321 Best Hotels in China

Modern, minimalist design—pure white interiors, freestanding bathtubs, individual courtyards—meets old Beijing at this intimate four-bedroom boutique hotel within the quaint alleyways (hutong) near the historic Drum and Bell towers. This is the perfect refuge for the style-conscious visitor looking to escape the big city bustle. Or, indeed, those wanting to experience Beijing's increasingly forgotten traditional surroundings while having access to the benefits of contemporary technology, such as iPod stereos and in-room Wi-Fi. Service is discreet; guests get their own front door key, so you'll soon feel like a local wandering home. The owner also operates Cafe Sambal, a Southeast Asian restaurant nearby.

The cutting-edge, glass-and-steel PuLi lives up to its billing as an urban resort: with spalike guest rooms—as well as an actual spa, a stunning indoor pool, a garden terrace, and a library replete with fireplaces—it's truly an oasis of calm in Shanghai's bustling center, just off Nanjing Xi Lu. The mellow lobby has low-slung seating, modern porcelain pieces, and windows overlooking adjacent Jing'an Park. The 105-foot Long Bar is a popular place to gather for drinks and afternoon tea. The rooms are true havens, with perks like automated blackout curtains and bathrooms with rain-forest showers. What's more the Wi-Fi, items from the well-stocked minibar, and loaner cell phones are all complimentary. The hotel's PHÉNIX eatery & bar, a popular lunch spot, gained a Michelin star for its menu of contemporary French dishes; UR Spa gets a thumbs-up for its serene atmosphere.

Even standard rooms in this haven of stylish luxury are suites—tranquil havens of design and indulgence that feature huge window-side bathtubs, walk-in rain showers, and free minibars (or Maxi-Bars as they call them). Tucked away on the higher floors of the J.W. Marriott Hotel, the Upper House begins to charm as soon as the elevator opens onto the 49th-floor Sky lounge. Some guests may lament the lack of a pool and a spa, but with rooms like these, who needs them? The only drawback is not wanting to leave your room.

Set in a former warehouse that was transformed using recycled materials, Shanghai's first carbon-netural hotel has a superb design and well-trained staffers who make you feel at home the moment you enter the tree-shaded courtyard. They're also happy to arrange interesting activities, from Chinese cooking or calligraphy classes to tai chi and yoga sessions. Or you can just head to the quiet, secluded rooftop bar for a little down time.

A hip, young vibe prevails, though guest rooms are veritable urban oases—soundproof and spacious; alternately colorful or sleek on even and odd floors; and equipped with mood lighting, surround audiovisual systems, big mirrors, and even bigger harbor views. The adjacent Elements mall is a shopaholic's dream, the 76th-floor outdoor heated pool area feels like a gathering spot for the young and the restless, and ultimate relaxation awaits at Bliss spa. Despite the West Kowloon address, it's very easy to get island-side by train or car (Western Tunnel is down the street).

Towering over Taipa, the award-winning Altira provides stunning sea views of the Macau Peninsula from all of its 200 villas, suites and rooms, each of which also comes with a dedicated lounge, walk-in wardrobe, warm brown hues, wraparound windows, and circular stone bath. Other perks here include a panoramic-view swimming pool, a two-level spa with 12 treatment rooms, and classy VIP gaming rooms. For cool cocktails in a romantic setting, 38 Lounge has starlight seating on the roof.

The epitome of blissful indulgence, this luxury hotel (part of the famed Aman chain) is spread out across a series of carefully renovated ancient Qing Dynasty courtyards—it even has its own private entrance to the Summer Palace—with guest rooms decorated in restful earth tones (lovely traditional wooden screens and bamboo blinds) and grounds that are positively stunning. Luxury and peace are the order of the day as guests enjoy breakfast overlooking a reflecting lotus pool, stroll the boutique, or relax in the excellent Aman Spa.

An iconic 1901 residence houses the original lobby and historic rooms, and a newer addition offers rooms with amenities for business travelers at this hotel, formerly part of the Raffles brand; it's now overseen by the luxury NUO group, which has ensured that the standards for service remain high.

For dining, choose between classic French and international, while the Writer's Bar is replete with large leather armchairs and a polished wooden dance floor dating back to the 1920s.

