Above: Panorama Bund Retreats are located on levels 8-12.

Following the success of urban hotels in Macau, Seoul, and Bangkok, Banyan Tree has unveiled its latest city property on the banks of the Huangpu River among the bustle of Shanghai’s Bund area. Starting at 60 square meters, the 130 guest rooms and suites at Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund (86-21/2509-1188; banyantree.com; doubles from US$480) are easily among the largest in the city. Marble bathrooms feature rain showers and circular tubs with memorable views over the Lujiazui financial district’s skyscrapers. A Banyan Tree spa offers the usual high-quality line of treatments from its eleven rooms, while guests will have plenty to choose from come meal time. Visit Oceans in the morning for a hearty breakfast and Iranian caviar in the afternoon. For dinner, the hotel’s white linen restaurant Ming Yuan and Tai Hei serves traditional Cantonese in front of the river, while a cabana at rooftop bar Stars is a good bet for views of the Pudong and Puxi cityscapes.