Pujing Waiting Hotel (Shanghai People’s Square Xinzha Road Subway Station) stands at 219 Xinzha Road in the Huangpu district, and about a minute’s walk separates it from Xinzha Road metro station. The hotel opened a few years ago, has 135 rooms, and its main story is water: guests write about a large bath in the middle of the room, good for soaking after a whole day on your feet. The interior is assembled from the motifs of classical gardens: lanterns with window-lattice grilles sit alongside modern technology. From the upper floors you can see the city lights, the Huangpu River and the Oriental Pearl TV tower. The hotel is convenient in that Shanghai railway station and Nanjing Road are a couple of stops away, and the natural history museum and the Grand Theatre are nearby. It suits couples and those for whom it is important to rest well after a busy day and not spend time on the road.

Xinzha Road: north of central Shanghai, where the metro leads in all directions

Xinzha Road runs north of People’s Square and Nanjing Road, in an area where historic buildings mix with modern offices. The metro station a minute from the hotel connects several lines, and you can reach the Bund, Xintiandi and the airports without looking for a taxi. On foot you can really reach the pedestrian Nanjing Road, the natural history museum, the Grand Theatre and the Joy City shopping centre, while for Shanghai railway station you need to go a couple of stops. In the evening the area is quieter than Nanjing Road itself, but cafés and shops work late. A few blocks away is the memorial of the Battle of the Sihang Warehouse, where schoolchildren and tourists come.

  • Nanjing Road — a pedestrian shopping street.
  • The natural history museum — a large museum for families.
  • The Shanghai Grand Theatre — concerts and performances.
  • Shanghai railway station — trains across the country.

Tip for travellers: The best seasons for walks are April and October. Summer is stuffy, winter damp and windy. Avoid rush hour on the metro, and in the evening after nine the stations empty.

A bath, lanterns and robots on the floors

The hotel combines classical Chinese decor and new technology. The building has a restaurant and café, a lobby bar, a gym, a business centre, meeting rooms, left luggage and lockers. Robots take small orders around, and a concierge helps with tickets and routes. There is private parking, bicycle and car rental, public-transport tickets and electronic document reading. In the lobby and rooms guests like to take photographs: the light of the lanterns and warm wood create the right shot.

  • A large bath in the room
  • A restaurant, café, lobby bar
  • A gym and business centre
  • Robots and a concierge
  • Parking and bicycle rental

Rooms

The data has no details of sizes, so check when booking. Guests mention a spacious bath in the middle of the room, for which a disposable mat is provided.

Interior

Lanterns with window grilles quoting classical gardens and modern devices are a successful combination of old and new Shanghai.

Breakfast, coffee and Shanghai eateries

The breakfast is called tasty: guests say most are satisfied with the buffet. The restaurant and café in the building help on the first and last day, when you don’t want to look for food.

Near the metro and in the alleys around Nanjing Road there are many places: if you want a Shanghai breakfast, take fried shengjian buns, xiaolongbao dumplings and soy milk. In the evening you can find restaurants with red-braised pork and prawns in wine.

Pros and cons of Pujing Waiting Hotel

What the hotel is valued for

  • Xinzha Road metro a minute’s walk away.
  • A large bath in the room and pleasant decor.
  • A view of the Huangpu River and the city lights from the upper floors.
  • Nanjing Road, a museum and a theatre nearby.
  • A breakfast that is spoken of warmly.

What to know in advance

  • Central Shanghai is noisy and crowded.
  • There is little data on room sizes.
  • No pool.
  • In season the hotel is full.

What guests write

Guests most often praise the location by the metro, the bath, the interior and the breakfast. They note polite staff and the view from the windows. Criticism concerns noise and crowding in season.

How to book Pujing Waiting Hotel

Choose dates in the “Where to book” block and pay attention to the floor: the higher, the better the view. The details of payment are visible at the last step.