Luxury Stays: The Swankiest Hotels in China

Sometimes, you just need a little bit of luxury! We round up the most luxurious hotels in China.

The ascent of the People’s Republic has given rise to an unprecedented boom in tourism that has seen the luxury hotel market explode.. Each year a slew of glitzy new properties open across the country, each seemingly bigger and better than the last. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the luxury market can divide like no other. From urban hipster sophistication to old school elegance, we list some of China’s best luxury hotels for a truly memorable stay.

Aman at Beijing Summer Palace, Beijing

This is a rare gem of a hotel, situated right next to the Summer Palace East Gate and located in a series of atmospheric antique pavilions that were once used to house guests awaiting a reception with the Empress Dowager Cixi. Bursting with character, the complex contains courtyards at every turn, surrounded by carp filled ponds overhung with bamboo and willow. Inside the décor is a study in elegance; a restrained palette of woody neutrals with pared down antique touches that echo the imperial grandeur of the architecture. The bedrooms and suites are of a good size and feature Ming dynasty-style wooden furniture, with fretwork screens, daybeds and sturdy armoires. It’s like living in an elegant silk painting, but one with great restaurants and a first class spa. Impeccable. For more information, check out their website.

Opposite House, Beijing

This is one of Beijing’s hippest addresses in the buzzing Sanlitun neighborhood, and attracts a slick international crowd thanks to its minimalist Japanese style aesthetics, the center point of which is a huge light filled atrium. Downstairs there’s an art gallery, The Art House, featuring contemporary Chinese artists from around the globe. Even if you don’t have time to work out, the gym and pool area impress with stunning architecture (there’s also a spa and steam room).

The bedrooms are ultra pared down, luxurious and incredibly restful; think lots of natural light, blonde wood (guests love the deep wooden bathtubs), crisp 400-thread-count linens and plenty of in-room gadgetry such as Denon systems, Nespresso coffee machines and LCD TVs. The food and beverage options are hot ticket destinations in their own right; from Sureno serving up delicious mod-Med flavors from a wood fired oven, to Mesh for sophisticated drinks while lounging on pared-down oxblood leather banquettes, everything is done in the best possible taste. In late August the hotel will be adding another restaurant to its dining options, one specializing in Beijing Roast Duck. Expect it to be hugely popular, but oh so good. You can check out their website here. 

The Ritz Carlton, Hainan, Sanya

Touted as China’s Hawaii thanks to its tropical year-round climate, lush, mountainous interior and great beaches, Sanya has transformed into something of a luxury bolt-hole for mainland residents in recent years. There are so many fantastic hotels to choose from including the newish Royal Begonia, St Regis and Kempinski resorts, while the Banyan Tree, Mandarin Oriental and Pullman all maintain a highly regarded presence here too. But for all-out classic  luxury it’s hard to beat the Ritz Carlton, situated on the island’s best white sand beach at Yalong Bay.

With four pools, an Espa Spa, nearby golf course, high-end shopping boutiques, several restaurants and a fantastic kids’ program and club (with children’s butlers no less), there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied, but it’s the Ritz Carlton service that makes the difference and why this establishment remains at the top of the tree. See more here. 

Naked Stables Private Reserve, Moganshan

Think of China at its most unspoiled and atmospheric and it’s likely you have something like the setting for the Naked Stables Reserve in mind. Set in a secluded valley in the foothills of Moganshan, just two and a half hours’ drive from Shanghai and accessible only on foot or golf buggy, the luxurious property consists of single room African style huts and two or three bedroom treetop villas, and is surrounded by tea plantations and bamboo forests with quaint farming villages dotting the vista. If that doesn’t sway you, the uber stylish contemporary Afro-Asian design and impeccable eco credentials might.

The resort seamlessly combines five-star luxury with all mod cons and a sustainable approach that was recognized with a LEED (Leadership in Environmental Energy Design) Platinum Certification award. There are three restaurants and guests can opt to take a picnic or even cook their own meals in-villa, with a basket of goods delivered to the door containing all the necessary items for the perfect meal. There are heaps of activities on offer, from horse riding at the property’s own stables, to archery, yoga, hiking, biking, tea picking, painting, fishing and more. There’s even an onsite project museum where guests can participate in a number of craft and cultural evening workshops. Nearby are two excellent golf courses, and the onsite spa has nine treatment rooms built on stilts and offering a range of holistic therapies and treatments.

There’s a clubhouse and three pools, two of which are outdoor infinity pools with spectacular views and one with its own pool bar, a 20-meter lap pool and separate kids’ pool. In fact, little ones are very welcome at Naked Stables and the Little Shoots Kids’ Club has plenty to keep them occupied while mom and dad relax. A truly breathtaking resort for the whole family, and one that’s near to the city, yet so very far away. Check out their website.

