The 289-room Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa has opened its doors.

Warmly lit corridors and colourful carpets embedded with the cloud motif lead the way to the hotel’s 262 luxurious guestrooms and 17 expansive suites.  Rooms are spacious with a minimum size of 42 square metres. 

Each room category highlights the bold colours and delicate details found in Tibetan culture, dress and art.  The stay experience is enhanced with garden, mountain or Potala Palace views as well as complimentary mini-bar upon arrival and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

The hotel’s signature Horizon Club Rooms and Horizon Club Lounge, which open in July, provide a host of extra benefits to guests including Club concierge service, breakfast and evening cocktails.     

“It is extremely important wherever we operate hotels that we embrace the local community and culture and our hotels reflect this authentically in both their design and offerings,” said Ester Marcaida, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa.

“We are excited to open our doors today and welcome our first guests.”  Added Ester.

The visual anchor of the lobby lounge is a 6.5-metre bell-like chandelier made from 61,000 pieces of crystal and draped in flowing red fabric. The chandelier is reminiscent of a prayer wheel and is complemented by the lounge’s warm tones and earthy colours which are drawn from thangkas (Tibetan paintings).

Next to the lounge is reception, where a floating cloud installation creates a dream-like space.  Signifying unity and strength, the ancient Tibetan symbols of swirling clouds are made into a contemporary work of art using hammered oxidised bronze.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa offers the most comprehensive well-being facilities, including the first oxygen lounge in a hotel as well as a full-service clinic.  Inside the glass-walled lounge the oxygen level is the same as that at sea level, so guests can breathe comfortably while relaxing and enjoying reflexology treatments.

In addition, guests can unwind in CHI, The Spa, which offers signature massages and facials along with a menu of Tibetan-inspired treatments. Leisure facilities also include a fully equipped gym and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.

Among the extensive entertainment outlets is Shambala, the hotel’s signature restaurant and bar on Level 3. Shambala specialises in Tibetan and Yunnan cuisine and opens in July.  The venue features a dining area and lounge, bar and outdoor patio seating.

On the same level is Lodger’s Lounge, where guests can relax and enjoy light snacks and beverages. Sharing a patio with the lounge is Altitude, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant serving a variety of local and international cuisines. Lavish buffets for breakfast and dinner are on offer (with an a la carte menu at lunchtime).

Shangri-La’s signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace, serves Sichuan and authentic Cantonese. It blends traditional Chinese and Tibetan styles in a contemporary fashion. The corridor leading to the restaurant is lined with six illuminated Tibetan drums – measuring 150 centimetres in diameter – gracefully hung against the wall. 

Just beyond the majestic entrance is the main dining area decorated with floor-to-ceiling screens. For intimate gatherings, the restaurant offers 10 lavishly decorated private dining rooms.  Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa also offers extensive event and conference facilities, including the city’s largest ballroom and an event terrace overlooking Potala Palace and the surrounding mountain range.

Lhasa, the administrative centre of Tibet, is set on a plateau soaring 3,650 metres above sea level and is encircled by mountains, glaciers and desert-like landscape.