Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li
Fifty-five restored 1930s shikumen lane houses, each with its own courtyard — Shanghai's only all-villa urban resort
The Privata Perspective
There is nothing else like this in a Chinese city. Capella took the last surviving cluster of Jian Ye Li's 1930s shikumen lane houses in Xuhui and restored fifty-five of them into private villas, each with a courtyard. You are staying in the actual fabric of old Shanghai rather than a tower with a view of it.
Jaya Ibrahim did the interiors, which is part of why the hotel has aged well. The trade-off is honest: villa living means walking outside between your room and everything else, the houses run over three floors with stairs, and the lanes are atmospheric rather than convenient. For a first trip to Shanghai we would usually pair it with a night or two somewhere high up, so you get both readings of the city.
Accommodations
Shikumen Villa
111–118 sqm
A three-storey 1930s lane house over the shikumen rooftops
Two Bedroom Shikumen Deluxe Villa
156–161 sqm
The larger houses, sleeping six across three floors
Dining
Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire
French
Pierre Gagnaire's Shanghai room, inside the lanes
Le Bar
Cocktail and Champagne bar
An intimate room with a French Concession feel
Spa & Wellness
Auriga Spa, with six treatment suites, a vitality pool, floatation tanks, a salt room, sauna and steam.
When to Go
March to May
Shanghai's best weather, and the courtyards come into their own
September to November
The second good window — dry, clear and mild
Book With Preferred Access
Experience Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li with Via Privata
Complimentary upgrades, resort credits, early check-in, and dedicated concierge support — available exclusively through our preferred partner programme.
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