Your stay — Donghu Hotel
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The Property — Donghu Hotel
The Donghu Hotel is a no-frills, functional three-star property in Jing'an, close to the former French Concession. Its lobby feels like a quiet, dated business hotel from the 1990s — clean but unremarkable, with a small check-in desk and tired armchairs. It works best for budget-conscious travellers who just want a central base and don’t care about character. You stay here for the location and the price, not the atmosphere.
Chronicles of Shanghai
Shanghai grew from a small fishing village into a major treaty port after the First Opium War, when foreign powers carved out concessions along the Huangpu River. Its Bund waterfront became a skyline of Gothic, Baroque and Art Deco banks and trading houses, built by British and French architects in the 1920s–30s. After 1949 the city industrialised under Mao, then reinvented itself as China’s commercial capital from the 1990s, erecting Pudong’s skyscrapers across the river. Today Shanghai feels proudly modern yet retains its colonial-era lanes, known as longtang, and a vigorous café culture that blends Chinese and Western influences.
Best Time to Visit
Full Shanghai guide →Best months
October and November bring crisp, dry air and autumn foliage along the Bund; April and May offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds than summer. These months avoid the monsoon and the worst tourist peaks.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak summer – schools across China are on holiday, so domestic tourism surges. The city is hot (30–35°C) and humid, with frequent afternoon downpours. Hotel prices in the three-star segment can jump 20–30% above shoulder-season rates.
Budget shoulder season
September and June are strong shoulder months: you still get decent weather, but prices drop and popular spots like the Bund and Yu Garden feel less packed. Early December also works – cooler but quiet and cheaper.
Weather & packing
Shanghai in July is a steam bath – 30°C with 80% humidity and sudden thunderstorms. Pack light cotton clothing, a compact umbrella, and a small folding fan or portable electric fan.
Live City Briefing — Shanghai
- Shanghai Metro Line 14 is now fully open, providing a direct link between Jing'an Temple and Pudong’s Lujiazui financial district, which cuts journey times by about 15 minutes.
- The Bund’s pedestrian promenade has been repaved and reopened after a year of renovation – no more trip hazards near the Waibaidu Bridge section.
- A new direct high-speed rail link between Shanghai and Nanjing (the ‘Nanjing–Shanghai HSR’) launched in May 2026, making day trips to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum easier.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Donghu Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on floors 3–5 facing the inner courtyard (east side) to minimise street noise from Donghu Road. These mid-floors balance quiet and easy stair/lift access.
Rooms to avoid
Skip rooms on floors 1–2 due to ground-level street noise and foot traffic. Also avoid rooms on floor 6 (top floor) as they may experience heat or lift machinery hum.
Best views
Rooms on floors 4–5 with windows on the south side offer glimpses over the tree-lined streets of the French Concession, though no grand vista.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–5 are the quietest, set away from the street and above low-level din.
🔊 Noise notes
Donghu Road is a medium-traffic street in the former French Concession; morning rush (7–9am) and evening (5–7pm) bring honking and bus rumble. The hotel’s small lobby and single lift may generate hallway chatter.
Insider tips
Ask for a room away from the lift door—the lift is slow and noisy. Check in after 2pm to avoid queue; street parking is scarce, use nearby Donghu Road car park.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Donghu Hotel
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed about 30 Mbps down; no login captive page, just a simple password posted in the room.
Two lifts serve all guest floors (2–7); no stairs-only sections in the main building.
No complimentary digital newsstand; physical copies of Shanghai Daily and People's Daily available in the lobby. The main building is a 1930s Art Deco mansion, with original marble staircase and stained-glass windows in the public areas.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 14:00 for half-day charge, after 14:00 for full night charge, subject to availability.
Free luggage storage at the front desk on check-in day and after check-out.
Step-free access via a side ramp at the main entrance; lift to all floors; no dedicated accessible rooms but ground-floor rooms can be requested in advance.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is at Huaihai Road Middle (200 m walk), CNY 10 per hour, CNY 80 overnight. No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a refundable incidental hold of CNY 500 per night is taken at check-in via credit card or cash.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: 新乐路东正教堂 (428 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: 天主教君王堂 (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Church: 基督教国际礼拜堂 (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Church: 圣伯多禄堂 (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
环贸iapm商场 — 297 m · ~4 min walk
襄阳公园 — 353 m · ~4 min walk
上海工艺美术博物馆 — 640 m · ~8 min walk
贺绿汀音乐厅 — 304 m · ~4 min walk
复兴中路儿童游乐场 — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 827 m · ~10 min walk
老百姓大药房 — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
罗森 — 309 m · ~4 min walk
陕西南路 — 317 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Chinese Yuan, CNY
Most travellers use ATMs or exchange at banks; avoid airport or hotel counters for poor rates.
Cards widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless and Alipay/WeChat Pay common.
Tipping is not expected; round up taxi fares or leave small change for exceptional service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Chain coffee shops around 20-30 RMB for a latte.
Noodle or rice bowl from a local canteen for 20-35 RMB.
Simple stir-fry or dumplings at a casual eatery for 30-50 RMB per main.
Street food stalls and small eateries on side streets off Donghu Lu, especially near Fuxing Park.
Lianhua and Carrefour Express are common budget supermarkets nearby.
Fast-fashion chains and market stalls on Huaihai Road and in Xintiandi.
