Features
Tuesday, 02 June 2009 08:06
Written by Ned Kelly & Rosemary Zhu

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Where to get wet when it gets hot and hazy

Summer is here, and with it the launch of the Riviera Pool Parties: perfectly-preened local beauties having champagne sprayed on them by wax-chested himbos. But what if you wish to cool down by the pool without having to be surrounded by a pack of seedy Euro-yuppie wankers? Fret not, dear reader! We’ve sought out some alternatives…

Mandarin City
Located inside the Mandarin City complex in Hongqiao, this sizeable lagoon pool is popular with an eclectic crowd of beautiful young things, families, tourists and residents. Perfect for an all-day retreat from the heat of the street, they pump out the tunes and boast a swim-up bar serving drinks and pizzas: Touch. Of. Class.

Address: 788 Hongxu Lu, by Huaguang Lu
Opens: June
Time: 8am-7pm(June) 7.30am-9pm (July)
Cost: RMB80 per adult and RMB50 per kid
Tel: 6405 0404

Ambassy Club
With its big green plastic slide, model frogs gushing out water and adjoined paddling pool, this place is a child-magnet come the weekends. If you don’t enjoy the sound of children squealing with delight (yer miserable old bugger!) it’s a lot quieter in the week and is set within the classy environs of Ambassy club, sporting a great bar and uber-friendly English-speaking staff.

Address: 1500 Huaihai Zhong Lu, by Wulumuqi Lu
Opens: late June
Time: Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat & Sun 8am-10pm
Cost: RMB150 per day for adults, RMB80 for kids
Tel: 6437 9800

Shanghai Grand Plaza
This fairly small concrete jungle of a pool, frequented by a loyal sun-worshipping crowd year on year, is the ideal place to work on the tan while checking out the predominantly European talent. The price and service keep the masses at a distance; bring your own food or ensure Sherpa’s is on speed dial, as once you’re in they don’t let you pop out. While not the best place in town, this sun trap and clean pool is conveniently, in the hood for a great many of us.

Address: 568 Julu Lu, between Xiangyang Bei Lu and Shaanxi Nan Lu
Opens: Open already
Time: 9am-9pm
Cost: Mon-Fri RMB80; Sat-Sun RMB100
Tel: 6289 4835

Dino Beach
This water park boasts Asia’s biggest wave pool, the city’s largest man-made beach, miles of slides to whoosh down, and a long and lazy rubber tubing river connecting them all. Add in kid-friendly pools, games of volleyball and lashings of lovely junk food and it’s no surprise that Dino Beach gets busy. Very busy. But avoid the weekends (or embrace the crowds) and this place is as good as it gets for full-on aqua-action – and even boasts a filtration system that keeps it pee-free! Also keep an eye out for their oh-so-classy Beach Honey competition and mad hip-hop parties y’all.

Address: 78 Xinzhen Lu by Gudai Lu
Opens: June 27
Time: Mon 2pm-11pm, Tue-Sun 10am-11pm
Cost: Mon-Fri RMB120, Sat-Sun RMB150
Tel: 6478 3333

JW Marriott
Located on the 7th floor, the views over Peoples’ Square and the surrounding buildings are fantastic, but the pool does suffer from being in the shadow of said skyscrapers at certain stages of the day. Here the hotel guests mingle with day-passers by the small lap and paddling pools, soaking up the sun and enjoying the delights of the gourmet menu. Entry also includes access to the gym, sauna and shower.

Address: 399 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Huangpi Bei Lu
Opens: Open already
Time: 6am-11pm
Cost: RMB150 per day includes gym, sauna
and shower.
Tel: 5359 4969

Hongkou Swimming Pool
Once it’s defrosted (the pool is frozen over and transformed into an ice skating rink in winter) this 80-year-old outdoor swimming hole becomes a fave among locals. A perfect place to cool off for northern Shanghai residents.

Address: 444 Dongjiangwan Lu, by Sichuan Bei Lu
Opens: July
Time & Cost: Schedule and pricing to be announced
Tel: 5666 3730

New Star
The outdoor pools of this multi-storey Korean jewel in the Shanghai Bath House crown open in July. Where else can you combine some alfresco action with hot tubs, cool baths, steam and dry saunas, showers, a restaurant and lounge, a decently-equipped gym and tranquil rooms in which to slumber. And all for RMB58! Trust us, if the sun ain’t scorching enough, the blisteringly hot steam room definitely will be.

Address: No. 1, Lane 258 Jinhui Nan Lu, by Wuzhong Lu
Open: July
Time: 24 hours
Cost: RMB58 per day includes gym.
Tel: 3432 0777, 3432 1717

Shanghai Sun Island Golf & Spa Resort
Out of town it may be, but this place has a massive wave machine, three twisting slides, a faux rock mountain and “real imported sand” beaches, as well as a 36-hole golf course, hot spring, go-karting, horse-riding, restaurants, a spa and even an old Tang dynasty lighthouse. Got that?

Address: 2588 Shentai Road, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu
Opens: Mid-June
Time & Cost: Schedule and pricing to be announced
Tel: 6983 3888

Purple Mountain Hotel
You didn’t think we were really gonna leave this out did you? We’re no haters. Located on the 5th-floor outdoor deck of this 5-star hotel, the pool itself is modest in size, round and with a kiddies pool attached; a place to relax rather than exercise. But come Saturday it’s infamous for its pool parties, which have become a fixture on the Shanghai social calendar. At fiesta time expect a riot of the toned and tanned, flitting, flirting and frolicking.

Address: 778 Dongfang Lu, by Zhangyang Lu
Opens: June
Time: 7am-11pm
Cost: RMB80 per visit includes the gym
Tel: 6886 8888

Shimao Riviera Garden
A lush oasis in the middle of a plush apartment complex standing by the bank of the Huangpu, the pool area with Hawaiian beach is the perfect haven of peace in the middle of downtown Pudong.

Address: 1-2 Weifang Xi Lu, by Pucheng Lu
Opens: Open already
Time: 12-5pm
Cost: RMB120
Tel: 6888 8108

Le Meridien Sheshan Shanghai
Situated on the edge of a nationally-protected forest, this lakeside resort is an easy escape from the city. Come here for weekend brunch and you not only get to choose from over 300 items on the buffet spread, but enjoy the infinity pool and real sand beach, as well as the indoor pool, gym and sauna, at no extra charge.

Address: 1288 Linyinxin Lu, near Shenzhuanjiasong Lu
Open: Late June
Time: Sat-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm
Cost: Brunch RMB318 with soft drinks, juices, beer and sparkling wine. RMB160 for kids below 12. Kids below 1 meter in height are free (maximum 2 kids per couple, additional kids will be charged at RMB80 each)
Tel: 5779 9999

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