甜蜜上海 情人节十大浪漫情调酒店

2月14日情人节来了。精心为大家准备了情人节酒店排行榜TOP 10。或者因为风景、或者因为情调、或者因为设计，它们都是情人们浪漫的首选。

上海篇 （相关的北京篇）

TOP 1【上海乡村骑士Boutique】

上海乡村骑士Boutique

入选理由：Epoque Hotels旗下会员酒店。这是试睡员自己很中意的一家精品酒店。乡村骑士所在地：上海西郊虹梅路曾经是中国毛泽东时代秘密的101火车站旧址，现在那里 已成为了最时尚的国际生活社区。这个空间建造的主材取自于清末中国第一个火车站的木梁，它除了5间风格各异的房间，房间按紫，红，黄，蓝色系分，还配有阳 光咖啡吧、书吧、葡萄酒长廊、多功能会议厅、人与自然主题餐厅、当代艺术画廊、家庭影院系统等系列设施。

参考价：580元起。

地址：海市虹梅路3329弄金泉苑5号601室

TOP 2【上海薇爱精品时尚酒店】

上海薇爱精品时尚酒店

入选理由：酒店原名简爱精品时尚酒店，是上海开业较早的情人酒店，30多套房有欧式、中式、巴厘岛等各种风格，浪漫的纱蔓架子床，轻缀神秘色彩。硬件上有：平面液晶电视、DVD、豪华沐浴用品、超大按摩浴池，免费享用迷你吧饮料、方便面等休闲食品。

参考价：518元~906元

地址：上海闵行区吴中路682号C幢8楼

TOP 3【上海满爱情趣酒店】

上海满爱情趣酒店

入选理由：上海的情侣酒店很多，妖娆的薇爱 ，各国情趣的宝京，天花板全镜面的惠寓，8种颜色的艾卡，华丽到炫目的侨丽圣马可公寓，俗称“小简爱”的神麒时尚精品酒店等等，但这些和满爱相比，简直就 是小巫见大巫，满爱情趣酒店的狂野在于引进了最新潮的情趣设备，配备相当齐全。房型直接按床的功能分类：普通电动圆床，双动电动床，双驱动电动床，爱心电 动红床，帝王电动床，旋转电动圆床。想感受爱情火辣的情侣们看准了！

参考价：368元起。

地址：杨浦区宁国路218号

TOP 4【上海惠寓时尚酒店】

上海惠寓时尚酒店

入选理由：尽管惠寓有大量的房间是全镜面的四壁，但给人整体感觉却是低调、雅致，这是矛盾的碰撞。每间客房的形状、布局、家具、装饰、摆设各不 相同：从与原色相配的意式吊顶到榻榻米和式设计，从大彩块体现可爱愉悦的视觉分割到自然流露出艺术气派和玩酷感觉的装潢创意，应有尽有，出挑非常。

参考价：267元~1440元

地址：上海长宁区番禺路127号

TOP 5【上海宝京精品酒店】

上海宝京精品酒店

入选理由：浓郁的情人酒店氛围，105套风格各异的客房：中国式、英国式、阿拉伯式、西班牙式、埃及式、玫瑰情式、日式及黑与白式，特色床纱、 香樟木桶、玻璃马赛克浴池，满足不同的情侣需求。硬件上有：宽屏液晶电视，电子保险箱，小冰箱，DVD、免费宽带、免费早餐可送至客房。

参考价：270元~827元

地址：上海闵行区延安西路3300号

TOP 6【上海联艺凯文精品酒店】

上海联艺凯文精品酒店

入选理由：2009年三月底开业的联艺·凯文公寓精品酒店位于衡山路，亦为老上海法租界，该建筑建于1933年，原为俄国公主 Olga Gregorievna Ogneff在上海期间的府邸。这座充满传奇色彩的建筑，现已精心修缮，成为一家充满艺术气息的精品酒店。酒店仅有39间套房。设计独具匠心，小资气息浓 郁。

参考价：960元

地址：上海市衡山路525号

TOP 7【客堂间】

客堂间

入选理由：70年后老而不旧。致力于在原法租界老房子进行精品酒店改造的客堂间在永嘉路开出了其第二家店，这个改造自1940年代独栋洋房、只 有7个房间的boutique hotel，在尊重原本匀称的建筑格局同时，用现代的设计笔触带来了“老而不旧”的生活氛围。酒店一楼的院子改建有一家泰国餐厅，玻璃房子与自然的环境很 好，从早餐一直到凌晨2点的酒吧时间，各个时间段有不同的风景。

地址：永嘉路335号(近襄阳南路)/五原路72号

参考价格：699元

TOP 8【贝轩大公馆】

贝轩大公馆

入选理由：由始建于1934年的旧上海豪宅改建，是世界著名建筑设计大师贝聿铭家族在上海的住宅之一。不过由于贝家的黄陂路老宅已经没了，所以 也算是贝家在上海的唯一的老房了。中西合璧建筑设计风格，奢华的细节，还有最早出现在上海的OTIS电梯，都令人无限回味上海滩30年代上流社会的奢华生 活。当然在情人节这个特殊的日子也更有浪漫气息。

地址：静安区南阳路170号(近静安体育馆)

参考价格：990元

TOP 9【JIA精品酒店】

JIA精品酒店

入选理由：欧式旧楼里的东方戏码。在上海的设计酒店中，上海JIA酒店似乎一直处于领跑的位置，这不只是我个人的主观感受，在国际刊物 《Conde Nast Traveller》或《Travel and Leisure》的评选中，上海JIA也屡次获得国际玩家的青睐。与很多绑架了所谓的设计以自抬身价的设计酒店相比，上海JIA酒店旨在通过提供独特的服 务，为客人带来舒适的入住体验。而“You are where you stay”，则是JIA带给客人的一种低调的炫耀感觉。另外，酒店里的意大利餐厅Issimo主理地道的意大利菜，采用了土质的比萨烤炉，味道更为传统。 可以带上心爱的TA在这里享受一顿美味的烛光晚餐。

地址：上海市静安区南京西路913号

参考价格：1472元

TOP 10【B’LaVii 宝丽会馆】

B’LaVii 宝丽会馆

入选理由：宝丽会馆由70多年历史的老式民宅改建，坐落于湖南路历史风貌保护区，是上海最安静的老洋房酒店之一。酒店只有14个房间，都是独门 独院，开在一片民宅之中，很有居家的私密感。房间分别以：“墨竹”、“香樟”、“白杨”、“梧桐”、“木棉”等命名，充满了艺术气息。宝丽美食藏珑泰极主 要经营泰国美食，独树一帜的泰国风情主题餐厅有非常漂亮的小泳池，绝对风情！

地址：湖南路285号近高邮路

参考价格：房费1060元起+藏珑泰极双人晚餐300元

相关文章：

浪漫情调任你选  北京情人节酒店排行TOP10

上海首家胶囊旅馆试运行 一天88元封顶暂不接待女性

希泰胶囊旅馆 - 上海首家“胶囊旅馆”68元一晚暂不接待女客

框架式的小格子间，将电视、网络、闹钟等功能一一囊括其中，从日本火起来的胶囊旅馆落户上海，吸引了不少人的关注。有消息说，这家胶囊旅馆已经从昨天开始试运行，落户上海的这家胶囊旅馆全名叫“希泰胶囊旅馆”，在上海中山北路和沪太路交叉路口的附近，

整个胶囊旅馆的面积有300平米左右，里面容纳了68个上下两层的铺位，但公共空间却并不显得拥挤。除了三个区、分列两边的铺位，还有专门为客人存 放物品 的储物间，里面放满了储物柜。另外还有公用的洗漱间、卫生间，甚至还有独立的吸烟室。空调是冷暖吸顶式的，宽和高大约1.1米、长2.2米的钢框架的“胶 囊”，其内部空间自然说不上宽敞，但普通人的体格，坐在里面或睡在里面并不感觉到很局促。虽然每粒胶囊里都有电视、照明灯、独立电源等一些必备设施，但并 不占多在空间，也不影响人在里面自由活动。当然了，象姚明那样的身高，睡在里面肯定是不行的，脚要伸到门外了。

胶囊旅馆一名服务人员整理舱式睡床

胶 囊旅馆体现了低碳环保的理念，应该说，是值得提倡的。但住惯了大房间的人们是否能够接受只有两三立方米的住宿空间，这还需要以后来验证。而且出于消防安 全的考虑，每粒胶囊是没有门的，都是通过一扇门帘与外部隔开，隔音效果应该和火车的卧铺车厢差不多，人们能否适应也需要进一步验证。

胶囊旅馆有专门的吸烟室

希泰胶囊旅馆住宿的起步价是28元，每小时4元，入住24小时内封顶88元。对于这一价格，一些人觉得偏高。因为在上海，不少经济型酒店推出了99元的低价房，但住宿空间要大很多，有人觉得胶囊酒店的价格竞争优势并不算太明显。

“胶囊旅馆”公用卫生间

去年上半年，有一位78岁的老人黄日新在北京推出了胶囊旅馆，旅馆只有8粒胶囊，但依然没什么人住，据说后来打算按废品处理掉时，收购方也只愿意出1000元。所以胶囊旅馆要想在上海站住脚，恐怕还需要进一步提升竞争力，以及人们观念的转变。

希泰胶囊旅馆

地址：上海市闸北区中山北路1036号

China’s First Capsule Hotel To Open In Shanghai

Xitai Capsule Hotel - China's First Capsule Hotel To Open In Shanghai

China’s first capsule hotel will be opened in Shanghai to attract many budget travelers with low prices, perhaps in response to soaring local real estate prices. Indeed it’s a surprise someone didn’t think of this space- and price-maximizing option before.

The 300-square-metre Xitai Capsule Hotel, located on the north side of the Shanghai Railway Station, consists of 68 “capsules”, each 1.1-metres high, 1.1-metres wide and 2.2-metres long.

Shower facilities are communal

All of the capsules are imported from Japan where capsule hotels originated, and each is equipped with independent sockets, clocks, lights, flat-screen TV and wireless Internet service. The hotel also has a public lavatory, shower room, smoking room and shared guest room.

The basic rate is 28 yuan (US$4.22) per person, plus an additional 4 yuan an hour. The hotel also offers a package of 68 yuan for 10 hours and 88 yuan for 24 hours.

Like most of capsule hotels in Japan, the one in Shanghai is for men only.

Ta Zan, the 33-year-old owner of the hotel, said he used to stay at capsule hotels in Tokyo and worked at a capsule hotel in Japan in 2005, so he knows how they work and how to make guests feel comfortable. When he settled in Shanghai two years ago, he decided to establish his own capsule hotel in the city.

He has also separated the capsules into three snoring zones. “Guests who often snore can stay in the same zones so they will feel better knowing that others are not disturbed,” he was quoted as saying.

Although not cheap — some hostels in Shanghai available for RMB 60 per night — the convenient location for travelers and the novelty factor alone might keep people knocking.

Xitai Capsule Hotel 希泰胶囊旅馆

Address: 1036 Zhongshan Bei Lu, Shanghai  上海市闸北区中山北路1036号 

Best of Shanghai in a nutshell: A Visitor’s Guide to World Expo City

Shanghai was the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East during the 1930′s  and has remained the most developed city in mainland China. In the past 20 years Shanghai has again become an attractive city for tourists from all over the world. The world will once again have its eyes on the city when it is hosting the 2010 World’s Fair, where nearly 200 countries and 70 million visitors are expected.

Leave it to Shanghai to pull out all the stops for this year’s “Better City, Better Life” Expo, the largest fair the world has ever seen.

What to SEE & DO

Shanghai icons
For many it’s the symbol of modern Shanghai. The 468-metre, red-bulbed Oriental Pearl Tower is a spectacular sight from any angle and can be scaled (by lift) for some sensational panoramic views (100-150 yuan, 1 Century Avenue, Pudong, 5879 8888, 8am-9.30pm daily). The Yuyuan Gardens (40 yuan adults/10 children, 132 Anren Street, Nanshi, 6360 0830, 8.30am-5pm daily) is a Ming-era dynasty site with liberal sprinklings of flowers, carp-filled pools and pretty pagodas, while the Jade Buddha temple is delightfully serene (20 yuan, 170 Anyuan Road, Jing’an, 6266 2668, 8am-4.30pm daily). Shanghai’s much-hyped Expo runs until October 31 and although queues can be maddening — the event is expected to draw 70 million visitors — it’s worth going just to see the quirky pavilion designs. (www.en.expo2010.cn).

Culture
More than a millennium of Chinese history is crammed into the Shanghai Museum (free, 201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu, 6372 3500, 9am-5pm).  For top-notch opera, book a seat at the Grand Theatre (300 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu, 6386 8686, www.shgtheatre.com), or go to nearby Yifu Theatre for performances of China’s myriad regional dance styles (701 Fuzhou Road, 6322 5294, tianchan.com. Contemporary art galleries are sprinkled across Shanghai; try Hongkou’s Duolun Road Cultural Street, an area of restored old houses once home to some of China’s leading literary figures.

