"wrong" side .....depends where you want to be. Well, in a couple of minutes you are already on the otherside. Even with a huge traffic jam it still flows.... The experience as OP mentioned staying at the 80th Floor and wake up and see the city covered with smog is actually awesome. Living in Shanghai myself I stayed at PH,GH and JW ....all great for views.

I am going to PVG and PEK this July.

Here is my draft Hotel plan,both 10days in PVG and PEK.
I like try many hotels,basically only stay 1 night or 2 nights.

PVG
Park Hyatt,Grand Hyatt,Pudong Shangri-La(100% will stay)

Thinking
The PuLi Hotel http://www.thepuli.com/en/
Jumeirah Shanghai http://staging.thetribe.com/JumeirahChina/default.aspx

PEK
Park Hyat,Hilton Wangfujing(100%)
Thinking
Opposite House
Hotel Cote Cour S.L. http://www.hotelcotecoursl.com/
Raffles Beijing
Peninsula Beijing

Any other nice and cool hotels recommend?

[QUOTE I stayed at PH,GH and JW ....all great for views.[/QUOTE]

...and which of those would you finaly recommend for a first time visit ???

...and which of those would you finaly recommend for a first time visit ???[/QUOTE]


I would def go for the PH .....I am a bit biased as I became a real PH fan
To be honest ...its a great hotel, ofcourse service levels are not always up to par ....but thats China ...its a hit or miss. I prefer PH above GH as the GH has a more classic colour style: brownish and with Chinese decors. The PH is more modern and with a lighter colou scheme!

You really got to try the OP House, its different than the main hotel chains! Its very trendy and the rooms are very cool! Try the restaurant downstairs BEI!! Very very nice ...see if Diana is there, the restaurant manager, she is great! Not cheap, but the others you mentioned in the list aren`t as well

True, but this time they were true clouds. Smog has been ok lately actually, but thats from my place by century park, so air quality is never too bad anyway.

Are these open yet?

The PuLi Hotel soft opening from June.
Jumeirah Shanghai no clue about opening,deferred one year already.

Plan 3 nights in PH Shanghai.
Hope I have chance view the city above the smog.

See if you can get a room in the new tower with river view (much nicer)......try Yi Cafe.....avoid the dim sum restaurant....

double post, sorry

Out of those three, because of the cross-river traffic, I'd go for the JW at Tomorrow Square. The location is in one corner of People's Square park and great city views are quarenteed from the higher floors.

in PVG, we stayed at the Renaissance Yuyuan recently twice, http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-yuyuan-hotel/ -- good deals, the executive lounge is nice, and the pool on the top floor has a nice view, also from the jacuuzzi. The hotel is in walking distance to Yuyuan Garden, and overlooks that quarter with a nice view on the river/ the skyline of Pudong.

I recently completed a stay at the Hiton Wanfuging.....outstanding service, delightful rooms, staff with excellent command of English, and an fabulous ocation. As a Diamond, I was upgraded to the Executive Floor with full lounge privilages. The louge was dynamite. Breakfast was a combination of Western and Eastern choices, afternoon tea and evening hot and cold food with lots of alcholic and non-alcoholic selections. Location can not be beat. Walking distance to Tienamen and Forbidden City (10-15 minutes), APM mall right next door and multitude of restaurants nearby. The only drawback is there is considerable construction adjacent to the hotel, however, I was not disturbed in any way by noise. A highly recommended property!