The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen — Hotel in Shenzhen

I did encounter a few really friendly ladies and gentlemen at the Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen, whose strong passion for helping I could strongly feel. For instance, after I told a lady that I would like to buy the Shenzhen edition of the RC lion, she immediately guided me to the cafe and explained the details of each model to me in a manner that could not be warmer and more detailed. Her hospitality is so elegant and genuine that I even wonder if she was from the Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou, where everyone treated their guests like an old friend. However, despite these few ladies and gentlemen, most of the people I encountered in this hotel failed to avoid falling into the trap of being overly mechanic. It is apparent that they did everything on their SOP but nothing more or nothing from their heart. For instance, the check-in process, which is supposed to be the primary opportunity by which the hotel shows its guests its hospitality, had nothing more than the most basic conversation, like "can I have your ID card?", "here you go", "this is your room card. Sir, your package does not include a breakfast, and you may consider booking one", "thank you". Everything was so quick, but also - mechanic. No temperature was there. That is alright, but not so Ritz-Carlton. Ritz-Carlton service is supposed to let guests feel warm and cared for instead of being mechanical like a budget hotel, isn't it?Besides, the room's interior design is, unfortunately, a bit outdated, in my opinion. The abundance of yellow/gold color is no longer representing grandness these days. Instead, the room feels so unenergetic nor classy, but pretentious and vulgar.However, the biggest mistake in this Ritz-Carlton hotel is that they do not seem to care about any pre-arrival communication with guests, even if the guests initiate that. I sent two notes to the hotel, one two weeks before my arrival and the other one week before, to tell them about my specific room preference. However, it came to my big surprise that, by the time of my check-in, the front desk was completely unaware of my messages. As a result, I could only get a room that KIND OF matches my preferences out of the few rooms available at that time. One of my friends who works as a senior manager of the Ritz-Carlton brand told me that a typical RC always proactively contacts their guests in advance about their room preference. Then they would try their best to arrange a room that best accommodates their preferences. The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen does not only fail to finish this basic procedure; they even disregard guests' preference even if it is the guest who proactively and explicitly tells them about that, for two times, both initiated by the guest. Is this Ritz-Carlton trying its best to accommodate guests' preferences? No,...

My Thoughts on the Renewed Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen​

As one of Shenzhen’s pioneering luxury hotels, The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen carries the memories of the city’s westward expansion. This landmark, which witnessed Shenzhen’s meteoric rise, has been in operation for sixteen years. Though time has left its mark, the hotel’s impeccable service has completely reshaped my preconceptions of the Ritz-Carlton brand. Whether during a three-day stay two years ago or a brief overnight visit this time, I truly experienced the essence of "Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen"—its professionalism and warmth transcend the limitations of its hardware.

The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen boasts 280 guest rooms and suites, with some newly renovated ones now unveiled. The refreshed rooms uphold the brand’s generous interpretation of space, maintaining a comfortable baseline of 50㎡ for the smallest units. The upgrade introduces five new room types, including the Elegant Room, Elegant Garden View Room, Elegant Deluxe Room, Urban Explorer Suite, and Oasis Terrace Suite. The renovation spans all categories, from standard rooms and corner suites to open-plan layouts and the iconic terrace suites. Notably, the price difference between old and new base rooms remains a modest ¥200+, a rarity among renovated hotels, reflecting the owner’s careful balance between hardware upgrades and long-term operations.

In Shenzhen—a city forever young—the Ritz-Carlton’s hardware may not rival that of newer luxury competitors. Yet it is precisely this sixteen-year legacy that highlights its unwavering commitment to service. Many "blue-blooded" staff members have remained since its opening, their professionalism honed over time. This enduring dedication is deeply moving; such timeless "reliability" is the finest testament to true luxury and the reason the hotel has maintained its stellar reputation over the years.

In the cyclical world of hospitality, new and old are never simple opposites. New hotels bring fresh energy, while established icons like The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen cultivate an irreplicable warmth through time. As Shenzhen’s first-generation luxury hotels embark on renovations, Four Seasons unveiling its model room, Langham’s lounge evolving after 18 years, and Grand Hyatt’s plans for next year, The St. Regis remains the sole holdout. Now the transformed Ritz-Carlton with its ¥2,000+ pricing is poised to carve a new legend under Futian’s skyline. It may not be flashy, but its return carries...

Fantastic place. Arrived from HKG on an early flight from SFO, and immediately greeted by an extremely friendly staff. Early check-in wasn't an issue and took only several minutes. Rooms are spacious (I had a king sized bed) including the bathrooms, which had separate tub and shower. Views are plentiful from the sleeping/living areas to the bathroom, and the shades are adjusted via remote. All was spotless and sparkling clean. One of the best beds I've slepted in.

After returning from the office in the afternoon, there were complimentary fruit and cookies left at bedside, each day! The room has a desk and free wifi throughout the hotel (although separate logon is needed when moving from the room to public places such as the lobby, cafe, etc).

Breakfast buffet on the 2nd floor can be overwhelming by the sheer amount and variety of foods available. Pace yourself. I believe it typically costs about US$35, but luckily it was part of my package.

The gym on the 6th floor is top notch as well. It opens 5:30am, which I availed myself of and usually was alone. All types of weight machines, treadmills, steppers, free weights, yoga room, locker room, etc. A wall of glass that runs the entire length of the gym and gives a panoramic view of the city. Bottled water is free.

I had a few drinks at both the lobby bar, as well as their cafe/lounge (I forget the name) in the hotel. Service is impeccable. This is the Ritz, so don't expect discount prices. Cocktails/beers are in the US$6-$15 range (not top shelf). I stuck with the beer.

**ATM: There is a Bank of China ATM in the lobby, but of course there are fees involved. If you're with Bank of America, they have a partnership with Construction Bank of China, which is less than a 10 minute walk from the hotel (take the shortcut through the side bakery "Fix" and head towards the Sheraton - it's a straight shot), and will charge no fees!

Great staff, great facilities. I...