Novotel Shanghai Hongqiao — More Space, Honest Price, Metro Line 2 on Your Doorstep
A 4-star Accor hotel in Shanghai scoring 9.4/10 from more than 6,600 verified reviews — the largest review base in the entire Hongqiao cluster — with rates starting from ¥650 (around ฿3,250) per night: that combination does not come around often. Novotel Shanghai Hongqiao sits in the Changning district near the Hongqiao commercial area, within walking distance of Metro Line 2. To be direct: this is not a hotel sitting on top of the HSR station. But for guests who want a genuinely spacious room, a breakfast that earns consistent praise, and the flexibility to reach anywhere in the city by metro every day — the real guest data makes a compelling case.
Picture this: you step off a high-speed train at Hongqiao station, luggage in hand, worn from travel, and you want a hotel that does not feel like it is charging a premium purely for geography. Novotel Shanghai Hongqiao sits about 7.7 km from the HSR platforms — reachable by a 20-minute Didi or, more usefully, via Metro Line 2 from a station within walking distance of the hotel. That distance translates directly into a more competitive rate, a noticeably bigger room, and a quieter neighborhood than you would get at the transit-adjacent properties.
Guests describe it like this: "The room was much larger than they expected for the price — proper desk, firm mattress, really good shower. Breakfast was a genuine spread. The front desk sorted their airport transfer without being asked twice."
What guests mention more than anything else in their reviews is the room size. Novotel's design brief within Accor positions it a step above the pure economy tier — you get a proper workspace that is actually usable, not just decorative, enough floor space to unpack a large suitcase without it blocking the aisle to the bathroom, and bedding that holds up on a second or third night. The shower pressure is consistently praised. For a hotel at this price point in the Shanghai market, that combination is not a given.
Breakfast here has built a reputation of its own. The buffet covers both Chinese and Western options, is replenished attentively, and the coffee is reliably hot — details that matter when you have a 7am meeting at the NECC or need to catch a morning HSR connection. Several rate categories include breakfast; it is worth comparing those rates against room-only when booking, because the value arithmetic often tilts in favor of the inclusive option.
On location — this should be stated plainly. The hotel is not adjacent to Hongqiao Railway Station or Hongqiao Airport. Getting to the HSR platforms requires a Didi or taxi of roughly 20 minutes. What the location does offer is Metro Line 2, which runs the full east-west spine of the city: westward to Hongqiao Railway Station itself, and eastward through People's Square, Pudong's financial district at Lujiazui, and all the way to Pudong International Airport (PVG) at the end of the line — all on a single train, no transfers. For guests whose itinerary involves moving around the city rather than departing via HSR every day, this is genuinely useful.
A score of 9.4/10 from 6,608 reviews is the highest review volume in the Hongqiao cluster by a clear margin, and that total reflects consistent experience rather than a small sample of outliers. The surrounding Changning district is well-maintained, safe, and has the functional infrastructure of a business neighborhood — convenience stores, pharmacies, local restaurants and delivery apps. It does not have the tourist density of the Bund or People's Square, which for many guests is the point.
The honest criticisms in the review pool are consistent and worth knowing. The distance to the HSR station is real — for travellers catching multiple trains per day or with very early departures, the 20-minute transfer adds up. The in-hotel dining beyond breakfast is limited; if you want variety for dinner without leaving the building, the options are thinner than at a larger full-service hotel. Neither criticism undermines the core case. The bottom line: if you want a spacious, clean room, an excellent breakfast, and Metro Line 2 walkable at a price that undercuts comparable Accor properties in central Shanghai — Novotel Shanghai Hongqiao delivers exactly that, and 6,600 guests have confirmed it.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spacious, very clean rooms with proper desk and good bedding
- ✓ Breakfast buffet consistently praised — well worth including in the rate
- ✓ Helpful, professional staff who handle logistics without being prompted
- ✓ Metro Line 2 walkable — connects the full east-west spine of Shanghai
- ! ~7.7 km from Hongqiao HSR station — need a Didi/taxi (~20 min)
- ! In-hotel dining beyond breakfast is limited
- ✓ Highest review volume in the Hongqiao cluster — 6,600+ verified stays
- ✓ Better value than a central Shanghai 5-star of equivalent quality
- ✓ Quiet, safe Changning business district neighborhood
- ✓ Metro Line 2 station walkable — reach Pudong/PVG without changing trains
- ! Not directly adjacent to the HSR station or Hongqiao Airport
- ! Surrounding area is a business district, not a tourist district
- 💡If you need to be directly next to Hongqiao HSR · This hotel is ~7.7 km from the station — around 20 minutes by Didi · Fix → see Cordis Shanghai Hongqiao or Mercure Hongqiao Railway Station in this group
- 💡If you want multiple dining options inside the hotel · Beyond breakfast, the in-hotel F&B is limited · Fix → the Changning area has local restaurants and delivery apps (Meituan/Eleme) work well here
- 💡If sightseeing near the Bund or People's Square is the priority · Changning is a business district, not a tourist hub · Fix → consider the Top 10 Shanghai Hotels list for centrally located options closer to the main attractions