357 Best Hotels in China

At the world's third highest hotel, occupying the 102nd through the 118th floors of West Kowloon's ICC skyscraper, every large, luxurious guest room enjoys a stupendous vantage point. While the many restaurants and bars enjoy the same stratospheric outlooks, high tea served at window-side seats in the Lounge & Bar is an especially memorable, vertigo-inducing experience; at Ozone, the highest bar in the world, the terrace is downright dizzying. A beautiful view-filled pool takes swimming to new heights.

If cost is no concern, the Ritz-Carlton is where you want to be; the all-suite retreat set atop the Galaxy Macau makes your average luxury rooms look mundane by comparison. Even the smallest category, the Premier Suite, features a separate living area, opulent furnishings, and elegant gold accents spread across 915 square feet. The stately marble bathrooms are top-notch, centering on a circular two-person bathtub. Wherever you go on the property, it’s easy to escape the crowds. Guests have access to a private outdoor pool and bar, and even the 51st-floor Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge rarely feels cramped.

The older of the two Shangri-La's in Xi'an, this remains one of the city's most luxurious hotels with English-speaking staff, an indoor swimming pool and gym facilities. The hotel is 10–15 minutes northeast of the city center, and easily accessible by subway. Get off at Tong Hua Men station on Line 1 and take Exit B.

Make sure your cab driver knows you're going to the Golden Flower Hotel, and not the Shangri-La, or else you many find yourself at the newer Shangri-La all the way across town to the east.

Opulent style and exceptional service are hallmarks of the Singapore-based Shangri-La chain, and the Chengdu property delivers both. From the moment you walk into the expansive marble lobby there is always a cheerful employee nearby to offer assistance. There's a robust selection of restaurants as well servicing both Chinese and Western tastes. The spa is worth the splurge.

On the site of an ancient temple, amid 40 acres of camphor and bamboo trees that merge seamlessly into the gardens and walkways of surrounding West Lake, this historic landmark hotel has two wings of rooms with high ceilings and heavy damask fabrics.

Overlooking the confluence of three rivers, Ningbo's most opulent international hotel offers personalized service, first-rate facilities, and elegantly appointed rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame urban panoramas. Splurge for one of the Horizon Club rooms, and you'll be escorted to the club lounge and treated like royalty. The cozy, dimly lit Lobster Bar and Grill will prepare imported Australian Tajima beef to perfection, offers a decent wine selection, and has live music that will make you want to linger.

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.

For access to Lantau Island's top sites, it's hard to beat the location of this hotel atop the Citygate Outlets, close to the airport, Ngong Ping 360 cable car, and Tung Chung bus station. If you're an aviation buff, some rooms come with a runway view. For those hoping to get refreshed after a flight, the hotel has a 24-hour gym, Jacuzzi, and seasonal pool; suites even come with a private plunge pool or Jacuzzi. 

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 favorite of business travelers and dignitaries, the luxurious interiors combine classic Chinese elegance with modern furnishings, but it's the facilities that really stand out: the health club is equipped with a Jacuzzi that gets its water directly from a natural hot spring, the glass-atrium swimming pool offers a sun-drenched backstroke, and the smart, wood-paneled Press Club Bar has the air of a private club. Add to that some plush rooms backed by excellent service,and it feels like you're getting something more for your money here.

Five hundred years in the making, this beguiling combination of boutique luxury and heritage architecture is one of Beijing's most romantic hotel experiences. The eight guest rooms here are housed in a once-forgotten Tibetan Buddhist Temple, painstakingly restored and strewn with thoughtful art, custom furniture pieces, and major creature comforts. The temple, called Zhizusi, or The Temple of Wisdom, was commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor in the 1600s and was one of a trio of Beijing temples designed to print Buddhist religious texts. Later it became a private residence to a prominent Tibetan Buddhist religious leader. The Dragon Phoenix room, the largest, is in a cavernous former prayer hall with tall ceilings and polished beams (and, most important, cozy under-floor heating). More modern rooms are housed in stylishly restored 1960 annexes, built when the complex was a television factory—Mao slogans inciting workers are still visible hanging from the main temple wall. The hotel is also the home of Gathered Sky, the first permanent light installation by artist James Turrell in China. Guests can attend "Sunset Session" viewings for free, and anyone can go along at sunset every Sunday to view it. Breakfast is served in-room in custom designed "bento" boxes; the Temple Restaurant Beijing shares the complex and is open for lunch and dinner.

The theme is pure Italian Renaissance, right down to the Venetian gondolier uniforms worn by the staff, and the wide spiral staircases and long hallways give the place an M.C. Escher aura. The Venice Hotel's swimming pool is one of the largest in Shenzhen, and extends from an indoor pool under a domed roof to a connected outdoor pool with a swim-up bar. The hotel also has a number of excellent restaurants and is a popular place for wedding banquets.

No expense has been spared on this stunning, boutique-inspired hotel in central Wangfujing; the public areas have walls of Suzhou silk, staircases of gold-flecked Italian marble, and countless pieces of art, while guest rooms strike a delightful balance of contemporary style and high-tech luxury, with Apple TVs, Bose sound systems, Nespresso machines, Japanese toilets, heated bathroom floors, and a Samsung tablet beside the bed to control the lights, TV, and curtains, and also order various services. The building itself is astonishing—it's a gleaming latticework of copper and bronze, designed to age and oxidize over time. Brasserie 1893, the flagship eatery, is impressively kitted out with a pair of spectacular custom-made Italian ranges. Behind the main hotel building, a cluster of renovated siheyuan courtyards houses the Waldorf Hutong Villa, a palatial suite with its own swimming pool, underground cinema, and a dining room for 12 guests.