If you've ever dreamed of living a life of privilege in the Mid-Levels without having to pay through the nose for it, this is your chance—all the better if you go for a slightly pricier harbor-view room. A fully equipped business center, workout room with view, pleasant outdoor pool, and restaurant with a nice open-air terrace overlooking the harbor are among the amenities.

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.

Branches of this quirky, beloved, boutique-hotel chain have popped up in other Chinese cities, but the Hangzhou location is a step up from the rest, with an airy, artful lobby decorated with Andy Warhol's pop art; a glass elevator that gives you a bird's-eye view; and clean, quiet rooms. Be sure to request one facing outward for a better view.

One of the most pleasant hotels in Dali's Old Town, the upscale Dali Gurong offers spacious and well-furnished rooms in a cluster of villas in a park-like setting. Some of the villas are built around a babbling creek that can be crossed via a footbridge. Look for the relaxing garden dotted with picnic tables in the back. There's a teahouse and a restaurant, and the staff is happy to assist you with laundry or travel information.

This cross between a Chinese fortress and an alpine lodge is the most interesting place to stay in Dunhuang, and possibly in the whole of the province. The large, spacious rooms have historical touches like Ming reproduction furniture and traditional wooden shower buckets. The hotel arranges some great tours, including a sunrise camel ride to the sand dunes of Singing Sand Mountain. The fourth-floor café is the perfect spot to appreciate the dunes from a distance. The hotel's only drawback is its location 3 km (2 miles) south of the town center.

From the folks behind the Opposite House, EAST is a business hotel with pizzazz, from the contemporary, light-filled guest rooms done out with oak floors and huge windows (the corner rooms have the best views), to Xian, a hip bar, lounge and music venue with delicious wood-fired pizza and a connoisseur’s selection of single malts. Business travelers who need to be close to Wangjing, the airport or the 798 Art District couldn't ask for more; those hoping to hit up all the sights should probably look elsewhere. There's a vast mall next door with plenty of shopping and eating.

At what's the best budget hotel in town, the room are modern, with all the necessities. The hotel's east side and rooftop café offer great views of the Li river and Elephant Trunk Hill. To the west is plenty of shopping and dining along the Zhengyang Lu Pedestrian Mall. Some of the staff speaks good English.

Even the most modest "deluxe" rooms at the Four Seasons Beijing come with state-of-the-art tech, bathtubs with city views, and clever architecture that seems to amplify the already generous 46 square meters (500 square feet) of living space. Overlooking the embassies of the United States and Japan, Four Seasons Beijing occupies a business-minded part of the city. The see-and-be-seen Italian and Chinese restaurants, Mio and Cai Yi Xuan, here could be destinations in their own right, and the serene internal tea garden matches the tranquil bliss of the spa that surrounds it. The megabar EQUIS is a lacquered nightlife destination for the rich and beautiful of the city. This level of quality and service comes at quite a cost, of course, but if you enjoy the finer things in life and are OK with paying dealy for them, you'll feel right at home.

Few comforts are neglected, with amenities ranging from sumptuous Chinese-accented furnishings to all sorts of high-tech gadgetry, but the main features are the knockout views of the harbor and Victoria Peak through walls of glass. The hotel is home to world-class restaurants, including Michelin three-starred Lung King Heen, two-star Caprice, and the first overseas location of three-starred Sushi Saito from Tokyo. You can also look forward to legendary service, a gorgeous infinity pool that hangs above the harbor and a blissful sanctuary of a spa.

Among the karst mountains outside of Yangshuo, the Giggling Tree is one of China's coolest guesthouses. Owned by a Dutch couple with children, it's been designed with families in mind. Set inside traditional farmhouses 3 km (2 miles) outside town, the rooms here come with amazing views, a refreshing swimming pool, and relaxing terraces in a very chilled-out countryside setting. They are also spacious and nicely designed. The dining room serves good Chinese and Western food.

