Shanghai — Traveler Guide
History comes alive in these extraordinary properties. Each hotel occupies a building with genuine heritage significance — whether a former palace, a converted monastery, an art-deco landmark, or a centuries-old townhouse — sensitively restored with contemporary comforts.
Quick Answer
History comes alive in these extraordinary properties. Each hotel occupies a building with genuine heritage significance — whether a former palace, a converted monastery, an art-deco landmark, or a centuries-old townhouse — sensitively restored with contemporary comforts.
6 hotels reviewed · Price range: $$$$, $$, $$$ · Last updated March 2026
About This Guide
Shanghai offers exceptional options for travellers seeking historic hotels, and we've curated the very best. Each property has been selected for its outstanding facilities, prime location, and the quality of experience it delivers. Leading our list, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund excels with its exceptional attention to detail and commitment to the historic experience. Le Phénix Hotel offers a compelling alternative with its unique approach and distinctive character. Whether you're a first-time visitor to Shanghai or returning for another stay, these hotels represent the gold standard for historic accommodation in the city. Each has been independently evaluated for quality, location, and value.
Insider Tips
Book directly with the hotel for the best rate guarantee and potential upgrades.
Read recent guest reviews for the most up-to-date assessment of facilities.
Consider visiting during shoulder season for better rates and fewer crowds.
Ask the concierge for local recommendations — they know Shanghai better than any guidebook.
Our Picks
6 hotels · Updated February 2026
The Bund
The 1910 Shanghai Club building is one of the Bund's most storied addresses — the legendary Long Bar, once the longest bar in Asia, still anchors the ground floor. Rooms in the heritage wing retain original marble fireplaces and ornate plasterwork, while the tower addition offers Huangpu River panoramas that confirm why the Bund remains Shanghai's defining spectacle.
Former French Concession
A boutique gem on the quietest stretch of Fuxing Road — eleven individually designed rooms in a restored 1930s villa, each one a careful blend of Shanghai Art Deco and contemporary French sensibility. The intimate scale means service feels almost private, and the neighbourhood restaurants and bars are among Shanghai's finest.
The Bund
The 1929 Sassoon House — green pyramid rooftop and art deco grandeur at the Bund's centrepoint — is one of Shanghai's greatest buildings, and the Fairmont's stewardship has preserved every inch of its theatrical character. The Jazz Bar, where the Old Jazz Band has played since the 1980s, offers nightly performances that feel less like entertainment than time travel.
The Bund
Occupying the 1928 North China Daily News building at the northern tip of the Bund, The Peninsula Shanghai is the Bund hotel that generations of Shanghai romantics have dreamed about. Grand Art Deco rooms, a rooftop bar with the Pudong skyline as backdrop, and the finest afternoon tea in China make this the standard against which every other Bund hotel is measured.
Former French Concession
Thirty meticulously restored 1930s shikumen townhouses gathered around cobblestoned lanes in the Former French Concession. Each residence is an individual villa with private garden or terrace; Capella's service — butlers available around the clock, a private cinema, a tea house — wraps it all in unhurried elegance. The antithesis of the tower hotel.
People's Square
The soaring Tomorrow Square tower puts guests in rooms starting at the 38th floor — wake-up views that take in Pudong, People's Park, and the full sweep of the city on a clear morning. Highly efficient, well-positioned for both the commercial centre and the old neighbourhoods, and a consistent favourite with business travellers who want genuine comfort.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions
Yes — the best historic hotels preserve architectural character while offering thoroughly modern amenities including high-speed WiFi, premium bedding, and contemporary bathrooms.
Room sizes vary. Some heritage properties have grand suites, while others feature cozier rooms with unique architectural details. Room dimensions are usually listed in the booking description.
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Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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