Shanghai JC Mandarin

Housed in a pair of blue-glass towers, the Shanghai JC Mandarin hotel is located in the Nanjing Road shopping district, just across the street from Plaza 66. Inside the lobby, a five-story mural of Admiral Zheng Ho—a 14th-century seafarer—is surrounded by gold-foiled images of the sun and sea. The 514 guest rooms are relatively simple, with neutral tones and wall-to-wall windows. The hotel also contains a ballroom, five meeting rooms, and a fitness center and spa with a sky-lit pool. Dining options range from Cantonese cuisine at Mandarin Pavilion to traditional steakhouse fare at Wine Bar & Grill.