Shanghai Hotels for Weary Travelers

Even frequent visitors know how long and tedious a trip to China can be. There is not much you can do when weather and mechanical breakdowns get you stuck for extra hours with other impatient travelers at the airports. Don’t you just want to reach your hotel in China and just relax?

Long travel time can be really irritating when coupled with delays. And, more often, unfortunate turns like these in your China vacation can mess up the trip considerably. But, sometimes, the line between good and bad travel experience in China hinges on the presence of a few facilities and services waiting at your destination hotel in China.

Hengshan Hydropathic Center at the Picardie Hotel in Shanghai, China–There is nothing like the traditional complementary treatment from China to cure travel fatigue and just relax. The Hydropathic Center at Picardie Hotel specializes in water therapy and acupuncture. Naprapathy practitioners are likewise available at their hotel in Shanghai. For overall feel-good session, hotel guests may also want to try their cerumen clearing and pedicure services.

Dongjiao State Guest Hotel Spa and Massage–Spa facilities at the Dongjiao State Guest Hotel in Shanghai are among the best in their class in the whole China. And, in an emerging economy as big as China’s, that distinction is something. There is the usual Jacuzzi and sauna facilities at their hotel in China. What is to really look out for is the massage service that has its way of turning an obnoxious hotel guest into a well-mannered one.

Cypress Hotel Spa and Massage Center–The Cypress Hotel in the Changning District of Shanghai is one of those hotels in China that provide more than just hotel accommodation.


Together with the bowling alleys, tennis courts, and indoor swimming pool of their Shanghai hotel, the Spa and Massage center of the Cypress Hotel improves accommodation experience substantially. The spa center of the hotel provides a calm and serene escape from the busy Shanghai Streets, at a walking distance from your hotel room.

Experience The Hidden Charm Of China’s Imperial Capital

When you are in Beijing, don’t ever think that everything around you is political. Being in the capital city of China is not all about “the people”. Actually, there are many tourist destinations in Beijing that can spell fun for you and the whole family.

One of the best China attractions are in Dongcheng District, Beijing. This precinct extends over some of the most important sites in the capital. On top of the list is the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial palace for Chinese royalty and the seat of government from the Ming Dynasty up to the Qing Dynasty. Today, this 177-acre complex is home to the Palace Museum. But other than getting cozy with museum artifacts at the Palace, you can find other places of interest while visiting Beijing. Here are three of them:

Gu Guanxiang Tai, The Ancient Observatory

Visiting this ancient observatory literally transports you back to the 17th century when Jesuits built most of this huge astronomical facility. Here you will find huge bronze instruments of astronomy adorned with symbols like stars, clouds, and dragons. Apart from the large display of China’s knowledge about celestial bodies, the best thing about this tourist spot is that you can play with replicas of Chinese astronomical instruments, whose precursors can date back to ancient dynasties.

Beijing Wax Museum

A first in China, this wax museum was finished in 1990 and located right within Di Tan Park. The collection displays life-size figures of historical and well-known Chinese personalities. Here you can take a look at the wax likenesses of the very first emperor of China and modern revolutionary hero Dr. Sun Yat-Sen among other figures. If wax statues are not your thing, you can always relax and take a glimpse at traditional Chinese daily life in Di Tan park grounds.

Di Tan Park

This tourist spot in Dongcheng District used to be a shrine where ancient Chinese emperors paid their respects to the Earth God. Constructed in the 15th century, the shrine was converted into a park after the imperial dynasties ended and China embraced modernity. Much of the shrine has been preserved, but today it serves as a favorite venue for cultural performances. It has also become a popular spot for practicing Tai chi. All in all, Di Tan Park is the perfect place where you can relax and get a taste of the local habits and practices.

So whenever you visit China, try to stop by at Beijing’s Dongcheng District. It’s where you get to experience the best of past and present China in a nutshell. Accommodation will not be a problem as there are many world class yet affordable China hotels in the area, such as Asia Hotel, Xinhai Jin Jiang and Oriental Garden Hotel.

Countdown to Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix begins

The Formula One (F1) World Championship Chinese Grand Prix is scheduled to open on 10 October at the Shanghai International Racing Circuit.

The Chinese leg will be the second to the last stop in this year’s Formula One racing calendar. It will feature top drivers like Lewis Hamilton of Mclaren, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikonen of Ferrari, and Robert Kubica of BMW-Sauber, racing against time and themselves for the 2008 crown.

Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes leads this year’s F1 standings after 14 races, closely followed by Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari in second place. Taking the third spot is Robert Kubica of BMW-Sauber while Kimi Räikkönen, also from Ferrari, and Nick Heidfeld, Kubica’s teammate, round up the fourth and fifth spot, respectively.

F1 fans around the world are holding their breaths, eager to find out who will reign supreme and be named the new Formula One king. Chinese fans, especially, would surely not want to miss this chance to witness this important local event live.

Amid all the excitement and anticipation, the city of Shanghai is busily preparing to host the exclusive race. Expecting the influx of visitors who will be watching the Chinese Grand Prix, hotels in Shanghai have started opening their doors to race fans in the country and around the world.

Four-star luxury hotels such as Rainbow Hotel, located at 2000 Yan An Road, are now accepting reservations. The Shanghai hotel, 23 kilometers away from Anting Town, where the F1 race will be held, has 640 newly renovated and expertly furnished rooms to provide guests with a restful retreat for leisure or business trips.

For further inquiries, log on to the official hotel website at http://www.rainbowhotel-shanghai.com/.