Peace Hotel
A landmark luxury hotel complex on Shanghai's Bund, celebrated for its Art Deco architecture, international history, heritage interiors, and long-running jazz tradition.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Peace Hotel is a historic luxury hotel complex on Shanghai's Bund in Shanghai, China. Its identity is formed by two buildings on opposite sides of Nanjing Road: the larger northern building, originally Sassoon House and home to the Cathay Hotel, and the southern building, whose hotel history includes the Central Hotel and Palace Hotel. The two structures have different architectural histories and currently support different forms of hospitality and cultural use, but together they are associated with the Peace Hotel name. The northern building was commissioned by Sir Victor Sassoon, a British Sephardic Jewish property developer of Iraqi origin whose family created a substantial commercial and real-estate presence in early twentieth-century Shanghai. Designed by the architectural practice Palmer and Turner, the building was constructed between 1926 and 1929. Its reinforced-concrete structure, prominent tower, granite facades, copper-clad pyramidal roof, and highly coordinated interior decoration made it one of the most conspicuous modern buildings on the Bund. The Cathay Hotel occupied the building and marketed a level of luxury that included modern plumbing, international-style accommodation, restaurants, shops, and themed national suites. The hotel became associated with Shanghai's cosmopolitan commercial culture before 1949. Its location, architecture, and guest facilities made it a meeting point for businesspeople, travelers, artists, political figures, and members of the city's international community. The Old Jazz Band, whose musicians have performed at the hotel for decades, became one of its most recognizable cultural features. The hotel and its earlier Cathay identity also entered international popular culture: Noël Coward's play Private Lives was written during a stay at the Cathay Hotel, and the property helped inspire literary and cinematic portrayals of historic Shanghai. Political change after 1949 altered the building's function. Some offices were used by municipal authorities, and the northern building was taken over by the Shanghai municipal government in 1952. It returned to hotel use in 1956 under the name Peace Hotel. During the Cultural Revolution, parts of the building were associated with the Gang of Four, including Zhang Chunqiao's use of the hotel as a headquarters while leading the Shanghai Commune. These associations form part of the hotel's complicated political as well as architectural history. The southern building has an earlier hotel lineage. The business operating there dates back to the 1850s, when it was known as the Central Hotel. It became the Palace Hotel in 1903, and the present Renaissance-style building was completed in 1908. It was notable for having two elevators, an early technical distinction in Shanghai. Sun Yat-sen stayed there in 1911 after the success of the Xinhai Revolution. The building was occupied by the Japanese army during the Second World War, then continued through changing ownership and state uses before returning to hotel operations in 1965 as part of the Peace Hotel complex. The northern building closed in 2007 for an extensive restoration and modernization program. It reopened in 2010 as the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai, retaining its historic architectural character while adding contemporary guestrooms, suites, restaurants, meeting facilities, a swimming pool, and a spa. The southern building was restored for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo period and became The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, a residence and studio program for artists from around the world, alongside a limited number of guest rooms. In May 2025, Jinjiang International and Accor announced a further extensive renovation. The hotel is expected to remain open during the work, with completion planned for 2027. The announced plan calls for the property to move from the Fairmont brand to Accor's Raffles Hotels & Resorts luxury division and to be renamed Raffles Peace Hotel Shanghai. Until that transition is c…
History
Peace Hotel's history is inseparable from the development of Shanghai's Bund as a commercial and international district. The complex consists of two historically distinct buildings separated by Nanjing Road. The southern building's hotel business dates to the 1850s, when the property operated as the Central Hotel. It was renamed the Palace Hotel in 1903, and the six-story building standing today was completed in 1908. Built in a Renaissance style, it was an early Shanghai landmark with two elevators. The building also housed commercial tenants, including a Kuhn & Komor shop. In 1911, Sun Yat-sen stayed at the Palace Hotel after the Xinhai Revolution and used the occasion to encourage continued commitment to the revolutionary cause. The northern building was developed by Sir Victor Sassoon, a member of the Sassoon family, whose company E.D. Sassoon & Co. had extensive commercial interests across Asia. Sassoon acquired a full city block in a highly visible Bund location and commissioned Palmer and Turner to design a large reinforced-concrete structure. Construction began in 1926 and ended in 1929. The building, known as Sassoon House, rose approximately 77 metres to the roofline and was among the earliest tall buildings in the Far East. Its hotel component was called the Cathay Hotel. Sassoon House was designed as a unified Art Deco landmark. Granite cladding, terracotta elements, a steep pyramidal roof, a copper surface that weathered to green, and a prominent spire gave the building a distinctive silhouette. Its interiors extended the Art Deco scheme and included luxurious public rooms, shops, restaurants, and guestrooms. The Cathay Hotel promoted modern amenities such as indoor plumbing and offered themed national suites, each decorated to evoke a different country or cultural setting. Victor Sassoon occupied the penthouse on the top floor. The Cathay Hotel became a prominent part of pre-1949 Shanghai's international social and business life. Its location and facilities attracted visitors from many countries, while the hotel's jazz performances helped establish a musical tradition that continued through the later Peace Hotel era. The property also influenced cultural representations of Shanghai. Noël Coward wrote Private Lives during a stay at the Cathay Hotel, and the hotel has been connected with literary and film portrayals of the city, including the inspiration for Vicki Baum's Shanghai '37, also known as Hotel Shanghai and Nanjing Road. After the Communist takeover in 1949, the northern building's commercial role was reduced. Some offices were assigned to the Municipal Finance Committee, and the Shanghai municipal government took control of the building in 1952. It returned to hotel use in 1956, when it adopted the name Peace Hotel. During the Cultural Revolution, the property was associated with the Gang of Four; Zhang Chunqiao used it as a headquarters while directing the Shanghai Commune. These events added a politically charged layer to the hotel's heritage. The southern building was occupied by the Japanese army during the Second World War. After the war it was purchased by a Chinese company and continued operating until 1952, when it was confiscated and used by the Municipal Construction Department. It resumed hotel operations in 1965 as a wing of the Peace Hotel. The two buildings subsequently developed separate but connected identities. The northern building closed in 2007 for a three-year restoration and modernization program. The work addressed the exterior and interior, including guestrooms, the lobby, restaurants, and entertainment areas. It reopened in 2010 as the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai. The restored operation included 270 guestrooms and 39 suites, Victor's Café, the Peace Hall, meeting rooms, an outdoor terrace, and a rear extension containing additional accommodation, a swimming pool, and a spa. The southern building was renovated around the same period in preparation for the 2010 World Expo. It reopened as The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, combining restored heritage rooms and public areas with eighteen artist residences and studios, seven guest rooms, and a program for international artists to live and work temporarily in the building. In May 2025, Jinjiang International and Accor announced another extensive renovation. The stated plan is to keep the hotel operating during the work and, after expected completion in 2027, transfer the property from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to Raffles Hotels & Resorts and rename it Raffles Peace Hotel Shanghai. This announced transition represents the latest stage in the property's continuing adaptation from historic hotel to internationally managed luxury heritage destination.
