew something was expensive in China, at $800 bucks a night I see it’s the room you’re staying in.
Still, $800 for THAT is cheap.
For a country that averages just $125 per month per person per month in income has nothing to be proud about offering a suite for $800 per night.
Advancement for the few and privileged is not progress.
You don’t see this kind of disparity in Vancouver, do you?
200% agree…
OMG…that is really high, especially when you view down to the lobby, i fear i might fall… me got the wai go chin…..
I’m jealous. I will visit China in the future though.
Insane!! Have to go see that.
How are you finding the air quality in Shanghai? The last time I went to Beijing the pollution ate me alive!
The air quality is pretty bad. Worst than LA. No where close to the super clean air of Vancouver.
Eww nasty. Hearing stuff likes this makes me want to go environmentally friendly in everything.
This hotel looks fantastic.
It’s too expensive for myself but still looks worth it.
It doesn’t expensive compared to John’s income, what is the money for? enjoyed your life the internet era is still going on.
Nice view! I am hoping that China also has the “worlds shortest hotel” so you can make a video from there as well
lol
Thats a very nice post you have made. Cheers!
Nice looking hotel. Makes me not want to wait for my honeymoon. We got an awesome suite. It is your own little pad with pool, hot tub, steam room, waterfall, it has everything..
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I think for a hotel of these class, 100% of their employees must be able to speak English.
Nice video john, but the price is DAMN good!!