In addition to these decorative elements, the new design also emphasizes the special places that have left a mark on the history of the hotel such as its most sought-after service, the National Deluxe Suites; the private apartment of Victor Sassoon, founder of the Peace Hotel; and the widely known Old Jazz Bar, named one of the 10 best bars in the world by the American magazine Newsweek.

Yangtze Hotel: 'Blending East and West'

The song "Rose, Rose, I Love You" became a hit from here; Ruan Lingyu, Zhou Xuan and many other Old Shanghai performers acted actively here; and the spring-dance floor trend also began here. Here is the Yangtze Hotel, well known in the 1930s as "The Third Largest Hotel in the Far East."

After a long rest beside bustling Nanjing Road, the Yangtze Hotel has been transformed into a five-star luxury palace.

Eric Ullmann, the American designer of The Langham Yangtze Boutique, decided to fuse Oriental beauty and European art deco.

"We divided the atrium into two parts," Ullmann was quoted as saying by CBN. "The first floor is used to enjoy tea and the upstairs is the European-style bar."

Guests may feel magic as they climb the spiral staircase from the teahouse, with its large ancient bronze mirrors and Chinese paintings, to the modern pub with western stained glass.

Ullmann believed that art deco, a popular design style seen as elegant, glamorous and lavish in the 1930s, would be the perfect bonding point.

"Art deco is our main approach to the Western part," he said. "It not only stands for a fashion trend in Europe, but also evokes memories of the grand era when Shanghai was famed as the 'Paris of the East.'"

From the symmetrical patterns on the roof and walls to the ornate designs carved on the handrails, from the bold geometric shapes on the tablecloths to the colorful flowers on the carpet, from the delicate decorations along the corridors to the gorgeous crystal chandeliers, art deco with the classic, extravagant flair of Old Shanghai can be seen everywhere in The Langham Yangtze Boutique.

"One glance at this iconic art deco building confirms that this is a singular hotel in Shanghai," the hotel website said.