Biz Unusual

Weddings that float

By Shi Yingying (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-14 17:18

The imaginative and romantic ballroom at the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai is the perfect wedding venue.

Top, A night view of the 17-story Grand Central Hotel Shanghai. Above, The illuminated, oval-shaped Shanghai Grand Ballroom rests on the fourth floor. Provided to China Daily

In a city with a host of five-star hotels, one hotel has found a way to stand out from the crowd. The Grand Central Hotel Shanghai has gone beyond the typical grand atrium lobby, the exotic plants and decorations, and built a one-of-a-kind feature - a shiny, floating ballroom.

The illuminated, oval-shaped, egg-like Shanghai Grand Ballroom rests on the fourth floor and impresses visitors the minute they walk into the hotel.

"It's the only floating ballroom in the city," says Zhang Jifu, general manager of the hotel. "It took us a lot of time and effort to build it."

The original idea of having an egg-like ballroom above the lobby came from French architect Frdric Rolland, who was also in charge of the hotel's interior design, says Zhang.

"Even though the concept is fairly straightforward, the process was challenging beyond anyone's imagination because of the structure and architecture," Zhang says.

Thousands of seashells were ground up to make the shiny powder painted on the exterior of the ballroom.

"With its imaginative and romantic concept, our ballroom is the perfect wedding venue," says Zhang. "All of next year is fully booked."

The ballroom is equipped with seven different lighting systems to suit any occasion and walking inside the pillar-free ballroom, the 7-meter-high ceiling makes the 530 square-meter venue seem even grander.

Despite the hotel's unmistakable French feel, the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai is owned and managed by a Chinese company.

"Our company's business dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when the Wang brothers started their rice wine business - a business the company is still involved with," says Zhang.

This isn't the company's only hotel in Shanghai. Just a stone's throw away from the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai is the 41-year-old Central Hotel Shanghai adjacent to the always-busy Nanjing Lu.

"Central Hotel Shanghai is famous for its crab banquet. Every October, we have hairy crabs cooked in every way imaginable, such as the branded sauted crabmeat, deep-fried crab ball selections and dim sum with crab. The crab banquet includes more than 80 dishes," says Zhang, who is also general manager of Central Hotel Shanghai.

Even though there are more than 10 four- and five-star hotels along Jiujiang Lu, Zhang doesn't worry about competition much.

"Both local and international guests know it's the road for hotels and that they will find the accommodation they are looking for here. That brings us business," Zhang says.

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Adding to its already impressive amenities, the 17-story Grand Central Hotel Shanghai even has a two-floor presidential suite, which occupies 700-sq-m and is accompanied by a quiet rooftop garden, and a three-story underground garage that can hold up to 150 cars.

Whether you are looking for an opulent banquet hall or a hotel that can satisfy the needs of the modern business traveler, the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai is sure to impress.