Knowing it burns but not knowing why it burns, Shanghai Alila Hotel

The municipal construction at night was super noisy, and I slept terribly. I woke up in the middle of the night with rising anger, wanting to lash out at everything. The complimentary sleep aid spray, eye mask, and earplugs from the turndown service were all really useful, but honestly, none of them helped much. What is the fundamental logic of the hotel? No matter how high it reaches, it’s just a temporary residence living somewhere else. If it can’t even guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep, what’s the point of having high aesthetics? Moreover, the aesthetics didn’t even exceed expectations and were even spoiled early on. Because I had just stayed at the new work by the same designer, Shaoxing Kapok Flower. The most commendable water landscape garden of Shanghai Alila, the glass houses highlighting the waterfront, and the multifunctional halls arranged like boxes surrounding the garden were almost copied there intact. I blame the order of my stays; it felt like meeting an old acquaintance, which made me think Alila was borrowing or plagiarizing. But it also indirectly shows that reusing designs is a serious issue. The hotel business is booming, and no one can check in on time. Unfortunately, the public areas are compact and dimly lit, even though they are filled with people in the shadows. So the usual hustle and bustle seen in Marriott lounges also happens here. The cocktail party after dusk, with fresh meat mooncakes and drinks, was so noisy that it was impossible to settle down for the night. The public areas are exquisitely crafted, with detail aesthetics comparable to Little Dragon Girl carving characters on a bee’s wing. They withstand the scrutiny of a magnifying glass and countless retouches by internet celebrities. Then the similar creative approach is applied inside the guest rooms, so this Alila private space is like the public area, with an extra-long sofa and irregular frosted lighting, just adding a touch of melancholy and detachment. To put it plainly, it’s very similar to Ji Hotel. Actually, that’s not bad; aesthetics are naturally in tune with the times, and I even think it should be promoted. The hotel is located on a high-rise in Jing’an District, next to the newly popular low-traffic Zhang Garden, surrounded by vast memories of Shanghai’s past prosperity, almost a destined citywalk holy land. So standing by the window, there’s no need to complain; the view has no mountains or sea, only a concrete jungle. After all, it’s positioned as an urban resort, so just close the curtains and read more books. The gong meditation takes place punctually every morning and evening on the fifth-floor gym. The pool’s main tone is a hazy dark teal, the water slightly murky, with yellow lighting like golden apples hanging on poisonous vines, sinister yet tempting. It is equipped with a rectangular hot tub, a cylindrical ice maker, and a steam room. This was my favorite part of the trip. The key is that it’s empty in the morning, so I could enjoy the entire triangular water area alone. Breakfast combines à la carte and buffet. The à la carte menu is rich, diverse, and covers both Chinese and Western dishes. Half of the buffet table is various breads, many of which look like you’d be doing yourself a disservice not to try at least one bite. There are eight kinds of fresh juices, plus blueberry freedom. Overall, I slept terribly and won’t come back. Room details: Room number: 1210 Official name: Deluxe Suite Area: 80 square meters Mattress: Simmons Living room and bedroom TVs: Samsung Bluetooth speaker: Geneva Shower and metal fittings: Hansgrohe Toilet: Electric TOTO Hairdryer: Solis Amenities: Large bottles of Fumare non-fading cologne series Electric kettle: SMEG Coffee machine: Nespresso Coffee capsules: 4 Nespresso capsules Tea bags: TWG Bottled water: Elix Alila edition Minibar: Free