357 Best Hotels in China

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.

The area's only luxury resort, the Banyan Tree is made up of villas designed to resemble traditional courtyard houses. Each of the self-contained villas has its own hot tub or swimming pool. At the foot of mist-covered Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the hotel has spectacular unobstructed views, along with all the amenities you would expect in a world-class resort, from Thai massage in the spa to fine dining in the restaurant.

This monastery at the foot of the mountain is one of the many accommodations available to those journeying to the Golden Summit. Few people stay here because it sits near the start of the path up the mountain, but if you are arriving late, this quiet, if slightly damp, hotel is a good option. The monks have even added some higher-end rooms with air-conditioning and TVs.

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.

Occupying a third of the original Grand Hotel de Pekin complex (with Raffles and the Grand Hotel the other tenants), this venerable hotels retains a modicum of old-world charm, its impressive lobby and enviable location next to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square making up for the rather outmoded decor. Grandees and high rollers have stayed here since it opened around the turn of the 20th century—Nixon was a guest on his historic visit, and China's long-time premier Zhou Enlai lived and worked in room #1735. The guest rooms, many adorned with classically French touches, are comfortable enough but overdue for a spruce-up.

Located on the city's main east–west central axis and close to Beijing railway station, this white monolith—curved like Miami's Fontainebleau hotel—symbolized the rebirth of China's tourism industry in 1987; these days, reliable service and decent facilities continue to draw tour groups and business travelers. Make sure you ask for a renovated room, as some of the older ones still suffer from the odd problem here and there (especially in the bathrooms). What with the endless hallways and gigantic ballrooms, you need to look hard for special, quiet places, but there are delightful garden nooks and smaller salons with Chinese antiques to escape to. The pool and gym are top-notch, but the hotel's dining options are overpriced, and breakfast can be repetitive. The hotel is only a couple of stops away from Tiananmen Square on the subway.

At the edge of the only remaining scrap of Beijing's once-mighty city walls—there are great views from the lobby coffee shop—this hotel is in a good location, relatively near key tourist sites and the Beijing railway station. It's reliable choice for those wanting clean, spacious rooms and excellent service. Other pluses are the comfortable beds, the well-appointed bathrooms (complete with marble finish, modern showers and tubs; a blind shields the view from bath to bed should you demand a bit of extra privacy), and the three dining rooms, which offer Cantonese, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian menus.

Small, quiet, and cute, this appealing courtyard hotel—inside one of the city's hutong and featuring a centuries-old date tree, red lanterns, and other such traditional Chinese decorations—may once have been the home of Mei Lanfang, the legendary male Peking opera star known for playing female roles. All guest rooms are furnished with rosewood beds, antique bureaus, and modern gadgets (like satellite TV), but the VIP room, as you would expect, is the largest and best, and worth reserving in advance. If that's not available, request one of the executive rooms. Bicycles are available for free.

Directly across from the Bell Tower, this comfortable and centrally located hotel puts you within walking distance of many of the city's most popular tourist sights. The grand marble lobby is impressive, but the standard rooms are bare. Rooms at the front of the building are more expensive because they have views of the Bell Tower, but some visitors are disturbed by noise from the traffic.

Though guest rooms in this modern town on the north side of Kowloon Park have few frills and vary in size considerably (ask for a larger one), they do have one bonus: views over an extensive swath of greenery or the harbor. All of Tsim Sha Tsui's action is nearby, as are Jordan and Mong Kok sights such as Temple Street market, which can be visited on foot.

Drawing inspiration from the nearby Wenshu Zen Buddhist monastery, this boutique hotel has carefully designed antique wooden decorations, a peaceful courtyard, wonderful staff, and good food. Located on the Wenshu Fang walking street, it is very popular and often fully booked in advance: reserve early and try to get a room facing the inner courtyard rather than the street for the most Zen-like experience. The Chinese restaurant is attractive and serves good food; staff members do an excellent job of giving recommendations and directions to places around the city.

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.

Encircled by shopping esplanades, this Marriott property gives you easy access to a range of restaurants that will satisfy any appetite. The hotel is favored by business travelers because it's connected to the subway and close to the Trade Fair Exhibition Hall. After a day of exploring the city, stretch out with a few laps in the outdoor swimming pool.

Once placing high on lists of top Beijing hotels, this place now does opulence in a rather unsubtle way—gold highlights in the lobby; marble tubs in the luxe rooms; high-priced fine dining—but it still just about lives up to its look: the service is slick, the restaurants are very good (Aria, serving contemporary European cuisine, is particularly special), and the attached mall/cinema is a welcome escape. It's no surprise that during conferences and exhibitions, business travelers pack its modern, well-appointed rooms.

