To be honest, when I booked Kingtown Riverside Hotel Plaza Shanghai, I didn't expect it to have any recreational facilities at all. An old brand in the city center, as long as the location is good, who would dare to demand a swimming pool, gym, and SPA? But the actual experience on the night of check-in really surprised me a bit.
Let's talk about the gym first. On the third floor of the hotel, it's not big, about 80 square meters, but it has all the necessary facilities. Three treadmills, two elliptical machines, a set of dumbbell stands, and a comprehensive trainer, arranged compactly but not crowded. When I arrived at 9pm, there was only one resident walking slowly on the treadmill. The air conditioning is fully turned on, the equipment is wiped clean, and the dumbbells are neatly arranged according to their weight. For business travelers, there is no need to be too luxurious. They can run for twenty minutes, sweat profusely, and their spirits will return the next day.
The swimming pool was the biggest surprise of this trip. Also on the third floor, there is an indoor thermostatic pool that is approximately 25 meters long and has six swimming lanes. The water quality is clear, and you can see the blue mosaic at the bottom of the pool. The changing room provides towels, slippers, and toiletries, and the shower room has stable hot water. I changed my swim trunks and jumped down to swim four times back and forth. Looking up, I saw the ceiling lights shattered into pieces on the water surface, and in a daze, I thought I was not next to Nanjing Road, but at some resort hotel. After swimming and soaking by the pool, I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of water. The faint sound of city cars could be heard outside the window, creating a wonderful contrast.
The spa center is on the fourth floor, and I didn't make an appointment for any formal projects. I only sat in the lounge area. The sofa is soft, the lighting is dim, and the front desk staff handed a cup of hot lemon water, saying they could experience a fifteen minute foot massage chair first. The chair has moderate strength, and after ten minutes of pressing, the soreness and swelling of the calves are significantly relieved. Formal SPA requires advance reservation, with a price list posted on the wall, covering everything from full body essential oils to facial treatments. You can give it a try next time.
In addition, the hotel also has a small chess and card room for guests to book and use for free. When I passed by, I glanced at four mahjong tables with tea, and a few guests were playing cards and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere. Being able to play two rounds of cards to relax during business trips is also a small blessing.
Of course, there are also shortcomings. The gym does not have a separate changing room, the swimming pool does not have a sauna, and the spa center is relatively small, requiring queues during peak hours. For a downtown business hotel, these cannot be demanding, but if we could add a rowing machine and a steam room, the experience would be more complete.
When checking out, I specifically asked at the front desk, 'What time does your gym close?' The answer was, 'From 6am to 11pm.' That's enough.
The leisure facilities of a hotel do not need to be too luxurious, the key is to be "available" and "usable". Kingtown Riverside Hotel Plaza Shanghai is located on Nanjing Road, where every inch of land is precious. It provides a corner for business travelers to run, swim, and relax, which is one step ahead of most similar hotels.
Next time I come to Shanghai, even if I only stay for one night, I want to visit that pool again.Show more