I am planning a trip to Shanghai and appreciate views from those who have stayed at the JC Mandarin and/or the Hilton. <BR>How do the 2 hotels compare, in terms of service, quality, accessibility (near to subway)... <BR>Thanks.

We stayed at JC Mandarin in Oct '01 in a standard room (just a plain room of average size). It's a nice hotel at an excellent location. The American/Chinese/Japanese breakfast buffet was excellent. The maid sevice was excellent but we spoke Chinese to them. AAA would probably rate this hotel 3 diamonds (not Chinese 5 stars). One disadvatage of this hotel is that it is at least 1/2 mile or more from a subway station. The staff was very friendly and helpful. However I had to put up a big fuss in order to check out at 2pm instead of the required noon deadline.<BR><BR>I never stay at Hilton, but found through research that it is a very nice hotel. It's a long block from a subway station. It is also located in a very good area - Jin An Temple area. I believe Hilton is rated as good or better than JC Mandarin. By the way the 2 hotels are no more than 2 miles apart.

The most interesting part of Shanghai today is the incredible modern architecture of the city, I call it the Jetson city. If you want a hotel experience to match this, I would recommend the Hyatt. It is the tallest hotel in the world, the rooms start at about the 70th floor. It is the top part of an office building in the Pudong area. Fabulous views looking down on the Bund and over the city. Very nice large rooms with a bathtub right at the window. Several good restaurants and a nice health club. <BR><BR>If you don't stay there go up to their lobby bar at sunset for a drink and watch the lights come up all over the city...<BR><BR>Hope this is helpful.<BR>

Hyatt is about a block away from a subway station.<BR><BR>I agree with Nancy that if you don't stay at the Hyatt, go there for a visit during a relatively clear day. We had Chinese lunch on the 55th floor. Excellent food and view. Check-in is at 54th floor.

Thanks, Louis and Nancy for all your suggestions. ;-&gt;<BR>Think I would still prefer to stay at the 'old town' section, so will try to book the Hilton. However, we will certainly get to the Hyatt, at least, for a drink. Would love to see the city light up in the evening. <BR>By the way, thru research, I read that the Peace Hotel is landmark by the Bund on the Huangpu area. Have you visited that place? <BR>

The top floor (8x th floor) of Hyatt has a public viewing deck for a fee.<BR><BR>Yes , Peace Hotel is a landmark building. We went there for Chinese lunch at the Dragon and Phoenix Room sitting by the window for a view of Bund and skyscrapers across the river in Pudong. The lobby is kind of dark. Not too many people know, but you can get to the roof top of this hotel to look at views of Shanghai and Pudong.<BR>Also there is supposed to be a nightly jazz band playing there. Check before you go making sure the band is still playing nightly.

I don't know how much of the &quot;old&quot; city you are going to see at the Hilton or elsewhere, most of it has been demolished to make way for high-rise office buildings and shopping malls. The Shanghai of the 1930's does not exist anymore. The Bund is one of the few places left with older buildings. I haven't been to the Peace Hotel in years, but if the jazz combo is playing, it's interesting, not exactly great music, but an event.<BR><BR>A great restaurant on the bund is M on the Bund. This is the sister restaurant of M on the Fringe in Hong Kong. The restaurant is on the top floor of a building on the Bund and has great views. They also have a very cool bar. The good is an eclectic mix of east and west. I would definitely recommend it. Great wine list too. Reservations are pretty much essential. If you will be in Hong Kong, I would also recommend M on the Fringe as well. Info on the Shanghai restaurant is below.<BR><BR>M on the Bund <BR>7/F, 20 Guangdong Lu, Corner of the Bund, Shanghai, 200002<BR>Telephone: 00 86 21 6350 9988<BR>http://www.m-onthebund.com <BR><BR>Hope this is helpful. Have a great trip.<BR>

I agree with Nancy that the Peace Hotel is one of the best remnants of Shanghai's international past. <BR><BR>I would also put the Park Hotel in that category (walking distance from the Peace Hotel, and currently staging an exhibition of the history of it's famous architect, Hudec) as well as the (now) art museum (with the clock tower that used to overlook the racetrack).<BR><BR>Shanghai's international past is there to find, but visitors must look for it. A good list of the best examples can be found on this website:<BR><BR>http://www.han-yuan.com/shudian/alastlook/intex.htm<BR><BR>This is highlights of one of Tess Johnston and Deke Ehr's books, which are available to buy in Shanghai (highly recommended).<BR><BR>But simply walking through the former French concession (roughly south of the Hilton) you can find many, many wonderful buildings from that time period, from private villas to the long tong row houses.<BR><BR>It will probably be MONTHS before I ever get around to writing a walking guide, but several guide books list the highlights, and walking around in general on the smaller streets is always good. One of my favorites (but a long one) is to start at the Yu Yuan Garden area, pass through the Henan Lu and Fangbang Lu intersection (don't miss the 4 story antique market there and the indoor antique market between the 4 story one and the intersection - near the northernmost lion), and then take Fuxing road as far as you want to. That street is lined with majestic homes from that period as well as interesting long tongs.

Louis, Nancy &amp; Andrea, <BR><BR>Many thanks for the suggestions and advice. <BR>Will let you know how the trip goes. <BR><BR>Cheers.