This time I visited Old Huangpu in Shanghai and chose Atour Hotel Shanghai Xintiandi Metro Station beside Xintiandi subway station as my destination. It's the red bricks and tiles of Shikumen when I go out. I can get into the shade of wutong trees on Huaihai Road when I turn a corner. After staying for three nights, I didn't catch up with the bustle of online red card punches. Instead, I found a relaxed and comfortable slow pace in the most old Shanghai style area.
Just came out of the Xintiandi subway station, walked along Madang Road for three minutes and arrived at the door of the hotel. You didn't need to walk around the narrow Shikumen Alley with your suitcase, and even the drizzle in the rainy season in Shanghai didn't need to be drenched. When I checked in, the front desk heard that I was visiting Xintiandi for the first time. Not only did I quickly complete the formalities, but also handed over the hand-painted route map of the small crowd: instead of the observation platform next to the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, I could walk through the back door of the hotel, and within five minutes I could reach an unmanned coffee shop hidden in the old alley. Even the local fried chicken restaurant that has been open for 20 years nearby and the old Shanghai sugared water shop that was still open late at night were clearly marked. Pushing open the windows of the rooms on the higher floors, the blue tiled roof of the Shikumen spread out along the street, and the three piece set of Lujiazui in the distance was exposed among the tree shadows, with the sweet aroma of the old cream cake on the street wrapped in the wind.
The most comfortable thing is the convenience of not having to rush to travel. The next day, we didn't have to get up early to squeeze the subway. We walked slowly to Xintiandi to watch the morning fog. At this time, there was no crowd in Shikumen, only the aunt walking the dog and the sanitation workers sweeping the street. The water drops on the wutong leaves were dripping on our shoulders, which was much more comfortable than the commercial street crowded with tourists at night. At noon, walk back along Huaihai Road and turn into the recommended pan fried restaurant at the front desk. The freshly cooked pan fried base is crispy and juicy, paired with a bowl of curry beef soup, which is several times more authentic than the popular shops in the scenic area. In the evening, there's no need to squeeze on the subway back to the hotel. Walk slowly along Taiping Lake, watch the old sign of Shikumen light up, listen to the old artists singing Yue opera on the roadside, and even slow down your steps.
The details of the hotel also conceal the unique charm of Ado. In the 24-hour Zhuju Book Bar in the lobby, there are many old books with Shanghai themes. If you get tired of browsing, you can sit down and flip through a few pages at any time. The small Wonton cooked in the Ming stall of breakfast is fresh. The taste of our soy sauce duck is just like Grandma's craftsmanship. You don't have to panic when you get up late. You can still have a hot meal at 10:30. Strolling until late at night and returning to the hotel, I don't have to squeeze through the crowds to find my way. Just take a few turns and step into the lobby. The room service has quietly tidied up the Polaroid that I had casually laid out on the table, and placed a small bottle of free mint water at the bedside to relieve the heat of the day.
In the past, when I came to Shanghai, I always wanted to rush to the scenic spots and squeeze into the popular check-in spots. However, this time when I stayed at Atour Hotel Shanghai Xintiandi Metro Station, I realized that I had chosen the right place to stay, so I didn't have to compete with tourists for scenery. Beside the most charming Shikumen, I could also have my own leisurely time in old Shanghai.Show more