Which of the 15 SLH Hotels in Mainland China Do You Love Most?
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), with its distinctive spirit and diverse portfolio of member hotels, has won the affection and recognition of travelers worldwide.
As the voice of independent boutique hotels, SLH is drawn to people, places, and experiences with distinct character and charm, showcasing a new way to travel for a new generation — celebrating small, beautiful individuality in one’s own voice, and tirelessly seeking to preserve that original spark. This is SLH’s idea of true luxury, and it is the ‘badge of honour’ for every hotel in the collection.
SLH currently has over 520 hotels in 90 countries, with 15 unique properties in mainland China. Let’s follow Meizhanjun’s perspective and explore these 15 distinctive hotels!
Kunming Yulongwan Lake View Hotel
A Kunming lakeside retreat where natural beauty meets modern luxury
Kunming Yulongwan Lake View Hotel is nestled in the valley heart of Yulongwan Kanggu, overlooking the serene Yulongwan Lake. Surrounded by 870,000 square meters of lush forest, rolling hills, and 200,000 square meters of crystal-clear water, the hotel is a haven of natural beauty.
As Kunming’s first SLH member hotel, its unique location is its biggest selling point — every room enjoys lake views, and every design element harmonizes perfectly with the surroundings.
The 132 guest rooms embrace minimalist style, combining cool neutral tones, wood paneling, and up-to-date amenities with floor-to-ceiling windows and open terraces for soaking in the scenery.
The hotel offers 24-hour butler service and a range of experiences, including tennis, horseback riding, hiking, water sports, and of course the renowned Yulongwan Golf Course — all well worth trying.
Hangzhou Vallie Hotel
A secluded hideaway in Hangzhou’s Liuhe Pagoda Scenic Area
Set on the hillside of Yuelun Mountain beside the Qiantang River, south of West Lake, Hangzhou Vallie Hotel evokes the tranquil poetry of ‘the moon rising startles mountain birds’ and the indulgent freedom of ‘drunk, I’ll sleep, my friend, so please go on your way’.
The name Vallie comes from the French ‘Vallée’, meaning ‘valley’. Through the seasons, spring water murmurs, birds sing in the ravines, and the centuries-old bell of Liuhe Pagoda tolls in accompaniment. Spring paints pictures, summer draws from the spring, frost sends leaves falling, winter turns plants to art... Though set among wild hills, one need not forsake the city’s splendours — that is Vallie’s definition of ‘luxury’.
Three or four Jiangnan-style courtyards house just eight guest rooms. Among them, a 300-square-metre Vallie Villa offers a forest courtyard, a private temperature-controlled hot spring bath, and its own outdoor swimming pool.
At leisure, guests can linger over a freshly brewed cup of osmanthus Longjing tea made with spring water drawn from the Hupao Spring on the mountain, or soak in the warm, soothing waters of a private hot spring.
Or at the ‘Xipan Shijiu’ gastronomy lounge, indulge in mountain-inspired private kitchen delicacies and fine wines — a memorable feast for the senses.
Dunhuang Jasper Hotel
A hidden secret along the Silk Road
Dunhuang Jasper Hotel is located on the western section of Landscape Avenue in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, with the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring scenic area at its back and the vast vineyards of Qili Town nearby. It’s just a 20-minute drive from the city centre.
As the first SLH member in Northwest China, Jasper embraces the explorer’s spirit of the Silk Road, drawing inspiration from local history, culture, and customs, while offering guests a colourful array of destination experiences at this hidden retreat.
Covering 15 mu (about 2.47 acres), the hotel has 25 individually styled rooms and suites built with natural, eco-friendly materials, all in a simple, free-flowing design.
Anchored in the concept of a ‘wilderness oasis’, the hotel’s extensive facilities invite ‘adventurers’ to try Silk Road trail exploration, mural study workshops, desert camping, oasis cycling, winemaking sessions, sunset dinners, and more.
Qiushui Villa
A historic protected building and lakeside resting place on the shores of Hangzhou’s West Lake
Qiushui Villa is a protected historic building on the banks of the Inner West Lake (today’s Beishan Road). It preserves the love story of Shen Qiushui, a celebrated Shanghai socialite of the Republican era, and Shi Liangcai, the newspaper tycoon and founder of Shen Bao, invoking the deep, music-like bond of ‘high mountains and flowing water’.
