20 Best Places to Stay in China: Comprehensive Accommodation Guide

China's hospitality scene spans an impressive range of stay options, from restored ancient courtyard residences in imperial cities to ultra-modern skyscraper hotels and tranquil riverfront eco-resorts tucked among karst mountains.

What to Expect From China Hotels

Hotels in China combine world-class modern facilities with legendary hospitality. International luxury brands deliver high-tech comfort and fine dining in urban hubs, while boutique heritage hotels in historic towns offer hand-carved wooden interiors, tranquil tea gardens, and personalized cultural excursions led by local hosts.

20 Best Places to Stay in China

1. Aman Summer Palace

Style: Imperial Courtyard Resort
Location: Adjacent to Summer Palace, Beijing
Best For: Imperial Elegance & Tranquility
About the Place: Housed in pavilion structures once used by guests of Empress Dowager Cixi, this resort offers private direct access to the Summer Palace grounds and Ming-inspired design.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Aman Summer Palace

2. The Peninsula Shanghai

Style: Art Deco Luxury Hotel
Location: The Bund, Shanghai
Best For: Glamorous Waterfront Vistas
About the Place: Perched directly on The Bund, this flagship luxury hotel offers vintage glamour, Michelin-starred Cantonese dining, rooftop bar views, and private fleet transfers.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Peninsula Shanghai

3. Banyan Tree Yangshuo

Style: Karst Mountain Eco-Resort
Location: Li River Bank, Yangshuo, Guangxi
Best For: Nature Retreats & Scenic Relaxation
About the Place: Designed like a traditional southern Chinese village, this luxury resort sits surrounded by karst peaks and river bends, featuring private pool villas and bamboo boat tours.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Banyan Tree Yangshuo

4. The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

Style: Skyscraper Luxury Hotel
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Best For: Panoramic Skyline Views
About the Place: Occupying the top floors of the International Commerce Centre, this high-altitude hotel features the world's highest rooftop bar and infinity pool overlooking Victoria Harbour.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

5. The Temple House

Style: Modern Heritage Boutique Hotel
Location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Best For: Design & Urban Sophistication
About the Place: Blending a restored Qing Dynasty courtyard entrance with sleek minimalist hotel towers, The Temple House offers tranquil subterranean spas and vibrant dining in central Chengdu.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Temple House

6. Songtsam Lodge Shangri-La

Style: Tibetan Heritage Boutique Lodge
Location: Near Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri-La
Best For: Cultural Immersion & Alpine Views
About the Place: Built in traditional stone-and-timber Tibetan architectural style, Songtsam Lodge overlooks sacred pastures and monasteries, decorated with authentic Tibetan thangkas and antique rugs.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Songtsam Lodge Shangri-La

7. Amanfayun

Style: Restored Village Sanctuary
Location: West Lake Valley, Hangzhou
Best For: Wellness & Tea Country Isolation
About the Place: Set inside a restored 18th-century tea farmer village, stone pathways wind between ancient timber dwellings surrounded by tea plantations and Buddhist temples.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Amanfayun

8. The Opposite House

Style: Contemporary Art & Design Hotel
Location: Sanlitun, Beijing
Best For: Fashion, Art & Nightlife
About the Place: Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, this emerald glass building functions as an art gallery hotel filled with modern sculptures, stylish restaurants, and spacious studio rooms.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Opposite House

9. J Hotel Shanghai Tower

Style: Ultra-Luxury Skyscraper Hotel
Location: Lujiazui, Shanghai
Best For: Cloud-Level Sky Views
About the Place: Located inside the upper floors of the Shanghai Tower—the world's second-tallest building—offering ultra-luxurious suites with soaring views over the river and city skyline.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to J Hotel Shanghai Tower

10. Rosewood Beijing

Style: Modern Urban Luxury Sanctuary
Location: Chaoyang District, Beijing
Best For: Business & Luxury Travelers
About the Place: Offering residential-style luxury, Rosewood Beijing combines land-scaped garden terraces, world-class dining, and elegant contemporary art touches near Beijing's central financial district.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Rosewood Beijing

11. Amanyangyun

Style: Restored Ming & Qing Dynasty Resort
Location: Minhang District, Shanghai Outskirts
Best For: Historic Heritage Conservation
About the Place: A peaceful retreat created from relocated ancient Ming and Qing villager homes and thousands of rescued camphor trees, offering calligraphy suites and spa pavilions.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Amanyangyun

12. InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland

Style: Subterranean Quarry Hotel
Location: Songjiang, Shanghai
Best For: Architectural Wonder Enthusiasts
About the Place: Built directly into the cliffside of an abandoned water-filled quarry, this underground hotel features underwater suites, glass balcony views, and cascading cliff waterfalls.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland

13. Waldorf Astoria Chengdu

Style: Classic Art Deco Luxury
Location: High-Tech Zone, Chengdu
Best For: High-End Comfort & Service
About the Place: Soaring over financial district towers, this hotel brings timeless Art Deco elegance, grand marble lobbies, rooftop bar cocktails, and sweeping city skyline views.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Waldorf Astoria Chengdu

14. Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain

Style: Eco-Luxury Village Sanctuary
Location: Mount Qingcheng, Sichuan
Best For: Wellness, Spa & Panda Explorers
About the Place: Situated near Mount Qingcheng and panda conservation parks, this organic resort features wooden courtyard suites, organic farm dining, and holistic Ayurvedic spa treatments.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain

15. Lux* Tea Horse Road Lijiang

Style: Boutique Naxi Heritage Hotel
Location: Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan
Best For: Silk & Tea Road Culture
About the Place: Inspired by ancient Tea Horse Road trade caravans, this intimate timber boutique hotel offers courtyard views of snow peaks, local tea tastings, and cultural guides.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Lux* Tea Horse Road Lijiang

16. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Style: Himalayan Palace Resort
Location: Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
Best For: High-Altitude Luxury
About the Place: Offering views of the distant Potala Palace, this Tibetan-inspired resort features traditional red-brick walls, a famed golden-tiled heated pool, and relaxing oxygen lounge rooms.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The St. Regis Lhasa Resort

17. Pig's Heaven Inn (Bishouwu)

Location: Hongcun / Xidi Village, Anhui
Style: Restored Qing Dynasty Merchant Home
Best For: Rustic Heritage Experience
About the Place: An authentic boutique stay in an ancient Hui-style courtyard mansion filled with antique wooden beds, quiet reading libraries, and home-cooked rural Anhui meals.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Pig's Heaven Inn

18. Jing'an Shangri-La

Style: Contemporary High-Rise Luxury
Location: Jing'an District, Shanghai
Best For: Shopping & Central Access
About the Place: Situated above Shanghai’s premier shopping district, offering floor-to-ceiling city views, sophisticated cocktail lounges, and direct metro connectivity.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Jing'an Shangri-La

19. Naked Stables (Naked Retreats)

Style: Mountain Eco-Resort
Location: Moganshan, Zhejiang Province
Best For: Eco-Luxury Nature Getaways
About the Place: Nestled in bamboo forests near Shanghai, this LEED-certified eco-resort offers treehouse villas, horseback riding, tea plantation hikes, and infinity swimming pools.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Naked Stables

20. Capella Sanya

Style: Tropical Oceanfront Resort
Location: Blessed Bay, Sanya, Hainan
Best For: Tropical Beach Escape
About the Place: Inspired by the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Capella Sanya features private ocean pool villas, lush tropical gardens, fine dining, and serene coastal views.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Capella Sanya

Featured Image

Ancient Imperial Courtyard Hotel