Foot work
Avoid it at weekends, unless you want to rub shoulders with what seems like half of China, yet a stroll along the Bund is unmissable. The kilometre-long stretch fringing the muddy Huangpu River is lined with art deco and neoclassical-style bank and consulate buildings that date back to the city’s glory days before World War II. Another fabulous place for a wander is the former French Concession district. Navigating its wide, leafy avenues, you’ll appreciate why Shanghai’s nicknamed the Paris of the East. For an insight into how most Shanghainese live, hit the ungentrified backstreets of the Old Town.

Follow the leader
Scores of tour companies offer boat trips on the Huangpu. Head down to East Jinling Road dock on the Bund, or the Pearl Dock in Pudong but consider a night cruise — when buildings on both sides of the river are lit up. For hop-on-hop-off tours, Shanghai Sightseeing Buses ply 50 routes, taking in top attractions (ticket office and station, Shanghai Stadium, 666 Tianyaoqiao Road, Xihui, 6426 5555). Shanghai’s Jewish history can be explored on a half-day guided tour (400 yuan a person, 6283 9235, www.shanghai-jews.com).

Taikang Lu Art Centre, a treasure trove filled with boutiques, art galleries, wi-fi cafes, restaurants and bar, is a perfect antidote to Shanghai's oversized malls and intimidating skyscrapers.

Where to EAT & DRINK

Cafe culture
A cool place for latte and brunch is in the warren-like lanes of the Taikang Road Art Centre (also known as Tianzifang) — a little community of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and galleries housed in uniquely Shanghainese shikumen buildings (ostensibly late 19th-century and early 20th-century blocks fused with Western and Asian-type architecture). The Kommune Cafe is a hive for an creative, artsy crowd (210 Taikang Road, Luwan, 6466 2416). If you’d prefer tea, frequent one of Shanghai’s 4500 teahouses. De He serves sublimely sweet Golden Osmanthus, a honey-shaded green tea scented with the fragrant yellow flower that usually blooms in autumnal Shanghai (135 West Jianguo Road, Luwan, 5468 1117).

Snack attack
A clutch of steaming, sizzling cheap eats are hawked in and around Yunnan Road, a short walk from Renmin Square. Gorge on skewered chicken, mutton and beef, fluffy pork and vegie buns, juicy meat dumplings and hand-pulled noodle soups before checking out sugar-coated pastries and cakes in the neighborhood’s many bakeries. Rather more high-brow, Peruvian chef Eduardo Vargas’s Azul Viva lounge gets rave reviews for its mouth-watering Spanish tapas with a South American twist (8 Dongping Road, Xuhui, 6433 1172). Issimo serves stylish Italian-themed dishes at the boutique hotel JIA (931 West Nanjing Road, 6217 9000 www.jiashanghai.com).

Top of the town
Touted as the world’s highest restaurant, the Grand Hyatt’s 100 Century Avenue stretches from the 91st to the 93rd floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre and serves up a sophisticated selection of Chinese, Japanese and Western dishes (100 Century Avenue, Pudong, 6888 1234, www.shanghai.park.hyatt.com). Celebrated Shanghainese fare such as hairy crab and drunken chicken, so called because it’s marinated in local Shaoxing wine, are on the menu at Fu 1039, an intimate Chinese place set in a restored 1930s villa (1039 Yu Yuan Road, Changning, 5237 1878). The newest of many French eateries in Shanghai is Allure, on the 11th floor of Le Meridien Hotel. Bargain set lunches — rustled up by chef Michael Wendling — from 128 yuan, dinners 488 yuan (789 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu, 3318 9999). Classy outdoor restaurants fill the revamped shikumen area of Xintiandi (corner Taicang and Madang Roads, Luwan, www.xintiandi.com).

By the glass
The bars along the Bund are prime places for fine wine and cocktails and attract a suitably sharp-dressed crowd. Take your pick from Glamour (6F, 5 The Bund, 6322 0099, www.m-theglamourbar.com), New Heights (7F, 3 the Bund, 6321 0909, www.threeonthebund.com), Bar Rouge (7F, 18 The Bund, 6339 1199, www.bar-rouge-shanghai.com) or, for the best views of all, Vue (33F, Hyatt Hotel, 199 Huangpu Road, 6393 1234, www.shanghai.bund.hyatt.com). O’Malley’s (42 Tao Jiang Road, 6474 4533, www.omalleys-shanghai.com) is the place to kick-start a night on Hengshan Road, while the Windows bars enjoy cult status (www.windowsbars.com).

Obama Club: Bringing change to Shanghai's nightlife or just more of the same?

Where to Play

Live music
Once derided for its lamentable live music scene, Shanghai now attracts some top performers — those who pass China’s strict censorship rules, anyway. Shanghai Grand Stage (Shanghai Gymnasium, 1111 Caoxi Road, Xuhui, 6217 2426) has hosted the Rolling Stones, Christina Aguilera, Eric Clapton and Michael Bolton rolls into town on June 3. Top DJs hit the decks at M2 Club; John Digweed and Ferry Corsten recently performed sets (4F, 283 Huaihai Road, Luwan, museshanghai.cn). For live punk and alternative music, dive into Logo (13 Xingfu Road, 6281 5646, www.logoshanghai.net). Sax appeal slithers through the smoky House of Blues & Jazz (60 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu, 6323 2779).

Nightclubs
Shanghai’s clubbing scene is in a state of permanent flux, with venues forever coming and going. One veteran still luring night owls is Club Bonbon (2F, 1329/1331 Central Huaihai Road, 2193 9299, www.clubbonbon.com), while the it-crowd flocks to Baby Face (No. 101, 138 Huaihai Road, Huangpu, 6375 6667, www.babyface.com.cn). Revellers hunting Latin exuberance, salsa-themed parties and table dancing should try Zapata’s (5 Hengshan Road, 6474 6166 or 6433 4104, www.zapatas-shanghai.com). A stylish newcomer, the 2000-capacity Obama launched in April with a theme night dedicated to the US president (The Garden Plaza, 2088 West Yan’an Road, Gubei, 6082 5511).

Shanghai's top street to shop has always been Nanjing Lu, where the most modern and the most traditional modes of retailing commingle.

Where to SHOP

To market
For a vibrant, ramshackle slice of Shanghai, head to Dongtai Road Antique Market and nose through dusty, second-hand memorabilia from the Mao era, opium pipes and eye-catching porcelain. Don’t bank on everything being top quality but do expect a raffish atmosphere and plenty of haggling (Luwan, 9am-6pm daily). At the Shiliupu Fabrics Market, talented tailors can conjure up made-to-measure clothing from silk, cashmere, linen and cotton. A business suit should set you back about 500 yuan ($84), (168 Dongmen Road, Huangpu, 10am-6pm daily). Cha lovers should seek out Tianshan Tea Market (520 Zhongshan Xi Road, Changning, 10am-6pm daily).

Go shop
Shiny new malls, overflowing with the latest Gucci and Armani fashions, seem to sprout almost every month in Shanghai. The flashiest is Super Brand in the Pudong district’s ever-growing forest of gleaming high-rises (168 Lujiazui Xi Road, www.superbrandmall.com). Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road are the city’s tried and trusted shopping arteries. If you can handle the crowds, don’t miss the Yuyuan Bazaar, which is chock-a-block with souvenir stores selling teapots, woodcuts, lacquerware, pearls and calligraphy (19 Wenchan Road, Nanshi). Nifty boutique shops are all the rage in Shanghai, with Suzhou Cobblers renowned for its lovely hand-sewn silk slippers (17 Fuzhou Road, 6321 7087, www.suzhou-cobblers.com).

A revamped classic, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, reopens this winter after a three-year hiatus.

WHERE TO STAY

Budget
China’s new wave of youth hostels are great value, with one of the cosiest, the Mingtown Hiker, just a five-minute walk from Shanghai’s People’s Square; dorms are 60 yuan ($10) and doubles only 200 yuan (450 Jiangxi Road, Huangpu, 6329 7889, www.yhachina.com). Bargain alert: Motel 168 has branches all over Shanghai; one in the former French Concession offers rooms from 208 yuan (1119 West Yan’an Road, Changning, 5117 7777, www.en.motel168.com). Fairly frill-less but clean, functional and easy on the wallet, Home Inn has 25 chains in Shanghai; rooms from 169 yuan (400 820 3333).

Mid-range
The towering art deco-style Park Hotel is a relic of Shanghai’s 1930s glamour days; from 1005 yuan for a double (170 Nanjing Road, Huangpu, 6327 5225, www.parkhotelshanghai.cn). Another venerable old-timer sporting a 21st-century facelift, the Astor House Hotel is a stone’s throw from the famous Bund and counts Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell among past guests; online B&B specials from about 700 yuan (15 Huangpu Road, Huangpu, 6324 6388, www.astorhousehotel.com). Hedged by some of Shanghai’s coolest shopping and dining spots, the sleek Yun’s Paradise Hotel has doubles from 675 yuan (789 East Fuxing Road, Huangpu, 6335 6666, www.hotelyun.com).

Luxe
Next to the lovely Fuxing Park, the Pudi Boutique Hotel has 52 rooms with dark-hued furniture and funky artwork; from 1577 yuan, if booking online (99 Yandang Road, Luwan, 5158 5888, www.boutiquehotel.cn). Getting high is compulsory at the Grand Hyatt; it occupies the 53rd to 87th floors of the shimmering shard-like Jin Mao Tower, while its Cloud 9 bar has stunning 360-degree views of Shanghai; from 2000 yuan for a double (88 Century Avenue, Pudong, 5049 1234, www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com). A short taxi ride from Shanghai’s extravagant Expo site, the luxuriant St Regis has doubles from 2070 yuan (889 Dong Fang Road, Pudong, 5050 4567, www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis).

Lash out
A long-time favorite for Westerners and affluent Chinese, the swish, centrally located Portman Ritz-Carlton has doubles from 2000 yuan a night (1376 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu, 6279 8888, www.ritzcarlton.com). The 235 rooms at the new, five-star Peninsula have art deco and Oriental flourishes, while an in-house spa promises extreme pampering. From 3200yuan for a double; the ultra-lavish Peninsula suite — with two bedrooms, an enclosed balcony, private gym and whirlpool — is yours for a mere 85,000 yuan (32 The Bund, Huangpu, 2327 2888, www.peninsula.com). A revamped classic, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, reopens this winter after a three-year hiatus. Taking reservations for stays from September onward, the refurbished rooms start at 2300 yuan (20 Nanjing Rd, 6321 6888, www.fairmonthotel.com/peacehotel).

Business

Etiquette
* Business in China is all about ‘guanxi,’ which, loosely translated, means relationship building. If you build the relationship, the business will come.
* Business attire consists of Western-style shirts and ties. Women should wear conservative suits or dresses.
* Offer and accept business cards with both hands. Cards should be exchanged one by one. Do not deal your business cards to several people at a time, as this is considered extremely rude.
* Address people by their family names only. For example, Mr. Yang or Ms. Wu. Don’t try to inject casualness by insisting that your Chinese counterparts address you by your first name.
* In China, it is assumed that the first person to enter the room is the head of the group.
* It is appropriate to bring a wrapped gift to a business meeting to show you are interested in building a relationship.
* The concept of “losing face” is still alive and well in China, so make sure that no one ever has to in your business dealings.
* Part of business is a large banquet dinner (or lunch) — and many rounds of toasts with baijiu. Do not refuse a toast of a (potential) business partner.

Internet access
* There are four wireless internet service providers in Shanghai: China Telecom’s Tianyitong, China Unicom’s CDMA 1X, China Netcom’s Mobile Office and China Mobile’s E-Traveler.
* Pre-paid wireless Internet cards can be purchased at the business centers of most four- and five-star hotels.
* While several large chains have either axed their WiFi services or have started charging for them, there are numerous cafes, restaurants and malls that still offer free wireless.

Money

* The Chinese currency is the yuan (Y), and is also known as renminbi (RMB, literally ‘the people’s money’). In Shanghai, you may also hear it referred to as ‘kuai,’ an informal term similar to ‘buck.’
* The largest bill denomination is RMB 100.
* Exchange rates in China are fixed by the government daily, so they will be the same at branches of the Bank of China and hotel exchange desks. Other rates are illegal.
* ATMs all accept Union Pay, the local banking system.
* Some ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs now take Cirrus and MasterCard. All Bank of China ATMs accept the Visa/Plus card system.
* Counterfeit bills counterfeit bills are still abundant in China. Although not foolproof, one easy test is the collar rub. Rub Chairman Mao’s collar and, if the bill is legit, you should feel a raised pattern.

