8 unique hotels in China for your next holiday

Amid the glossy skyscrapers and gleaming skylines of the Chinese Mainland, a select few hotels stand out for all the right reasons. From inspired architecture and heritage buildings to underwater rooms and hotels that blend into their natural surroundings, these luxurious, quirky and wonderfully unique stays are anything but ordinary. 

To inspire your next trip, we’ve handpicked the best places to stay for a one-of-a-kind experience. Plus, when you book a property through our Cathay Holidays page you’ll earn Asia Miles with your stay.

1. Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo

Carved into an old limestone quarry on Tangshan Mountain, this Nanjing resort – aptly nicknamed Mine Valley – is a sprawling masterpiece of ecosystem restoration and modern architecture. Each room features a private thermal pool and breathtaking views, while the hotel’s silhouette traces the quarry’s natural contours, blending seamlessly into the landscape. Golden accents provide a striking contrast to the rugged stone-grey walls. At Banyan Tree, guests can indulge in immersive experiences in nature and award-winning wellness treatments. 

2. Sheraton Huzhou Taihu Lake Hot Spring Resort & Spa

Sitting on the shores of Lake Taihu, just an hour north of Hangzhou, this property makes a statement with its bold and innovative design. Affectionately dubbed the Moon Hotel, Horseshoe Hotel or Doughnut Hotel, the structure draws from traditional Chinese arch bridges and ethereal ink paintings – marrying cultural homage with futuristic flair in an eclectic mix of styles. Each of the 282 guestrooms boasts panoramic lake views, with unique design motifs that echo the building’s unconventional geometry, while the interiors are replete with jade and Swarovski crystal chandeliers.

3. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing

Located in the heart of Beijing’s historical Hutong neighbourhood, this hotel comprises 42 exquisitely crafted traditional courtyard homes, reconstructed from centuries-old courtyard homes using time-honoured techniques. The building's proportions and materials remain faithful to historical records, creating an ambience steeped in heritage and local culture. Within, state-of-the-art wellness facilities offer a peaceful escape, while four stylish dining venues deliver an opulent reimagining of noble life – where the charm of the past meets sophisticated modernity.

4. DongFengYun Hotel Mi'Le – MGallery Collection

Perfect for an art-heritage retreat, this hotel is built from locally fired red clay bricks and harmonises vernacular craftsmanship with contemporary elegance. Located in Yunnan Province’s modern Dongfengyun Art Town, its sky-lit, bowl-shaped entrance plays with shifting natural light, while its rounded, sculptural buildings house tranquil gardens, quiet courtyards, four dining venues, a vast outdoor pool and elegant rooms adorned with jade, pearls and ceramic. Guests can also try their hand at red clay pottery.

5. Atlantis Sanya

Picture Dubai’s Atlantis, reimagined with a tropical Chinese twist, and you’ve got Atlantis Sanya . Set across 30 hectares of beachfront paradise, this resort is home to the largest aquarium in China, an exhilarating water park and more than a thousand guestrooms, including visually arresting underwater suites that offer an intimate view of marine life. This towering skyscraper reflects the bold innovation and grand ambition of modern China.

6. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Shanghai Wonderland, Shanghai

Another remarkable entry is InterContinental’s “earthscraper” hotel , which descends 16 storeys below ground and boasts two underground floors that house underwater suites and restaurants. Featuring a spherical façade, the hotel has been built into the side of an 88-metre-deep abandoned quarry in Songjiang – a daring architectural feat by JADE+QA and Atkins, the same firm behind Burj Al Arab in Dubai. With sumptuous modern designs and refined finishes, each space is a unique expression of luxury.

7. Amanyangyun

Born from a heritage preservation initiative following devastating floods in Jiangxi Province, Amanyangyun is one of the most extraordinary architectural and ecological conservation projects in the hospitality world – and a living part of the country’s history. The project involved the relocation of 10,000 ancient camphor trees and dozens of centuries-old Ming and Qing dynasty villas, painstakingly uprooted from Jiangxi to the outskirts of Shanghai. Here, old and new exist in perfect harmony.

8. The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian

Perched atop Lotus Mountain in Dalian, this castle hotel defies expectations and is one of the most unique hotels in China. Framed by the city’s towering skyscrapers and overlooking Xinghai Bay and the Yellow Sea, this fortress fuses Bavarian grandeur with contemporary luxury. Inside, a palatial lobby adorned with chandeliers and velvet furnishings sets the tone for a regal stay. Whether spending quality time with the family or planning a romantic getaway, the hotel delivers a storybook experience – without venturing far from home. 

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