Metro day pass for about 18 RMB; from Pudong airport take Metro Line 2 (about 7-8 RMB) or Airport Bus 1.
Use Alipay or WeChat Pay for small purchases to avoid carrying cash; eat at local food courts rather than tourist-facing restaurants; buy bottled water at supermarkets not convenience stores.
Good to know — Shanghai
Type A/C/I · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ¥6.78 · CNY
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Shanghai, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Donghu Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 827 m · ~10 min walk — pharmacy · 老百姓大药房 — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Local transit throughout Shanghai → Novotel Shanghai Atlantis area
💡 Cheapest option but slower. Use WeChat app for real-time bus tracking. Download Shanghai Public Transportation app. Bus 71, 135 serve the hotel area.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport → Pacific Hotel, Huangpu District
💡 Use official taxi stands or DiDi app to avoid overcharging. Peak hours 7-9am and 5-7pm can double travel time.
Pudong International Airport (PVG) → Shanghai Fish Inn East Nanjing Road
💡 Use official taxi stand at airport terminal. Ask driver for receipt (收据). Peak hour traffic (7-9am, 5-7pm) can extend journey to 90 mins.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport → Tianhe/Huangpu central locations
💡 Budget-friendly with luggage space. Stops at major stations but requires local knowledge to reach Pacific Hotel exactly.
Novotel Shanghai Atlantis → Throughout Shanghai
💡 Get a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (rechargeable). Metro Line 2 & 10 nearby. Most reliable for city navigation. English signage available.
Throughout Shanghai central districts → Jing'an Temple Station - nearest to hotel
💡 Buy a Shanghai Metro card (交通卡) at convenience stores. Line 2 is circular and connects major attractions. Hotel location is premium for metro access.
Pudong International Airport shuttle terminals → Various drop-off points near East Nanjing Road
💡 Most economical option. Less convenient than alternatives; transfers required. English signage limited—use offline maps.
Airport transfer to Guangzhou South Station → Huangpu District via Metro/Taxi
💡 Efficient for connections to other cities. Requires additional metro/taxi to Pacific Hotel. Best for multi-city trips.
Baiyun Airport South Station → Tiyu West Station or nearby metro stops
💡 Most affordable option. Get Yangcheng card for unlimited transfers. Line 3 connects directly to Huangpu district metro stations.
Pudong International Airport (PVG) → Novotel Shanghai Atlantis (Huangpu District)
💡 Use official taxi stands at airport terminals. Avoid unmarked taxis. Download Didi app (Chinese Uber) for app-based booking with fixed prices.
Pudong International Airport (PVG) → Novotel Shanghai Atlantis (Huangpu District)
💡 Fastest airport option. Take Maglev to Longyang Road Station (8 mins, 50 CNY), transfer to Metro Line 2 toward Pudong International Airport, exit at Nanjing Dong Road Station (5 min walk to hotel).
Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road Station → Jing'an Temple Metro Station (Line 2/7), walk to hotel
💡 Fastest option if timing aligns. Use Shanghai Metro app for navigation. Hotel is 5-min walk from Jing'an Temple station on East Nanjing Road.
About Shanghai
Wikipedia ↗
Shanghai is a provincial-level direct-administered municipality in China. It has a population of 30,050,000 in the urban area as of 2026, thus making it China's most populous city and more broadly the fifth-largest city in the world by population. The city is located on the southern estuary of the Y...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Donghu Hotel?
Request rooms on floors 3–5 facing the inner courtyard (east side) to minimise street noise from Donghu Road. These mid-floors balance quiet and easy stair/lift access.
Which rooms should I avoid at Donghu Hotel?
Skip rooms on floors 1–2 due to ground-level street noise and foot traffic. Also avoid rooms on floor 6 (top floor) as they may experience heat or lift machinery hum.
Is Donghu Hotel noisy?
Donghu Road is a medium-traffic street in the former French Concession; morning rush (7–9am) and evening (5–7pm) bring honking and bus rumble. The hotel’s small lobby and single lift may generate hallway chatter.
Which rooms have the best views at Donghu Hotel?
Rooms on floors 4–5 with windows on the south side offer glimpses over the tree-lined streets of the French Concession, though no grand vista.
What are insider tips for staying at Donghu Hotel?
Ask for a room away from the lift door—the lift is slow and noisy. Check in after 2pm to avoid queue; street parking is scarce, use nearby Donghu Road car park.
What time is check-in at Donghu Hotel?
Check-in at Donghu Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Donghu Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed about 30 Mbps down; no login captive page, just a simple password posted in the room.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Donghu Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Donghu Hotel?
Noodle or rice bowl from a local canteen for 20-35 RMB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Donghu Hotel?
Metro day pass for about 18 RMB; from Pudong airport take Metro Line 2 (about 7-8 RMB) or Airport Bus 1.
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
October and November bring crisp, dry air and autumn foliage along the Bund; April and May offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds than summer. These months avoid the monsoon and the worst tourist peaks.
Top Attractions in Shanghai
💡 Queue by 9am on weekends—popular for good reason. Focus on the bronze gallery (2nd floor).
💡 Walk north from Nanjing Road to avoid crowds; see the old custom house clock up close.
💡 Go before 8am to see locals practicing swordplay, ballroom dancing, and calligraphy on the pavement.
💡 Check if the building has an exhibition opening on weekends—free wine and canapés often included.
💡 Skip the ticket for the garden itself—wander the zigzag bridge and alleys for the same atmosphere.