40 Best Hotels in Beijing to Shanghai, China

This grand old mansion next to historic Pingjiang Jie balances period atmosphere and contemporary comfort; just ask to see a few rooms before check-in—antique furniture and modern bathrooms are a given, but a cramped, awkward layout and lack of natural light can be issues. The dimly lighted lobby is the oldest part of the complex, dating back 450 years. A series of 11 individually designed gardens are planted with bamboo, plum trees, and peach trees, making it a fun place to explore.

It's worth dragging your suitcase along cobbled Donguang Street in the heart of old Yangzhou to reach this restored Qing Dynasty courtyard hotel, where quiet gardens and pavilions are connected by lantern-lit pathways and oval "moon gates," and modern guest rooms have well-equipped bathrooms. A basic Chinese breakfast is offered, though most guests skip it and head to one of Yangzhou's famous teahouses.

With rich textiles, sleek furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, the guest rooms at this welcoming hotel are fine for the price; ask for an east-facing room, and you'll be treated to rousing vistas of Xuanwu Lake and the wall surrounding Nanjing's old city. Making the location even nicer is the fact that there's a subway station just outside. If you don't feel like venturing far for dinner, the 20th-floor revolving restaurant serves an all-you-can-eat buffet with Western and Chinese dishes. The staff can help you arrange day trips around the city.

The two-story stone entrance to this luxury hotel is topped by a pagoda that's modeled after the nearby Pan Gate; try to snag a courtyard-facing room (with garden views) or a newer Pacific Club room (pricier but with more perks). The Pagoda Lounge Bar overlooks the Ruiguang Pagoda. Kids enjoy the outdoor Roman-style pool.

Wake to crowing roosters at this curio-filled boutique hotel opened by a Shanghai artist; it's in a 400-year-old stone house outside Xidi, an hour's drive from Tunxi, so a stay here lets you experience ancient village life—without forsaking air-conditioning or Internet access. The staff prepares tasty home-style meals for lunch and dinner using whatever's in season. A driver is on hand for local tours, airport pickups, and trips to Huangshan, making this a good base for exploring the area. A second, larger location is a 10-minute drive away.

Two kilometers (1 mile) south of the old walls, this elegant hotel set around a purpose-built lake was Qufu's first world-class accommodation, at last making the UNESCO-listed town a compelling destination for a luxury break or side trip that's complete with creature comforts. In addition to excellent restaurants, the hotel has first-rate pool, gym, and spa facilities.

If you're looking for luxury, this 48-story tower remains a fine choice despite all the recent competition; rooms and suites are chic and understated, with subtle Asian flourishes and all the trimmings you'd expect from the brand, including plasma TVs and rainfall showers. Dining options abound, including beautifully designed Chinese and French eateries. The hotel is within walking distance of the eateries on Hunan Lu pedestrian street.

Looking somewhat like a tube of lipstick from the outside, this 49-story cylinder sits right in the center of town, boasting sleek and spacious guest rooms and a grand lobby with impressive chandeliers and marble columns. A terrific Italian restaurant called Biscotti uses authentic imported ingredients like Parma ham.

At this classy summit hotel, you can count on comfortable, spacious double rooms (ask for one in the newer building) that come with down jackets, a welcome touch if you plan to brave the predawn chill to catch the sunrise. A very good restaurant and adjoining café round out the offerings.

From the Yungu Cable Car station (or top of the Eastern Steps for hikers), this is the first of the four main hotels at the summit area that you'll reach; middling rooms are made up for somewhat by a good restaurant downstairs.

With rooms set among flowering rhododendrons and azaleas, the Beihai Hotel is a decent choice for a night on the mountain; ask for a front-facing room which has better views.

Steps from the heart of the city, this well-run hotel has an offbeat charm, with a bright, brash, and soaring lobby and stylish, reasonably priced guest rooms. The helpful 24-hour travel desk can arrange day tours in and around Nanjing or set up farther-flung excursions.

Eight decks of spacious rooms wrap around a nautical-theme lobby bar at this shipshape luxury hotel on Jinji Lake; splurge on one of the Captain's Suites if you want to enjoy a soak in a private hot tub while you gaze out at the water. In a private marine nearby are several speedboats belonging to the hotel that can be hired for trips around the lake. Lounge beside the infinity-edge outdoor pool, or work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center.

