A DEEPER DIVE
“Singaporeans are well-travelled people,” said Trip.com’s Ong. “As they continue to visit familiar destinations while exploring new ones, the trends we’re seeing reflect a growing desire among Singaporeans for deeper engagement on their travels.”
Given China’s scale and pace of development, new attractions are constantly emerging, even in familiar destinations. For Singaporeans seeking deeper engagement, one approach is to rediscover old haunts. Take Shanghai, for example. For many Singaporeans, the sprawling metropolis has long been a gateway to mainland China.
Within Shanghai, new districts continue to emerge. One notable example is Qiantan in Pudong, a riverfront area envisioned as a second Lujiazui, the financial district behind Shanghai’s iconic skyline. It has already attracted major names, including Hong Kong’s Swire Properties and Hilton Worldwide.
Hilton unveiled the city’s second Waldorf Astoria property, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, in October 2025. The opening came 15 years after the brand made its Asia-Pacific debut with Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
“With the opening of Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, we saw an opportunity to offer travellers a different way of experiencing a city they know well,” said Candice D’Cruz, vice president of luxury brands at Hilton, Asia Pacific. “Shanghai remains one of the most compelling destinations for both domestic and international travellers, and as the city continues to evolve, so do expectations of how it should be experienced.”
SHANGHAI QIANTAN: A NEW FRONTIER
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, D’Cruz added, was conceived as an urban riverfront retreat that invites guests to pause amid Shanghai’s vibrant energy.
With a scenic riverside park, jogging trails and cycling paths at its doorstep, the hotel felt like a calm counterpoint to the bustle of the Former French Concession and Nanjing West Road. Such infrastructure, as D’Cruz put it, offers “wellness that is seamlessly embedded into the guest journey rather than treated as an add-on”.
“What excites me most about Qiantan is its clear sense of direction,” said Stephane Roubin, the hotel’s general manager. “It is a planned district with a strong vision, not a place that grew by chance. There is room here – physically and creatively – to rethink what urban luxury can feel like in Shanghai.”