48 Hours in Shanghai - The Guide - International Traveller Magazine

Shanghai has exploded onto the map. With its vibrant mix of Art Deco architecture and a futuristic skyline, this city has everything. Leave the map at home and just get lost – you won’t be disappointed.

Eat

Budget

Lu Bo Lang
(131 Yu Yuan Rd, Huangpu District)
Famous for its delicious Shanghai dim sums, you can eat with the locals in this Old Town God Temple eatery.
From $15-20 per person.

Lao Zheng Xing
(556, Fuzhou Rd, Huangpu District)
One of the oldest Shanghainese restaurants, extremely popular with the locals.
Try the fried prawn and stir-fried eel. $10-$15 pp.

Top end

Whampoa Club
(3 Zhongshan Dong Yi, Three on the Bund, +86 21 6329 1003, threeonthebund.com)
A sophisticated restaurant on the Bund, it serves modern Shanghainese food in a superb Art Deco setting.
Also has three different rooms just for enjoying the ancient traditions of the tea ceremony. $75-$90 pp.

Bars

Bar Rouge
(18 Zhongshan Dongyi Rd, Huangpu District, bar-rouge-shanghai.com)
Recently overhauled, it’s the ultra-cool bar for a buzzing night on the Bund. If you like the idea of someone on the decks and sitting back with a few pricey drinks, this is the place.

Jiao Bar
(68 Jinling Lu, near Jiangxi Zhong Lu, Bund)
Small and private, Jiao Bar is an up-market local with plenty of nooks and crannies.
Known for their Japanese shochu, it’s perfect for a romantic couple seeking to see off jet lag with a few drinks.

Barbarossa Lounge
(Inside People’s Park, 231 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu)
The Barbarossa Lounge is an institution.
A sophisticated three-storey Moroccan bar set in the middle of a pond within the incredible setting of the People’s Park, it’s a must for any thirsty traveller.

Things to do

Massage
Cheap and trusty massages are available all over Shanghai.
Visit the Dragonfly, on DongHu Rd, for an out-of-this-world relaxation experience.
Fit for anyone’s budget, prices start at about $15 for 90mins.

The Bund
Also known as Zhongshan Dong Yi, Shanghai’s famous waterfront was originally the international settlement, and therefore reflects this more worldly and cosmopolitan history.
Today its jammed with amazing Neoclassical and Art Deco architecture and is a symbol of the new Shanghai.

Psychedelic Tunnel
Set beneath the Huangpu River, this tunnel makes for a fun alternative to crossing the river.
It runs between the Bund in Puxi to the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong.
Board a modern glass portal car and zoom past flashing Christmas lights, giant projections of underwater scenes and “molten magma".

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Meizhou Rd, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District An hour’s drive from downtown Shanghai, this little village was built on the water during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is a relaxing alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city.
An interesting way to see life as it was.

Shopping

Dongtai Rd Antique Markets
Dongtai Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu Full of antique treasures including lovely Art Deco pieces and lots of Cultural Revolution memorabilia.
A bustling place where you have to dig for gold.

Underground Markets
Beneath Science and Tech museum, 2000 Century Avenue, Pudong A collection of “secretive" shops selling all the latest in knock-offs.
Be prepared to haggle, and generally only pay at most half of the first stated rate.

Shanghai Museum
(201 Renmin Ave, +86 21 6372 5300/132, shanghaimuseum.net)
Thanks to the Cultural Revolution and the departing Nationalists packing a few trinkets for their trip to Taiwan, the Chinese museums are actually quite poor. This is an exception.
Packed with exceptional ancient artefacts like jade, calligraphy, ceramics, coins and bronze.
Nanjing Road Originally called Park Lane, Nanjing Road is China’s premier western shopping street. It’s the bright buzzing capitalist centre of China.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Stay

URBN Hotel Shanghai
(Jiao Zhou Lu, urbnhotels.com)
China’s first carbon-neutral hotel, its in a great location in the heart of the French Concession area.
A cosy boutique hotel with exposed recycled brick interior walls and even old suitcase leather used as furnishing.
It’s the best of the new China. Avg $183/night.

CACHET Boutique
(931 West Nanjing Rd – entrance on Taixing Rd – cachethotels.com)
Another boutique gem in Shanghai, the apartment hotel is a private chic retreat in a 1920s building in the heart of the city. Avg $219/night.

The PuLi Hotel & Spa
(1 ChangDe Rd, JingAn District, thepuli.com)
An urban resort in the heart of the city with minimalist design, health spa and full resort facilities, The PuLi has beautiful views of Jingan Park and Shanghai’s skyline.
Avg $259/night.

Les Suites Orient 1
(Jinling East Rd, Bund Shanghai, hotelsuitesorient.com)
This 23-story Art Deco tower in the heart of the Bund is sophisticated, muted and modern.
Great views over the Bund, the river or the glittering Shanghai city skyline. Avg $188/night.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

48 Hours in Shanghai – The Guide

Eat