Emergency info

In event of emergency dial one of the following numbers:
* Ambulance: +86 21 120
* Police (emergency): +86 21 110
* Police (traffic): +86 21 5631 7000
* Fire: +86 21 119
* International SOS (24-hour service): +86 21 6295 0099
* ParkwayHealth (expat hospital): +86 21 6445 5999
* Public Security Bureau Division for Foreigners: +86 21 6357 6666
* Shanghai Call Centre (information hotline in English): +86 21 96 2288
* LifeLine Shanghai (free confidential and anonymous counseling, crisis intervention): +86 21 6279 8990

Hot Tips

* Weather-wise, spring (April to mid-May) and fall (late September to mid-November) are the best times to visit. Summers are hot and humid; winters are cold, misty and gray.
* Tipping in China is tricky. Once frowned upon, the practice is becoming more commonplace. Tour guides and bellhops expect tips. Waiters and taxi drivers still do not.
* Shanghai (along with the rest of China) is on Beijing time, which is eight hours ahead of GMT.
* Tap water throughout China is not safe for drinking. Drink only bottled water, which is widely available in stores and provided in most hotel rooms.
* Shanghai’s main varieties of dumplings are xiaolongbao (steamed round sacks with a nob on top), guotie (fried crescent shaped dumpling) and shengjianbao (fried, round balls with a flat bottom). If you get meat (rou) dumplings, be careful when you bite into them, there’s hot oil from the meat inside.
* Restaurants will not serve ice water (bing shui) unless you ask for it.
* The international country code for China is 86. The city code for Shanghai is 21.
* Most public restrooms have squat toilets. Many restrooms do not have toilet paper, so carry around some of your own.
* The electrical current in China is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC), so most American appliances cannot be used without a transformer. A universal adapter is useful as wall outlets come in a variety of configurations.
* Call 962288 to reach the Shanghai Call Center, a 24-hour hotline that will answer almost any question you have about the city — in English.

Getting There

By air
All international flights arrive at the ultramodern Pudong International Airport, located about 45 km east of downtown Shanghai. The airport is easy to navigate, with departures on the upper level and arrivals on the lower level.
Taxis, lined just outside the arrival hall, are cheap and convenient. A ride to the Puxi side of downtown Shanghai takes about an hour and costs RMB 140-190. Getting to the Pudong side takes about 40 minutes and costs RMB 100-130.
The are now also two economical way to get to the airport. You can transfer from Pudong is via the official airport bus (+86 21 6834 6612). There are numerous routes to other transportation stops, including the Hongqiao International Airport, which is used primarily for flights within China. Additionally the Pudong and Hongqiao airports are now connected by Metro Line 2 (the green line). It takes a bit more than 90 minutes to travel between the two.
Another way to get into town is Shanghai’s jet-like magnetic levitation (MagLev) train. It’s the fastest railway system in commercial operation in the world, with a designed speed of more than 500 km. Although it’s much faster than taking a taxi, the Metro or the bus, dragging luggage in and out of the station can be a hassle and you’ll likely have to transfer to a subway (Metro Line 2) or hail a taxi to get to your final destination.
To get info on either the Pudong or Hongqiao airports go to www.shairport.com

Getting around

Taxis
For short distances, taxis are a good option. They are reasonably priced staring at RMB 12 and easy to find (except during rainstorms, when flagging one down is nearly impossible). Few taxis have rear seat belts, so sit up front as locals do if you’re alone.
To pay with a transportation card (bought in Metro stations), say “yong ka” before the driver stops the meter at the end of the ride. Say “fa piao” to get a receipt, which has the phone number of the taxi company and ID number of the driver. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
The color of a taxi indicates which company it belongs to. The most reputable colors to look for are:
* Teal/Expo taxis: +86 21 96822
* Yellow: +86 21 6258000
* Light green: +86 21 96840
* Royal blue: +86 21 96333
* White +86 21 96961

Subways
If you’re in Shanghai for long enough, buy a transportation card from a booth in the subway station. Give them RMB 100, say “mai ka” and they’ll give you a card with RMB 70 on it. Before you leave the city, return the card to the booth in subway station and you should receive your RMB 30 back.
For longer distances, the subway can save time and money. There are currently 11 subway lines in Shanghai, and all major tourist sights are accessible from the first four. Determine your fare by finding selecting you starting and final location on the map at the ticket-vending kiosks. Don’t lose your ticket — you’ll need it to exit.

Buses
Public buses may be the most economical way to get around town, but they are usually hot, cramped and can be difficult for non-Chinese speakers to use. Drivers do not give change so it is good to have a Transportation Card. Some buses have you pay at the driver while others will have a fare collector who sits by the back door.
Pay close attention to your belongings to prevent pickpocketing.

• What to See & Do in Shanghai
  

Top Ten Shanghai Must-See Attractions

Visitor’s Guide to The Bund: Shanghai’s Newly Opened Waterfront Landmark

Modern Architectural Wonders of Shanghai

Exploring the Water Villages – Excursions from Shanghai

• Where to Eat and Drink in Shanghai
  

Taste of Shanghai – A Guide to Shanghai’s Best Food

Shanghai Nightlife and Drinking Guide: Best Bars & Clubs

• Where to Shop in Shanghai

Shop till you drop – Shanghai Shopping Guide

• Where to Stay in Shanghai
  

Top Ten Ritziest Hotels in Shanghai

Visitor’s Guide to The Bund: Shanghai’s Newly Opened Waterfront Landmark

Children fly the balloons during the completion ceremony of bund renovation project to welcome the 2010 World Expoin Shanghai, March 28, 2010.

The Bund, Shanghai’s landmark waterfront district and once known as the “Wall Street of Asia”, reopens Sunday after a major facelift as Shanghai attempts to relaunch itself as one of the world’s great financial centers.

Its three-year $415 million restoration, including the building of a six-lane underground tunnel for through traffic, revamping the pedestrian riverfront promenade and adding green space, is a key part of the city’s $45 billion investment for the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the giant international trade fair that will open on the opposite side of the Huangpu River on May 1st.

The 1.8-kilometre, newly marbled walkway along the Huangpu River will offer the best views of the city of Shanghai – past and future. Turn one way to see Shanghai’s 21^st Century Bund – Pudong’s new skyscrapers and modern towers across the river. Turn the other, and the graceful neo-classical and art nouveau buildings along the Bund that once inspired people to call Shanghai the Paris of the East are at your feet.

The Peace Hotel, which once hosted Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, has had a full refurbishment, while the Peninsula hotel chain, which was founded in Shanghai in 1866 and once operated four hotels here, the last closing in 1949, has reopened.

The long bar of the Shanghai Club, once the watering hole of the city’s elite, is also to reopen next year, now managed by Waldorf Astoria.

• Highlights of the new Bund

Promenade

The famous 2,000-meter-long promenade is said by city planners to be “as charming and friendly to tourists as the Champs Elysee in Paris.?

The promenade was once a quite place for lovers to walk, hold hands or nuzzle along the banks of the Huangpu River. Today it’s wider, and still friendly to couples. Around 2,000 seats have been installed around the squares for tourists. Baby-changing rooms have been set up.

Parks and Squares

A 2,600-square-meter waterfront platform in the Huangpu Park Square is designed for viewing both sides of the Huangpu River.

A bronze bull sculpture, like the one on Wall Street, will be set in the Financial Square. Information screens will broadcast financial news. Two other squares are Chen Yi Square and Observatory Square, all connected by walkways, the riverside promenade and large areas of greenery.

Waibaidu Bridge

The bridge, which is known as Garden Bridge, at the north end of the Bund area was dismantled and moved away to make room for underground tunneling work. The restored Waibaidu Bridge made its return last year.

It offers a spectacular view of the Bund and Huangpu River.

Three levels

The new Bund has three levels ?the waterfront platform, squares and Zhongshan Road. Before the renovation, visitors had to use the tunnel or the overpass to cross Zhongshan Road.

Shiliupu Dock

The Shiliupu area at the southern end of the Bund has been transformed into a business venue, connected with a traffic hub, which is a terminal for four city bus routes and tourist buses.

The dock is also a cruise-ship terminal with 12 berths for river sightseeing vessels.

• Street smart: The Bund, Shanghai

Much of 1930s Shanghai has disappeared but here on the Bund you can still glimpse the pre-war decadence and sophistication at a host of reinvented glamour bars, restaurants and shops.

THREE ON THE BUND

Designed by American architect Michael Graves, Three on the Bund houses, inter alia, four of the city's top eateries, a spa with rivers of flowing Evian, and the city's flagship Armani store.

Start your exploring at Three on the Bund, a buzzy, multi-floor reincarnation of an elegant post-Renaissance building. Here you’ll find an exciting melting pot of art, culture, food, fashion, pampering and music. Four original restaurants cover most palates, including nouveau French by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Mod Oz by Greek-Australian David Laris. New Heights cafe on the top floor is less fancy (and less pricey) than the others, making it a popular spot for a drink under the stars. On the floors below you’ll find the impressive Shanghai Gallery of Art, the chi-chi Evian Spa and enough high-end stores to rattle the strongest of wills (Armani recently opened its China flagship store here, the first major fashion house to take up residence on the Bund).

No. 3 The Bund, entrance at 17 Guang Dong Road; +86 (21) 6323 3355; threeonthebund.com.

HUANGPU PARK

Monument to the People's Heroes at Huangpu Park, Shanghai

Greenis always gold in Shanghai, where high-rises and 24-7 construction are the norm. Huangpu Park is the oldest and smallest park in the city, sitting pretty at the northern end of the Bund. Here you’ll find the impressive Monument to the People’s Heroes, a 24-metre concrete monolith honoring those who helped to free China from foreign occupation. Drop by at dawn to witness legions of elderly Chinese practicing tai chi and qigong. Also in the park is the small but well-formed Bund Historical Museum, showing the history of the Bund in old black-and-white photographs.

The Bund, near the intersection with Beijing East Road.

THE HSBC BUILDING

The HSBC building completed in 1923, was the second largest bank building in the world at that time, after the Bank of Scotland building in UK

Architecture buffs won’t want to miss a peek into the vast lobby area of the renovated HSBC Building. Built in 1923, it’s one of the best examples of neo-classicism in China. In its heyday it was called “the most luxurious building from the Suez Canal to the Bering Strait”. It was renovated a decade ago, with the work revealing exquisite mosaic murals of world cities. A quick-thinking architect had the mosaics covered over in paint to save them from destruction by the Red Guards.

No. 12 the Bund.

M ON THE BUND

M's signature pavlova dessert

Australian Michelle Garnaut is a visionary. When she created her signature restaurants and bar on the Bund a dozen years ago, the area was derelict and unpopular. Today, the roll-call of guests who have eaten at M on the Bund includes Kevin Rudd, Henry Kissinger, Richard Branson, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, Bette Midler and John Galliano. The adjoining Glamour Bar is the most popular bar in Shanghai, a luxe, grown-up establishment with excellent views where bankers from Paris mix with starlets from Hollywood. The epic cocktail list includes terrific martinis. Sunday afternoon tea is also a treat.

No. 5 the Bund (corner of Guangdong Lu); +86 (21) 6350 9988; m-restaurantgroup.com.

THE PEACE HOTEL

The Peace Hotel is also the former Sasson House, a 13-story building that was the tallest in Shanghai at that time.The Sasson family gained incredible wealth through opium smuggling.

If these walls could talk … the Peace Hotel (originally the Cathay) stands proud and legendary along the Bund, a keeper of glamorous secrets from the 1930s, old Shanghai’s most decadent period. Back then, every night was an excuse for diplomats and celebrities to dress up and play. On March 28, after a three-year renovation and millions of dollars spent, the fabled hotel reopens as the Fairmont Peace Hotel. The new owners have promised the art deco ambience won’t be lost in the swanky makeover.

The Bund (enter from Nanjing Road East); fairmont.com.

• The History of The Bund

1843

THE Bund opened as the Treaty of Nanjing went into effect, opening Shanghai for trade with the Western world.

1845

Shanghai Land Regulation was signed by Britain and Shanghai. It established the residential area for Britons in Shanghai as the region west of the Huangpu River and north of Yangjingbang River (today where Yan’an Road E. goes). It established the Lijiachang area (south of Beijing Road E.) where British businessmen could rent and build residences.

1848

Huangputan Road was open at the Bund area with foreign businessmen’s requests. The customs of the
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) moved to the Bund.

1856

Waiyangjingbang Bridge was built on the Yangjingbang River (today’s Yan’an Road E.) at the Bund. Wills Bridge was built at the north part of the Bund.

1857

The British concession area expanded continuously, overseas capital flooded in. More than 40 foreign fi rms were set up along the Bund.

1864

More than 61 foreign firms were operating on the Bund, which became the biggest finance and trade
center in the Far East.

1865

Gas street lamps were installed on the Bund. Foreign firms used gas lamps for lighting.

1868

The Municipal Committee built the Public Garden (now Huangpu Park) at the south Bund.

1882

Shanghai Electric Construction Co began operation. Arc lights replaced gas light on the Bund.

1924

The first public bus line opened at the Bund.

1937

The Bank of China, Shanghai Branch, opened on the Bund. There were 167 foreign- and China-invested banks and fi nancial institutions on the Bund. The Bund architectural complex was mostly complete.

1949

Shanghai was liberated. All of the Bund architectural complexes were nationalized.

1989

The lighting project for the Bund architectural complex began. Flood-lighting technology was used to perfect the Bund night scene.

1993

Two flood control retaining walls, one for Huangpu Park and one for the Bund, were completed.

