Summary:
An adequate hotel but a long way from the heart of Shanghai.
When and why we stayed:
Stayed for two nights in November 2006 during a Highlights of China tour.
Cost:
The hotel was included in the overall cost of our holiday.
Room:
Our room was modest (Travelodge in the UK standard). The room had a Mini Bar but the convenience store opposite the hotel was much cheaper for beer, water, and snacks. The hotel provided two bottles of complimentary water each day
The Hotel:
The hotel is modern with a plush lobby where there is a bar that serves excellent expensive (30 yuans a cup) L’Avazza coffee. The breakfast buffet was poor offering a limited selection of food and insipid coffee.
Location:
The hotel is situated in Hongqiao, a long (albeit inexpensive taxi ride) from the heart of Shanghai. A taxi from The Bund to the hotel cost 24 yuans. The journey from the Jin Mao Tower cost 40 yuans.
The city:
I have seen the future and it is Shanghai – it is an incredible city. It is very modern but unlike elsewhere in China the past has been preserved. The Bund is super-cool but we couldn't afford to shop in the stores there! The Shanghai Museum in Peoples Square is superb. The Urban Planning Exhibition (opposite the Museum) sounds dull but is super-interesting and worth a visit to view the vast scale model of the Shanghai of the future. Wait until it gets dark to take the lift to the top of Jin Mao Tower to view the city at night. I defy you to be unimpressed.
