HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve At Hengshan

Not to be smug about it, but we’ve been saying for years that Shanghai was going to be the business capital of the future. And now that the future is here, that prediction is looking pretty good. Glorious modern luxury hotels are even sprouting up in the traditional environs of the old French Concession; this one, Twelve at Hengshan, was designed by the Italian architect Mario Botta, who brought with him the terra cotta bricks that make up the hotel’s sleek geometric façade.

Just because it’s largely a business hotel doesn’t mean it’s short on character — quite the opposite, in fact. Not only is the architecture almost excessively distinguished, but hidden away from the street view is an elliptical central courtyard, which is an unexpected bit of green in a city that’s better known for other shades.

Meanwhile in the rooms you’ll find things looking a bit more familiar. Which is not a bad thing. The look is Art Deco, Chinese-style, which is also not a bad thing. Nor are the massive windows with their views of the city or the quiet courtyard — they actually open to let the air in, which is either a treat or a slight hazard, depending on the day — or the large and lavish bathrooms and the generous living spaces. Add to that a couple of restaurants and bars serving both international and Cantonese fare, and one of the better hotel spas in Shanghai, and you’ve got yourself an impressive luxury hotel. We told you to watch this space.