Must-see hotels in China

  • Nomad Homestay

    Sichuan

    Organised by the Khampa Nomad Ecolodge, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay with a genuine nomad family in their tent. Don't expect anything about…

  • Pig's Inn Bishan

    Anhui

    There is no better way to experience the extravagant villas of the Huizhou merchants than to spend a few days living in one, waking for breakfast…

  • Songtsam Choskyi Linka Lhasa

    Lhasa

    Lhasa's most stylish accommodation comes thanks to the Songtsam chain, which runs seven boutique lodges in the Tibetan area of Yunnan. The 50 rooms here…

  • Kyichu Hotel

    Lhasa

    The renovated Kyichu is a friendly and well-run choice that’s very popular with repeat travellers to Tibet. Rooms are comfortable and pleasant, with…

  • Orchid

    Beijing

    A garden sanctuary in the hutong, the Orchid is Beijing's best-run boutique hotel, going the extra mile with memory-foam mattresses, mobile phones,…

  • Urbn

    Shanghai

    Within a former post office, China’s first carbon-neutral hotel not only incorporates recyclable materials and low-energy products where possible, but…

  • Alila Yangshuo

    Yangshuo

    One of Yangshuo's most memorable stays is this old, Chinese sugarbeet factory – complete with Cultural Revolution slogans – that's been converted into a…

  • Pig’s Heaven Inn

    Anhui

    When Shanghai artist Li Guoyu discovered this Ming dynasty home it was being used as a pigsty (hence the name). She painstakingly restored it, adding an…

  • Astor Hotel

    Tianjin

    China's oldest foreign-run hotel, the Astor dates back to 1863, when it was opened by British missionary John Innocent. Although it's not as luxurious as…

  • Park Hyatt

    Shanghai

    Spanning the 79th to 93rd floors of the towering Shanghai World Financial Center, this soaring hotel sees Pudong’s huge buildings dwarfing into Lego…

  • Khyenle

    Sichuan

    This peaceful guesthouse is part of a renowned art centre and is run by a fluent English-speaking Tibetan woman and her family. At the time of research,…

  • InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland

    Shanghai

    The world's first underground hotel, this architectural feat transformed an abandoned quarry lake into a luxury resort. Everything overlooks the water…

  • Khampa Nomad Ecolodge & Arts Center

    Sichuan

    Tibetan/American couple Djarga and Angela run this superb ecolodge way out in the grasslands. There are only four cosy rooms (one of them can just about…

  • This Old Place Youth Hostel

    Guangxi

    At the far end of town near the river is this popular hostel with a lovely backpacker vibe. Split over two buildings, rooms are really pleasant; the south…

  • Mini Hotel Central

    Hong Kong

    We've seen glasses of wine in ritzy Central more expensive than this budget hotel. Of course for this price there has to be a trade-off, and in Mini Hotel…

  • MGM Cotai

    Macau

    MGM Cotai has 1400 impeccable rooms, including duplex sky-lofts and studios, all in a light and refreshing palette. There's also a gym with panoramic…

  • DzachuSama Hostel

    Sichuan

    This traditionally styled, large and bright American-owned hostel has some of the most luxurious private rooms you could hope to find in a hostel, all…

  • Yihe Mansions

    Nanjing

    Situated in Nanjing's former legation quarters, Yihe Mansions is a collection of magnificently restored former embassies and homes of military generals…

  • Zabay Guest House

    Xinjiang

    It's quite extraordinary to find this great hostel in fairly remote Kuqa. Run by a young, friendly English-speaking team, it's inside a converted…

  • Rosewood Beijing

    Beijing

    Beijing's most glamorous hotel, the Rosewood seduces with serene public spaces, innovative restaurants and guest rooms of designer furniture, arty curios,…

  • Mandarin Oriental Pudong

    Shanghai

    Slightly tucked away from the Lujiazui five-star hotel melee in a sheltered riverside spot, the 362-room Mandarin Oriental is a visual feast, from the…

  • Flipflop Lounge Hostel

    Chengdu

    Currently the ciy's best hostel, this lively place offers travellers all the usual services plus a few rare gifts – a pool table, a rooftop terrace, and…

  • Yak Hotel

    Lhasa

    The ever-popular Yak has matured in recent years from backpacker hang-out to tour-group favourite, upgrading to a range of comfortable en-suite rooms. The…

  • Hotel Jen

    Hong Kong

    Now part of the Shangri-La group, Hotel Jen feels more luxurious than its price tag suggests. The high-ceilinged, modern rooms are supercomfy with plump…

  • House of Shambhala

    Lhasa

    Hidden in the old town in a historic Tibetan building, the romantic, boutique-style Shambhala mixes the neighbourhood's earthy charm with buckets of style…

  • Cao Tang Inn

    Shanghai

    Not your typical generic backpackers, this friendly and atmospheric hostel is set within a century-old house full of character. Its common area in the…

  • Secret Garden

    Guangxi

    Middlesbrough-born South African designer Ian Hamlinton (nicknamed ‘Crazy One’ by the locals) has energetically and lovingly converted a cluster of Ming…

  • Longji Vita Hotel

    Guangxi

    Offering some of the finest views you'll get in Longji is this memorable inn overlooking the spectacular Seven Stars Chase the Moon rice terrace. All…

  • Lost Garden Guesthouse

    Kunming

    Tucked in the side streets off Green Lake, this oasis amid white-brick apartment blocks has nouveau Dali decor with wood furniture, antiques and a…

  • Riverside Inn

    Guilin

    A former hostel, this attractive inn by the peaceful Taohua River (桃花江) has ditched the dorms to focus squarely on its boutique-style rooms. They feature…

  • The Temple House

    Chengdu

    Cool to its core, every room is hip and understated with elegant stylings and modern amenities that come together perfectly around a traditional-style…

  • Le Passage Mohkan Shan

    Zhejiang

    Le Passage evokes the glamorous cosmopolitan history of Moganshan perhaps better than the actual historic villas do. Ensconced within an organic tea…

  • Ivorll International Youth Hostel

    Wuhan

    The only real hostel in Wuhan, Ivorll is a stylish choice, with a pleasing blue-and-white colour scheme and thoughtful design touches throughout. There…

  • Kazy International Youth Hostel

    Harbin

    Kazy is the best hostel for miles, and is rightfully popular year-round. English-speaking staff front a cosy reception-bar and can help with excursions in…

  • Linden Centre

    Yunnan

    This traditional Bai stone-and-wood courtyard home has been turned into a very smart boutique hotel with 16 rooms, all of which are set around a courtyard…

  • Zhilam Hostel

    Sichuan

    Run by an American family, this fabulous hillside hostel is a comfortable base in Kangding. It provides all manner of top-end hostel services, from…

  • UniLoft Hostel

    Dalian

    Arguably the best hostel between Harbin and Beijing, UniLoft has open-plan rooms and the feel of a hip office co-op, with statement pieces and a quiet…

  • Joy Mystery Hotel

    Sichuan

    So, you thought travel in Kham was going to be tough? Think again! At this sublime 15-room boutique hotel, set in a renovated 700-year-old building…

  • Hilton Hotel

    Nanjing

    This sleekly polished five-star hotel, opening to a gargantuan marbled lobby with a huge calligraphic dedication and a vast and stylised depiction of…

  • Imperial Guard Boutique Hotel

    Anhui

    All that was left of the nearly 300-year-old Imperial Guard Temple was the facade. Film producer Zhang Zhenyan reinvented the rest using beams salvaged…

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