Destination Introduction-Shanghai

If you have traveled throughout many cities in China, it is common to feel that the number of people grows with each place you visit. This is truly the case in bustling Shanghai, the most populous city in China. Along with being the most populous, Shanghai is also the most developed city in mainland China, a captivating blend of East and West. On countless corners all over Shanghai, you can see European influences on the architecture, such as in the Xintiandi area or the former French Concession area, the “Paris of the East.” Shanghai became an important trading port during the Qing Dynasty, attracting international attention. Outside influences came as a result of several treaties signed near the mid-1800’s. The Eight-Nation Alliance (Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom) were granted concessions in Shanghai, and their influence can still be seen throughout this major city, such as the British-style buildings along The Bund. Right as you’re about to forget you’re in China, you wander upon preserved cultural sites such as the Yuyuan Gardens, where traditional Chinese architecture pervades the beautiful (but crowded) gardens.

Shanghai’s cuisine, like its city architecture, is a fusion of both local and western flavors. While western cuisine is easily found in this metropolis, many come to Shanghai for its famed xiǎo lóng bāos, literally “buns from the little steaming cage,” which is originally from the neighboring Hangzhou region. Part of the appeal of eating xiǎo lóng bāos is reveling in the mystery of how the richly flavorful broth manages to stay inside the thin skin of the bun. Be careful though, because the broth threatens to rush out as soon as you take a small bite.

URBN Hotels Shanghai

URBN Exterior

In line with its rapid development, Shanghai’s residents are becoming more and more mindful of protecting the environment. Compared to other cities in China, Shanghai’s air pollution is relatively lower, although it is still high on a global standard. Businesses and individuals are doing their part to promote sustainability, and one boutique hotel that is standing out above the rest is URBN Hotels Shanghai, China’s first carbon-neutral (removing the same amount of carbon dioxide from the environment as they put in) hotel.

Penthouse

URBN Hotels Shanghai is located in the heart of downtown Shanghai, nearby the former French Concession area. The hotel itself is a unique structure, designed from a renovated factory warehouse. The interior exudes contemporary and chic luxury while using 100% recycled and locally sourced materials. URBN Hotels Shanghai demonstrates that living green does not necessarily mean trading in exotic ambience, which can be experienced in each of its rooms. Everything from its eco-friendly cleaning products to its internal philosophy of sustainability is part of URBN Hotels Shanghai’s mission to enrich the planet we live in. Each decision in the operations process is intentionally energy-efficient, and URBN Hotels Shanghai is constantly on the look-out for new sustainability projects and technologies.

URBN Hotels Spa

Invigoratings Room

Courtyard Suite Spa Room

URBN Hotels Shanghai’s theme of “all-natural” reaches every aspect of the hotel, including Delicious!, the facial treatments specially designed for URBN hotels guests. Delicious! offers fresh gourmet skincare. By fresh, they mean so fresh you don’t know whether to revitalize your skin with the ingredients…..or eat them. The menu includes tantalizing treatments such as the Autumn Brighten and Tone, which uses natural ingredients such as cranberry, almonds, alfalfa, and aloe. This revolutionary spa aims to take elements from nature to maximize a nutritious regimen for your skin.

The personnel at this boutique hotel inspires their guests and friends to give back, setting an example through projects such as their “Million Tree Project” partnership with Roots & Shoots, an international NGO. Through the project, URBN Hotels Shanghai hopes to grow its own forest of 2,000 trees by buying and planting one tree at a time, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. For a truly green travel experience, stay at URBN Shanghai and learn more about what you can do in your daily life to help sustain our planet.

For more information regarding Shanghai tours and URBN Shanghai booking, please contact us at info@cltn.net or register with us at http://www.cltn.net.