MANDARIN ORIENTAL PUDONG
111 Pudong Nan Lu, Pudong hotel.qantas.com.au/ mandarinshanghai If the Bund represents Shanghai’s colonial grandeur then Lujiazui is the vertical city of the future. The district’s 362-room Mandarin Oriental Pudong is aimed squarely at high-end business travellers. Home to Shanghai’s largest and priciest presidential suite, a 788-square-metre spectacle complete with a sky-garden terrace, the hotel also stands out for its collection of 4000 artworks, many by local artists.
Business facilities Prestigious events, this is your address. There are nearly 2000 square metres of state-of-the-art meeting spaces and a huge ballroom with Chinese motifs, all served by a kitchen that prepares refreshments à la minute. Wi-fi Complimentary throughout.
Food and wine Superb steakhouse Fifty 8° Grill is overseen by one of Asia’s most celebrated chefs, Richard Ekkebus, whose Hong Kong restaurant, Amber, has both Michelin-star and World’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings. Also, don’t miss Yong Yi Ting, serving exquisite local cuisine by Tony Lu, the only mainland Chinese chef on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list (for his other Shanghai venue, Fu He Hui in Changning District. It’s worth a special trip). Fitness and wellbeing The fitness centre features a Kinesis wall, virtual trainers, a 25-metre indoor pool and thermal baths.
Run route The hotel has a newly renovated riverside promenade outfitted with a rubberised track. On Binjiang Avenue, you can go east to Dalian Lu (about 1.3 kilometres) or west to Fenghe Lu (about 1.1 kilometres); either way, you’ll have views of the Huangpu and the Bund.
Coffee nearby In under 15 minutes (head towards the Oriental Pearl Tower and turn left on Century Avenue for the mall), caffeine obsessives can walk to Fuel Espresso (fuelespresso.com).