The hotel was established in 1846 by the Richard family. It was the very first western-style hotel in China. The Neoclassical Baroque hotel was restored in 1907, making it one of the most deluxe hotels in the whole of China. Situated on 4,580 m² grounds, the hotel has 134 rooms and suites.

This hotel is located on the 1,500-metre-long promenade known as The Bund, which starts at Waibaidu Bridge over Suzhou Creek and ends at Jinling Donglu. This ""Wall Street of the Far East"" is renowned for its splendid buildings, including those of the Bank of China.

The well-established Richard's Restaurant in Baroque style has a special place in the history of Shanghai. The restaurant is run by many chefs, who have a wealth of experience in cooking not only Shanghai cuisine but food from all over the world. The restaurant has a grand hall with space for 22 banquet tables and seven smaller rooms, which are the perfect place for business dinners, gatherings, weddings and birthday parties.