In 1932, Shi Liangcai built this villa and personally inscribed the plaque ‘Qiushui Villa’ for Qiushui. Afterwards, Qiushui often stayed here, and many friends including Yu Dafu, Wang Yingxia, Xu Zhimo, and Lu Xiaoman were frequent guests.
The central courtyard garden takes its inspiration from the Yihong Court (Jia Baoyu’s residence) in Dream of the Red Chamber, recreating the poetic imagery of a classical Chinese garden — meandering streams, long corridors, rockeries, openwork carvings, stones by which to sit and listen to the spring, blossoms to admire from the balustrade.
Currently, eight lake-view suites are open, each with its own design theme and cultural resonance: Shen Qiushui’s Shuangqing Tai and Wenqin Ge, Feng Zikai’s Hupan Ju, Zhang Ailing’s Meigui Qing, among others.
Yanling Jianye Florets Hot Spring Hotel
A resort fusing natural hot springs with cutting-edge design
Yanling Jianye Florets Hot Spring Hotel features a facade of coloured glass panels and a futuristic interior that blends swirling natural hot spring mist with the changing light of the day, creating a striking local landmark.
The hotel has 51 rooms and suites with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, plus 19 indoor and outdoor natural hot spring pools, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, and the Mist Spa.
At leisure, sample inventive Cantonese cuisine in the restaurant, or sip a cocktail in the lobby bar while gazing at the captivating lake and mountain scenery.
The hotel also organises excursions to nearby attractions, such as the Jianye Green Base, the Jianye Grand Canteen with snacks from eighteen regions, the culture-steeped Caowei Ancient City, or the vibrant Jun porcelain beauty of the Shenhou Ancient Town Jun Kiln site.
Read more: Henan’s first SLH member hotel unfolds idyllic romance in Yanling
Muh Shoou Xixi Hotel Hangzhou
A boutique hotel in harmony with its environment
Muh Shoou Xixi Hotel Hangzhou lies adjacent to the Xixi Wetland Park. Guests can arrive at the hotel’s private pier by traditional rowing boat, following water paths and roads, until the trees part to reveal a secluded haven.
The 43 modernist rooms each frame a courtyard view. Whether it’s the fluid architectural lines, the washed marble and infinity pool, or the weathered stone carvings, wooden accents, and twisting ancient persimmon trees, every design element is in harmony with the surroundings.
The guest rooms, Xi Yin restaurant, and Ya Qiu bar all feature glass curtain walls and open spaces, allowing guests to savour meals or drinks while soaking in Xixi’s wetland beauty.
At leisure, one can sit and sip tea at an elegant indoor tea setting or on an outdoor wooden platform, or watch small animals frolic in the landscape through the floor-to-ceiling window while the bathtub fills the room with steam. Leisurely strolls around nearby West Lake scenic area and Jiuxi Eighteen Streams reveal lovely views at every turn.
Nanjing New Jingli Hotel
An impressive luxury hotel brimming with grand European style
Nanjing New Jingli Hotel is located in the ancient capital of six dynasties, surrounded by celebrated cultural and historical treasures such as Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Purple Mountain Observatory.
Step into the magnificent marble lobby with its Roman-style columns and polished dark wood furniture, and you’ll find classic and modern European influences everywhere. If you love art from the late Renaissance to the Neoclassical period, don’t miss the fourth-floor gallery, where the owner has curated over forty masterpieces by old European masters from international auctions.
The hotel offers 138 restful European-style rooms and suites, as well as six modern meeting rooms and a banquet hall for all kinds of events.
At leisure, why not dress in court attire and enjoy a classic English high tea in the roof terrace’s Yili Garden? The second-floor Nanjing Jingcai Guan also serves local cuisine that wins widespread praise.
Chengdu Yaotang Mansion
A peaceful harbour in the heart of Chengdu’s bustling business district
Chengdu Yaotang Mansion is close to Jincheng Lake Park, inviting you to savour old Chengdu’s life, culture, scenery, opera, and cuisine.
