Top 10 best luxury hotels in China

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today (April 13th, 2015): top 10 most luxurious hotels in China.

Maintaining its ancient traditions while racing into the future at the speed of light, China is an astonishing destination for many travelers. Its blend of old and new makes it one of the most fascinating countries on the planet. Whether you’re interested in cultural highlights, the great outdoors or urban nightlife, I have selected the 10 most fabulous luxury hotels in China for you.

There is more information (with review and Youtube clips) below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite luxury hotel in China in the comments section, or take my poll below!

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10. PARK HYATT, SHANGHAI

Occupying floors 79 to 93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, makes the Park Hyatt hotel one of the highest hotels in the world. Soaring above this metropolis, guests can take in sweeping views of the city skyline and Huangpu River from any of the 174 luxury rooms & suites, or enjoy a choice of some of the most known Shanghai restaurants such as 100 Century Avenue Restaurant featuring Western, Japanese and Chinese cuisines, and Dining Room, popular for its European specialties.

Hotel website: Park Hyatt Shanghai
Other top 10 accolades: Park Hyatt Shanghai also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s highest hotels and the best luxury hotels in Shanghai.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
Review: read my review of Park Hyatt Shanghai here.

9. BANYAN TREE, LIJIANG

Come live in a fairytale, where quaint bridges arch over neat water canals and cobblestone streets stretch along a wonderful array of architecture. Here, ethnic charm meld with living history to awaken your spirit. Welcome to Lijiang. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Lijiang has been aptly referred to as the Venice of the Orient. At Banyan Tree Lijiang, located 2,000 metres above sea level, the resort’s temperate climate and pristine environment add to the ethereal charm cloaking the air. The resort is 15 minutes from the historical town of Dayan and basks in the shadow of the magnificently desolate Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Each of the 55 rooms and suites at Banyan Tree Lijiang is a blend of Far Eastern design and modern flat-screen, in-room-dining luxury.

Hotel website: Banyan Tree, Lijiang

8. THE ST REGIS LHASA RESORT, TIBET

Facing the jaw-dropping Potala Palace and 12,000 feet above sea level, The St. Regis Lhasa steeps its guests in the beauty and serenity of Tibetan culture, from exquisitely crafted architectural details to the traditional healing Tibetan herbal treatments offered in the sanctuary of its Iridium Spa. The 162 rooms feature calming and subdued interiors, plus plasma TV and marble baths. But honestly, why stay in your room when such a treasure of history and culture sits just outside. After your day of sightseeing the various monasteries, lakes, monuments, and temples, strike a few poses in the Yoga room or take a dip in the pool.

Hotel website: The St Regis Lhasa Resort
Other top 10 accolades: The St Regis Lhasa Resort, Tibet, also features in my top 10 lists of the most beautiful hotel pools in the world and the world’s most stunning indoor hotel pools.
Tip: enjoy exclusive VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, $100 USD hotel credit, early check-in and late check-out).

7. ANANTARA RESORT & SPA, XISHUANGBANNA

Tucked away in the primeval forests of Yunnan Province, Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa sits at the threshold of a region rich in cultural experiences and astonishing natural beauty. Misty mountains rise in the distance, enveloping you in a mysterious, ethereal glow. This elegant hotel in Yunnan China blends contemporary style with awe-inspiring scenery in an evocative locale and is nestled along the banks of a sweeping curve of the Luosuo River. Lush tropical gardens are filled with the sweet scents of passion flower and wild orchid. Elegant deluxe rooms and sprawling pool villas are inspired by indigenous art, with private plunge pools, state-of-the-art entertainment facilities and exclusive butler service.

Hotel website: Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa

6. THE PENINSULA, SHANGHAI

The Peninsula Shanghai opened in 2009 and offers an utopian level of luxury. Occupying a prime location with direct frontage on Shanghai’s historic Bund, The Peninsula’s flagship hotel is the first new building on the Bund in the last few decades. The intricately styled 235 guest rooms and suites have been designed to reminisce style from the glorious Art Deco era, incorporating an eclectic of traditional materials used in 1920’s Shanghai. Some of them have spectacular views of the Pudong skyline. With five restaurants, banquet facilities, a full Peninsula Spa, a stunning indoor swimming pool, a retail arcade with super-de-luxe shops, and boundless hospitality, there is no need at all to leave the hotel.

