May 1 marks the opening of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. This year’s fair, featuring the theme “Better City, Better Life” – emphasizing “urban strategies and sustainable development” – is expected to draw 70 million visitors during its six-month run.
Where to stay: If the urban renewal theme inspires you, try booking a room at URBN, Shanghai’s first carbon-neutral hotel. At the forefront of sustainable hospitality, the building itself is a retrofitted factory warehouse designed with recycled wood and reclaimed bricks. Each of the distinct 26 rooms contains an organic-packed mini-bar.
Alternatively, a stay at the historic Ruijin Hotel places you in the tranquility of the outdoors. Located on a 100-acre estate, this garden hotel is made up of four buildings surrounded by an expanse of green, ponds, gazebos and quaint wooden bridges. Before the hotel was open to the public, it was the official guesthouse for the Shanghai government and foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. president Richard Nixon.
URBN Hotel: 186 JiaoZhou Rd., +86 21 5153 4600; urbnhotels.com. Ruijin Hotel: 118 Ruijin 2nd Rd., +86 21 6472 5222; ruijinhotelsh.com
Lost Heaven: 38 Gaoyou Rd., +86 21 6433 5126; lostheaven.com.cn. Yang’s Fry Dumplings: 54-60 Wujiang Rd.
Where to unwind: For a night of live music and heady cocktails, go to JZ Club. Music spills out of this speakeasy jazz house, punctuating the night air with everything from old standards to big band. Musicians will often join the house band on stage, taking the jam session long into the night.
46 FuXing West Rd., + 86 21 6431 0269; jzclub.cn
The mini-guide: What you really need to know about Shanghai
