Hengshan Picardie Hotel

At one time in the building's more than 80-year history, it was the tallest Art Deco building in the Southern part of the city, and a landmark in the French Concession on the then Avenue Petain. Nowadays, the soaring five star hotel is a glamorous reminder of the area's past. The 239 rooms are spacious, with enviable views of the nearby gardens of Hengshan Mountain Park. Given its perch on Hengshan Road (nicknamed the city's "Champs Elysees"), it's a short, attractive stroll to the coveted shopping areas on Hua Hai and Nanjing Road.