Shanghai might not be the capital of China but it is certainly the nation’s largest city to date. Accommodation prices are ever increasing each year and a holiday in this flourishing global metropolis is unfortunately not what you would consider cheap by Asia’s standards.

But fret not, because there are still several budget-friendly accommodations you can stay in. From Holiday Inn Shanghai Jinxiu, The Bund Riverside Hotel to Crowne Plaza Shanghai Fudan, here are 9 Affordable Hotels in Shanghai You Can Stay At For Under S$150 A Night.

Source: Crowne Plaza

#1 CROWNE PLAZA SHANGHAI FUDAN

Crowne Plaza Shanghai Fudan is a 5-star hotel with four dining destinations, a fitness centre and an on-site spa. Complimentary parking and internet are provided to overnight guests. Iconic landmarks such as The Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower are located 11 kilometres away.

199 Handan Rd, WuJiaoChang
Yangpu, Shanghai, China, 200433
Tel: +86 21 5552 9999

Rates start from S$137* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#2 DORSETT SHANGHAI

Dorsett Shanghai is located directly outside the exit of Century Park Metro Station (Line 2). The 4-star hotel is only a 10-minute walk away from Shanghai New International Expo Centre, hence making it an ideal destination for business travellers.

800 Hua Mu Road
Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201204 PRC
Tel: +86 21 3852 2222

Rates start from S$121* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#3 GUBEI GARDEN HOTEL SHANGHAI HONGQIAO

Gubei Garden Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao is only a stone’s throw away from Yili Metro station, thereby making it extremely convenient for travellers to explore Shanghai via public transport. It is only 14 kilometres away from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

1446 Hongqiao Rd, Changning Qu, China
Tel: +86 21 5257 4888

Rates start from S$106* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#4 HOLIDAY INN SHANGHAI JINXIU

Holiday Inn is a global brand that most of us are familiar with. Holiday Inn Shanghai Jinxiu is situated in a quiet neighbourhood and the 4-star business hotel is only four kilometres away from Shanghai International Exhibition Centre.

No. 399 Jin Zun Road
Pudong, 200125 Shanghai, China
Shanghai Shi, China, 200125
Tel: +86 21 5055 9888

Rates start from S$92* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#5 HOLIDAY INN SHANGHAI VISTA

Holiday Inn Shanghai Vista’s hotel rooms are bigger than most hotel rooms in Shanghai – and we reckon that itself is a major factor! The Jade Buddha Temple is within walking distance, whereas the city centre is just a 10-minute drive away.

700 Changshou Rd, Putuo Qu
Shanghai Shi, China, 200060
Tel: +86 21 6276 8888

Rates start from S$115* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#6 HOWARD JOHNSON PLAZA SHANGHAI

Howard Johnson Plaza Shangai’s location is superb. The hotel is within walking distance to Nanjing Road East Station, The Bund, Shanghai Museum and People’s Square. It is a combination of convenience, comfort and luxury!

595 Jiu Jiang Road
Huangpu, 200001 Shanghai, China

Rates start from S$150* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#7 SHANGHAI TIANPING HOTEL

The stylish Shanghai Tianping Hotel is only a 5-minute walk away from Xujiahui Commercial district. The 4-star lodging itself offers guests four different restaurants, complimentary internet and free parking.

185 Tianping Rd, XuJiaHui
Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200030
Tel: +86 21 5456 9999
Rates start from S$113* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#8 THE BUND RIVERSIDE HOTEL

The Bund Riverside Hotel is only a 5-minute stroll from East Nanjing Road Subway Station (line 2 and 10). The 4-star hotel is also only a 10-minute walk from People’s Square, Yu Garden and The Bund.

398 Beijing E Rd
Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200001
Tel: +86 21 6352 2888

Rates start from S$126* per night.

Source: Booking.com

#9 TONG MAO HOTEL – PUDONG SHANGHAI

Tong Mao Hotel – Pudong Shanghai is located in Lujiazui Financial District, Pudong New Area. The following subway stations namely Pudian Road, Century Avenue, Yuanshen Stadium and Shanghai Science & Technology Museum are within a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

357 Song Lin Road
Pu Dong New, Shanghai, China
Tel: +86 21 5830 0000

Rates start from S$116* per night.

10-minute walk from Shanghai New International Expo Centre and Kerry Parkside

Sometimes, the best things in life are the ones that you are not expecting.

After spending a bomb during my Sydney holiday in December last year, I didn’t plan for any overseas trip for 2010. But within a short span of a month, I went to Shanghai, Phuket and Hong Kong. Back in August, I joined the Denizen team for a trip to Shanghai for their global launch of the new denim brand.

wanderlust (noun) – an irresistibly strong desire or an impulse to travel far away and explore different places.

Traveling is always fun, especially when you get to see new things, meet new friends, and of course, food. It’s always about the food, baby. Okay, maybe not everything about the food, but you know what I mean. It only make sense if you try the local delicacy when you are there. Like if you are in Japan, obviously you will fill yourself up with ramen, sushi and sashimi right? The same logic applies for everywhere.

Now, what is Shanghainese food? I have been told that there isn’t a definite cuisine on its own, instead the food is influenced by the nearby surrounding provinces. When we talk about Shanghainese food, I’m sure everyone will think of the famous Shanghai Xiaolongbao. Thank god I had one!

Our schedule for this short trip to Shanghai was packed very tightly. Other than spending time at the event venue, the rest of the time was spend in the hotel room, but boy, if it’s up to me, I would have chosen to stay in the hotel room all day long.

We stayed in Langham Yangtze boutique hotel Shanghai, which is conveniently located in the heart of the city. I wasn’t expecting much from the outside, but I fell in love with the place once I stepped inside. The hotel is at Nanjing road, China’s premier shopping street, which is pretty much like our Singapore’s Orchard road.

Other than ‘work’ and cooping enjoying ourselves inside the luxurious hotel, the denizen team fed us very well. We went to this fine dining Chinese restaurant at Xintiandi, which is an entertainment and dining destination in Shanghai. It is a very funky area which has been preserved and developed, with lots of Art Gallery, cafes and restaurants.

You know what is the worst thing that can happen when you are hungry and all you want to do is to eat and go back to bed? Having a multi-course dinner in a fine dining Chinese restaurant.

Even though the food was very exquisite, it was quite a torture trying to stay awake after a long day, and wait for each course to come. In total, we had around 15 courses, and it took us almost three hours to complete dinner. Yawn!

What’s a trip to Shanghai without its iconic Xiaolongbao?

On the second night, all of us made merry over steamboat. Countless plates of ingredients that could feed an army, were brought to our table, and for that two hours, we ate, and ate, and ate, and ate.

I believe the sole purpose of my existence lies in grabbing the thin slices of meat, and submerge it within the hot boiling broth, swishing it back and forth several times, and letting it melt inside my mouth. Swish-swish-swish.

Our event venue was at The Waterhouse at South Bund, an uber-cool boutique hotel which is operated by The New Majestic Group from Singapore. Many of you will have heard of Jason Atherton, the celebrity chef who used to be under Gordon Ramsay. His first independent restaurant Table No 1 is housed within The Waterhouse at South Bund, but I didn’t get to eat there though — what a shame. But you will never know what the future may bring, maybe I will get to stay in The Waterhouse at South Bund during my next trip to Shanghai. A boy can wish right? You never know..

Good Bye Shanghai, see you again soon!