On paper, hotels are supposed to provide relaxation.
But these images show one that’s giving guests the fear.
Behold the five-star Grand Hyatt Shanghai hotel, which has an atrium so high and spirally that it’s triggering guests’ acrophobia (fear of heights).
The hotel occupies floors 53 to 87 of the 88-storey (420m/1,380ft-high) Jin Mao Tower, with the spectacular 33-storey, barrel-vaulted atrium soaring to a height of 115m/377ft from floor 56, where afternoon tea is served at a restaurant called Patio.
The space is surrounded by 548 rooms and 28 corridors. And to say it’s social-media bait is something of an understatement, with guests sharing their amazement – and fear – of the feature online.
One UK visitor, ‘James’, wrote on Tripadvisor: ‘The hotel’s famous 33-floor barrel-vaulted atrium rises a scary 377ft. For those with even mild acrophobia (fear of heights) this will be completely intolerable.
‘My standard room on the 65th floor offered a partial river view from a more than partially terrifying height.’
The spectacular 33-storey, barrel-vaulted atrium at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai hotel has been giving guests anxiety
The atrium soars to a height of 115m/377ft from floor 56, where afternoon tea is served
The Grand Hyatt Shanghai hotel occupies floors 53 to 87 of the 88-storey (420m/1,380ft-high) Jin Mao Tower
Stephen L from Hong Kong, meanwhile, remarked: ‘Shortly after I stepped out of the elevator – wow. Timeless spiral design. Had to take some photos there and was worried I might drop my phone.’
For some people, footage filmed from the top of the hotel’s atrium is enough to put them off visiting altogether.
Commenting on a video of the hotel shared on X, @AlisonRFoster wrote ‘so I’m never staying at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai – the call of the void would be way too great’; ‘Abeexs‘ remarked ‘the acrophobia is insane man, even looking at this makes me feel like I’m gonna fall’; and ‘anamaciasx’ confessed: ‘Just watching this makes me nervous.’
For those that do have a head for heights, the hotel’s rooms offer incredible views of The Bund, a waterfront street of historical buildings.
UK visitor ‘James’ wrote on Tripadvisor: ‘The hotel’s famous… atrium rises a scary 377ft. For those with even mild acrophobia this will be completely intolerable’
Stephen L from Hong Kong remarked on Tripadvisor: ‘Shortly after I stepped out of the elevator – wow. Timeless spiral design. Had to take some photos there and was worried I might drop my phone’
This image shows the restaurant at the bottom of the breathtaking atrium – Patio
Commenting on a video of the hotel shared on X, @AlisonRFoster wrote: ‘So I’m never staying at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai. The call of the void would be way too great’
There are also eight bars and restaurants with views of the city’s skyline and guests can even enjoy breathtaking Shanghai vistas from the hotel’s gym.
Cloud 9, the hotel’s cocktail bar, is located on the 87th floor of the tower so guests who dare to drink there will quite literally be among the clouds.
However, despite its dazzling height, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai isn’t the highest luxury hotel in the city. The nearby J Hotel sits at the top of the Shanghai Tower – the third tallest building in the world.
The hotel’s 165 opulent rooms occupy the top floors of the 632m (2,073ft) financial district skyscraper.
Another hotel acrophobics might like to steer clear of is the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, which occupies floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre (ICC).
The hotel is home to the world’s highest swimming pool (1,600ft/490m above sea level) and the world’s highest rooftop bar (the Ozone bar has an elevation of 1,608ft/490m).
Another property that’s notable on the altitude front is Hotel de la Coupole in Sapa, Vietnam, which sits 1,600m/5,200ft above sea level. Its lofty location and French-inspired style have earned it the nickname ‘Versailles in the Clouds’.
Height of enjoyment: Guests can enjoy breathtaking Shanghai vistas from the hotel’s gym
For those that do have a head for heights, the hotel’s rooms offer incredible views of The Bund, a waterfront street of historical buildings
Cloud 9, the hotel’s cocktail bar, is located on the 87th floor of the tower, so guests who dare to drink there will quite literally be among the clouds
