Fodor's Expert Review Astor House Hotel

Editor's Note: This property is currently undergoing renovations.

The oldest Western hotel in China, the Astor House does an admirable job of capturing the ambience of Victorian Shanghai. The lobby's dark-wood columns and vaulted ceilings are accented by potted orchids and photos of famous visitors from the hotel's illustrious past (including Charlie Chaplin, Ulysses Grant, and Albert Einstein). The hotel remains popular with those seeking an historical stay—its spacious, high-ceilinged rooms remain true to turn-of-the-century Shanghai. This hotel is not one for business travelers, as its Internet does not work well.