The newly minted property is part of the monumental Raffles City complex on the banks of the Yangtze.
Chongqing’s Raffles City complex at dusk. (Photo: InterContinental Hotels Group)
IHG has made a splash in Chongqing, southwest China’s largest metropolis, with a brand-new property at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. The InterContinental occupies the uppermost floors of one of the tallest towers in the Raffles City Chongqing development, with no less than 380 rooms and suites. All feature floor-to-ceiling windows and take their design cues from the cabins of luxury yachts; entry-level standard rooms measure in at a spacious 35 square meters.
Raffles City Chongqing was designed by Moshe Safdie, the celebrated Israeli-Canadian architect responsible for landmarks such as Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands and the newer Jewel Changi Airport. Inspired by the region’s terrain and ancient culture, Safdie and his team envisioned the eight skyscrapers of the complex as an eye-catching arrangement of giant sails.
The concierge desk at the InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City. (Photo: IHG)
Botanica, the hotel’s all-day dining venue. (Photo: IHG)
It isn’t just the monumental exterior that makes the property stand out. Guests at the InterContinental should book a table at the signature fine-dining restaurant Jing Dining Room & Bar, which serves up both contemporary Cantonese cuisine and a creative spin on local Chongqing specialties. Three of the hotel’s bars and eateries are housed inside The Crystal, a 300-meter-long skybridge connecting four of Raffles City’s skyscrapers on the 42nd floor, where a glass observation deck promises knockout views over the Chongqing cityscape and the lush hills beyond. These include all-day venue Botanica, a casual setting for buffets alongside à la carte dishes from an international menu, and The Maven—just the place to enjoy a glass of wine, a whisky, or innovative cocktails. Also found in The Crystal is lobby lounge Horizon, whose greenery and real-life trees will leave guests feeling as though they’ve entered a forest in the clouds.
InterContinental Chongqing’s downtown location will be a boon for business and leisure travelers alike. The property is situated right in the heart of the CBD, close to popular attractions such as the Jiefangbei monument and pedestrian mall, and Hongyadong, an 11-story complex of stilt houses tiered down a steep hillside overlooking the Jialing River.
More information here.
The bathroom of a standard room at InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City. (Photo: IHG)