With carefully sculpted living scenes and a deep sense of bygone days, it recreates the timeless ambience of Republican-era mansions. From the architectural structure and room names to the artworks and soft furnishings, everything is intimately connected with the life and works of author Ba Jin. Literature lovers are sure to find many delights here.
Blending Republican-era charm with European style, the mansion centres around an internal courtyard to create a tranquil and restful retreat.
The two wings — East and West — are linked by corridors and house 133 nostalgic rooms with poetic names like ‘Tangxiang’, ‘Shiguang’, ‘Qimeng’, and ‘Shimeng’, each subtly echoing Ba Jin’s writings. The name ‘Yaotang’ itself is derived from Ba Jin’s original name.
Read more: Yaotang Mansion – Check into a Ba Jin novel and feel the flavour of old Chengdu
Dali Haina’er Yunshu Holiday Hotel
A modern golf-themed resort with Cangshan Mountain behind and Erhai Lake ahead
Dali Haina’er Yunshu Holiday Hotel is a modern golf-themed retreat situated at the foot of Cangshan Mountain’s Yingle Peak, beside the Yinxian Stream. It’s an ideal base for exploring Dali’s minority culture and natural beauty.
Enter through wooden gates and descend the white marble staircase to take in a panoramic view of Erhai Lake and Bai ethnic villages. At the centre of the courtyard villas, a transparent cantilevered outdoor relaxation pool creates a stunning mirror image under blue skies and white clouds, as if swimming in the air.
The 23 rooms are divided into 10 room types and feature a new Chinese design themed around ‘elegance, tea, delight, and seclusion’. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows and private terraces beyond the porch allow guests to fully enjoy Dali’s enchanting charm.
At leisure, unwind in the tea room, wine bar, cigar bar, or gym; play a round at what’s hailed as ‘China’s most beautiful golf course’; or drive out to explore the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom’s legacy around Dali.
Read more: Only after staying at this stunning mountain-and-sea hotel will you understand why SLH’s first Southwest property was so wisely placed in Dali
The Sukhothai Shanghai
A modern design hotel infused with Thai hospitality
The Sukhothai Shanghai sits in a vibrant downtown location, close to the famous Nanjing West Road shopping street, People’s Square, Shanghai Grand Theatre, and the hugely popular Wujiang Road food street.
Experience the concept of ‘living in art’ amid the city’s bustle. The hotel draws a stylish crowd with its warm Thai hospitality, beautifully designed Morandi-coloured rooms and suites, the suspended terrazzo staircase, and immersive art displays.
Food and drink lovers shouldn’t miss the hotel’s five restaurants and bars. La Scala, a Renaissance courtyard-style Italian restaurant, and the newly opened URBAN lounge gin bar are both unforgettable parts of Shanghai’s nightlife.
At leisure, guests can also take a dip in the indoor pool, try a session in the yoga suite, or enjoy the sauna and spa treatments.
Anxi Yuequan Resort
Celebrating ancient Chinese culture in the hometown of Tieguanyin tea
Yuequan Resort is nestled in Anxi, the birthplace of the renowned Tieguanyin tea, surrounded by mountains and water. Backed by bamboo groves, with streams murmuring nearby, the resort combines southern Fujian architecture with Huizhou style: white walls, grey tiles, soaring eaves, and steep gables, exuding a simple, understated classical charm.
Each villa seamlessly blends modern elements with Chinese design. The soothing fragrance of sandalwood creates a refreshing atmosphere, and together with the restrained decor, it cultivates an aura of serene peace. Some villas feature spacious living rooms and bedrooms with luxurious hot tubs.
During a sojourn here, listen to live guzheng music in the purpose-built tea house, with mountain breezes, rustling pines, babbling brooks, and faint Buddhist chants. Centuries of southern Fujian culture all brew into a cup of Tieguanyin — intoxicating tea and Zen for the soul.
Inspired by the traditional ‘swallow-tail ridge’ of ancient Fujian houses, the architecture is artfully reimagined with Huizhou black tiles and white walls, brimming with ancient Zen spirit.
Seventeen independent hot spring villas are scattered throughout the tranquil gardens. Follow ancient paths to sip tea, join a tai chi class under an old banyan tree, or experience tea and incense ceremonies, all while embracing the serene charm of hills and encircling waters.
