If you are going to crack down on graft and abuse of public funds, what better way to illustrate that you are serious than by renting out an entire mansion… where deluxe suites cost US$905 per night. Via the CSM:
SHANGHAI, CHINA – With its rooftop turrets and fancy brickwork, the Moller Villa is a throwback to the Roaring ’20s, when the treaty port of Shanghai, China, was a byword for speculative excess. Built by an Englishman, the Norwegian-style hotel now rents luxury suites to foreign bankers lured by the promise of China’s new bull market.
But since August, when it abruptly closed its doors to the public for “refurbishment,” a different kind of drama has unfolded behind its high walls. Investigators from the Communist Party’s disciplinary committee have turned the hotel into their temporary headquarters as they probe a blossoming financial scandal that has already snared Shanghai’s political boss and some of his closest business allies. 
Room rates are here.
Technorati Tags: asia, china, east asia, economy, northeast asia, shanghai
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October 18th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
The rates look like they are on the low side for a top end hotel given that single rooms are at USD100 a day.
When Mr. Cheapo here was in Shanghai, I stayed at a mid range hotel at USD43. I found this to be one of the cheapest given the location along Nanjing road. Even YMCA according to my guide book would cost me USD55 for a single room according to my 2002 lonely planet. I’m sure the prices have gone up by now at the time of speaking.
My guidebook also says, if you want a luxury hotel be prepared to pay for single rooms (again 2002 prices, they must have gone up by now) USD220 for Pudong Shangrila, USD 230 for Portman Ritz Carlton, USD280 for Grand Hyatt, USD200 for Grosvenor Villa, USD80 for Park Hotel, USD200 for Regal International, USD210 for Jinjiang tower.
If this is really a top end hotel and a top end hotel is what they were after, then I say they did their shopping wisely.
October 20th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Reminds me of the book, Animal Farm.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Obviously that photo is a rendition because we all know there’s no blue skies in Shanghai.
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Actually this summer had a freakish number of blue-sky days (eight weeks or so).
I suspect they’ve been dying the pollution blue.