As the guidebooks indicate, Suzhou is today a rapidly developing industrial conurbation with, at it's heart, the UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a number of 'gardens'. Well, the Shangri La is NOT near these gardens or the railway station which is where many visitors will arrive.

I stayed on the 44th floor (of 51) and this is one that comprised the Horizon Club Executive level. Yes, the bedroom was very large and provided very high ceilings and a sense of luxury but was it really worth 1,706 RMb, i.e. £170 at the prevailing rate of exchange? I am somewhat skeptical.

Given the background to the development of the Shangri La Hotel group, it was disappointing to find that the novel by James Hilton The Lost Horizon, provided in the bedrooms a la Gideon's Bible, was not for sale in the small bookshop. Upon asking if the room copy could be purchased, I was amazed to be told 'yes, at £15'. On the positive side, all employees encountered were very pleasant and most had a good command of English.

I attended a function that was being held at the Shangri-La in mid June, 2008. We hired a car from the hotel to pick us up from the PuDong Airport in Shanghai and he was waiting for us once we received our luggage. Shortly before arriving at the hotel the driver called ahead and the bellman was waiting with a luggage cart when we arrived. We were immediately taken to our room where the check in process was completed.

I was sharing a room and it wasn't crowded at all. The room and bathroom were both nice sized and well appointed. The beds were comfortable and the hotel even had the buckwheat pillow that I requested before the stay. The view from our room on the 45th floor was of the local amusement park, and had it not been foggy/smoggy/cloudy could've been a great one, but the conditions didn't exactly lend to the view.

We ate at Cafe Soo and Suntory and the food and service was good at both. Club Red, the hotel bar, was outstanding. Johnson, Sara, and the rest of the staff all went out of their way to make me feel at home. In fact, I felt more like a regular here than I do at the bar I frequent at home. There is a duo of younger Chinese girls that sing many American songs, and not too bad either; however, they should stay away from songs like Sweet Home Alabama.

We upgraded to a Horizon Club room which entitled us to free breakfast in the Horizon Club Room which was really good. There was a good selection of breads, pastries, fruit, cereal, and other Chinese dishes. The Horizon upgrade also included the internet service, which you have to pay for in a standard room I believe. Peter, our Horizon Club concierge did an outstanding job and was very informative.

I travel quite a bit and this was the best experience I've had for business travel, and rates as high as some of the leisure travel I've done. I will definitely stay here if I have to go back to Suzhou.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Shangri-la Hotel as part of a tour package with Trafalgar (Uniworld) Tours. The room was magnificent, and the staff was extremely helpful. The hotel featured a wonderful breakfast buffet that included both Western breakfast items as well as Chinese and Japanese selections. I highly recommend this hotel.

Stayed here for one night on business - the hotel was booked for me by our local office.

Reception quick and friendly, room big and comfortable with excellent view over the city and mountains. Restaurant good, bar enjoyable.

This was my 5th stay at the Shangrila, and I have never been disappointed. Like all Shangrilas I have visited, this one is of consistently high quality. I always upgrade to Horizon club with separate check-in, happy hour and breakfast, plus wireless Internet in the spacious and attractively decorated lounge. The staff are friendly, competent, and can easily hold a conversation in English. Rooms are beautiful, including the 'art'. Views from the hotel are very good, as it is the highest building in Suzhou. Being in the industrial area, it is a bit remote, but I do not need to venture out much from the hotel anyways, and there are numerous restaurants and services around. The fitness room is very spacious, clean, and has great facilities. By itself a reason to choose this hotel. The 1st floor lounge has a great vocal/piano duo. The bar "Club Red" is less attractive. On previous visits it was quite noisy and not too customer friendly. Hotel clients are generally middle aged business people. This is not really a family resort. Overall a great choice which makes me feel welcome every time I go.

II've stayed at this hotel many times always with great service and excellent staff. It was just a good as ever with a great room. Although the carpeting was way below Shangri-La standards as in looks and wear. But this is a business hotel not a resort. I demand a good bar to both unwind and meet vendors in and entertain clients. The new Club Red which opened Dec.06 had a rough time getting started. But after getting rid of the young DJ’s playing Boom Boom music (again this is a business hotel with 35-50 year olds) they got in a great salsa band (Fuego) from Colombia who entertained the troops 6 nights a week and where great. For some reason management decided not to extend their contract and the current group does not hold a candle in entertainment value. Then lets get to the bartenders. Management decided to get rid of all the experienced bar tenders and bar management for reason’s I won’t go into but then replaced them with total rookie’s. No people skills and no cocktail knowledge! I had to teach them to make the simplest of drinks. No social skills, no chit chat, no coasters put under your drink just here’s you drink and good luck getting their attention for another round. What are you thinking Shangri-La management!!!! I dropped an average of 700 RMB a night (every night!) there entertaining clients and business associates. Not anymore, goodbye I’ll stay at the Jasmine or Sheraton next month.

We went to Suzhou as tourists to see the famous gardens and canals. This hotel is about 20 mins. from all of the attractions in the old part of the city, and is located in the industrial part of town.

We were given an executive level room that was huge and very well appointed, including cocktails and breakfast for about $120. a night. Although we were on the 42 floor, the polution is so bad here you could barely see anything.

The Sheraton is much closer to the tourist sights, but has a reputation for being run down.

Stayed in this hotel for a meeting at their Grand Ballroom for our company. Overall speaking, the hotel is very new and has very good hardware. Room is nice, breakfast and lunch at the Cafe on the 1st floor were nice. However, just like most places in China, the software (service) is not up to standards. During breakfast, I was led up to the smoking section without being asked. I had to request a change to go to non-smoking section. Same thing for my room as I was given a smoking room. Just makes you wonder how can a 5-star hotel commit such mistakes/negligence.