1994

Monument to the People’s Heroes was unveiled. Renovated Bund featured a 1,820- meter-long viewing platform.

Some foreigninvested banks, foreign-invested insurance companies and domestic financial institutions returned to the Bund.

The city decided to illuminate the Bund every night. In 1995 the lighting for more than 40 buildings was remote-controlled.

2000

The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel linking the Bund and Pudong New Area opened on National Day. The tunnel was 647 meters long and the distance could be traveled in a few minutes.

• What to See & Do

Top Ten Shanghai Must-See Attractions
Modern Architectural Wonders of Shanghai

• Where to Dine

Taste of Shanghai – A Guide to Shanghai’s Best Food

• Where to Shop

Shop ’til you drop – Shanghai Shopping Guide

• Where to Stay

Top Ten Ritziest Hotels in Shanghai

Top Ten Ritziest Hotels in Shanghai

For the past decade, Shanghai’s upscale hotels have mostly targeted corporate travelers, but leisure visitors now enjoy a broader array of large luxury and small boutique options. The upcoming Shanghai World Expo is expected to bring in an estimated 70 million visitors and ambitious plans for long-term tourism growth are bringing names like Park Hyatt, Conrad, Jumeirah, Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, W, Banyan Tree, and Fairmont through 2010, while a small portfolio of design-led hotels is slated to grow and flourish. Location remains the key to which one you choose. Hotels in the French Concession and near the Bund offer the most convenience for tourists. Despite the lofty views, staying east of the river in one of the Pudong’s high-rise hotels can mean taxi rides and inconvenience.

• Le Royal Méridien Shanghai
  

The gorgeous view of Shanghai skyline is only the start of the royal treatment at Le Royal Méridien, the tallest hotel in Puxi, West of Shanghai

With considerable panache, Le Royal Méridien executes its Art Deco–inspired design throughout its 770 rooms, high above People’s Park on central Nanjing Road. Above the eleventh-floor lobby, black lacquer–framed mirrors line hallways, and airy guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Chic marble bathrooms, plush velvet couches and club chairs, and beds with down duvets and oversized square pillows round out the stylish accommodations. Ai Mei, the Chinese restaurant already known for its dim sum, is entered through a door frame of glass tanks filled with goldfish; the menu at Allure—roasted lobster with risotto, beef tenderloin with goose liver—is worth the culinary detour. Even the spa here caters to a late-night clientele, staying open until 11 p.m., for those who can’t sleep without a signature egg-white, vodka, and cucumber facial.

Le Royal Meridien Shanghai (Shanghai Shimao Huangjia Aimei Jiudian, 上海世茂皇家艾美酒店)

Address: 789 Nanjing Dong Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Chinese Address:  上海市黄浦区南京东路789号
Phone: 021-3318-9999
Website: Le Royal Meridien Shanghai

• JIA Shanghai

Best Boutique Hotel: JIA Shanghai serves as your stylish home away from home.

Housed in a renovated 1920s townhouse on hip Nanjing Road, this is wunderkind Singaporean hotelier and restaurateur Yenn Wong’s follow-up to the original Jia in Hong Kong, designed by Philippe Starck. The 55 rooms combine luxe comforts—think plush beds, blackout curtains, plasma TVs, iPod docks, and ceiling-mounted Bose speakers—with trendsetting boutique styling, including artwork by photographer Russel Wong, outsize tubs in gold Bisazza-tile bathrooms, and furnishings by Minotti, Moroso, and Hans Wegner. Each room has a small kitchenette with a microwave oven, cookware, and serving dishes. The two stunning penthouse suites have extra theatrical flourishes, including contemporary art, a sunken circular Jacuzzi, and a shower that converts into a steam room. The chic lobby lounge, where you’ll be served complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon tea, is dressed with giant Chinese bird cages and lacquer tableware. Shanghai’s shaker-makers reserve dinner tables at Issimo, a modern Italian eatery created by Japan-based restaurateur Salvatore Cuomo. This is the place to stay for sophisticated small hotel chic.

The lounge of Issimo restaurant at JIA Shanghai

JIA Shanghai (上海JIA精品酒店)

Address: 931 West Nanjing Road, Jiangan District, Shanghai 200041
Chinese Address: 上海市静安区南京西路931号（近泰兴路）
Opening Date: August 2007
Number of Rooms: 55 rooms and suites, including two penthouse suites
Rate per Night: 2,000 to 10,000RMB
Phone: 021-6217-9000
Website: www.jiashanghai.com

• URBN Hotel

Serene little URBN is China's first carbon-neutral hotel, implementing eco-friendly elements such as solar shades and water-based A/C, and allowing patrons to buy carbon credits.

Tucked away on a side street north of Jing’An Temple, this 26-room design hotel is built around an enclosed slate and bamboo courtyard with calming water fountains. Constructed using reclaimed local materials —such as gray factory bricks, mahogany, and slate—Urbn wears its eco-conscious credentials on its sleeve; the hotel also tracks its ecological footprint and matches it in carbon credits. The rooms, in five categories, are all relatively small but make good use of space with low-level beds and a sunken “lounge” area, complete with hemp cushions on the broad benches and a wall-hung flat-screen TV. Neat in-room design touches include mahogany floors and wall paneling, desk chairs made from compressed cardboard, and under-floor bathroom heating, plus free Wi-Fi and iPod docks. Contemporary Australian-Asian cuisine is served in the ground-floor restaurant, Roomtwentyeight.

This modestly luxe, environmentally-friendly suite was built with recycled materials drawn from dilapidated French Concession villas.

URBN Hotel  (Yayue Jiudian, 上海雅悦酒店)

Address: 183 Jiaozhou Road, Jingan District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市静安区胶州路183号
Phone: 021-5153-4600
Website: www.urbnhotels.com/urbn-shanghai

• Park Hyatt Shanghai

Park Hyatt Shanghai, world's most vertiginous hotel, is on floors 79 through 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, in the Pudong district.

Shanghai hotels are rising ever higher—and top of the pile is this deluxe cloud buster on the 79th through 93rd floors of the 101-story, 1,615-foot Shanghai World Financial Center in Pudong. The Park Hyatt Shanghai can now claim the twin titles of world’s highest hotel and world’s highest restaurant. New York City–based Tony Chi created the interiors to resemble a sophisticated modern Chinese residence, hence the series of gates, halls, and chambers. The lobby itself is on the 87th floor and the spa and fitness center have prime city views from the 85th level. The 174 rooms are an impressive size (an average room is 645 square feet), plus there is 24-hour butler service, a technology concierge, and a walk-in dressing room and flat-screen TV in the bathroom and bedroom. The hotel’s highest highlight is 100 Century Avenue, an integrated three-level fine-dining restaurant (serving Western, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine) and lounge bar on the 91st to 93rd floors.

The hotel's highest highlight is 100 Century Avenue, an integrated three-level fine-dining restaurant and lounge bar on the 91st to 93rd floors.

Park Hyatt Shanghai  (Shanghai Baiyue Jiudian, 上海柏悦酒店)

Address: 100 Century Avenue, 79th–93rd Floors, Shanghai World Financial Center, Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区浦东世纪大道100号上海环球金融中心79-93楼
Phone: 021-6888-1234
Website: www.parkhyattshanghai.com

• The Portman Ritz-Carlton

Despite some heavy competition, this is still a favorite for many business travelers and world leaders (George W. Bush stayed here during the APEC Conference in 2001).

The Portman Ritz-Carlton was the city’s first luxury hotel when it opened in 1998, on the major shopping thoroughfare Nanjing Lu. The hotel  completed a multimillion-dollar, top-to-bottom face-lift of the guest rooms, bars, restaurants, and facilities in 2008. The circular pale-marble lobby gives way to 610 rooms—request one of the newly renovated ones, which feature gleaming dark-wood traditional furniture, accents of gold and brown, and sliding doors that lend an Oriental air. Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining: There are four house restaurants to choose from, including Palladio, which serves modern Italian dishes in a formal setting. Luxury-brand lovers will delight in the neighboring upscale Plaza 66 mall. Though the hotel is centrally located at the Shanghai Center, surrounding office buildings mean that finding a cab during rush hour can be difficult—hotel guests do get preference in the taxi line, but the queue lengthens noticeably during peak times, from 4 pm until 8 pm.

The Portman Ritz-Carlton  (Shanghai Boteman Lijia Dajiudian,上海波特曼丽嘉酒店)

Address: 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, Jingan District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市上海市静安区南京西路1376号
Phone: 021-6279-8888
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com

• St. Regis Shanghai

In the lobby of St. Regis Shanghai, an elaborate alabaster light fixture echoes the tobacco-leaf pattern of the inlaid marble.

Every guest is a VIP at the St. Regis. The amphitheaterlike lobby sets the stage for the most indulgent hotel experience in Shanghai. The 318 rooms in this 40-story red-granite tower—its design lauded by Architectural Digest—spare no expense, with Bose wave radios, Herman Miller Aeron chairs, and rain-forest showers that give you the feeling of being under a waterfall. At 500 square feet (152 sq. m), standard rooms compare to other hotels’ suites. The two women’s-only floors are unique in Shanghai. Butlers address all your needs 24/7 (you can even contact them by e-mail) from in-room check-in to room service, and as part of a new program, they can arrange to escort guests personally to visit local artist studios. The hotel’s location—15 minutes from the riverfront—is a drawback, but the fitness center and 24-hour gym, along with the remarkable Danieli’s Italian restaurant add to this pampering property’s appeal.

Spacious and elegant double-height living room of The Imperial Suite at St. Regis Shanghai

St. Regis Shanghai (Shanghai Ruiji Hongta Dajiudian, 上海瑞吉红塔大酒店)

Address: 889 Dongfang Lu, South central Pudong, Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address:上海市浦东新区东方路889号
Phone: 021-50504567
Prices ¥3,313-¥3,478 ($473-$497/£237-£249) standard; from ¥6,378 ($911/£456) suite (up to 60% discounts)
Website: www.stregis.com/shanghai

• The Peninsula Shanghai

The 14-story luxury Peninsula Shanghai hotel, with 235 rooms and suites, is the first new structure on the storied riverfront Bund since the Bank of China in 1927.

The Peninsula Shanghai, an Art-Deco inspired hotel on Shanghai’s historic Bund, is dressed to impress, from its stepped, faux Deco facade to the grand pillared lobby decorated in cool celadon tones (a string quartet plays on a theatrical balcony in the afternoons) to the restored 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II for airport transfers. This is a hotel that makes the most of its outlook over the future-scape Pudong skyline, the Peninsula Spa by Espa features a skylit indoor swimming pool and a layered crème marble terrace, while the terrace of the 14th-floor Sir Elly’s Restaurant has panoramic river views. The pick of the hotel’s five restaurants is Yi Long Court, serving classic Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious chocolate and dark-blue Shanghai Deco dining room with Qing dynasty furnishings. The hotel’s 235 guest rooms, styled in a pale gray-green or cerulean blue, start at a spacious 600 square feet and go up to the 4,300-square-foot Presidential Suite. All have 1920s Shanghai mahogany and ebony furniture. The in-room technology is best in class, with thoughtful additions such as a Nespresso machine positioned at shoulder level, a desktop iPod dock, a 1,000-channel Internet radio, and an in-bath phone system that filters out the sound of the water. Another flick of a switch dims the bathroom lights and turns on relaxing spa music.

The Peninsula Shanghai features 235 generously large guestrooms (44 of which are suites). Ipod docks, free wireles

The Peninsula Shanghai (Shanghai Bandao Jiudian, 上海半岛酒店)

Address： 32 Zhongshang Dong Yi Lu, The Bund, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address:上海市黄浦区中山东一路32号
Phone: 021-2327-2888
Website: www.peninsula.com/Shanghai

• Pudong Shangri-La

The Shangri-La Pudong occupies one of the most prized locations in Shanghai: overlooking the Huangpu River, opposite the Bund, near the Pearl Tower in Lujiazui.

With its new 36-floor glass tower, the Shangri-La is set to give its Pudong competitors a run for their money. It may not tower as high as the Grand Hyatt, but this hotel’s gorgeous views stretch across the Huangpu River to the stately Bund and rival those of its taller (and sometimes more fogged-in) neighbor. All of the 950 modern rooms are unfussy, accented with Asian touches such as raw silk throws and pillows. Rooms also have broadband Internet, and satellite TV—just be sure to request accommodation that overlooks the water. Not one but two indoor pools and full-service gymnasiums satisfy the sporty, while those hoping to unwind can enjoy a massage in the Oriental opulence of the Chi spa. Eleven restaurants offer options to suit every taste, but there is no better place for a drink and nibble than Jade on 36, an eclectic fusion restaurant perched on the 36th floor. Though the Pudong location means that during rush hour (4 p.m.-9 p.m.) it can take 45 minutes to get downtown by car, taxis are cheap and plentiful, and those in a hurry can hop on the metro, which is only a five-minute walk from the hotel.

