Seventh Heaven Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Seventh Heaven is a 1934 historic hotel right in the middle of East Nanjing Road — a golden spot for very little money, and it earns its 8.6 on location alone.
Seventh Heaven is a 1934 historic hotel right in the middle of East Nanjing Road — a golden spot for very little money, and it earns its 8.6 on location alone.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The twin rooms run about 18 sqm with 3.2m ceilings — the kind of height you only get in a colonial-era building. Wooden sliding windows open onto the alley; there is no pretty view, but you do get the real air of old Shanghai. Inside are two 1.2m beds with spotless, no-mustiness bedding, an antique teak desk and a single chair, and a small empty mini-fridge you can stock yourself. The plugs are the Chinese three-round-pin type, so bring an adapter. The bathroom is a tiny 3.5 sqm with a shower only, but the hot water runs strong despite the building's age — soap and shampoo are standard Chinese brands.
Food and amenities
There is no breakfast in the hotel, but walk 2 minutes out the door and you hit a Yonghe Da Wang open 24 hours, doing Chinese pastries, youtiao and soy milk sets for about $2. Service scores 8.4; the front-desk staff speak enough English to check you in and point you the right way. It is a no-frills place — expect free Wi-Fi, air-con and a 24-hour front desk, not a spa.
Location and getting there
The location is the one reason guests book, and it delivers. Turn left out the door, walk 50m, and you are in the middle of the East Nanjing Road pedestrian street. M&S, the xiaolongbao spot Jia Jia Tang Bao and Yang's Fry Dumpling for shengjianbao all sit within 200m. Keep going 600m, about 8 minutes, and you reach The Bund at the HSBC building. East Nanjing Road metro station on Lines 2 and 10 is 3 minutes away; transfer to Line 1 at People's Square and it is just 2 stops. Pudong Airport via the Maglev runs 38 minutes total for $7.
Things to know before booking
The overall score is around 8.6, lower than its neighbors on this list — that is the trade for the age. The building and decor look dated, the rooms are compact, and amenities are thin. Rooms also fill fast in high season, so book ahead. None of this is hidden: you are paying for the address, not the polish.
Our take
Seventh Heaven fits backpackers and younger travelers who care about location and budget above all. We give it an honest 8.6 — marked down for the building's age and the thin amenities, but a golden East Nanjing Road location for around $60 a night simply is not available anywhere else. If you can take an old hotel with its own kind of charm, we say book it.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- An old hotel with a long history on the Nanjing Road shopping street — it opened in 1934 as the Tung Wong Hotel, and the 2nd-floor lobby still carries that period feel with worn leather sofas and 1940s photos.
- A golden location dead center on the East Nanjing Road pedestrian street — step out and you are shopping immediately.
- Easy walking distance to both the subway and The Bund — East Nanjing Road metro station is 3 minutes away, and the HSBC building on The Bund is a 600m, 8-minute walk.
- Rooms are clean and perfectly usable — the bedding is spotless with no musty smell, and the hot water runs strong despite the old building.
- Prices start low and the value is excellent for the location — around $60 a night puts you in the most central part of Shanghai.
- The building and its decor look dated to match the hotel's age — the wooden sliding windows open onto the alley, so there is no real view.
- The real guest score (around 8.6) trails the front-runners on this list.
- Rooms fill up fast in high season, so book ahead.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Lean on the location — you can walk the East Nanjing Road shops and continue on to The Bund without ever needing a taxi.
- Ask to see the room before check-in if you have the option, so you land one you like.
- Best for budget travelers who care most about being in the dead center of the city.