A beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco building

Word to the wise: The hotel is located a stone's throw from Metro lines one, two and eight.

The Langham Yangtze offers the superb service of a behemoth five-star, 500-room hotel but in an intimate setting.

The 96-room hotel, located in a historic building decked out in Art Deco splendour, sits in the geographic centre of the city, a quick jaunt from People's Square. Everything you've come to expect from the Langham brand is here, including iPod docks, pillowy beds, and a bathtub television.

An added bonus of the Langham Yangtze is the rooms with balconies; this is a rarity in Shanghai and a nice little touch.