The Pudong Shangri-La boasts a slew of trendy designer restaurants including the luxurious Nadaman Restaurant and Sushi Bar, designed by Super Potato

Pudong Shangri-La Hotel (Pudong Xianggelila Fandian, 上海浦东香格里拉大酒店)

Address: 33 Fucheng Lu, Southwest of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, adjacent to Riverside Ave/Binjiang Da Dao, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Chinese Address:上海浦东新区富城路33号
Phone: 021-6882-8888; 800-942-5050
Prices ¥3,050-¥3,300 ($436-$471/£218-£236) standard; ¥3,550-¥3,750 ($507-$536/£254-£268) executive level; from ¥5,150 ($736/£368) suite
Website: www.shangri-la.com

• The Grand Hyatt Shanghai

From its perch on the upper floors of the Jin Mao Tower, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai With Art Deco furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows has splendid views of the Bund and Pudong

The Grand Hyatt Shanghai takes up the top 34 floors of the monolithic 88-story Jin Mao Tower—the fifth-tallest building in the world—so you can imagine the views: vertigo-inducing panoramas over the city’s skyscrapers and streets, abetted by the ubiquitous floor-to-ceiling windows. (Request a west-facing room for views of the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the rest of the Shanghai skyline’s kitschy excess.) If you can tear your gaze from the neon spectacle outside, you’ll find the hotel’s interiors are pretty sumptuous: All 555 rooms have contemporary furniture (lots of glass, lacquered wood, and velvety neutral-toned upholstery) accented by traditional Eastern artwork. The marble baths have multiple-head “shower towers” that engulf you in water and mist; if these aren’t enough of a full-body experience, you can head to the steam baths and hot tubs at the on-site spa. The hotel’s dozen restaurants, bars, and clubs include the Patio, a 33-story atrium where you can listen to live jazz; Cloud 9, on the 87th floor, where the views will make you dizzier than any cocktail; and Club Jin Mao, where you can sample local specialties, such as deep-fried eel with honey soy sauce and braised bean curd with hairy crab roe. While the Pudong location is oriented more for business than pleasure, the Line 2 Metro station is just a five-minute walk away, and a horde of cheap cabs waits outside to whisk you across the Huangpu River to the Old City.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai (Shanghai Jin Mao Junyue Dajiudian, 上海金茂君悦大酒店)

Address: 88 Century Boulevard, Jin Mao Tower, Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address:上海市浦东新区世纪大道88号
Phone: 021-5049-1234
Prices: ¥3,800-¥4,100 ($543-$586/£272-£293) standard; ¥4,450-¥4,800 ($636-$686/£318-£343) executive level; from ¥5,700 ($814/£407) suite
Website: www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com

• The Westin Shanghai

Perched between the Bund and People's Square, Wesin Bund Center hotel attracts a mixed clientele

Popular with travelers on an expense account, this centrally located hotel—part of the office-heavy Bund Center—is just a short walk from the swish restaurants and nightlife of the Bund. The glitzy atrium lobby features a neon-lit glass staircase and artificial palm trees, while the 570 rooms are kitted out in earth tones, with polished wood paneling and rain forest showerheads in the dark granite bathrooms. A new wing, the Grand Tower, opened in 2007; formerly serviced apartments, rooms here are more spacious, albeit pricier, than in the main building. With so many business travelers passing through the halls, service can feel a bit impersonal and corporate—front desk clerks eagerly push upgrades at check-in. There are three restaurants—we liked the wood-fired pizzas at Prego better than The Stage’s buffet—as well as a fitness center, swimming pool, and branch of the Banyan Tree spa.

The Westin Shanghai (Shanghai Weisiting Dafandian, 上海外滩中心威斯汀大饭店)

Address: 88 Henan Central Road, 3 blocks west of the Huangpu River, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市黄浦区河南中路88号
Phone: 021-6335-1888
Prices: ¥3,245 ($464/£232) standard; ¥3,970 ($567/£284) executive level; from ¥9,730 ($1,390/£695) suite
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin

• Travel Deals: World Expo in Shanghai

With an expected attendance of 70 million, this year’s World Expo in Shanghai – which runs May 1 to Oct. 31 — will  most likely mean  higher hotel rates in the city. But good deals can still be found.

For the duration of the Expo, Marriott is offering 20 percent off staysof two nights or more, and the package includes two single-day admission tickets. Rates start at 1,120  renminbi (or about $161 a night at 7  renminbi to the dollar). Book by March 31 at marriott.com or (800) 228-9290. Use the promotional code ADP.

Hilton is offering the same discount for any reservation made 21 days in advance at the Hilton Shanghai, through Oct. 1. There’s no minimum stay, but rates start at about $216 a night.

For a cheaper option, the Shanghai Metropole Hotel, a 141-room hotel near the Bund, has rooms from $80 a night. And ChinaHotels.org, a hotel booking site based in China, has rooms for as little as $25 a night.

• What to See & Do

Top Ten Shanghai Must-See Attractions
Modern Architectural Wonders of Shanghai

• Where to Dine

Taste of Shanghai – A Guide to Shanghai’s Best Food

Modern Architectural Wonders of Shanghai

Just as many of New York City’s most iconic landmarks rose in breathtakingly brief succession a century ago,  Shanghai has been growing faster than anywhere else in the World since the early 1990s, ever – at one point, a quarter of the world’s cranes were in use here. By contrast to the restrictions and limitations of European and American cities, Shanghai, with its seemingly boundless possibilities and the upcoming 2010 World Expo, has become something of a construction free-for-all, a playground for some of the most celebrated names in architecture. The result has been some of the world’s most ambitious building projects – from China’s next tallest building to brand-new futuristic cities.

• Jin Mao Tower: the world’s finest skyscraper since the Chrysler Building

Architecturally a blend of the monumental Art Deco of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings and the balanced composition of the traditional Chinese architecture of tiered pagoda, the Jin Mao Tower renews the long-standing Shanghai tradition of blending Western and Chinese styles, resulting in a dynamic hybrid that beautifully compliments the Bund’s colonial-era façades across the Huangpu River.  Like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, the building’s proportions revolve around the number 8, associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. The 88 floors are divided into 16 segments, each of which is 1/8th shorter than the 16-story base. The tower is built around an octagon-shaped concrete shear wall core surrounded by 8 exterior composite supercolumns and 8 exterior steel columns. Three sets of 8 two-story high outrigger trusses connect the columns to the core at six of the floors to provide additional support. The enormous barrel-vaulted atrium, lined with staircases arrayed in a spiral, is the city’s most spectacular interior.

Jin Mao Tower (Jinmao Dasha, Chinese: 金茂大厦)
Location: 88 Century Boulevard, Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, Pudong, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区世纪大道88号
Constructed: 1994 – 1998
Height: 420 m (1,390 ft)
Floors: 88
Use: Office, Hotel (Grand Hyatt), observation (88th floor), retail
Architect: Adrian Smith of  Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

• Tomorrow Square

One of the city’s characteristic landmarks, thanks to the pincers on the roof.  The silvery futuristic skyscraper,  designed by the Atlanta-based architect, John Portman, is shaped like two squares on top of each other, with the upper on rotated at 45 degrees.

Tomorrow Square (Mingtian Guangchang, Chinese: 明天广场)
Location: 399 Nanjing Xilu, Western Side of People’s Square (Renmin Gongyuan), Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市黄浦区南京西路399 号
Constructed: 1997-2003
Height: 286 m (938 ft)
Floors: 60
Use: Office, Hotel (JW Marriott), restaurant,apartments
Architect: John Portman & Associates

• Shanghai World Financial Center: China’s Tallest Building
  

The Shanghai World Financial Center isn’t just well known—it’s been making headlines for more than a decade. Its original 1993 design was halted after foundations were completed, just before the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. And the building also suffered a fire in August 2007, although damage was minimal. Named as the Best Tall Building in the World 2008 by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the 492m-high Shanghai World Financial Center was designed by US super skyscraper specialist Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.  The building’s most distinctive architectural feature is the aperture at the building’s top, which has a trapezoidal shape resembling a bottle opener. It was originally a circular shape (“moon gate”, a traditional element in Chinese gardens) but was changed after locals protested that the circular hole resembled the rising sun on the Japanese flag. The stunning all-glass 100th-floor observatory at the height of 470 m (1,542 ft.) is the world’s tallest observation deck.

World's highest observation deck inside the Shanghai World Financial Centre

Shanghai World Financial Center (Abbr.SWFC, Shanghai Huanqiu Jinrong Zhongxin, Chinese: 上海环球金融中心)
Location: 100 Century Boulevard, (Shiji Dadao), Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区世纪大道100号
Constructed: 1997-2008
Height: 492 m (1,614 ft)
Floors: 101
Structure: Steel-framed and steel reinforced concrete
Cost: RMB 8.17 billion ( US $1.2 billion)
Use: Office, Hotel (Park Hyatt), museum, observation (94th, 97th and 100th floor), retail
Architect: William Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
Structural engineer: Leslie E. Robertson Associates RLLP (LERA)
Developer: Minoru Mori , Mori Building Co.
Website: www.swfc-observatory.com

• Shanghai Tower: China’s Next Tallest Building
  

Reaching for the sky, the spectacular design for the Shanghai Tower is a twisting, winding marvel of modern architecture. At 632 meters (2,073 ft), Shanghai Tower is said to rise 140 meters higher than neighboring Shanghai World Financial Center –currently the world’s highest observatory – securing its title as the tallest building in China. Shanghai Tower emphasizes sustainable design and innovative high-performance features. Organized in nine cylindrical sections, the segments are placed atop of one another, the tower has a double-skin facade that encloses the stacked buildings, while a triangular exterior layer creates the second skin, which rotates as it rises. The spaces between the two facades create nine atrium sky gardens. Shanghai Center Tower, slated to be completed in 2014, will be the second tallest building in the world surpassed only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which stands at 828 meters (2,717 feet).

Shanghai Tower (Shanghai Zhongxin Dasha, Chinese: 上海中心大厦)
Location: Yincheng Zhonglu, Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区银城中路
Groundbreaking Date: November 29, 2008
Estimated Completion Date: 2014
Height: 632 m (2,073 ft)
Floors: 128
Cost: RMB 15 billion ( US $2.2 billion)
Use: Office, Hotel, observation, retail
Architect: Gensler, assistance from the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University
Structural engineer: Consentini Associates, Thornton Tomasetti

• Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre

The Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre is a magnificent, glass-faced, flower-shaped building that houses a concert hall, entrance hall, opera theatre, exhibition space and performance hall – they form the five petals of a butterfly orchid. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu, who was  responsible for the National Center for the Performing Arts (aka “The Egg”, 2007) in Beijing. To strengthen the effect of something delicate and unearthly, lights on the roof change color with the cadences of the music being played inside.

Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre (Shanghai Dongfang Yishu Zhongxin, Chinese: 上海东方艺术中心)
Location: 425 Dingxiang Lu,Century Park, near Yingchun Lu, Metro Line 2 Science and Technology Museum Station, Pudong District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区丁香路425号
Constructed: 2000-2004
Auditorium capacities:
Philarmonic Orchestra Hall: 1,979 seats
Lyric Theatre: 1,054 seats
Chamber Music Hall: 330 seats
Phone: 020-6854-1234
Architect: Paul Andreu Architecte associated with ADPi and ECADI
Website: www.shoac.com.cn

• Jiushi Corporation Headquarters

The glass facade of Norman Foster’s forty-story tower, in the South Bund area, curves elegantly to make the most of fantastic views across the Huangpu River. It is also one the most eco-friendly buildings in Shanghai.

Jiushi Corporation Headquarters (Jiu Shi Tower, Jiushi Dasha, Chinese: 久事大厦)
Location: 28 Zhongshan Nanlu, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市黄浦区中山南路28号
Constructed: 1995-2001
Height: 168 m (551 ft)
Floors: 40
Use: Office
Architect: Foster and Partners

• Oriental Pearl Tower: The Earliest Symbol of New China
  

Love it or hate it, the 468m-tall poured-concrete shocker of a tripod tower has become a symbol of Pudong and of Shanghai’s renaissance. Erected in 1995 and hailed as the tallest TV tower in Asia, the Oriental Pearl Tower features 11 differing sized spheres joined by three columns. The design is said to be based on a Tang dynasty poem that describes the tinkling of pearls on a jade plate: The silver and dark-red spheres represent the pearls, while the Huangpu River symbolized the jade plate. Still more fancifully, the architects liken the city’s Yangpu and Nanpu Bridges to “Chinese dragons frolicking with the pearls of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.”  The tower is dazzling when illuminated at night and you can always join the queue for the stunning panoramas of Shanghai.

Oriental Pearl Tower (Dongfang Mingzhu Dianshita, Chinese: 东方明珠电视塔)
Location: 2 Lujiazui Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address: 上海市浦东新区陆家嘴路2号
Constructed: 1991-1995
Height: 468 m (1,535 ft)
Floors: 14
Construction Type: Concrete
Use: Communication, hotel, observation, restaurant
Architect: Jia Huan Cheng of Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.

