PRICE:
Frommer's Recommended

The Jin Jiang Hotel opened its doors in 1929 as the Cathay Mansions but is best remembered as the location for the signing of the Shanghai Communique by President Nixon and Zhou Enlai in 1972, re-establishing U.S.-China relations. Today's complex includes three major edifices: the 1929 North Building (Beilou), remodeled as a five-star hotel; the central Grosvenor House (1931), with its facade an imitation of the Barclay-Vessey Building in New York City, redone as a five-star all-suite deluxe hotel; and the old South Building, most recently renovated in 2005 into another five-star outfit. The Grosvenor House, reserved for long-term business guests, contains a Presidential suite with Chairman Mao's desk and easy chair (with a concealed compartment on the right side for a pistol). Rooms in the North Building have high ceilings, brown shutters, and somewhat worn carpets, while those in the South Building, all executive-level rooms, fare much better with modern furnishings. Service is adequate though hardly exemplary, and staff still struggles occasionally with English. However, its excellent location in the very heart of the French Concession puts you just steps from some fine restaurants and shops. Facilities: 5 restaurants; food street on hotel grounds; 20m (66-ft.) indoor swimming pool; health club w/Jacuzzi and sauna; concierge; tour desk; business center; shopping street; salon; 24-hr. room service; same-day dry cleaning/laundry; nonsmoking rooms; executive-level rooms

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Shanghai, 5th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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