Astor House Hotel, hotel in Shanghai
The Astor House Hotel is a historic hotel near Suzhou Creek, just north of the Bund in Shanghai, China, first opened in 1857. The building consists of several connected wings with high ceilings, marble floors, and carved wooden panels that reflect a late 19th-century style.
The hotel opened in 1857 as one of the first Western-style hotels in China and quickly drew merchants and diplomats. A major rebuilding around 1911 introduced private bathrooms and telephone lines, which placed it among the most up-to-date establishments in Shanghai at the time.
The hotel takes its name from an American businessman whose family was closely linked to Shanghai's foreign community in the 19th century. Guests today can walk through corridors lined with period furniture and photographs that show how the building once served as a social center for the city's international residents.
The hotel sits on the north side of the Bund near the Garden Bridge, and it can be reached on foot from the riverfront promenade. It is worth visiting in the morning when the interior rooms receive the most natural light.
In 1882 the Astor House Hotel became the first building in Shanghai to have electric lighting, years before the rest of the city caught up. Albert Einstein stayed here during his Asia tour, and the room he used is still pointed out to visitors today.
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