Best Urban Hotels in China

On the tranquil shores of UNESCO-listed West Lake, The Silk Lakehouse brings together heritage, artistry and nature. With just 68 rooms and suites, the hotel feels intimate, its design inspired by the elegance of a Jiangnan silk merchant’s residence. Interiors by Gert Voorjans and Lázaro Rosa-Violán layer cultural detail with contemporary comfort, from Murano glass chandeliers evoking willow branches to freestanding bathtubs and AI-responsive mattresses.

Gastronomy is central to the experience: Michelin-starred chef Alan Yu leads The Living Room, Golden Silk revisits Hangzhou classics, the Tea Room honours Song Dynasty traditions, and cocktails at The Living Room by SANYOU celebrate regional spirits. Wellness flows through every detail, with a grotto-style indoor pool, Tai Chi at sunrise and guided mindfulness rituals. The Personal Host Programme creates a bridge to the city, offering experiences such as silk weaving, incense ceremonies and fan making, ensuring a stay deeply rooted in Hangzhou’s cultural soul.

Classic luxury is always on tap at the Ritz. This one is located in Kowloon, on floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre. There are Michelin-starred restaurants, two bars and a dedicated caviar bar. Don’t miss the spa and indoor infinity pool – a swim here is an ethereal experience, with a mirrored ceiling and an LED display wall. The Ritz is a great option for parents, with ample facilities – the staff will even create indoor night safari adventures to keep little ones entertained after dark. And for those wishing to party, head to the Ozone rooftop lounge, with Asian tapas, cocktails and a DJ.

With a reputation for being the most luxurious hotel in the whole of Chengdu, this is the perfect place to stay for people who have a love for the finer things in life. Everything here has been created on a grand scale from the huge guestrooms and suites to the picture windows and rooftop bar. Many of the suites come complete with huge balconies that provide stunning city views. Unwinding in the steam room is an experience that should not be missed, while the onsite spa is an excellent place to indulge in a little pampering that is provided by exclusive green tea treatments. People who enjoy messing about in the water will love the indoor swimming pool as it plays underwater music for them to groove to.

Located high above the city in the Shanghai Tower, China’s tallest skyscraper and the second tallest in the world, the hotel spans the 84th to 105th floors and also occupies the 120th floor. It boasts 165 luxurious rooms and suites, which rank among the highest and most spacious in the city. The stunning interiors feature lacquer, glaze, and enamel finishes complemented by metal, crystal, and mosaic details generating an artistic and creative ambience. Guests can relax at the Reiki spam work up a sweat in the fitness centre and indulge in world-class dining experiences at the hotel’s seven restaurants and bars, each offering a unique ambiance and panoramic views of Shanghai.

Owned by the Marriot group, this funky upscale hotel chain is beloved by the trendy jet set. Found above the huge Elements Mall, it’s home to many a glitzy rooftop pool party. But it’s perhaps best known for its epic boozy Sunday brunch buffet, so large, diners are furnished with a map on arrival. Here the champagne flows, while endless fine food stations ensure you’re truly spoilt for choice. There are 393 rooms – some with glimpses of the harbour – decorated in notably calmer tones than the public areas, two restaurants, a cocktail bar and the Bliss Spa.

Situated on the buzzing Cotai Strip, the hotel has opted for the Portuguese spelling of Macao, together with an Iberian-style facade that combines with Asian influences for a sumptuous interior. Connected to the Plaza Casino, the building is a short walk from the Cirque du Soleil Macau, an eight-minute drive to the Macau Tower, and five from Caesar’s Golf Club. It’s also close to air and ferry terminals. Five outdoor swimming pools include a lagoon pool, with cabanas housing 42-inch screen TVs, while the spa contains fourteen treatment suites. Four Seasons Macao restaurants offer Chinese and European cuisine, while rooms are luxuriously-equipped, with housekeeping including a daily ice delivery.

Found a kilometre or so from the Forbidden City, the Waldorf Astoria is one of Beijing’s most luxurious hotels. Architecturally, it is an eye-catching marvel that is encased in copper and bronze exterior decor. It’s 176 rooms are decorated in gorgeous artwork. The hotel also includes a separate building with a large villa and guest suites. The interior is done wood and marble with paintings and sculptures that bring everything together in an intimate ambience. At first glance, the hotel feels more like a boutique than a chain. There is no lobby, but someone is always available to check guests in.

Bringing a little slice of London to the east is The Langham. While the first of the chain was established in the 1800s, this one didn’t arrive in Hong Kong until 2003. Sporting plenty of European elegance with chandeliers, rococo features and Wedgewood china, there’s also a wealth of Chinese art and a fondness for pastels and dusky pink throughout its furnishings. The Chuan Body and Soul Spa includes an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, while the Michelin-starred T’ang has some of the best Cantonese food to be found anywhere on earth.

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, the brand’s second address in the city, offers 204 rooms and suites designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and Cheng Chung Design. Located on the southern stretch of the New Bund in Pudong, this serene riverfront retreat balances Shanghai’s cosmopolitan rhythm with a sense of calm and connection to nature. Interiors draw inspiration from the city’s Art Deco heritage, blending East–West influences through intricate craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Dining spans modern European cuisine at Arame, refined Min cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Justin Yang at Fu Cheng, and afternoon teas or signature cocktails at Peacock Alley. Guests can unwind in the tranquil spa, swim in the 25-metre marble-clad indoor pool, or maintain balance in the 24-hour fitness centre. The hotel’s position offers direct access to Qiantan Park and the waterfront promenade, while nearby cultural landmarks such as the West Bund Art Museum and Tank Shanghai make it a sophisticated base for both leisure and business travellers seeking understated grandeur on the river’s edge.

Perfectly placed for those visiting on business, Langham Place is found in the new Haizhu district, not far from the river. Its architecture, by Aedas International, is remarkable and makes up a part of the Nanfung Commercial Hospitality and Exhibition Complex. The hotel offers 500 rooms with floor to ceiling windows spread over twenty-three floors and is part of the famed London Langham Group. Enjoy that quintessentially British tradition of formal afternoon tea (with Wedgewood). Dine alfresco, in the open-plan buffet, or at its Michelin Plate restaurant, Ming Court, then relax over drinks on the Sky Bar’s chic and glitzy outdoor terrace with breathtaking views.

Stylish, confident, and welcoming, The Hari Hong Kong melds the commercial polish of nearby Causeway Bay with the creative energy and design-forward spirit of neighbouring Wan Chai. Rising 30 storeys above Lockhart Road, the hotel comprises 210 rooms and suites, including three expansive rooftop Signature Suites. Interiors are the work of celebrated British designer Tara Bernerd, whose signature aesthetic blends warm, layered textures with an elegant, modern residential feel. The hotel opened in December 2020 as the sibling property to The Hari London, bringing the brand’s ethos of tailored hospitality and refined design to the heart of Hong Kong Island. It represents the vision of Dr. Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels, who has distilled over four decades of experience into this independent luxury brand. With its rich design language, lively dining venues, and curated art programme, The Hari Hong Kong is more than just a stylish address, it’s a cultural and social hub, and a distinctive addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene.

Our third Pacific Place Mall Hotel was the first Asian Marriot property, established in 1989. It houses 602 rooms, each with luxurious seven-layer mattresses, pillow menus and capsule coffee machines. Swim year-round in the outdoor heated pool, enjoy a massage at the spa and dine at the award-winning Man Ho Restaurant. Feast on a top-class breakfast buffet or eat at the beach styled Fish Bar with a menu including the fresh catch of the day and seafood. With direct access to the MTR, it’s an ideal base for exploring this fascinating area.