Shanghai's best swimming pools: Luxe and public pools

Shanghai is seriously bringing the heat this week - so there's been no better time to drop eveything and cool off in one of the city's best blue-bottomed pools. In part 2 of our round-up, today we bring you the best luxury pools and the best public pools - so you can get your swim on whatever your budget.

The Langham Xintaindi

ENTRY When you buy a 4,980RMB gift card to the Chuan spa, you’ll get pool access 

INCLUDING Access to gym, Chuan spa 

So it’s not exactly a regular pool membership, but if you can afford to splash out for a few treatments at the Langham’s Chuan Spa, then you’ll be able to splash out in its wonderful, cocoon-like subterranean pool. While some pools invite hundreds of lengths, noisy children or spring break parties, others simply suggest that you relax. The Langham’s – a cocoon-like room encased in sandstone-effect walls, and complete with underwater music – is so relaxing, in fact, that on our latest visit, we lay down on one of the absurdly comfortable wicker sun-beds and promptly fell asleep. 

The Langham is at 99 Madang Lu, near Taicang Lu, Huangpu district.

The Portman-Ritz Carlton

ENTRY 23,230RMB per year 

INCLUDING Access to indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and fitness centre 

The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai boasts both a glistening indoor and outdoor pool, large outside lounging area ripe for sunbathing, and swish changing rooms complete with Jacuzzis, steam rooms and sauna. The indoor pool is perfect for getting your exercise in, before you collapse on a sun lounger outside, and round off your visit by a hot blast in the steam room. The pool is free for residents of the Shanghai Centre serviced apartments upstairs, and so has a rather lovely community and family feel about it. Bring the kids and the family down for a mix of exercise and fun, with extremely friendly staff and excellent facilities to hand. 

The Portman Ritz-Carlton is at 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Xikang Lu, Jingan district.

The Peninsula

ENTRY The Peninsula Wellness Membership has an annual fee of (gulp) 46,000RMB 

INCLUDING Access to the fitness centre, four one-day guest access passes, and discounts on treatments and classes 

It wouldn’t make much sense for one of the most decadent hotels in Shanghai to have a pool that was anything less than jaw-droppingly beautiful. In keeping with The Peninsula’s modern Art Deco theme, the tiles in and around the dome-shaped indoor heated pool are replete with characteristic lines and swirls, and set beneath a dazzling skylight. Swimming here is a transporting experience – and you might even take tea (or Champagne, whatever) on the adjoining terrace afterwards. 

The Peninsula is at 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu, Huangpu district.

Jingan Sports Centre

ENTRY 30RMB Mon, Wed, Fri 7-8.30pm; 35RMB Mon-Fri 3.30-9pm; 40RMB Sat-Sun 

INCLUDING A 90-minute session 

A thoroughly utilitarian sort of pool that offers the full Chinese swimming pool experience – including the requisite swimming cap and a cursory consultation with a doctor upon joining, who all being well will issue you with a health certificate (for 5RMB) permitting you to swim. The 25 x 50m nine-lane pool is designed for competitive swimming, and while not everyone uses it for this, it’s a good place to get some lengths in. Try to drop by in the evenings when it’s a bit quieter. 

Jingan Sports Centre is at 151 Kangding Lu, near Jiangning Lu, Jingan district.

Oriental Sports Centre

ENTRY 20RMB (15RMB kids); Indoor pool after 4pm 40RMB (30RMB kids) 

There’s no mucking around here – this is a seriously good pool (if you want a serious swim). The grand complex hosted the FINA world championships in 2010, and qualifying for the 2012 Olympics too; inside there’s an Olympic size pool as well as a diving pool (the latter sadly not open to the public) – and now that the kids’ ‘water park’ area is somewhat depressingly drained, this isn’t the place to go if you want to splash around. Be wary that the main pool often gets busy at weekends, so swimmers are advised to turn up early. There’s also an impressive outdoor pool over the road which is open through July and August (and an indoor skating arena if you prefer your pools frozen). 

Oriental Sports Centre is at 701 Yaoti Lu, near Linpu Lu, Pudong.

Stay tuned for our guide to the city's best water parks on Friday!