Without a doubt the city's most luxurious hotel, the Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale brings taste and style to everything from the grand lobby to the soothing spa to the selection of six globe-trotting restaurants. Most of the rooms and suites have views of Lake Dian and the surrounding mountains, as well as plush furnishings and modern amenities like huge flat-screen TVs (there's another in your handsome bathroom) and MP3 docking stations.

Though it's difficult to prove the Xianheng's claims that it's the province's first eco-friendly hotel, other things about it are undeniable: its traditionally accented rooms are plush and comfortable, its setting amid courtyards with canals is pretty, and its Chinese-style spa has extensive facilities and services. If you're hankering for comfort food, the on-site western restaurant can sate your cravings. The hotel is a short walk from the Lu Xun Memorial and is near many restaurants, including the historical Xianheng Winehouse just next door.

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.

The "Terrace of Serenity" more than lives up to its name. Built on a patch of regrown tropical forest, this resort lets you watch the Mekong River slide by from your hammock while you listen to birds sing or tree frogs croak—sounds that are increasingly rare around Jinghong proper. The guest rooms, resembling Dai houses on the outside, are all different on the inside, and some have furniture dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Dreamy terraces and bathrooms smoothly blend in with the jungle outside. The restaurant, one of Jinghong's best, is worth a special trip.

The living concept at this slender glass tower hotel in Sheung Wan combines boutique comfort with apartment convenience—each \"suite\" (either one or two-bed) comes with separate areas for lounging, dining, and preparing food, as well as spacious marble-clad bathrooms. The hotel has a modest fitness center and roof garden but no restaurants or bars. With that said, it's an easy walk to any number of terrific restaurants, and just a few steps from Sheung Wan MTR station and the tram stop.

A minimalist Japandi design hotel with light, bright rooms that come with lovely city or Victoria Harbour views, this hotel even has a few tatami rooms, a first for Hong Kong. Creature comforts include Malin+Goetz designer bath products and an in-room Nespresso machine. The on-site whisky bar and tranquil Zen garden provide spaces to relax, whether you want to do it with a drink or a rake in hand.

Towering over Taipa, the luxe Altira provides stunning sea views of the Macau peninsula from all 216 rooms, suites, and villas; all come with a dedicated lounge, walk-in wardrobe, warm brown hues, and circular stone bath. Other perks here include a swimming pool with panoramic views and a two-level spa with 12 treatment rooms. For wine in a romantic setting, 38 Lounge has starlight seating on the roof. 

Surrounded by tea fields, forests, and romantic courtyards, Amanfuyan tastefully re-creates the feel of a traditional Chinese village, with buildings that incorporate lots of stone, clay, and brick, and rooms decked out in earth tones. The grounds—peaceful thanks to a location far from the tourist droves, about 6 km (3.7 miles) west of West Lake—also have a sumptuous spa, a 20-meter outdoor pool, and several restaurants.

On the banks of the Luosuo River, this luxury resort is in Menglun, about 60 km (37 miles) from Jinghong. Built to resemble Dai village, it offers a fantastic tropical getaway with beautiful mountain and river views, all of which can be enjoyed from the comfort of a poolside recliner or your private terrace. The staff is attentive and warm. If you don't want to venture into Menglun, there are Thai and Chinese restaurants on the premises.

A boutique brand under the Hyatt umbrella, the Andaz Macau hits the sweet spot between luxury and affordability. With entry-level rates hovering around MOP$1,000, the 715-key resort within the Galaxy complex is both welcoming and convenient. In rooms that range from 376 square feet with king beds to 730-square-foot suites, abstract art hangs on the walls above dark wood floors, abutting marble rainfall showers. The mini bars are complimentary, and several room types have balconies. Relax in the heated 62-foot swimming pool, work out around the clock at the 24-hour fitness center, or get a drink at the cozy Andaz Bar.

Although conveniently situated two blocks from the Hengshan Road nightlife district, the Anting Villa Hotel is a surprisingly quiet, side-street retreat with cedar-shaded grounds and basic rooms. Superior rooms in the 10-story tower are comfortable, although the decor could use some sprucing up, and the beds, in traditional Chinese style, are on the hard side. It's worth it to pay a little extra for a garden-view room overlooking the namesake 1932 Spanish-style villa. Although their English is quite limited, the hotel's staffers seem eager to please.

With a more understated opulence than many of its neighbors, the Artyzen Grand Lapa weaves Portuguese charm throughout the resort. The rooms feature old-world decor, including blue-and-white artwork recalling azulejos, with views of the city or the leafy resort itself. The hotel is also widely known for deluxe treatments in the enormous spa complex next to the tropical swimming pool. The hotel’s renowned restaurants include the Café Bela Vista, beloved for its endless buffet and colonial-style decor, and the excellent Kam Lai Heen.

If you need an escape from the city, Auberge Discovery Bay offers up sea views, spacious rooms, and a decadent spa. For outdoorsy types, there's easy access to hiking paths, as well as to Lantau Island’s main tourist draws: the Big Buddha, Disneyland, and Tai O fishing village. Many of the rooms come with panoramic views and sunken bathtubs, and all guests have access to a sprawling swimming pool and 27-hole golf course. Don’t be surprised if you watch a wedding unfold during your stay: the waterfront setting has a following thanks in part to its striking glass chapel and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Named after Memories of the South, a famous Tang Dynasty poem by Bai Ju Yi, this luxury property incorporates shades of blue throughout, and its big windows give you front row seats for the tidal bore. It also has a spa and restaurants.

Located in Guangzhou's Western Business District, this convenient hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Some rates include complimentary breakfasts. For other meals, you have your choice of three restaurants and the Full Moon lobby bar, which offers decent coffee and is decked out with wood carvings and rustic furniture.