Occupying the upper floors of Beijing's tallest building, the business-chic Summit Wing offers knee-trembling views from its luxurious guest rooms—if you need a drink to steady your nerves, the excellent 80th-floor cocktail bar makes a perfect Old Fashioned. Guest rooms average 700 square feet, each with complimentary broadband Internet access, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, bathroom LCD televisions, iPod docking stations, and Nespresso coffee machines. The 25-meter (82-foot) infinity pool on the 78th floor might just be the highlight of your trip.

An hour from Beijing, Commune is a design-led cluster of villas in wildly contrasting architectural styles set amid the hills and scrubland of the Great Wall; there's plenty of space so it's an ideal spot for families and small groups (and includes private access to the Wall); Bamboo House and Suitcase House are the best of the villas, but overall the service and upkeep is spotty following changes in ownership. Facilities such as a kids' club, pool, restaurants, and spa mean that, even though you're out in the sticks, you won't be roughing it.

One of the capital's newest luxury hotels is in a distinctively curved, tapering tower on the east second ring road; its standout personality extends to touches like Vivid, a rooftop nightclub and lounge, and the skyline views from the guest rooms, enlivened through lozenge-shaped windows. Though this is a business hotel at heart, night owls won't be disappointed, with champagne cocktails in Vivid's rooftop garden a fine way to jump-start an evening at the restaurants and bars of nearby Sanlitun.

A gleaming-white, oval-shape tower rising from the Pacific Place complex, this luxury chain-hotel offers dramatic views of the harbor and the Peak, along with super convenience for mall shopping, high-end restaurants, and transport to other parts of Hong Kong. Though feeling a little dated these days, standards of service and cleanliness remain sky high.

At this sleek glass-and-steel box that transformed a once seedy block, whimsical sculptures of Mao's Red Guards greet you at the entrance, and luxurious guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrored walls, mood lighting, and glass-walled marble bathrooms. The Cantonese restaurant Ming Court is Michelin starred, and the open atrium lounge, Backyard, is a great place for drinks. While the hotel is about playful luxury, the surrounding area provides a look into local life in an unwesternized neighborhood.

This youthful design hotel should appeal to guests who appreciate clean lines and bright, cheery interiors. The rooms are on the small side, but common areas like a shared kitchenette on the fifth floor offer more space to potter around. A free daily shuttle bus service takes guests into Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and Central. 

More an option for business travelers than casual tourists—meaning it's not too far from the airport and a number of work hubs—this hotel near Wangjing High Tech Park understands that a functional location doesn't have to mean a completely utilitarian aesthetic. A 24-hour fitness center; modern, well-equipped guest rooms; plus a handy café and decent breakfasts all come in very handy.

Smart and comfortable (if business-like) rooms here have harbor views from higher floors, and the quiet Sai Ying Pun location means its a short walk to trendy neighborhood bars, cafés, and restaurants. Central is a short taxi- or subway-ride away, and the hotel is conveniently close to Western Tunnel for those with business in Kowloon. 

In the heart of Jinghong, the Crown Hotel has several low-slung buildings in a parklike setting with a lily-leaf-shape swimming pool. Just outside there's an interesting night market and plenty of food and drink options. The rooms are clean, spacious, and well-equipped for the price. Don't worry about noise, as they don't border the street.

Expect modern, good-sized guest rooms, a great pool and gym, a sparkling marble lobby, and many convenient dining and shopping options in the integrated U-Town shopping mall (even a German-themed bar that brews its own beer). The locale, within Chaoyang's commercial district, makes this a popular option with those doing business in the area. Beijing's nightlife district and CBD are both short taxi rides away, but tourists keen on being close to the sights will want to look elsewhere. There's nothing special on offer here, but it does everything you'd expect, and it does it well.

The best thing about this mid-range choice is its central location on Wangfujing, Beijing's most famous shopping street, where there's a mix of traditional stores, international chains, and a touristy "food" market—scorpions on a stick, anyone? The standard guest rooms, however, are small, and although the place provides everything you'd expect from a Crowne Plaza, it lacks knockout design details or killer features, as the rather uninteresting lobby makes plain. Craving more space? Try the executive floor, where guest rooms have extra work space and sprawling bathrooms.

Overlooking Happy Valley and the surrounding hillsides through floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows, the superior rooms are sleek, but suites afford especially panoramic views through three walls of windows. Blissfully removed from the crowds on a quiet street, this business-oriented hotel is just around the corner from Causeway Bay's low-key bar street and close to many attractions. The rooftop bar, Club @28, comes alive at night and is a destination in itself.

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.