Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has opened its 85th hotel in China’s largest northern port city.

The 302-room Shangri-La Hotel, Tianjin sits on the bank of the Haihe River in the new Hedong District, overlooking Tianjin’s signature architecture dating from the 19th century.

Home to nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies, Tianjin is a bustling business destination.

The city is just 30 minutes by high speed rail from Beijing and has become a centre for light industry and financial activities.

On weekends, the city’s historic architecture, winding river and enticing food scene draw families and leisure travellers seeking a relaxing getaway.

Shangri-La Hotel, Tianjin caters to both business and leisure guests with an unmatched range of facilities and a convenient location five minutes from the city’s central business district (which lies just over Baoding Bridge) and ten minutes from the Tianjin Railway Station. 

Spacious rooms range from one of the largest deluxe rooms in the city, the 48-square-metre Deluxe River View Room, to the 240-square-metre Shangri-La Suite.

In addition to its guestrooms, the hotel offers 39 serviced apartments.

All guestrooms overlook the Haihe River, and the executive Horizon Club Lounge on Level 32 offers panoramic views of the city.

The hotel is fully integrated within Tianjin Kerry Centre and is the only five-star international hotel in the city connected to a shopping mall, River View Place, which houses multiple dining and entertainment venues and the largest of Shangri-La and Kerry’s Adventure Zones for kids.

The 1,700-square-metre Adventure Zone is slated to open in 2015 with adrenalin-pumping slides, interactive games, play modules, party rooms, activity centres for crafts and games and more.

The hotel plays to its location on the river with floor-to-ceiling windows in the Lobby Lounge showcasing the view.

The Haihe River is echoed in design elements as well.

The grand lobby chandelier is designed to mimic sunlight reflecting on water, while the flow of the river is mirrored in the carpet motif of water lilies on a cerulean blue waterway.

The Lobby Lounge is separated from the main lobby by dividers inlaid with muted gold flowers cascading from the trees to echo wind-blown leaves and flowers falling into the river.

Paris-based artist Chen Jiang Hong returned to his home city of Tianjin to paint the stunning 4.5- by 2.5-metre mural commissioned for Shangri-La Hotel, Tianjin’s Lobby Lounge.

Within the hotel, there are extensive recreational and dining offerings.

The Health Club offers a 24-hour gym, indoor swimming pool, two outdoor tennis courts, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, plus Shangri-La’s CHI, The Spa.