• Shanghai Grand Theatre: Shanghai’s Lincoln Center

The Shanghai Grand Theatre, designed by French architect Jean-Marie Charpentier who achieved worldwide fame with the construction of the Bastille Opera House in Paris, incorporates the sweeping eaves of Chinese tradition with a futuristic use of plastic and glass, looks like a crystal palace when lit at night as the white arc-shaped roof joins coherently with the light-sensitive glass curtain wall. Located in the northwest corner of People’s Square, it boasts three separate theaters: a 1,800-seat main theater for ballet, opera, and symphony; a 600-seat medium theater for chamber music; and a 200-seat small theater for drama and fashion shows.

Shanghai Grand Theatre (Shanghai Da Juyuan, Chinese: 上海大剧院)
Location: 300 Renmin Da Dao, People’s Square , Huangpu District, Shanghai
Chinese Address:上海市黄浦区人民大道300号
Completion Date: 1998
Transportation: Metro Line 1, 2 & 8 People’s Square Station
Architect: Jean-Marie Charpentier of Arte Charpentier et Associés
Website: www.shgtheatre.com

Related Articles:

Five Modern Architectural Wonders of New Beijing

Top Ten Shanghai Must-See Attractions

Macau Travel Guide: Gaming Capital of the World and beyond

Skycrapers: Two of Macau's landmarks--the Bank of China Tower and the Lisboa Hotel Macau

Macau marks its tenth anniversary as a Special Administrative Region of China this Sunday. From a sleepy Portuguese enclave, it has managed to transform itself into the gaming capital of the world.

Unique to Asia and perhaps the world, this petite hot spot is big on attractions. Gone are the days of Macau being though of as the Las Vegas of Asia. Everything is Macau is now world-class, from the famed gaming to the hotels, dinning, shopping, and even golf. Culture abounds from Macau’s Portuguese and Chinese heritage and the fascinating imprints of each are evident at every vantage point.

Tourist Map for Macau Peninsula

Location
Located 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong, the city consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. The Pearl River estuary on the east and the Xijiang West River on the west form the peninsula. It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in Mainland China. Originally just an island in the rivers, the connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus, thus changing Macau into a peninsula. Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau and expanded its perimeter, a practice that still occurs today, and numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass. Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of only 559.7 ft.

Macau Tourist Map: the islands of Taipa and Coloane

Macau History
The first recorded inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols during the Southern Song Dynasty. Under the Ming Dynasty, fishermen migrated to Macau from Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Major settlement in Macau did not occur until the 1500s when Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macau’s harbors, although they were not allowed to stay onshore. In 1553 they obtained temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, and soon after they built rudimentary stone houses around the area now called Nam Van. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent in silver to China. The Chinese and Portuguese started negotiations about Macau in June 1986. The two signed a Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration the next year, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China. The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999 and with great foresight Macau arrives today has a jet-set city.

Venetian Macau Resort Hotel

Where to Dine and Stay in Macau
Macau has a host of world class hotels that cater to the jet-setter, such as Wynn, Four Seasons, Sofitel, MGM Grand, and the very impressive Venetian. Along with these world-class hotels and resorts, delectable dinning options featuring cuisine from all over the world can be found in Macau. Over the years Macau developed a unique cuisine that combined Portuguese, Chinese, Indian, and even Malayan cooking. Known as Macanese cuisine, it is served in restaurants all over the city but mostly along Rua Almirante Sérgio on the Praia Grande and on Taipa. I enjoyed a sensational meal at Antonio, which serves authentic Portuguese cuisine inspired by renowned chef Antonio Coelho, located in scenic Taipa village. Other great Portuguese/Macanese dining can be found at Restaurante Litoral located near the interesting A-Ma Temple and Espaco Lisboa “Lisbon Space” on Coloane Island.

Top Attractions in Macau
Macau is a small place where, on a good day, you could drive from one end to the other in 15 minutes. This makes walking and bicycling the ideal ways to explore winding city streets, nature trails, and long stretches of beach. Most of Macau’s population lives on the peninsula attached to mainland China. The region’s most famous sights are here—Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, A-Ma Temple—as are the luxury hotels and casinos. As in the older sections of Hong Kong, cramped older buildings stand comfortably next to gleaming new structures.

Ruins of St. Paul's Church in Macau

Ruínas de São Paulo, the symbol of Macau. Only the towering facade, with its intricate carvings, remains of the original St. Paul’s Church, which was built between 1602 and 1640 by Jesuits and destroyed by fire in 1835. The church, an adjacent college, and the nearby Forteleza de Monte (Mount Fortress) once formed East Asia’s first western-style university.

Macau Sky Tower

Macau Sky Tower measures 338 m (1,109 ft) in height from ground level to the highest point. An observation deck with panoramic views, restaurants, theaters, shopping malls and the Skywalk X, a thrilling walking tour around the outer rim. It offers the best view of Macau and in recent years has been used for a variety of adventurous activities. At 233 meters, the Macau Tower’s tethered “skyjump” and Bungee jump by world renowned AJ Hackett from the tower’s outer rim, is the highest in the world. The tower was created by the architecture firm of Craig Craig Moller.

Macau Museum

Museum Mania
For your cultural whirlwind through the numerous museums in Macau I recommend Museum Pass, which gives you access within a period of 5 days to each of the following museums: Grand Prix Museum, Wine Museum, Maritime Museum, Lin Zexu Museum, Museum of Art, and Museum of Macau. Passes, which cost MOP$25 (US$3.25/£1.60) for adults and MOP$12 (US$1.55/80p) for children and seniors, can be purchased at any of the museums.If you have limited time for museum visits, make sure you check out the Macau Museum that was inaugurated on 18th of April, 1998, where the cultural traditions and historical heritage of Macau come to life in exhibits. The Macau Grand Prix Museum houses a selection of remarkable cars and motorbikes and each year in November a full scale Grand Prix takes place throughout Macau. Another must-visit museum is the Handover Give Museum, located on the site of the actual handover of Macau to Mainland China in December 1999 and now part of the Macau Cultural Center. The “gifts” from other nations to Macau are stunning masterpieces of riches and cultural traditions.

Senado Square, Macau's hub for centuries

The Largo do Senado (Senado Square), Macau’s hub for centuries, is lined with neoclassical buildings and churches painted bright pastels. Only pedestrians are allowed on its shiny black-and-white azulejos.

Where to Shop in Macau
Macau is a wonderfully accessible city and there is much to discover besides history and culture. Shopping on Macau is amazing, from the luxury and designer shops at the Four Seasons and the Venetian to the street shops that line the area starting at the expansive Senado Square. On Avenida Almeida Ribeiro you will find narrow streets leading off the main square selling fabulous accessories and clothing. Also a must-visit is Avenida Horta e Costa, a long street full of shops that begins at the Red Market and extends as far as the Flora Gardens beneath Guia Hill. The avenue has several up-market shops specializing in clothing and shoes, electronic items and cameras, and more. But the best bargains are found on the side streets where antiques, handcrafted furniture, and handicrafts of excellent quality can be found. The historic “Three Lamps” (Rotunda Carlos da Maia) and surrounding streets are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain prices. If you consider shopping to be a sporting event, Macau is a marathon.

The city is always alive, both with tourists and residents of both Macau and nearby China who flock to the markets and shopping areas for necessities, bargains, and luxuries. Make sure you make time for one of Macau’s most famous tea-time snacks, the Portuguese Egg Tart. The world’s best can be found Lord Stow’s bakery on Coloane Island. Macau is a great jet-set city chocked full of things to do both during the day and into the evenings when the casinos and nightclubs come alive.

Oceanus,Stanley Ho

Casinos
In 2006, Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip in the United States as the biggest casino market in the world.

Macau is the only region where gambling is exclusively legal in China. From the late 1960s until 2001, Macau native Dr. Stanley Ho owned all the casinos, helping him to become one of the world’s wealthiest people. One of the first steps the Chinese government took after the 1999 handover was to break up Dr. Ho’s monopoly and award casino licenses to several consortiums from Las Vegas. The grand plan to transform Macau from a quiet town that offered gambling into one of the world’s top gaming destinations is well underway.

Video of Wynn Macau Fountain Show and Fireworks

The Casinos

Cream of the Crop

Sands Macao Casino Hotel (Largo de Monte Carlo 203, Downtown, Macau. 853/883-388. www.sands.com.mo). Mandarin Oriental Casino Hotel (956-1110 Av. da Amizade, Downtown, Macau. 853/567-888. www.mandarinoriental.com). Wynn Macau (6-8 Av. da Amizade, Downtown, Macau. 853/889-966. www.wynnmacau.com). Venetian Macao Resort Hotel (Cotai Strip, Macau. 853/883-311. www.venetianmacao.com).

Sands Macao is a casino resort in Macau owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation

Landmarks

Hotel Casino Lisboa (2-4 Av. de Lisboa, Downtown, Macau. 853/377-666. www.hotelisboa.com). Hyatt Regency Hotel Casino (2 Estrata Almirante, Marques Esparteiro, Taipa. 853/831-537. www.macau.hyatt.com). Jai Alai Casino (Jai Alai Building, Av. de Amizade, Downtown, Macau. 853/726-086). Macau Jockey Club Casino (Grandview Hotel, Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira 142, Taipa. 853/837-788). Golden Dragon Casino (Hotel Golden Dragon Rua de Malaca, Downtown, Macau. 853/727-979).

Fantasia

Greek Mythology Casino (889 Av. Padre Tomas Pereira, Taipa. 853/831-111. www.newcenturyhotel-macau.com). Pharaoh’s Palace Casino (The Landmark Hotel, Av. de Amizade 555, Downtown, Macau. 853/781-781).

Getting There

International flights do come into Macau, but there are no flights from Hong Kong, which is only 10 minutes away by plane. There are, however, 16-minute helicopter flights between Hong Kong’s Shun Tak Centre and the Macau Ferry Terminal; they leave every 30 minutes from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily. Prices are HK$1,268 Monday to Thursday and HK$1,477 Friday to Sunday and holidays. Reservations are essential. For more information about the history, attractions, special events and accommodations visit the official website of The Macau Government Tourist Office.

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【北京风情录】 走访京城五家四合院酒店 Beijing Top Five Courtyard Hotels

北京的秋天，是一段诗意的时光。没有哪个季节像北京的秋天一样，将色彩舒展得如此厚重。也难怪郁达夫曾经不远千里，非要从南方赶到北平来，不过想饱尝这故都的秋味。他在皇城人海之中，租一间小屋来住，早晨起来，泡一碗浓茶、向院子一坐，去看很高很高的碧蓝的天色。

如今，我们不用遍寻郁达夫笔下的那间小屋，却有了众多浸满了京味儿的四合院酒店可以去小住。有人统计，如今在北京胡同里，已经有了五六十间由四合院改建而成的设计类酒店存在。

本期，meiguoxing带您去探访5间最有特色的四合院酒店，让我们一起坐在那个小小院落里，“从槐树叶底，朝东细数着一丝一丝漏下来的日光，或在破壁腰中，静对着像喇叭似的牵牛花的蓝朵”，去自然而然地感觉北京的秋日风情吧。

关于四合院的细细碎

记忆之盒

据说，四合院是有着深厚文化内涵的建筑形式，汪曾祺称之为“中国盒子”，简直把它当成带着传统密码的黑匣子了。翻翻书的话，大致能归纳出几个方 面：首先，围合的结构，强调私密性和封闭性，反映一种以家为单位的社会行为模型，中轴线对称的布局暗合了国人对“中庸”之道的坚持，以“取中”的方式构建 整体的和谐，突出正房的核心位置，产生主次分明的秩序感，落实传统礼法中的尊卑等级；其次，在择地、定位和具体尺度的确定过程中应用风水理论。这套理论极 为繁琐，简单的如方位选择多为坐北朝南，依八卦方位即所谓“坐坎朝离”，坎卦方位在正北，五行属水，将正房建在水位上，显然有克火的意思。又如厕所的位置 建在西南角，是因为西方为白虎，凶，故以污秽来抑制。其实，南向而居有利采光通风，而北京多刮东北风，也使厕所气味不致散入院内。这么看来，风水理论很有 点玄虚，但归根到底还是保持了对神秘事物的尊敬，又把最终解释权留在自己手里。这大概也是中国人的一种典型态度吧。

不过，作为我这个年纪的人来说，四合院主要是以大杂院的面目出现的，——在开发商和拆迁办看来，那可能根本是不相干的东西，——而我生活在其中的时候，也从没想过，也理解不了什么“文化内涵”，不过，我的记忆只能以它为背景展开。

我记得，我住过的院子里有两棵树，一棵是枣树，一棵不是枣树，是槐树。葡萄架下的鱼缸壁满是青苔，夏日午后金鱼的咬水声，显得冗长而空虚。我们 爬上屋顶去抱回因斗殴而无力的猫，顺便让视线随着连绵的檐角牵引到远处，然后被鸽哨生生截断。那个赤膊的汉子又捧着碗在树荫下发愣了。

我以为刻在墙上的名字会比我存在得更久，哪知它早已随着瓦砾灰飞烟灭了。

卡尔维诺在《看不见的城市》里说：“城市不会泄露自己的过去，只会把它像手纹一样藏起来，它被写在街巷的角落、窗格的护栏、楼梯的扶手、避雷针和旗杆上，每一道印记都是抓挠、锯锉、刻凿、猛击留下痕迹的。”