The wow factor at this top-notch hotel—close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City—comes from its huge glass facade and extraordinary lagoon-like swimming area: above its lush vegetation, waterfalls, and statues, a "virtual sky" ceiling imitates different weather patterns. Guest rooms, decorated with comfortable cherry-wood furnishings, and many with floor-to-ceiling windows, aren't quite as inspired, but they're still grand and Hyatt enough. Big draws are the seven restaurants and bars, most notably Made in China, one of the best places in the city for Peking duck. The hotel is part of a mammoth complex that includes an upscale shopping mall, cinema, and a wide range of places to eat—so the wows keep coming.

Even the smallest rooms at this big-brand boutique-style hotel come with walk-in wardrobes, freestanding tubs, and six-head showers, and if you can stand the very bachelor-pad brown and slate interiors, you'll reap the benefits of being just a stroll from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Standards of service and comfort are as you'd expect from the brand, and west-facing rooms on floor 10 or higher even come with Forbidden City views. The hotel opened in 2008 for the Olympics, and by now the rooms are showing the odd sign of wear and tear, but it's still a great option, especially for first-timers to the city. The Fizztastic champagne brunch, held every Sunday, is certainly worth a splurge. Breakfast at Vascos is a bright, sunny affair with excellent home baked pastries.

Overlooking People's Square in bustling downtown Ürümqi, this hotel offers tastefully appointed rooms that would satisfy those seeking a higher level of comfort. For the best views, request a room on the east side. Standard rooms are not huge but offer ample closet space and clean bathrooms. The lobby bar, while straight out of the '70s, makes surprisingly good cocktails. Western options are lacking in the breakfast buffet, but at the very least you should be able to find eggs and fresh fruit.

Cheap and cheerful does it at this value chain close to Sanlitun (Beijing's lively nightlife center)—yes, it lacks a pool and gym, and guest rooms are somewhat small, but the lobby gleams, the beds are surprisingly comfortable, and the free-to-use Macs next to the front desk and a games console are thoughtful touches. This hotel offers both meeting rooms and a self-service laundry room, so both businesspeople and backpackers have what they need. Next to the hotel entrance is a handy tour operator that can help organize trips to the Great Wall and so forth.

The interiors throughout this hotel are designed to make a statement, from the vertical garden hanging above the lobby café to the stylish, panoramic, top-floor lounge—and, in between, are gorgeous, view-filled guest rooms outfitted with cozy woods, natural fabrics, and high-tech amenities. The outdoor rooftop pool and gym hang over the harbor, the spa is staffed with Thai masseuses, and the buffet at the Market restaurant is one of the most popular in town (guests can skip to the front of the line).

Hangzhou's most recognizable and centrally located hotel offers attentive service and comfortable, sleekly furnished rooms; be sure to ask for one on an upper floor for unobstructed views. A large indoor swimming pool, adjacent to the spa, overlooks West Lake. The hotel is home to excellent Chinese and Western restaurants, and breakfast can be enjoyed on a quiet lake-side terrace. About two blocks north is the Hubin Yi Park Dock, where you can catch boats that ply the lake.

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.

Next to the Guangzhou East Railway Station, this upscale hotel offers large luxurious rooms in a sophisticated palette of soft blacks, grays, and beige. The buffet in the second-floor café is beautifully arranged around a centerpiece of coral, and the high ceilings lend an air of sophistication.

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.

Some of the city's most spacious, beautifully designed rooms also have huge spa-style bathrooms with massive circular tubs. For fine dining, the Michelin two-starred Amber is consistently spectacular, and MO Bar (all-day-dining and sensational DJ tunes in the evening) has become one of the premiere places to see and be seen. PDT, a speakeasy implant from New York City, serves ups meticulously crafted cocktails and delicious gourmet hot dogs in a wood- and leather-clad atmosphere. The spa offers a dazzling array of wellness facilities and a steady stream of visiting treatment experts from around the world.

Airport hotels have a reputation for dullness—not so with Langham Place, a fun and funky spot next to Terminal 3 that screams style with high-tech guest rooms, luxurious marble bathrooms, and soundproofed floor-to-ceiling windows; the in-house contemporary art gallery and stylish dining options point to this hotel's playful sense of creativity. A pink (and free) shuttle bus will drop you at the airport within minutes, from where you can ride the subway into town. Business travelers are just 10 minutes from the New China International Exhibition Center, but if you want to be near the sights, or among the downtown action, then this is not the one for you.