If I could only recommend one hotel in Shanghai, it would definitely be the Fairmont Peace Hotel. In 1992, the Peace Hotel was listed as one of the “World’s Famous Hotels” by the World Hotel Organization – at that time, it was the only hotel in China to receive this honor. With the recent popularity of the TV drama “Blossoming Shanghai”, this century-old hotel, which serves as an important setting in the story, has once again captured the spotlight.
More than just a hotel, it’s a legend that has witnessed the rise and fall of the Bund’s golden era, encapsulating a century of Shanghai’s historical charm and stories. Today, let’s explore 10 fascinating facts about the Peace Hotel that you might not know.
Fairmont Peace Hotel: 20 Nanjing Road East, The Bund, Shanghai, China.
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1. Shanghai’s First Building with Elevators
Located at 20 East Nanjing Road, the Peace Hotel was originally divided into north and south buildings. The south building, formerly known as the Central Hotel, was built in 1906. Although only six stories tall, it was the tallest building on the Bund at the time. The building was equipped with two Otis elevators from the start, making them Shanghai’s first electric elevators.
In 1929, the north building was constructed with investment from British businessman Victor Sassoon. Initially called the Sassoon House and also known as the Cathay Hotel, this was modern Shanghai’s first truly high-rise building (10 stories high, with parts reaching 13 stories), earning it the title of “Far East’s First Building”. The building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Palmer & Turner and featured American Chicago School Gothic architecture. This “Far East’s First Building” title was later taken by the 83.8-meter-tall International Hotel on Nanjing Road in 1934.
2. The Sassoon Presidential Suite
When discussing the Peace Hotel’s presidential suite, we must mention Victor Sassoon, the founder of the Peace Hotel. Victor was born into the prestigious Jewish Sassoon family of Britain, which was one of Shanghai’s most renowned and wealthy families at the time. Notable buildings such as the Sassoon House, Hamilton House, and Embankment Building all belonged to this family.
After completing the building, Victor made the top floor his private residence. This residence later became the hotel’s presidential suite, officially named the Sassoon Presidential Suite.
(The green roof is one of the Peace Hotel’s iconic features)
Legend has it that Sassoon, known for his extravagant lifestyle, insisted on extending the suite’s balcony outward so he could stand there and throw money to the crowds below, enjoying the spectacle of people scrambling for it.
3. The Nine Nations Suites at Peace Hotel
After the building’s completion, the ground floor to third floor were rented to foreign firms, import-export businesses, and international radio station offices. The fourth floor served as offices for Sassoon & Company and some of its subsidiary companies.
The fifth to seventh floors housed the Cathay Hotel’s Nine Nations Suites, a distinctive feature of the Peace Hotel. This was Victor’s creative vision – he wanted to showcase the luxury of different countries from around the world in his hotel. Each floor had 3 suites, all facing the Huangpu River, and each suite was decorated with elements characteristic of a different country. The fifth floor featured German, Indian, and Spanish styles, the sixth floor French, Japanese, and Italian styles, and the seventh floor Chinese, American, and English styles (Room 72 in “Blossoming Shanghai” is the English suite on the seventh floor).
The Peace Hotel’s eighth floor housed a ballroom and Chinese restaurant, while the ninth floor featured a nightclub and small restaurant. The tenth floor was Victor Sassoon’s private residence.
4. The Bund View from the 9th Floor Sky Garden
In my opinion, the sky garden at the Peace Hotel’s 9th floor Cathay Lounge offers Shanghai’s most beautiful terrace. Enjoying afternoon tea here while taking in the views of the Huangpu River and the Bund is a special experience. Viewing the Bund’s night scenery from here offers a different perspective, with the riverside’s brilliant lights spread out before you.
The Cathay Lounge is perfect for celebrating special occasions, such as birthdays, proposals, Valentine’s Day, and other memorable moments.
5. Horses and Hounds
When you visit the Peace Hotel, you’ll be amazed by the colorful glass dome in the lobby. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the decorative patterns under the dome are actually dogs – which might seem a bit unusual.
This is because Victor, the founder of the Peace Hotel, was passionate about horse racing and hunting, so he incorporated his beloved hunting dogs into the hotel’s decor.
Victor’s influence can be seen elsewhere too – the hotel’s famous jazz bar was once called “Horses and Hounds“.
Yes, as you might have guessed, Victor came up with this straightforward name himself.
6. Both a Hotel and a Museum
The Peace Hotel, or the former Sassoon House, has a century of history and has hosted hundreds of celebrities. As a filming location for numerous movies, the Peace Hotel has countless stories to tell.
That’s why the Peace Hotel has preserved its history in the Peace Museum, which is also the first hotel-based museum in China. It houses decades-old hotel items including tableware, keys, bathrobes, celebrity messages, and more – it’s quite fascinating.
Many people don’t know that the Peace Museum is free and open to visitors daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
If you’re a hotel guest, you can also book a free guided tour where a hotel staff member will share the Peace Hotel’s history and legends with you.
7. Why is the Peace Hotel Famous?
The Peace Hotel was Shanghai’s most luxurious hotel when it opened, and even today, 90+ years later, it remains one of Shanghai’s most prestigious hotels. Located in the prime location of the Bund, Shanghai’s most prosperous area, the Peace Hotel with its distinctive dark green copper pyramid roof stands out among dozens of classical old buildings.
Looking at the Peace Hotel’s history, many historical figures who seem to only exist in history books – social celebrities, wealthy merchants, and political figures – have all stayed at the Peace Hotel, becoming part of its many stories.
