The Peninsula Shanghai

Right on the bend of the river, the five-star Peninsula has incredible far-reaching views across to Pudong’s futuristic skyline and Shanghai’s famous waterfront area, The Bund.

The rooms, crafted from exotic dark woods, chromatic colours and flecked with aspects of gold and ivory, have impressive views of the Huangpu River and cityscape and offer spacious beds, private marble bathrooms and adhere to the hotel’s homage to the Art Deco era.

At Sir Elly’s Restaurant, you can dine on contemporary French cuisine but when in Shanghai, why not sample the Cantonese dishes, such as Zhou Shan jellyfish in black vinegar sauce or deep-fried spare ribs with shrimp paste flavour, in the superb Yi Long Court restaurant.

Housed in a huge atrium with mosaic contours and atmospheric lighting, visiting the stunning indoor swimming pool is must, and so is trying out a treatment in the Peninsula Spa and a cocktail in Sir Elly’s Rooftop Bar & Terrace – one of the best views of the city.

For those looking for something really special and incredibly private, the hotel yacht can be hired for private river cruises and the hotel’s own fleet of BMWs and Rolls-Royce Phantoms round off the perfect trip with their smooth airport transfers. 

With The Bund seeing a spectacular overhaul, you can amble down the sparkling pedestrian walkway by the river looking at the widened streets now dominated by luxury boutiques, upscale bars and restaurants or pop into a few of the art galleries to see the latest art trends.