- 2025
Renovation and planned Raffles rebranding announced
[1]Jinjiang International and Accor announced extensive renovation, with the hotel expected to remain open and move to the Raffles brand after planned completion in 2027.
- 2010
Northern building reopens as Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai
[1]The restored northern building reopened under Fairmont Hotels & Resorts management.
- 2010
Southern building becomes The Swatch Art Peace Hotel
[1]The restored southern building adopted a cultural-hospitality model combining artist residences and studios with guest rooms.
- 2007
Northern building closes for restoration
[1]A major three-year renovation began, covering architectural exteriors, public areas, guestrooms, dining, and entertainment facilities.
- 1965
Southern building resumes hotel operations
[1]After a period of state administrative use, the southern building resumed operations as a wing of Peace Hotel.
- 1956
Northern building returns as Peace Hotel
[1]The property resumed hotel use under the Peace Hotel name.
- 1952
Northern building is taken over by the municipal government
[1]The northern building ceased normal hotel operations and was taken over by the Shanghai municipal government.
- 1949
Post-revolutionary administrative use begins
[1]Following the Communist takeover, portions of the northern building were used for municipal offices.
- 1929
Sassoon House and the Cathay Hotel open
[1]The northern building was completed and became home to the Cathay Hotel.
- 1926
Construction of Sassoon House begins
[1]Sir Victor Sassoon commissioned Palmer and Turner to design the northern building on the Bund.
Products and positioning
An ultra-luxury heritage hotel combining Bund landmark architecture, Art Deco interiors, Shanghai history, international hospitality, live jazz, and contemporary dining and event services.
hotel accommodation · 2010
Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai guestrooms and suites
The northern building's principal hospitality offering consists of luxury guestrooms and suites within a restored Art Deco landmark. The operation reopened in 2010 with 270 guestrooms and 39 suites, combining modern hotel services with heritage architecture and historically significant interiors.
restaurant and café · 2010
Victor's Café
Victor's Café is a named dining venue in the northern building, commemorating developer Sir Victor Sassoon. It forms part of the hotel's contemporary food-and-beverage offer within the restored heritage property.
live entertainment
The Old Jazz Band
The Old Jazz Band is the hotel's best-known entertainment tradition. Its performances connect the current hotel with the cosmopolitan musical culture associated with the former Cathay Hotel and have become a central part of the property's visitor experience.
meetings and banquets · 2010
Peace Hall and event facilities
The eighth floor includes Peace Hall, meeting rooms, and an outdoor terrace used for conferences, private functions, receptions, and other events. These facilities extend the brand beyond overnight accommodation into heritage-oriented business and social hospitality.
artist residence and cultural hospitality · 2010
The Swatch Art Peace Hotel
The southern building operates as a hybrid cultural property with eighteen artist residences and studios, seven guest rooms, and restored historic public spaces. It provides temporary live-work accommodation for artists from around the world while retaining a limited hospitality function.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2025
Plan transition from Fairmont to RafflesStrategyBackground
Jinjiang International and Accor announced a new renovation program intended to update the historic property while continuing operations.
Action taken
The hotel is planned to undergo extensive renovation and join Accor's Raffles Hotels & Resorts luxury division, with a proposed new name of Raffles Peace Hotel Shanghai.
Aftermath
The announced target for completion and rebranding is 2027; the transition had not yet been completed in the cited material.
2010
Develop the southern building as an artist-residence hotelStrategyBackground
The southern building was restored in preparation for the 2010 World Expo while preserving its historic facade and public rooms.
Action taken
The building was relaunched as The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, combining artist residences and studios with seven guest rooms.
Aftermath
The southern property became a cultural counterpart to the luxury hotel operation in the northern building.
2007
Close the northern building for comprehensive restorationOtherBackground
The historic northern building required coordinated work on its exterior, interiors, guestrooms, lobby, dining areas, and entertainment venues.
Action taken
The property closed for a planned three-year renovation and modernization program.
Aftermath
The northern building reopened in 2010 as the Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai, retaining its heritage identity while expanding contemporary hotel facilities.
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