Hotel website: The Peninsula Shanghai
Other top 10 accolades: The Peninsula Shanghai also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Shanghai.
Tip: enjoy exclusive VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, one complimentary lunch, a Virtuoso smart phone, and an exquisite lacquer soapbox per stay).
Review: read my review of The Peninsula Shanghai here.

5. THE RITZ CARLTON, HONG KONG

Where Hong Kong Island has The Peak, Kowloon has the 118-storey, 1587ft (484m) International Commerce Centre (ICC). Seated atop this majestic structure, one of the tallest in the world, and the highest in Hong Kong, sits the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, the world’s highest hotel, boasting incomparable views of Victoria Harbour and the glimmering skyline of neighbouring Hong Kong Island. Inside, soaring architectural elements encrusted with custom glass artwork echo the signature glamour of the city below. The spirit of this multidimensional city flows throughout every corner of The Ritz-Carlton hotel, from its two Michelin-starred restaurants, to the awe-inspiring 118th-floor bar, Ozone, the highest of its kind.

Hotel website: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
Other top 10 accolades: The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong features in my top 10 lists of the world’s highest hotels, the best luxury hotels in Hong Kong, and hotel rooms with a spectacular view.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food credit).
Review: read my review of The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong here.

4. ROSEWOOD, BEIJING

The Rosewood Beijing, the first China property for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, takes contemporary sophistication to new heights. Located in the prestigious Chaoyang District, this Beijing 5-star hotel delivers a unique blend of modern sophistication and comfort. With 283 luxurious rooms and suites that are amongst the largest in the city, the guest rooms evoke sensations of lavish apartment living. Featuring natural finishes, textural overlays, spacious bathrooms, walk-in closets, and non-traditional elements with subtle Oriental aesthetics, guests discover an intimate and sophisticated surrounding in the midst of Beijing. All guestrooms feature original cloisonné paintings, beautiful fine art prints, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Hotel website: Rosewood Beijing
Other accolades: Rosewood Beijing also features in my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2014.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
Review: read my review of Rosewood Beijing here.

3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL PUDONG, SHANGHAI

Surrounded by the gleaming skyscrapers of Lujiazui, the hotel offers a unique blend of style and comfort with a stunning design, world-class restaurants, serene spa and Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service. If business has brought you here, you’ll be happy to learn that the hotel places you minutes away from Shanghai IFC and the Shanghai World Financial Centre. More leisurely moments await at the historic Bund – just ten minutes away – and other main attractions, all within easy reach by train. As sophisticated as they are spacious, the 318 rooms and 44 suites offer a sublime blend of comfort and contemporary design, all of them with sweeping views over the Huangpu River. Lean back on plush pillows and relax, then prepare for the day with the convenience and comfort of high-tech surroundings.

Hotel website: Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
Other accolades: Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Shanghai.
Review: read my review of the Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai here.

2. AMANFAYUN, HANGZHOU

In the spirit of a traditional Chinese village, Amanfayun is a place to explore – a place of stone pathways leading to shaded courtyards, quaint restaurants and peaceful abodes. Situated on 14 hectares to the west of West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Hangzhou, the resort is comprised of 47 dwellings surrounded by tea fields, natural forests and lush groves of bamboo. Just a 20-minute drive from the city centre, Amanfayun is the ideal location from which to explore the region’s ancient Buddhist temples, botanical gardens, vast wetland areas, countless pagodas and Hangzhou’s famous silk and shopping streets. The luxury Hangzhou resort features an original old Chinese village layout, with a 600 m (2000 ft) main thoroughfare, the Fayun Pathway.

Hotel website: Amanfayun
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and one lunch for two).
Review: read my review of Amanfayun here.

1. AMAN AT SUMMER PALACE, BEIJING

Just steps from the East Gate of the Summer Palace grounds lies Aman at Summer Palace – the ideal location from which to discover Beijing. Housed in a series of pavilions, some of which date back over a century and were originally used by guests of the Palace awaiting an audience with the Empress Dowager Cixi, the resort is only 15 km (10 miles) from Beijing’s Forbidden City. A serene retreat, with peaceful internal courtyards embracing traditional Chinese architecture, the property provides easy access to such cultural landmarks as the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the hutongs, as well as Beijing’s restaurants, art galleries and other contemporary delights. Aman at Summer Palace is managed by Aman, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand.

Hotel website: Aman at Summer Palace
Other accolades: Aman at Summer Palace also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most luxurious, large city hotels, the best Aman hotels in the world, and the world’s most stunning indoor hotel pools.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and one lunch for two).
Review: read my review of Aman at Summer Palace here.