Intercontinental Hotel Review: Shenzhen’s Historic Luxury Hotel

Last updated on April 24th, 2025

Isn’t it nice to stay at a hotel with a deep history? The Intercontinental Shenzhen Hotel is the first five-star hotel in the city, and where I stayed when I visited recently. The property is located right next to OCT which stands for Overseas Chinese Town. When I lived in Shenzhen, I really admired this part of the city. The feeling around OCT is quite relaxed and full of nature, which you probably wouldn’t imagine in a bustling metropolis of 12 million people!

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The Intercontinental Hotel Shenzhen is more of a resort than simply a hotel, it’s massive. I was able to take an aerial shot which shows how the hotel is engulfed in greenery and has lots of outdoor water features. This property is bursting at the seams with half a dozen food and beverage outlets. What sets the Intercontinental Shenzhen apart from other Intercontinental hotels is the fact that it has a Spanish theme.

I arrived at noon and luckily, my room was ready! I had a charming club room located on the seventh floor. It’s very convenient to be located on the same floor as the club lounge. The staff went above and beyond the call of duty and created a huge piece of artwork on the bed to welcome me. Well done Intercontinental Shenzhen! This spacious room overlooked an enormous garden and massive outdoor pool. The room’s balcony made a fantastic place to relax and take-in the stunning view. There was a large walk-in closet with lots of storage space.

The bathroom featured a large bathtub with a large window. Along with the striking bathtub, there was a large shower stall and separated toilet. The Salvatore Ferragamo soap was a welcomed touch to the experience.

One of the outstanding features of the Intercontinental Shenzhen is the property’s enormous garden. Every morning I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping, it made me feel like I was in the jungle. There are huge pools both indoor and outdoor that can be ideal for relaxation or fitness. On the ground floor, there is an expansive fitness center equipped with a plethora of equipment, personal trainers, steam rooms, saunas and more . The sauna could easily fit a dozen people. I appreciated the buttons located just under the seat to spray water on the rocks to make it extra toasty without having to get up and pour water. I made it a point to visit these facilities every day, to get my blood flowing. I also appreciated the possibility to check my body fat with their machine, but this comes with an extra fee unless you’re a member.

The Intercontinental Club Lounge on seventh floor had a lot going for it! This spacious club lounge offers an à la carte and buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and coffee as well as evening canapes and drinks. The club lounge has both an indoor and outdoor seating area, which not all hotels have. I was impressed by the assortment of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. To top off all these marvelous amenities, the service also reigned supreme. I never had to call over any staff for anything, they always seemed to appear when I needed something. Perhaps they could read my mind?

The Intercontinental Shenzhen Hotel is Spanish themed but also offers several Chinese themed suites. On a tour of the hotel, I observed both styles and I must say I enjoyed them both equally. It was fun to check out the enormous presidential suite where several celebrities and politicians have stayed. On this tour, I also learned of the massive ballrooms which make this a great property to host large events in Shenzhen.

I worked my way through a majority of the Intercontinental Shenzhen’s food and beverage outlets, including their Mercado buffet restaurant, Alenha Brazilian Barbecue restaurant, Coriander Southeast Asian restaurant, El Chino Cantonese restaurant and Lounge 1982. My overall impressions of the food and beverages at the Intercontinental Shenzhen were overwhelmingly positive. I never would’ve imagined the quality would be so high and consistent across all outlets. I’ve written about some of my favorites in separate articles, including El Chino, Coriander and Lounge 1982.

I departed the Intercontinental Shenzhen feeling very impressed! My three-night stay gave me ample time to fully explore all of the ins and outs of the property, including the food and beverage outlets. Throughout my stay the service did not miss a beat. The hotel offering was impressive by quality and sheer volume. Some of the Spanish design elements were a bit over the top but I did appreciate the uniqueness. When it was all said and done, I’m confident that if you enjoy nice things, including amazing food and drink, you must visit the Intercontinental Hotel in Shenzhen, China!

Intercontinental Shenzhen

Hotel

No. 9009 Shennan Road, Overseas Chinese Town
Shenzhen, GD, 518053, Mainland China

Phone: +86-755-33993388

Pierre Blake

Travel enthusiast, writer, and photographer. Sharing tips and tricks to help you explore the world on any budget.