Rooms with a view to the past

Many Shanghai hotels have the right mixture of luxury and history, Xu Junqian reports.

Glittering new five-star hotels continue to sprout in Shanghai as the city becomes more appealing for both business and tourism. On the other hand, grand historical buildings are providing accommodation to travelers who want to experience the glorious past of the city in style. Even if you are not to spend a night at one of these historical gems, you can still take a look inside and learn about the stories behind them.

1. Moller Villa

When you walk on the footbridge over Yan'an Road M and Shaanxi Road S, you cannot help slowing down and marveling at the pretentious and grandiose style of this hotel. Legend has it that during the 1920s, Eric Moller, a Jewish shipbuilding tycoon, learned that his favorite daughter had dreamed of a magical castle, so the loving father decided to turn the dream into reality. It took nearly a decade to finish the building, which quickly earned the tag as "the weirdest mansion" in Shanghai. Moller Villa reopened as a boutique hotel in 2002.

Address: 30 Shaanxi Road S

Tel: 021-6247-8881

Transportation: Metro line 1

2. Park Hotel

Co-built by the four major domestic banks of China in the 1930s, the Park Hotel was the first skyscraper in Shanghai financed with Chinese money. It was not only the tallest building in the Far East but also the region's most luxurious hotel. It remained the tallest building in Shanghai (83.8 meters and with 24 floors) until the 1980s. The hotel is said to have inspired a young I.M. Pei to become an architect. The building's bulky and imposing art deco faade and recent refurbishment means it still remains a landmark in Shanghai.

Address: 170 Nanjing Road W

Tel: 021- 6327-5225

Transportation: Metro line 1, 2, 8

3. Peace Hotel

Located along the Bund, the Peace Hotel is the most famous of Shanghai's old hotels and identifies more with the city's glamorous 1930s than any other establishment. Built by the legendary Shanghai businessman and entrepreneur, Victor Sassoon, the hotel has a luxurious and imposing art deco style, with granite exterior walls, Italian white marble floors and bronze chandeliers hanging from its ceilings. After a period of decline, the hotel has recently been refurbished by the Fairmont Group and returned to its former glory. Even the hotel's famous jazz band has been reunited. You can enjoy the glorious renovations in the hotel lobby, the famous Jazz Bar and restaurants. The hotel also has a high-end shopping arcade.

Address: 20 Nanjing Road E

Tel: 021-6321-6888

Transportation: Metro line 2, 10

4. Donghu Hotel

This two-villa garden hotel was once the residence of Du Yuesheng, the "godfather" of old Shanghai, who amassed power and wealth through gambling businesses and opium sales. The French architectural style buildings once also housed the Franco-Chinese bank before being taken over by the Communication Bank. It was later the United States Consulate before becoming a hotel. The hotel is preserved some of the original French decorations and boasts a tranquil air thanks to its location along the shady tree-lined street.

Address: 70 Donghu Road

Tel: 021-6415-8158

Transportation: Metro line 1, 7

5. Shanghai Mansion Hotel

The Shanghai Mansion Hotel, originally called Broadway Mansions Hotel, was built in 1934 by a British businessman. Perched at the intersection of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, the hotel boasts an unrivalled view of the city's two most important waterways and the grandeur of monumental Garden Bridge.

As a landmark building standing along the Bund, one of the world's most important harbors during the 1930s, the hotel was the most popular place for foreign bankers, businessmen and political leaders who enjoyed its unrivaled luxury.

Address: 20 Suzhou Road N

Tel: 021-6324-6260

Transportation: Metro line 2, 10

6. Royal Court Hotel

The Royal Court Hotel boasts a rich cultural atmosphere thanks to its history as part of Saint John's University. This Anglican University was once the most prestigious learning institutions in Shanghai, whose alumni include architect I.M. Pei and writer Lin Yutang. The hotel is a combination of both Qing Dynasty and European architecture, and is set in lush garden embellished with pavilions and ponds.

Address: 7, Lane 622, Huaihai Road M

Tel: 021-5383-8500

Transportation: Metro line 1

7. Dingxiang Garden

Legend has it that the villas of Dingxiang Garden were once the property of Li Hongzhang, a prime minister during the Qing Dynasty, and was named after Li's favorite wife, Ding Xiang. But the fact is that the mansion was once home for Li's youngest son until 1940. This beautiful garden villa compound is the perfect combination of Chinese-style gardens amid a British-style mansion, and is recognized as the best-preserved compound in the city. It has only five villas available, making one of the city's most exclusive hotels.

Address: 849 Huashan Road

Tel: 021-6251-1166

Transportation: Metro line 1

8. Ruijin Hotel

Formerly the estate of the Benjamin Morris family, which owned the North China Daily News, the oldest English-language newspaper in China at the time. The Ruijin Hotel is made up of four main buildings and set amid 100 hectares of beautifully manicured lawns and gardens. The estate later became the official guesthouse of the Shanghai regional government and accommodated leaders from many countries, including Indonesia's Soekarno and Ho Chi Min from Vietnam. Former US president Richard stayed there during his historic visit to China during the early 1970s. The state guesthouse was open to the public in 1979 and has been refurbished. There are a number of restaurants and bars at the hotel were visitors can enjoy the wonderful history and combination of British and Chinese design elements.

Address: 118 Ruijin No 2 Road

Tel: 021-6472-5222

Transportation: Metro line 1, 9

(China Daily 08/27/2010 page)