The Puli Hotel and Spa, Shanghai

One for serious design buffs, this gorgeous hotel in Shanghai’s Jingan district has taken the concept of understated East meets West luxury and not so much ran with it as rather glided serenely into an immaculate realm of perfection and studied good taste that seems straight out of the pages of Wallpaper or Monocle magazines. The 32-meter long bar is one of Shanghai’s most lengthy and hewn from what appears to be a single tree. Behind there are none of the usual accoutrements of a cocktail bar; there are no tills for example, only jet-black laptops placed equidistant apart.  

It’s at once rustic - albeit in a pared down, minimalist kind of way - and incredibly high tech (think rainforest showers, Nespresso machines, iPod docks, Bose wave systems and WiFi in every room) and yet it’s also really comfortable. There’s an Anantara spa and the highly acclaimed Jing’An restaurant, but the feather in its cap has to be the delightful and atmospheric little garden terrace which features live DJ sets every Thursday, a rare find indeed in the city. Click here for more information.

Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, Shanghai

It’s fair to say that Shanghai has the lion’s share of China’s most spectacular hotels, but the Waldorf Astoria seems to raise the bar a few pips yet again with a return to the sophistication and glamor of a bygone era. This is an elegant and oh so grown up hotel situated right on the historic Bund - think Great Gatsby with a dash of Mad Men and The China Club all rolled into one heavyweight hotel; the first purpose-built hotel of the brand to open outside of America. There’s a spa, boutique, fitness center with pool, grooming parlor and library, but true to the spirit of its evocative heyday, the hotel’s bars and restaurants are places to see and be seen. The Grand Brasserie more than lives up to its moniker with a vast, open setting that’s perfect for people watching.

Pelham’s exemplifies what every fancy French fine dining joint should be and Wei Jing Ge offers Shanghainese, Cantonese and Huai Yang specialities in a beautiful setting that quietly fuses clean, modern lines with traditional Chinoiserie elements. The Salon de Ville has the atmosphere of an elegant gentleman’s club with plush, wing-backed chairs and white tablecloths, while the Long Bar is missing just one thing: Humphrey Bogart. The overall effect is old school glamor at its best, and demonstrates why the Waldorf Astoria is destined to become one of the world’s great hotels. See more here.

Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai

The name alone conjures up classy perfection and this Pudong-based offering tops Tripadvisor’s list for the best Shanghai hotels, so it’s clear the brand is doing something right. At first glance it appears this is a hotel aimed predominantly at the high end business traveler - stylish yes, but you don’t need supermodel credentials to feel at home here - and it certainly ticks a lot of familiar boxes that typify hotels in this highly competitive market: chic, contempo-modern Chinese décor in muted tones and pops of color for dramatic effect, ample sized rooms with a proper working desk, a slew of ‘it list’ eateries and bars, and a world class spa with pool and fitness facilities. It’s only when you take a closer look you realize the linen is by Frette, the in-room gadgetry is top notch and includes a 42 inch LED TV with interactive entertainment system and on demand digital content, an Illy coffee machine and personal touches like in-room check-in with full 24 hour access starting from whatever time you check-in.

The spa and wellness area is huge and centers around an enclosed bamboo garden. Facilities include a crystal steam room, tepidarium chairs, aroma experience showers, sauna and ice fountain and a 25-meter pool, and there’s also a high tech fitness area, beauty salon and massage lounge. Business travelers will appreciate the fantastic club lounge with complimentary refreshments and dedicated check-in. Of course if you’re bringing the family you can be sure little ones will be treated like VIPs too, and of course it’s this flawless service and attention to detail that make this hotel soar high above the competition. And if that wasn’t enough you can be sure you’ll staying on the right side of the Huangpu river for the very best views of Shanghai – looking across to the historic Bund. See more information on their website.

Four Seasons, Shenzhen

It’s not officially open yet (you’ll have to wait till September for that) but after a successful soft opening, it’s fair to surmise that this hotly anticipated hotel will become the place to see and be seen if you’re passing through Shenzhen. There’s a world-class spa, two pools (indoor and outdoor), two restaurants including Cantonese fine dining that’s pegged for great things and a casually upscale lounge/bar with a terrace for al fresco cocktails. The décor is a warm and sophisticated blend of modern Asian, with a largely neutral backdrop of beige, chocolate and grey, with subtle pops of muted aubergine, turquoise and mustard. You can be confident of first class service, and the brand really excels on details. Oh, and children are treated like royalty too. Worth the splurge all round. Check out their site here.

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