Viral Video of the Month: 30-Story Hotel Built in 15 Days

This is remarkable. And astonishing. And I’m not sure I’d want to stay here. A construction company in China built this 30-story, 500-room hotel in only 15 days. Merely a month later, most of the rooms were ready for occupancy. They claim this new prefab construction method has been extensively tested for earthquake safety, and it’s purported to be eco-friendly and energy efficient. (Contrast this with a new 4-story apartment building being erected in my neighborhood in Los Angeles, which has already taken two years, and it’s barely halfway finished!) For all the details, here’s the full story in the L.A. Times.

The 10 Hottest Hotels in Shanghai (Food Republic)

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The Puli

Romance. Drama. Intrigue. Architecture. Jazz. Shanghai is one of the most exciting cities in Asia — with a vibrant hotel scene to match. From the historic Bund and French Concessionto the forward-racing, sky-reaching Pudong district across the river, there’s a kick-ass hotel at every turn. Just about every major luxury brand operates a great hotel here, but those bigger names aren’t always my favorites. After three trips to Shanghai in the past year, these ere are the 10 hotels I’m most excited about right now. Continue reading