From its founding in the 1920's, the hotel has been rated as a one of the landmarks of Shanghai and has hosted countless celebrities throughout its time. From the 1920's to the present day, one thing has remained unchanged: the hotel's passion for pleasing its guests. Renovated in 2008, this air-conditioned establishment offers a range of features, including 182 guest rooms, a lobby with 24-hour reception and check-out service, a hotel safe, currency exchange facilities, a cloakroom, lift access and a hairdressing salon. The bar and restaurants provide guests with dining and refreshment options, whilst the conference facilities and WLAN Internet access may be of use to business travellers. Room service, a laundry service (fees apply) and a car park are also available for guests' use.

The hotel is located just across the road from Shanghai's municipal government building, the Shanghai History Museum, the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the People's Square metro station, which is the intersection of lines 1, 2 and 8. The Shanghai Exhibition Centre and the Bund are both within easy reach, and Shanghai Railway Station is located around 3 km from the hotel.

The hotel's restaurants provide Chinese fare, including Fujian, Chaozhou and Cantonese dishes, as well as Western-style cuisine. A breakfast buffet is served daily, and lunch and dinner may be enjoyed as set menus. Dinner is also available à la carte.