所以请原谅我使用了抒情的笔调，这并非是对发展的敌意，而只是对历史文脉和个体生命记忆遗失的一点惋惜，我不想像索尔·贝娄说的那样“转过街角就碰到芝加哥”，我觉得大多数人也都不想。

灰色屋檐 静雅天空

演乐胡同，是北京东城区那一大片胡同里很普通的一条，而演乐酒店，就坐落在这一条不起眼的胡同中。从东四北大街的嘈杂中右转进入这条窄小的胡同，不出多远便好像走进了另一个世界，安静非常——这间别致的四合院酒店就坐落在这个静雅的世界里。

演乐酒店地址：东城区演乐胡同70号

心水标签：一个极为普通的四合院被改建成一间酒店，传统的建筑风格，混搭着有点现代有点西洋化的室内设计——这是一个灰色屋檐下的静雅世界。

来到演乐胡同的时候是秋天里的一个上午，天有些凉，阳光很好，从东四北大街那一边进来，一路上是所有北京胡同里最熟悉的场面，有闲聊的大妈，还 有坐着晒太阳的老大爷。走到胡同的多半，看到了演乐胡同70号的门牌，门旁是两株极为高大的枣树，心想着，一定就是它了。因为来之前听过朋友关于它的描 述，就是套用了鲁迅先生作品《秋夜》里的话：“在我的后园，可以看见墙外有两株树，一株是枣树，还有一株也是枣树。”只不过地址不同，从阜成门西三条的鲁 迅故居，移到了东城区的演乐胡同。

演乐酒店里的两株枣树是酒店的象征，最大的一株已经有200多年，撑起了整个院子最大的一片绿荫。可以想象，夏天的时候住客们会围坐在下面乘凉；而现在，满树的枣儿们基本都已经成熟，三三两两地挂满了树梢。

老格局 新韵味

从外面看演乐酒店，朱红大门与彩绘门廊，都与旁边的建筑相同，一副居家人家的模样，完全看不出酒店的样子。而推开朱红色大门，一种古典别致的气氛会扑面而来。

演乐酒店是一个两进的四合院，第一进院几乎都是客房。院子中央有一口小小的水池，池中有荷花盆，据说在夏天的时候会开得格外茂盛，它们与两边的 野茉莉花丛、葡萄藤、葫芦秧，以及角落里的枣树一起，为这个以灰色红色为主的四合院增添了大片的鲜艳颜色。如同酒店的外文名字Hotel Côté Cour S.L. ，在法语里，它有花园的意思。第二进院则是酒店的客厅，兼做餐厅或书房。如果说第一个院子还最大程度保留着传统风格，那么第二个院子则体现了主人 的现代品位。先经过一个小天井进入屋子，屋子有很深的挑高和很足的采光。屋子里很明显地分成了两个部分，一边是一张条形餐桌与高脚凳，简约的现代风格；另 一边则很波希米亚，舒服的沙发，像极家里客厅的一角，旁边桌子上堆满了书，客人们闲暇时可以来看书。

在后院客厅里有一条楼梯可以上二楼的露台，据说来过这里的人都会爱上它，我也不例外，当我从后院客厅里狭窄的楼梯登上二楼，突然间有了一种豁然 开朗的感觉。眼前是周围各个院子的屋顶，错落有致，历史之气弥漫，令人心生大气，似乎让人恍若隔世。这时候，我的脑海里总是想起电影《阳光灿烂的日子》里 的画面，男主角爬上屋顶，躺在房檐上看天。就在不久前，张曼玉也曾经挑选在这里拍了一组时尚大片，想着就相当惊艳。

这一次对于演乐酒店的采访，接待我的是酒店的总经理Vanessa，坐在院子里的藤椅上，手边一杯咖啡，在秋天暖暖的阳光下，Vanessa说 着演乐酒店的种种美好。Vanessa姓娜，典型的旗人姓氏，小时候就住在北京普通的平房小院里，后来出国游学工作之后，她总是想起小时候在院子里摘葡萄 的场景。当她走遍了世界许多个国家而终于回到北京，一个难得的机会，她开始经营起了这个四合院酒店。

“当初开始设计这个四合院酒店的时候，只是觉得这才是来到北京最值得住、最有北京味道的地方，就如同我去意大利会喜欢住在小巷的小酒店里。”
“北京的四合院越来越少，许多老的院子都在继续破败，经营起来或许就是对它们最好的保护吧。”

Link
价格：酒店有14间房，分为5种，价格从1295元/晚到2668元/晚不等。当然，在不同的季节，会有相应的一些折扣。
如何预订：登录酒店的网站www.hotelcotecourbj.com，你可以找到最简单的预订方式。

心动留言簿

胡同里的可爱小院
FiiPee，新加坡 入住时间：2009年10月
住在这里是一个意外，只是因为原来我们预订的酒店客满，有一位北京的朋友推荐我们来到这里。
事实证明，这是一次最美丽的意外，我们做出了一次最正确的旅行安排。从来没想过会在北京入住一间这样的四合院酒店，我还以为四合院都已经几乎看不到了。那 天晚上我们从胡同口一直走到位于胡同中部的酒店门口，我们看不到她的样子，只是觉得那一晚特别安静，睡得特别安稳。到了第二天早上，我简直被惊呆了，这是 如此美丽的一个院子。我想，如果你是第一次来北京，这是开始你的旅程的一个很不错的起点，它让你看到最真实的北京。

当西方遇到东方
在南锣鼓巷深处，推开一扇艳蓝色的大门，就仿佛闯入了一个四合院里的“摩登世界”：西藏的炫目唐卡、阿拉伯的锦罗华毯、法国Baccarat的奢华水晶灯，甚至耳房大炕上的绣花被……颠覆你想象的艺术组合，在这里激情碰撞。又有谁会怀疑这一场丝丝入扣的融合之美呢？

杜革酒店地址：北京市东城区前圆恩寺胡同26号

心水标签：虽然只有10间房，但古老拼接时尚、东方风骨混搭西方设计，给人强烈的视觉和入住体验。

建造一个私享家

前圆恩寺胡同“老北京”的感觉相当浓郁，阳光斜打在老墙上，笼子里的鸟儿都懒洋洋的。这略有破旧的深巷里，一个瑰丽的四合小院以新锐设计为老巷增添了一抹炫色。
2008年8月，在主人杜革和比利时设计师翠翠、艺术家刘利年的共同规划、设计下，杜革四合院酒店改建一新，正式开业。在今年5月北京年度最佳国际酒店设计大奖评选中，杜革酒店就摘下了“最佳室内配饰设计大奖”桂冠。

是女主人的一点小私心，成就了这家别具风格的四合院酒店。对于从小在北京四合院中长大的杜革来说，四合院、胡同、老街坊是她童年记忆里最亲切的 部分。在海外游历列国，杜革也特别喜欢选择个性化酒店，比如在欧洲入住城堡酒店、名人故居，那种与五星级酒店或商务酒店截然不同的亲切体验、触摸活着的文 化和历史，让她的旅行收获满溢。

偶然一个机会，朋友把前圆恩寺这个小院介绍给她，“在胡同里开家四合院酒店”，这主意好极了，为人们建造一个可以私享的“家”，向他们传递关于四合院的温暖记忆。

东方与西方的艺术碰撞
杜革酒店曾是18世纪清朝四大家族之一索家四合院的一部分，黑门红墙、木雕窗棱、竹林掩映，如今依然能够窥探到当年家族的不凡气势。设计师保留 了90%的四合院原有建筑格局，可以说外表是十足的东方风骨，女主人的书画、摄影作品收藏以及苗族头饰、瓷画、京剧脸谱、老上海广告画等各种中式细节，又 为每个主题房增添了东方神韵。
但房间的色彩，完全采用了西方的高调用色，“白宫”清一色的通透白色调、“东方快车”的大红大紫、“西藏王国”的金色时光，“丝绸之路”天窗折 射在红墙上的格子阳光，还有那在北京只有在蓝CLUB高调登场的Baccarat水晶灯……东方风骨、西方血肉，一切组合都超乎想象，却又毫不突兀，“艺 术和文化本来就是相通的”，杜革四合院酒店做出了最精妙的诠释。

小酒店里的总统尊享
如果你以为四合院酒店就是国外背包客拿着北京地图在北京小巷迷宫里觅到的个性客栈，那就错了。在杜革小小的四合院酒店，服务却堪比五星级大酒店。

无论客人预订什么价位的房间，酒店都会安排管家接机服务，第一时间给客人递上鲜花、毛巾；而且酒店专为客人设置24小时管家服务；餐台提供24 小时免费水果和点心；外国游客可以在这里学到太极课，或者学包饺子、做中国菜；公司在这里举办品酒、发布会活动时，酒店管家还代为客户邀请重要客人，要知 道，目前，杜革酒店40%的接待比重来自公司活动和Party。不久，酒店还将专门改造辟出一间红酒屋，专为VIP客人存放红酒、雪茄。

居住在中国的历史文化之中，清晨去后海散步，白天去司马台长城或是798看艺术展，傍晚循着胡同幽暗的灯光，回到温暖的四合院，这样的“北京一夜”，新旧混搭，是不是格外销魂呢？

Link
价格：根据房型分800元、1200元、1800元、2100元四档
如何预订：登录www.dugecourtyard.com可以预订房间。

心动留言簿

最精彩的四合院派对
M.A, 法国  入住时间：2009年5月
每一位来宾都对我们举办的派对赞不绝口，他们已经开始为下次该选择哪一间套房而苦恼不已……我好想把房间里的家具占为己有！


正觉9号觉品酒店 Graceland yard Hotel

古寺古韵 禅意空间

500年前的古寺，在21世纪摇身一变成为一间四合院酒店，这其中的变迁，记载了最地道的北京历史，也肩负着北京四合院文化的保护与传承。

觉品酒店地址：西城区新街口正觉胡同甲9号

心水标签：500年 正觉寺禅宗、莲花灯、佛像、 古柏。

古寺变五星酒店
正觉胡同，连接新街口和后海的东西向老街，沿着灰瓦屋檐，走着走着，就通往后海那片灯火暧昧的酒吧区了。沿途能经过正觉9号，500年前曾经是正觉寺的地方改建成的精品酒店，藏在胡同里，从院落的大门往里瞅，迎面精致的窗格和两侧低矮的民居有很大的对比。

500年的历史外壳无疑是最大的吸引力，房子的梁柱、瓦顶，包括屋檐的小兽，都保存得完好，挂上莲花灯，摆放古旧的中式家具，古老的房子里加上 灯光造型，这气氛就妙不可言了。小院环视就能把所有风景尽收眼底，两棵古老的柏树分立在正殿两侧，正房、厢房和中堂被分隔成8个房间，有套房、标准间，也 有LOFT的小阁楼。套间把小耳院改造成mini私密庭院，躺在大浴缸里，透过玻璃，能看见一掌天空。

胡同老房子的改造本身是个很复杂的工程，水、电的重新布局往往是一大难题，但是在这里，所有的房子都有很大的独立卫生间，房间都是用电暖器和空 调双采暖，无线网络全面覆盖，24小时供应热水。现代化设备极大提升了住老房子的舒适性，毫无疑问，这是五星级的服务和管理标准。

去掉压抑感的四合院

酒店的老板叫区桀，是CCTV-2财经节目的记者，秉着媒体从业者对信息挖掘的长处，又因为父母都是佛教徒，她经朋友介绍看到正觉寺这个古院 儿，就立即喜欢上了它。那时候院子还是一家国有单位在使用，除了梁、柱、瓦顶等一些少量的遗迹存在，明清时期的繁盛面目都不复存在了。区桀查阅了国图的大 量史料，找到了关于正觉寺的零星碎片。

原本正觉寺是两进的小院子，但是第一进院子住着很多胡同里的百姓，搬迁是不容易的。区桀租下了后面的一进院子，做了大量的修复和重新设计的工 作。“很多人都说设计这个院子最多可以做成30个客房，但我就做了8个，每一个都带很大的卫生间。”说起空间改造，她一再强调住宿的舒适度。不同于其他胡 同酒店的是，正觉寺的挑高都非常高，空间感很强，不像普通民宅改造的酒店那样显得空间压抑。她把院子改造成禅宗主题的酒店，延续佛教氛围。房屋设计中也引 入了一些东南亚的感觉，有的细节像SPA会所，让人非常放松。有的房间融进了西方元素，贴上壁纸，用了高大的罗可可风格的四柱床，但是挂上佛头像、兰花手 印、中国的莲花灯，竟然也非常搭调。

珍贵的四合的天空
做这个院子的时候，区桀就想象客人入住的感受。当她自己试住了以后，就调侃说，觉得越来越舍不得给别人住了，因为每一个角落都是自己亲手做的， 很珍视每一个细节。“住过这样的四合院，就想，如果真的有一天自己有这样的四合院该多好！”在城市的大马路上奔波，人真的容易疲倦，这一进院落，四合的天 空，非常容易让人安静下来。早上出门，听鸟雀啁啾，夜晚回来，看一方星空，都非常惬意。

