Fodor's Expert Review InterContinental Kunming

If you're in Kunming only to relax, and noisy streets and busy traffic hold little appeal, then the international chain hotel is an exceptional option. Mixing Dai-style architecture with modern grandeur, this palace is almost worth visiting without actually staying here. The walls and ceilings are finished with intricate patterns; and water features pop up all over the premise, culminating in a typically Chinese-style waterfall in the center of the complex. No other Kunming hotel offers such luxury and such extraordinary service. Be advised, though, that the hotel is far away from the city itself and that the roads leading toward it are often congested—reaching the airport can take up to an hour.