Waiting Century Hotel (Shanghai Jing’an Railway Station)

Waiting Century Hotel is about a kilometer from Shanghai Railway Station, right by the Shanghai Railway Station metro stop — a convenient pick if you're arriving or leaving by train, or just need a short stopover between connections. From here it's an easy trip to the Bund and the M50 art district.

It's a four-star property with comfortable rooms and daily restocked water and drinks. Reviewers consistently describe the front-desk staff as polite and patient. On site there's a restaurant, bar, gym and parking.

Who it's for: travelers in transit with an early-morning or late-night train or flight, and anyone after a budget option next to one of Shanghai's major transport hubs.

The main complaint that comes up in almost every review is thin soundproofing — you can hear neighbors and conversations in the hallway, and earplugs have to be requested separately at the front desk. There are also complaints about a musty smell and some rooms not matching the photos on the site — it's worth inspecting the room at check-in and asking for a swap if needed.