Temporary Accommodation

Shanghai has a vast range of options for temporary accommodation. There’s no shortage of hotels, hotel apartments, guesthouses and motels to choose from if you need somewhere to rest your head while waiting to move into more permanent living quarters.  It’s advisable to spend some time in Shanghai before committing to a lease. Neighbourhoods vary a great deal, and where you decide to live will inevitably dictate your lifestyle. Explore a few residential areas before you decide where to settle down.

Hotels

Every year, the city sets a new record for international and domestic visitors. The hotel industry has been keeping up with, and perhaps even outpacing, boomtown Shanghai’s dramatic growth in travel and tourism. There are hundreds of hotels in Shanghai and several of the five-star options are city landmarks. All the major global brands are well represented, with many of them already in their second or third incarnation. Most seem to be catering to the business traveller in terms of service and price. Their luxurious hotels offer spacious rooms, broadband Internet access, pools and recreation centres, 24-hour concierge services and club lounges. You can generally trust five-star ratings to match international standards, however check out your hotel on independent websites such as www.tripadvisor.com or www.expedia.com before forking over hundreds of dollars for an opulent night’s sleep. Staying in one of the central boutique or high-rise hotels can be a great experience and a terrific introduction to the city, as many offer spectacular views and/or central locations that serve as bases to explore the vibrant central neighbourhoods. Shanghai used to lack quality mid-range options, but popular chains such as Holiday Inn and Motel 168 have popped up throughout the city. Check out websites such as Travelocity or Expedia to read recent reviews and get a good deal.

Hotel Listings:

Howard Johnson Plaza
595 Juijian Lu
3313 4888
www.hojoshanghai.com
Opened in 2005. As a member of Howard Johnson Hotels & Resorts, Howard Johnson Plaza has a fantastic location near People’s Square and the Bund. Facilities include a Balinese spa and an indoor glass-roofed swimming pool.

Radisson Shanghai New World
88 Nanjing Xi Lu
6359 9999
www.radisson.com/shanghaicn_newworld
The Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World is the largest Radisson-branded hotel in China. The hotel is on Nanjing Road, adjacent to People’s Square. This hotel is over the top, with a large indoor pool and a revolving restaurant on the 45th floor. Its prices are lower than the other five-star options, making it good value.

Portman Ritz-Carlton
1376 Nanjing Xi Lu
6279 8888
www.ritzcarlton.com
The Portman Ritz-Carlton opened in 1988, making it a member of the older generation of the city’s big brand hotels. It’s still one of the best. Besides the 598 elegant rooms decorated with Italian marble and expensive woods, it offers a nice spa and gym. It forms part of the Shanghai Centre, a major shopping and dining hub.

Pudong Shangri-La
33 Fucheng Lu, Lujiazui
6882 8888
www.shangri-la.com
This is one of the largest hotels in Shanghai, with over a thousand rooms. It’s an all-glass architectural feat, and many of the rooms have striking views of the Bund across the river. The hotel also has the two largest ballrooms in the city.

Westin Hotel
Bund Center, 88 Henan Zhong Lu
6335 1888
www.westin.com/shanghai
Part of the Bund Center office complex, with its iconic lotus-flower roof, this hotel frequently hosts conferences and delegations. The restaurant is not to be missed, especially the Opera Sunday Brunch.

Le Royal Meridien
789 Nanjing Dong Lu
3318 9999
www.starwoodhotels.com
This iconic building looks like a Transformer, and at night the antennae flash robotically. It’s very close to the Bund and guestrooms are stocked with numerous fun gadgets. It also houses 10 restaurants and bars, a gym and an indoor pool.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai
88 Shiji Dadao, Lujiazui
5049 1111
www.shanghai.hyatt.com
The Hyatt atrium is 33 storeys, a fascinating and dizzying vertical tunnel. The hotel occupies floors 53-87 of the Jinmao Tower, making for breathtaking views of the city. Book in advance, as there’s an exceptionally high occupancy rate.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai
400 Panyu Lu
6280 8888
www.shanghai.crowneplaza.com
The Crowne Plaza Shanghai is well located on the edge of the former French Concession, near a diverse array of shops and restaurants. It’s less flashy than the towering giants in Pudong, but comfortable nonetheless. It has extensive sports facilities and a good bar.

Ruijin Guest House
118 Ruijin Er Lu
6472 5222
www.shedi.net.cn/OUTEDI/Ruijin
This historic guesthouse was once the Morris Estate, home of a 1920s media mogul. Since then, it has hosted the likes of Richard Nixon and Zhou Enlai. The five villas that make up the hotel are set in beautiful woodland in the middle of the former French Concession.

Donghu Hotel
70 Donghu Lu
6415 8158
www.donghuhotel.com
The Donghu is the former home of the notorious tycoon – read, gangster – Du Yuesheng, and it’s very stylish indeed. The lovely garden houses several colonial-style villas. The location next to Huaihai Lu is great for exploring the enchanting back streets of the former French Concession.

City Hotel
5-7 Shaanxi Nan Lu
6255 1133
www.cityhotelshanghai.com
The joint venture City Hotel almost matches the facilities but definitely lacks the polish of its brand-name competitors. Larger executive rooms, on the 21st through 23rd floors, have double closets, and more modern furniture and fixtures. The comprehensive City Club fitness centre includes a full spa, and there’s an indoor playroom for kids.

Holiday Inn Express
Throughout Shanghai
www.holidayinn.com.cn
To accommodate the growing demand for quality mid-range hotels, several Holiday Inn Express hotels have popped up around Shanghai. They offer comfortable rooms, all the necessary amenities and convenient locations. Check the website for details on each of the hotels.

Motel 168 and Motel 268
Throughout Shanghai
6316 8168
www.motel168.com
Not classic ‘motoring hotels’, but worth consideration for being clean, simple and cheap. Originally, the price was RMB 168 per room, or RMB 268 for rooms with a higher standard. Over the past few years, however, prices and standards have risen. Expect to pay RMB 300-400, still definitely decent value for a mid-range hotel in Shanghai.  You can find a Motel 168 or 268 in most parts of Shanghai.

Hotel Apartments

This is a good option if you plan to take your time finding suitable housing to rent or buy as it’s difficult to negotiate a short-term lease in Shanghai. Lease agents are encouraged by landlords to sign minimum one-year leases. Expat-oriented short-term apartments are either specialised apartment blocks or form part of a hotel. They normally come fully furnished with kitchens and access to extensive facilities. They are available daily, weekly, monthly and even yearly. The longer the stay in a hotel apartment, the better the rate. For longer-term stays, they’re more comfortable and better value than hotels. Another option is to browse the housing sections of www.smartshanghai.com or www.shanghaiexpat.com to see if anyone is letting their apartment short-term while they’re out of the country. For a comprehensive list of options, visit www.shanghaihotelweb.com.

41 Hengshan Road  - www.41hengshan.com
Changning Equatorial Serviced Apartments - www.equatiorial-cesa.com
Shanghai Centre - www.shanghaicentre.com
Park Avenue International - www.parkavenueintl.com
Tomorrow Square Marriott Executive Apartments - www.marriott.com
Union Square Marriott Executive Apartments - www.marriott.com
Regalia Serviced Apartments - www.regalia.com.cn
Inn Shanghai - www.innshanghai.com

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