- In 1909, countries including Britain, America, France, and others held the International Opium Commission here.
- In 1911, Sun Yat-sen, en route to Nanjing to assume his position as the Provisional President of the Republic of China, attended a welcome ceremony here and wrote “The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades must continue to strive.”
- In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling held their engagement ceremony in the hotel’s Meilu Hall.
- In March 1936, American comedy master Charlie Chaplin and “Modern Times” leading actress Paulette Goddard arrived in Shanghai aboard the SS President Hoover and stayed at the Peace Hotel. Since they hadn’t officially announced their marriage at the time, they stayed separately in the Indian Suite (now Room 520) and Spanish Suite (now Room 521), which were directly across from each other. It’s said that after returning to America, they got married, making these two suites a part of their romantic story.
- American Generals Wedemeyer and Marshall, Ambassador Stuart, Flying Tigers Commander Chennault all stayed here.
- Emily Hahn, the American author famous for “The Soong Sisters,” was also a regular guest at this dream hotel.
8. Movies Filmed at Peace Hotel
At the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival, Peace Hotel received the “Century of Film Special Contribution Award”.
Over 40 movies have been filmed at Peace Hotel, including well-known titles such as “The Radio Wave That Never Fades”, “The Silent War”, “Center Stage”, “Tiny Times”, “Little Big City”, “Shanghai Triad”, and “Forever Enthralled”.
The 2018 spy drama “Peace Hotel” was set at the Peace Hotel, with the production team spending over 20 million RMB ($2.8 million) to recreate an almost exact replica of the Peace Hotel in Hengdian.
Not to mention the hit drama “Blossoms Shanghai”, where the main character Bao stays in the English Suite of the Nine Nations Suites at Peace Hotel, and filming was completed here.
9. World Record-Breaking Senior Jazz Band
The Peace Hotel’s Jazz Bar, formerly known as “Horses and Hounds”, holds a Guinness World Record – it features the world’s oldest band, with an average age of 83 among its jazz band members. It has been named one of the “World’s Top Ten Jazz Bars” by American Newsweek magazine.
This band has performed here every night since 1980 and has played for various world leaders visiting Shanghai. U.S. former presidents Clinton and Reagan, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and others have all enjoyed performances by the senior jazz band at the Jazz Bar. When President Obama stayed in the Presidential Suite at Peace Hotel, he went to watch the senior jazz band perform for two consecutive nights.
The senior jazz band performs 2 shows daily from 18:30-24:00, and their classic piece “Time to Say Goodbye” is a must-hear. Advance reservations are recommended, as walk-ins often find no available seats.
10. Who Owns Peace Hotel?
After learning so much, you might wonder who owns this legendary hotel?
Currently, Peace Hotel is owned by Jin Jiang Hotel Group and managed by Fairmont, which is a brand under the Accor Hotel Group. Click here to learn more about Accor hotel brands and tips for getting the best rates.
When you visit Peace Hotel, you can see the Fairmont logo on the entrance canopy. This is a legendary brand, and we’ll share more about Fairmont’s fascinating story in future posts.
How Much Does Peace Hotel Cost?
Peace Hotel is located in Shanghai’s central area, steps away from the Bund and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, and just a 5-minute drive from People’s Square. With such a prime location, legendary history, and recent TV drama popularity, it’s understandable that Peace Hotel commands premium rates.
Room rates at the Fairmont Peace Hotel vary by room type and season. Standard rooms typically range from ¥2,000 to ¥3,500 per night ($276-$484 USD/ $9,000-$16,000 TWD/ $2,100-$3,765 HKD), with luxury suites commanding higher rates.
Because the Peace Hotel is part of the Accor Hotels Group, if you are an Accor ALL Elite member, you can book a base room type and enjoy room upgrades, bonus points, and other exclusive member benefits.
If you are already an Accor Hotels member, we recommend booking through the official website to earn points rewards. If you want to quickly compare prices across platforms, you can use TripAdvisor for one-stop price comparison.
If you are not an Accor Hotels Group member, you can compare prices across major hotel booking sites to find the lowest rate. We have compiled a list of booking platforms you may want to use. You can compare prices on TripAdvisor, or book directly through Agoda or Klook.
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Peace Hotel Summary
If you want to experience authentic old Shanghai charm like in “Blossoms Shanghai”, the Peace Hotel is definitely the best choice. After all, Shanghai Peace Hotel is not just a historic building, but also a landmark that has witnessed countless changes. Whether it’s its unique decorative style or luxurious services, Peace Hotel is undoubtedly one of Shanghai’s most representative hotels.
▼Compare Prices Across Various Channels ▼
As I often recommend, if you’re reserving a room at an international hotel chain like Accor or Marriott, it’s best to book as a loyalty program member to get the best deals and enjoy exclusive benefits.
However, it’s always wise to check several booking channels before making a reservation.
Related Post: How to Book a Luxury Hotel for Less?
For example, Tripadvisor is a convenient way to check the same hotel’s price on different channels. Besides having extensive traveler comments, Tripadvisor is also an excellent platform for comparing prices.
Finally, Online Travel Agents (OTA) like Agoda and Trip can be good options. They may offer vacation packages similar to Accor Plus’s “More Escape” or flight-plus-stay travel packages. So, it’s worth checking these before making your reservation.
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ALL member benefits upgrade: free breakfast, 20% off room rates
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