Huangshan's first world-class hotel is a really good bet for a night of creature comforts after you've hiked the trails and returned to Tunxi. The rooms overlooking the Xin'an River are the nicest, and there's a big pool to unwind in.

Occupying the uppermost floors of the Jimao Tower, designed so that its 62 concertina-like stories resemble a Chinese lantern, this international luxury hotel has state-of-the-art rooms, a fabulous spa (try the indoor mineral pool), and fawning service. Music@61 boasts a wine and live music bar (as well as many other offerings), and the lobby lounge serves afternoon tea amid stunning views. Fairmont Nanjing has seven dining outlets in all, so you won't go hungry.

After a day exploring Suzhou's many gardens, return to one of your own—10 acres, to be precise, complete with flowering trees, tranquil ponds, and colorful pagodas, with rooms spread across six low-slung buildings. Feeling somewhat like a posh university campus, the Garden Hotel is two blocks from the Master of the Nets Garden and a short stroll from many restaurants and bars. Though it's showing its age somewhat, the hotel is still a pleasant and well-situated lodging.

In a gleaming tower that's connected to an upscale shopping mall, the Golden Eagle Summit is a step above most other five-star domestically owned hotels; lots of natural wood imparts warmth in the well-laid out guests rooms, where comfortable beds welcome you after a day of exploring.

Overlooking the busy shopping centers in Nanjing's commercial center, the Grand Hotel is an affordable and reliable base for seeing the sights, with a decent Western restaurant, babysitting service, and other family-friendly extras.

This centrally located design hotel is by no means the quintessential Suzhou experience, but the comfortable beds, international cable channels, and a bistro-style restaurant could be just the ticket after a long day exploring classical gardens; rooms are spacious, but beware of the inexpensive, windowless "atrium" rooms.

At this well-appointed hotel just a block from the city's main shopping district, the enormous guest rooms come as a pleasant surprise, even if service can be confused at times. The inexpensive restaurant is acceptable, but for a nicer meal venture out into the surrounding streets.

Looming over the city's most popular sandy stretch, this long-established hotel makes up for average rooms with terrific ocean views, easy beach access for kids, and friendly service. The revolving buffet restaurant on the 25th floor is a triumph of seaside kitsch.

This lofty hotel towers above its rivals in height, price, and, standards, although its amenities and decor—all blacks, creams, and chromes—are geared more to Chinese businessmen than foreign leisure travelers.

Adjacent to the Olympic Sailing Center and a short walk from the Marina City shopping complex, this ultramodern hotel has contemporary rooms, many with expansive marina or coastal views and all with dark wood paneling, built-in mood lighting, massive LCD TVs, and stand-alone bath tubs. If price is no object, splurge on one of the Aqua Suites, which come with private sun terraces equipped with their own hot tubs.

Something of an institution, Nanjing's original modern five-star hotel is worth a look for its great location in the center of town, solicitous service, and—in its newer tower—sparklingly modern rooms. The pool and sauna are particularly luxurious, and as an unexpected bonus, the second floor boasts an authentic Japanese restaurant. Shoppers have a wealth of options in the malls and boutiques nearby.

On a quiet stretch of sand, this clean, comfortable hotel is made up of five two-story buildings linked by tree-lined paths. The simply decorated rooms include modern touches like cable TVs and high-speed Internet access.

The professional service, wooden furniture–filled guest rooms, and meticulously tended gardens make this historic villa complex one of the finest accommodations in town. Despite being in the heart of the action, the elevated position and mountain views gives the impression of a rural retreat.

Nicer than many hotels in Beidaihe or Shanhaiguan (but a good 15 minutes from either by cab), this property has pleasant rooms overlooking a sandy beach and the Bohai Sea; other bonuses include a nice indoor pool and, more unusually, a staff that speaks a decent level of English. Apart from the beachside location, the surrounding area—industrial Qinhuangdao—isn't particularly attractive.

Request a mountain-view room at this resort-style hotel situated in the quiet foothills of Mount Tai and offering compact but comfortable rooms, soft beds, international TV channels, and thunderous showers. If you can stand to miss the much-hyped sunrise, this is far better value—and provides a better night's sleep—than you'll find on the summit.