High on Shanghai: New Tower Marks China’s Tallest Hotel

Looking for the tallest building in China? Naturually that search would take you to Shanghai where the Shanghai Tower now marks the highest skyscraper in China and the second tallest in the world.

But did you know you can sleep above the clouds in China’s tallest structure? The J Hotel Shanghai opened its inaugural property this month atop the Shanghai Tower, occupying the highest point in Shanghai. China’s robust Jin Jiang International Hotels, one of the world’s largest hotel groups, is behind the property’s detailed curation, craftwork, and opulent design. Artistic touches are seen throughout, presenting an exclusive travel experience fused with authentic Chinese flair.

Above Shanghai

J Hotel Shanghai Tower is located at the top of the 2,072-foot Shanghai Tower in the heart of Lujiazui – Shanghai’s financial district and location of futuristic skyscraping architecture. It offers a bird’s-eye view across the whole expanse of Shanghai. From this location, guests can savor a view above and beyond all else. The horizon stretches clear from Hongqiao Airport in the west to the Yangtze River’s powerful entrance into the East China Sea. It also provides a rare perspective on the nearby Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund, offering a chance to contemplate the city’s rich historical evolution.

The Art of Interior Design

Guests enter a vast interior with six crystal Roman columns leading to a 26-foot-high high Shikumen – a stately courtyard arrangement traditional to Shanghai. The design blends the best of east and west. On the sprawling tower’s Floor 101, a sky bridge of laminated glass and metal unfolds. At the end of the bridge, guests are met with metallic ballerinas dancing across the sky as an installation handcrafted by French artist Pauline Ohrel. The hotel invited Chinese and international artists to collaborate on artworks that reflect a cohesive design language, seen in a curated art exhibition that spans different floors.

The Art of an Elegant Residence

J Hotel Shanghai Tower brings 165 rooms, including 34 suites. The staterooms and suites are located from Floors 86 to 98 and vary from 670 to 4,100 square feet, making them some of the highest and most spacious options in Shanghai.

The staterooms are also works of art, defined by crystal magnolias and laminated glass. The bedside canopy is woven with gold and silver wire, accented by crystal magnolia lamps and a sizable Italian crystal glass TV cabinet.

Most of the rooms incorporate separated spaces including a bedroom, living area, bathroom and walk-in closet, creating personal sanctuaries in different layouts and styles. The mini-bar at the entrance offers various drinks and snacks, as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and a Chinese tea set. Linens use high-thread-count bedding and down products, creating a cloud-like, skin-friendly sleeping experience.

A central control system allows digital control of the TV, curtains, air conditioning and lights, as well as personal butler services, all with a simple tap on a tablet.

Haute Shanghai Cuisine

J Hotel Shanghai Tower features seven distinctive restaurants and bars that offer the art of fine dining in the clouds. These include Heavenly Jin, one of the world’s highest restaurants, Kinnjyou Inaka for a serene Japanese experience, Jin Yan for the best of Chinese cuisine, Centouno for Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, the Lobby Lounge, the Yi Lounge and the Café & Patisserie. Each establishment has its own unique design and artistic décor, welcoming guests to enjoy spectacular views of Shanghai while feasting on diverse cuisines, fine wines and imaginative cocktails.

Located on Floor 120 of the Shanghai Tower, 1,824 feet in the air, Heavenly Jin is one of the world’s highest restaurants. The restaurant is a fusion of diverse culinary arts, featuring modern European, Japanese and fine Chinese cuisines created by top chefs from different countries. Guests are greeted by a 100-foot Silk Road-themed Italian mosaic made of dozens of rich materials, manifesting openness and inclusivity. Inside the restaurant, diners are seated beneath a sky of ribbon-like crystal lights as they enjoy delicacies prepared by chefs from all over the world—a heavenly experience in the clouds that is not to be missed.

On Floor 104, Kinnjyou Inaka Japanese restaurant evokes a feeling of eternity with an infinity mirror design integrated in the ceiling and partitions. The entrance blends exoticism and traditional craftsmanship with three Japanese fan installations handmade with 24 K gold, engraved glazed glass and black and gold enamel. The restaurant specializes in Kaiseki and Teppanyaki cuisine and features 10 private rooms, as well as a circular sushi bar and open dining area. Each dining area offers a different view of the city, while the chefs perform live Japanese cooking techniques and present fresh and authentic Japanese cuisine.

The Jin Yan restaurant on Floor 103 serves authentic Cantonese cuisine. Featuring classic shades of Chinese red, the restaurant is a proud demonstration of the beauty of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. The entrance corridor is made from red glaze and takes inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture. Inside, a crystal art installation displays a dragon playing with a pearl, which is considered an auspicious symbol in China. The restaurant has eight private rooms with decorations that incorporate gold, wood, water, fire and earth—the five elements considered by ancient Chinese culture to have built the world. It also offers two special private rooms featuring bespoke artworks from artists in glaze and enamel, each lending their own exceptional touch to the dining experience.

Centouno on Floor 101 blurs the boundaries of reality with artwork from Edoardo Tresoldi, the famous Italian artist behind “Absent Matter.” His ghostly architectural work fuses a large Roman wire-mesh dome within the restaurant environment, casting a dream-like atmosphere over the space. This environment is heightened by the modern, healthy cuisine that defines southern Italian and Mediterranean culture. The open kitchen allows guests to appreciate the chef’s performance at any time and features a unique pasta selection, offering authentic Italian pasta dishes made from ancient recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

The Lobby Lounge, also on Floor 101, is the place for guests to meet and mingle, while the Yi Lounge on Floor 84 is a new benchmark for Shanghai’s bar and nightlife scene, mesmerizing guests with Shanghai’s world-famous nightlife and live jazz.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, the Café & Patisserie specializes in grab-and-go delicacies including coffee, beverages and light, healthy food options.

The Art of Wellbeing

The Reiki spa and fitness center on Floors 84 and 85 provide a perfect escape for guests to relax and rejuvenate. The spa helps dissolve stress and anxiety while rejuvenating the body through holistic techniques and natural products. The fitness center is fully equipped with a yoga room and 500-foot skyline swimming pool, where professional fitness concierges are ready to provide guidance and health management services. The swimming pool on Floor 84 features a contemporary design with a touch of traditional Chinese elements. At the spacious viewing deck located by the pool, guests can step out into the clouds and enjoy the city from unparalleled heights.

The Art of the Butler

Every guest at J Hotel Shanghai Tower enjoys the exclusive services of a J Hotel Personal Butler. Highly trained, they are “know-it-all” Shanghai experts who curate services based on guest preferences and respond to requests around the clock. These can range from ground transportation arrangements, luggage organizing, itinerary booking, pillow menu, a series of offerings dedicated to female guests, restaurant reservations, and sightseeing recommendations to business secretarial work.

J is the premier luxury hospitality brand of Jin Jiang International Hotels and is named after the initial of Jinjiang. J Hotel’s logo is inspired by a blossoming magnolia, the symbol of Shanghai.