Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai: Glimmering with luster, yet not without its flaws

||Due to the perfect experiences at the Guangzhou and Shenzhen branches, along with the frequent surprises from the two Hong Kong stores I often pass by, I placed the Pudong Mandarin Oriental on my must-visit list for this trip to Shanghai. The biggest takeaway from my stay is that a perfect hotel experience often requires a good brand management team, a good owner, the right timing and location, as well as a bit of luck for the guest. Opened in 2013, the decor now seems a bit dated but is still comfortable. The gym and swimming pool in the basement are nothing too astonishing. Indeed, after more than a decade, the hotel shows its age. Perhaps I was unlucky during my stay; the men's changing room had poor drainage and a strong smell, the reading light couldn't be completely turned off at night, there was no doorman upon arrival, breakfast was entirely buffet with no a la carte options, and upon checkout, two extra breakfast charges were mistakenly added to my bill. But the flaws do not overshadow the virtues. The service was still good, and issues were promptly addressed, making me still feel like I was indeed staying at a Mandarin Oriental. In summary: Behind the Pearl Tower shines a glimmering luster, by the side of the Huangpu River, there are virtues amidst the flaws.