Link
价格：中式单人房1300元/天；中式古典双床房1800元/天；快乐家庭套房2300元/天；中式LOFT套房2500元/天；中式古典大床房300元/天；精品中式大套房3800元/天。
如何预订：通过www.graceland_yardhotel.com预订，或通过携程、艺龙等预订。

心动留言簿

真的能让你入定 安静
海欣  入住时间：2009年9月
体验四合院酒店不光是外国客人的嗜好，越来越多的国内观光客，甚至北京人都会找机会回到北京最地道的胡同生活中。正觉9号不算大，但敞亮的院子、挑高的空间都让人觉得很大气。地处二环内的繁华地段，本身离后海生活圈就很近，游玩都很方便。
因为这是古寺改建的酒店，所以它的韵味就更有历史感，更容易让人内心带点崇拜、带点惶恐前来“参拜”。所有的设计都能让人入定，一进院子就安静下来。

北京小院北京魂儿

吉庆堂在网络上的名气不小，被称为最精致的四合院酒店，有四星级酒店的客房标准。它坐落在胡同里，由传统四合院改造而成，保持着原来的老格局和浓浓的北京人情味儿，每一个亲身体验过的人都赞不绝口。

吉庆堂地址：东城区北锣鼓巷纱络胡同7号

心水标签：面积虽小，却完整地保留了北京四合院的规格，小院里鸟语花香，服务亲切、家常，有老北京的家庭氛围。

一间不像宾馆的宾馆

吉庆堂深埋在鼓楼附近的胡同里，去的时候从宝钞胡同南口进去，一路向北。胡同中正在进行着轰轰烈烈的“煤改电”运动，尘土与落叶齐飞，人声与汽 车喇叭共鸣，很难让人有清静的遐想。这样深一脚浅一脚地直行右转，终于在纱络胡同的尽头找到了目的地。不过，朱门灰瓦院门却紧闭着，也没有招牌，只有几个 成熟的红柿子探出了院墙。

迟疑着按了门铃，“来了！”一声地道的京腔随微风传来，大门吱吱嘎嘎地打开了，一个身着唐装的阿姨笑吟吟地出现在眼前，少不了一阵北京式的嘘寒 问暖，施工、找路、秋寒带来的种种焦躁不安顿时得到了安抚。细细打量着这门口的小小空间，“吉庆堂”三字大匾高悬头顶，左手边一个古香古色的条案，上面随 意摆放着名片、简介等象征宾馆身份的小东西，东厢房的山墙刻着一个简朴秀美的“吉”字，这面墙也当影壁用，影壁的下面是一个石头鱼缸，几尾红鲤优哉游哉， 想起了清代形容四合院的俗语“天棚、鱼缸、石榴树，老爷、肥狗、胖丫头”，心里不禁窃笑。

向右转，整个院落豁然开朗，是传统的一进院子。吉庆堂的“管家”李先生一脸喜兴地来迎接我。他坚决不肯让我用经理来称呼他，说那太严肃，不适合这里的气氛。的确，只有3个服务员，6间客房实在用不着“管理”这样严肃的字眼，我们在院子里聊天，就像到了朋友家。

迷你小院营造深秋诗意

吉庆堂完全保留了四合院的格局和样式，虽然小，但南房、北房、东西耳房、东西厢房一应俱全，房间功能也仿照传统——南房是大堂、餐厅，其他房间用作客房，甚至还有一个地窖。传统地窖是用来储物的，现在则改造成了一个会所，客人可以在这里听古筝、品红酒、喝功夫茶。

从地窖拾级而上时，一抬头看到了天和屋檐，这是深秋才有的高远蓝天和记忆中才有的屋檐，一下子恍如隔世。重新回到了小院中，这种感觉更强烈，且 不说那随处可见的花花草草，就是窗台上摆着的一排排熟透了的柿子就能让人回到过去，还有不少挂在枝头；小院散养的十姐妹群居小鸟叽叽喳喳，院子里的鸟语由 它们贡献，一不留神，它们就会飞到房间里，访问你的书桌和你的床……我正在痴痴地发呆，忽然一阵鸽哨传来，于是急忙仰头，但蓝天上只有影子了，脑子里居然 想起郁达夫的诗来。

我想很多人爱上这里也是因为这一瞬间的感觉吧！

李先生告诉我，吉庆堂开业于2008年8月8日，跟奥运同一天，刚开始的定位就是四合院宾馆，客房都是按照四星级宾馆规格装修的，客房的家具都 是传统样式的实木家具，床垫也具有国际标准，室内陈设遵从中国特色，用上了水墨画、青花瓷、宫灯、纱幔等民族元素，不华丽但很舒服。后来，是客人觉得这里 像一个家，他们也觉得挺好的，索性就更放得开了。现在客人很多都是半自助性的，比如喝茶、听音乐、画画，甚至还可以去厨房做饭，有的客人半夜熬粥还会叫大 家一起吃。

我去的时候就刚好赶上两个客人在小院里自娱自乐。一位老先生铺开宣纸，正在画水墨山水，看他那专注的样子实在不敢打扰，只是轻微点头，一笑而 过；另一位先生一边品茗一边看书，时不时看看天空，有时还跟我们聊上几句，热情相邀。如果不是因为工作，我也会坐下来一起品品那茶的滋味。

李先生让我们随意去客房看看，有些房间虽然住了客人，但也没有拉上窗帘，生活痕迹就袒露在我的眼前，我想来这里的客人肯定做足了功课，知道四合院的真谛和老北京生活的魂儿。

价格：北房、东厢房、东耳房门市价1290元/天；西耳房、西厢南房、西厢北房1090元/天，房价包含早餐和免费上网。预订10天以上和冬天淡季有优惠。
如何预订：登录网站www.jihousecn.com即可预订，接受信用卡和人民币。其他：宾馆提供与四星级酒店一样的服务，比如票务预订、租车等等，但如需吃午餐、晚餐，需要在入住时预订，这里提供老北京家常菜，比如炸酱面等。

心动留言簿

这里有道神奇的门
吉客小资  入住时间：2009年9月
很早就想感受一下北京四合院酒店的文化，但是一直都没有契机，周末一个冲动去了吉庆堂北京四合院酒店，真真切切地有了些感受。周末，从左岸公社 15层的电梯一路向下，出来一路向南，苏州街地铁至安定门，A口出站，直奔北铜锣巷，右转第4个路口纱络胡同7号院，据说，那扇门进去后，可以疗伤……那 扇可以疗伤的门后，是一张温暖的笑脸，那个阿姨说：“姑娘，先吃饭吧，我去给你准备房间。”想起离开的时候，对妈妈说的——再也不会因为一个人，离开或者 奔赴一个城市。
买了一瓶院子主人的红酒，看着院子里的枯枣树，边上矛盾地长着一棵欣欣向荣的柿子树。爱情就是这样吧，上一秒还繁盛青茂，而某个瞬间就会从里到外地枯竭，但无论怎样不能否认的是，它曾经存在，并将一直存在。

穿越历史的时空

在一个阳光灿烂的秋日上午，从后海西岸一路溜达到德内大街再往南，就能看到挂着大红灯笼的中堂客栈，当朱漆大门“吱呀呀”开启，躲藏在门后的绝对是一段穿越时空的美好旅程。

地址：德胜店，德胜门内大街蒋养房；西四店，西城区西四北二条。

心水标签：琴棋书画为主题命名的四间客房。

大有来历的老宅第

北京城有一句老话叫做“东富西贵”，意指居住在东城的多为大商人、大地主等大富之家，而住在西城的则是皇族、重臣等权重之族。坐落于北京西城区西四北二条的中堂客栈，曾有一段非常悠久的历史。在清朝雍正年间，这套别致的小四合院是当时权倾朝野的重臣鄂尔泰的宅邸。

一座古老的宅院从不缺典故，位于西四的中堂客栈更是如此。据说当年鄂尔泰刚刚迁入这个四合院时，家道败落、没有子嗣。而一日鄂尔泰夫人忽然在梦 中得到指点，于是夫妇二人在院子中盖起了一间特殊的观星室，天花板全部由琉璃砌成，可以透过天花板看得到天空和星辰。这在四合院的传统建筑上是没有发生过 的事情，因此引来了不少邻居观望与非议。之后，天天祈福，这样做果然获得了好运，鄂尔泰受到重用，于乾隆初年出任总理大臣。鄂尔泰的夫人接连生育了六个儿 子、两个女儿。

为了最大限度地保留这座院子的古迹，中堂客栈在修葺时尽量恢复原状，那间观星室的特别设计也保留了，只是从琉璃顶改成了玻璃顶，据说这间客房现在颇受打算要宝宝的夫妇的偏爱。

文化气息扑面而来

与中堂客栈西四店相比，由于建造的时候充分考虑到舒适度，中堂客栈德胜店更吸引国内的客人。这里所有房间均采用了地热取暖，再加上豪华的床垫， 给客人提供了温馨的睡眠。客栈房间内均设有独立卫生间、液晶电视、无线宽带网络。酒店的主人杜总早年是美院的学生，因此传统的四合院里到处是文化气息，比 如：一进院门处蕴涵中国风水讲究的青石板下的金鱼池；以“琴棋书画”为主题命名的四间客房；院子里画家朋友留下的多幅墨宝；客房中到处搜罗来的古董家具、 长案书桌、文房四宝等等。

酒店的主人杜总说，正宗纯正的北京四合院已经不多了，很多所谓的四合院酒店不过是平房酒店。在他的心中，院子是一个交流的空间，瓦蓝瓦蓝的天空下，家人或者朋友靠在院子里的躺椅上，优哉游哉地聊着天，喝着茶，这才有家的感觉。

待客在中堂

之所以把客栈起名叫做中堂，杜总说当初起这个名字是颇具苦心，里面很有讲究。

中堂本来就有两种意思。一说是官职：中堂之说起于北宋，为宰相处理政务之处，后称宰相亦为中堂，到了明清时成为对内阁大学士的称呼。帅府中堂客 栈建筑本身就为大学士鄂尔泰的故居，所以叫做中堂正合适。而另一种说法是关于建筑，中堂也就是正中的厅堂，这可是老的中式院落中最重要的接待贵宾的房间， 把客人请到中堂就坐，就是这个理儿。把客栈的名字定为中堂，也正体现了客栈主人为了彰显客人尊贵身份的良苦用心。

Link
价格：480元-960元
如何预订：登陆网站www.tanghotel.cn可以直接预订。

心动留言簿

闲适、便捷、浓郁的京味儿
Helen  入住时间：2009年10月
旅游到不同的城市生活，对我来说是最享受的事。是在宽巷子眯着眼喝茶任光影掠过，也是为那一口汤包穿过卖刀具的狭窄的街巷寻找富春茶社，当然更是在北京的四合院中听鸽哨飞过。
中堂酒店隐藏在西四的胡同里，院门外是操着儿话音的老北京拎着豆浆油条，院子内有石榴树、金鱼缸。最愿意在傍晚时分要杯酒店现磨的咖啡，坐在门口的台阶上，跟来往的街坊们闲聊两句。
中堂酒店的员工们都年轻爱笑，召之即来、然后即去，行动迅速，让我觉得既有足够的个人空间和隐私感，又能享受到舒适的服务。

北京10处奢华商务消费地 Beijing Top Ten Business Luxury Spots

近些，寻遍北京热络的酒店（Hotel）、餐厅（Restaurant）、会所（Club），遴选出十处特色的场所。这十处或诗意浓重，或经典鲜明，迥异的风格给你全然不一的十种感受。

KLUBBROUGE 魅惑而淋漓的畅快感

工体东路的中国红街3号，KLUBB ROUGE如一支性感的红色鸢尾花正在散发致命芳香，此地每夜量贩红色致命诱惑。

270°环绕视野，500米无遮挡景观空间，城市十万绿树与四万水波景观在醺然的视线中幽雅呈现，这样的场景中，红色演绎得彻底与极致，红色释放得性感与魅惑。

由法国著名酒吧及主题酒店设计师Imaad Rahmouni一手打造的KLUBB ROUGE中，暗红透紫的墙体，量身定制的全球独一无二酒红色水晶灯瀑布，浓浓的红色、斑斓魅幻的红色，淋漓尽致的红色，充满着永恒持久的生命力，让来过 的人不愿意离开，让没有来过的人充满期待。

站在黑色流苏装饰的大落地窗前看北京的夜景，可以说这里是漂浮在暧昧和迷醉中的幽谧岛屿，也可以说这里是摇曳在通透红艳的钢筋森林中的悠然憩地。 KLUBB ROUGE，奢华与典雅相互交织，流光溢彩的法国摩登风情由此缔造而出，幻化为最绚烂的夜空梦境。在KLUBB ROUGE，将邂逅酒精艺术与激荡撩人的音乐幻境。

KLUBBROUGE

地址：北京朝阳区工体东路中国红街3号楼Party层

(来源：MANse男色VOL37)