Boutique hotels in China

China is vast, and its boutique hotels reflect it: hutong courtyards in Beijing, Art Deco landmarks in Shanghai, tea-hill retreats near Hangzhou and Tibetan-style lodges in the mountains of Yunnan. Many occupy old buildings restored with care.

The great cities

Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Suzhou offer the strongest hotel scene, from design hotels to garden retreats. Chengdu, Xi'an and Hong Kong each add their own flavor.

Yunnan and the southwest

Lijiang, Dali and Shangri-La sit at altitude, with old towns, lakes and mountain lodges. Yangshuo's karsts and rice fields are one of the country's classic landscapes.

Villages, mountains and coast

Huangshan's pines, Zhangjiajie's pillars, Moganshan's bamboo and the water town of Wuzhen suit shorter getaways. Sanya, Xiamen and Qingdao bring the sea.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons almost everywhere. Summer is hot and humid in the east, and winter is bitterly cold in the north.