Suzy Gershman returns to Shanghai to explore the new hotels built for the World Expo.
Dear Peter,
I try to get to Shanghai once a year, though I must admit that I skipped last year to avoid the crowds at World Expo 2010.
This year I visited my usual shopping haunts and found the Expo had spawned some exciting new hotels and restaurants.
InterContinental Shanghai
InterContinental Hotels, famous for its splashy hotel in Hong Kong, has expanded throughout Shanghai.
When I wrote you from England, I told you about the InterContinental’s new brand Indigo. You can hardly imagine the brand new Indigo Bund at the Shanghai docklands district, an area sometimes called the South Bund.
The hotel has water views looking at the sophisticated Pudong across the river. Built to mimic undulating waves, the affordable hotel has the boutique style, contemporary architecture and art of the Indigo brand. The rooms are stunning.
I went to the flea market to load up on Chinese lanterns after taking a peek at a room all swagged with Indochine-style lanterns and drapes. On the property, there’s a terrific restaurant with steaks and other grilled foods.
With a fabulous location for shopping, the hotel is right across from the fabric mart where you can find scads of low-cost tailors.
Our initial plan was to stay at the Shanghai Holiday Inn Express, a low-cost alternative to Shanghai’s luxury hotel scene. While the hotel was nice, it was not tourist-oriented enough for our needs—it was hard to get a taxi out front!
We chose this hotel because it was next door to the city’s main train station and to the international eye-glasses mart, but then discovered our train to Beijing left from a different train station. Uh-oh!
Turns the brand-new InterContinenal Puxi was right around the corner, so we checked in there. We were amazed by its glamour, luxuries and spacious grounds.
This hotel is directly across the street from another Holiday Inn, not our original Holiday Inn Express. Remember that Holiday Inns are run by the InterContinental so this is just another sign of their growing footprint in Shanghai.
And there’s yet another new InterContinental in Pudong, called InterContinental Expo.
We didn’t have any inclination to leave Puxi, so we never even explored the Pudong space. Besides, those looking for a hotel in Shanghai will be thrilled with the Indigo.
Outside the InterContinental brand, there are several other statement-making new hotels in town.Peninsula has opened a gorgeous new hotel right on The Bund in a site once occupied by The Friendship Store on Beijing Road.
Near Suchow Creek, the hotel has wonderful views of older colonial properties. It also has what is considered the best restaurant in town—Sir Elly’s.
Don’t miss the Off The Brochure Travel Guide: Shanghai, China
Also on the Bund, The Peace Hotel is the most famous historical hotel in Shanghai.
Recently renovated by Fairmont hotels, it is a must-do, if only for tea and historical perspective.Shopping & Eating in Shanghai
Our favorite shopping spots remained unchanged by time or Expo.
Sarah and I love the weekend flea market at Fang Bang, as well as the flea market at Dong Tai.
With recent upgrades to the city, you can travel to Hu & Hu, our favorite place for used Asian furniture, by metro.
Speaking of the Hu Family, chef Austin Hu from NYC’s Gramercy Tavern has just opened up a new bistro in Shanghai—Madison, located at 18 Dong Ping Lu in the old French Concession. The style is upmarket, trendy American.
Train to Beijing
I have always loved to take the overnight train from Shanghai to Beijing, China is now in the process of upgrading to European-style fast trains, cutting the journey to four hours, which knocks out the need for the overnight cabin. This new service begins in June.
If you do still take the train overnight, the trick is to buy out the entire cabin of four bunks, so you don’t have to make new friends and have plenty of space for your luggage. Train compartments cost about $250 one way (you buy the four tickets) and leave from the brand new HongQiao Train Station next to the airport.
All new trains use this station. Go to the Enquiry Desk to get a red cap and pay a few extra yuan to have someone help you with your luggage. We asked the concierge at The Peninsula to get our train tickets for us since they could not be bought online.
Plates full of Kisses,
SuzyKG
By Suzy Gershman for PeterGreenberg.com. Visit Suzy on the Web at www.suzygershman.com andwww.borntoshoplady.blogspot.com and of course, check out her latest book Suzy Gershman’s Born to Shop California Wine Country.
Related links on PeterGreenberg.com:
- Suzy Gershman’s Previous Postcard From Shanghai
- Suzy’s Postcard From Hang Zhou, China: Sofitels, Shopping & Magic
- Shopping Manila: Suzy Gershman’s Postcard From The Philippines
- Off The Brochure Travel Guide: Shanghai, China
- Shopping section
- Suzy & Sarah Shop Shenzhen, China: Electronic, Eyeglasses, Art and Fabrics
- Suzy Gershman’s Postcard From Hong Kong: Shopping, Spas & Salon de Ning
- Traveling China With Kids: Preparing Young Travelers For Long-Distance Trips
- Shenzhen Travel: Finding Culture In New China
- China Travel section
