Making a splash in the great outdoors. By Yolanda Yong and Nancy Tran.

The only proper place to survive summer’s sweltering heat is in a cool, blue swimming pool. But good spots are hard to find; many public pools are frighteningly crowded or too murky to venture into. We rounded up some great openair places to lap up the sun.

New world mayfair hotel

Outdoor pool

Address: 1555 Ding Xi Lu (Chang Ning District)

Phone: 6240 8888

Price: Adults-¥128/day

Children-¥100/day

*Sauna and gym included

Pool Info: 25m x 8m; 1.5m deep

Time: 8am-9pm daily

Shanghai purple mountain hotel garden

Rooftop pool

Address: 778 Dongfang Lu

Phone: 6886 8888

Price: ¥80/day

Pool Info: Adult pool: 1.5m deep

Kiddie pool: 0.8m deep

Time: 7am-10pm daily

le meridien she shan

Address: 1288 Linyin Xin Lu, She Shan

Phone: 5779 9999

Price: ¥200 /day Mon-Fri

¥300 /day Sat-Sun and public holidays

*Full access to sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, indoor pool, and beach

Pool Info: 15m wide

Time: 8am-6pm daily

Portman Ritz-Carlton

Address: 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu

Phone: 6279 8600

Price: Use of pool only for members, residents of the Shanghai Center or hotel guests

Full membership: ¥18,000/yr plus ¥2,000 one-time registration fee

Use of facilities from 6am-midnight daily.

Off-peak membership: ¥11,000 plus ¥1,500 one-time registration fee.

Use of facilities from 8am-4pm daily.

*Gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, use of indoor pool and all fitness classes (adult and children’s swimming classes) included

Pool Info: 20m x 18m

Time: 8am-11pm daily

Shanghai Racquet Club Outdoor Swimming Pool

Address: Lane 555 Jinfeng Lu (Hua Cao Town)

Phone: 2201 0886

Price: Membership fee – ¥35,000/yr

Lifetime membership fee – ¥80,000 one time fee

*Membership includes whole family

Pool Info: 25m x 10m; 1.1m-1.4m deep

Time: 7am-7pm daily

Ambassy Club Swimming Pool

Address: 1500 Huaihai Zhong Lu

Phone: 6437 9800

Price: Individual membership fee – ¥8,888/yr

Family membership fee – ¥12,888/yr

*Full access to all facilities upon joining

Pool Info: 25m x 15m

Time: Mon-Fri: 6am-9pm

Sat-Sun: 8am-9pm