LN Hotel Five
An elegant riverside luxury encounter
LN Hotel Five is a modern luxury hotel in Guangzhou, China, near the Pearl River. It features a stylish exterior and exquisite interiors, commanding a 180-degree view of the Pearl River. The hotel’s name draws inspiration from Guangzhou’s nickname ‘City of Five Rams’, and its design concept is rooted in the Chinese ‘Five Elements’ philosophy.
The Cantonese tradition of yum cha — the art of relaxed, leisurely tea drinking with ‘one pot and two morsels’ — is celebrated here. At leisure, savour authentic flavourful old Guangzhou Cantonese cuisine at No. 5 Tea House, unwind in the bookish ‘Five Book Room’ lounge, or admire the Pearl River views from the Yue Jiang Bar or the rooftop gym.
Hand-painted oil paintings on the lobby walls depict the bustling trade of Huangpu Ancient Port, while the furniture and carpet designs evoke bridge piers and the slow-flowing Pearl River, creating a strong sense of interwoven history.
The hotel spans five floors, with guest rooms divided into artistic themes: ‘Flower Hall’, ‘Dwelling’, ‘Merchant Gathering’, ‘Orchid Court’, and ‘Water Dance’, each conjuring different urban and cultural landscapes.
Rooms gently blend soft colours with marble textures, and traditional elements take on a fresh look against black decorative accents.
At night, the city’s bright lights shimmer on mirrored surfaces and the quietly flowing water below. LN Hotel Five strives for a sense of balance and comforting solace, making it a much-loved urban resort.
Read more: Lingnan charm, ‘five’ reigns supreme – a new SLH Chinese member hidden in Guangzhou’s ancient prosperous port
Ancient City · Old Courtyard
A courtyard house in one of Beijing’s old hutongs
Ancient City · Old Courtyard is tucked away in Weijia Hutong, near Donghuangchenggen in Beijing. Excellently located, it feels far from the city’s clamour yet is close to such national cultural treasures as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen. At leisure, you can also drive to the lively Sanlitun or head to the Great Wall to feel history’s living legacy.
This mansion, once bestowed by Emperor Wanli upon an imperial consort’s family, is filled with birdsong and quietude, complete with the four treasures of the study. Outside the hutong, the city bustles and traffic flows, but here, a piece of the old days is luxuriously preserved. Knock on the vermilion wooden gate, and you may suddenly wonder what stories lie behind the heavy door, what carved beams and ancient paintings await your return.
There are just seven antique-furnished guest rooms, divided between the South Courtyard (No. 26 Weijia Hutong) and the North Courtyard (No. 43 Xiguan Hutong), blending Chinese culture with modern design.
The hotel houses a French restaurant offering Michelin-star quality dining, a well-stocked wine cellar, and a cigar bar. 24-hour English-style butler service provides an unprecedented experience of privilege.
Hangzhou Rose Garden Resort
A peaceful spa resort nestled in ‘Paradise on Earth’ Hangzhou
At the foot of Wuyun Mountain, framed by emerald hills, close to the Qiantang River and the renowned Liuhe Pagoda... ‘There are no roses in the Rose Garden’ — so goes a saying, after which roses came to appear everywhere in the resort.
Whether travelling with family or a few good friends, you’ll find warm, thoughtful hospitality and a true home-from-home. The hotel’s much-admired water garden features three hidden pavilions, sheltered by lush trees — ideal spots for quiet contemplation or private rendezvous.
There are 50 rooms and one suite, most with private viewing terraces that look out over the stunning Wuyun Mountain scenery.
A rich array of experiences awaits: a 24-hour gym, cycling, yoga, feeding small animals... and notably, the Rose Garden Hall often hosts beautiful poolside lawn weddings amid the roses.
Hotel Éclat Beijing
An urban getaway, a luxury art journey in Beijing
Hotel Éclat Beijing is located atop the award-winning Parkview Green Fangcaodi shopping complex in Chaoyang District, occupying the pyramid’s upper floors (levels 16–21).
Not only can you enjoy all-round dining, shopping, and entertainment at the mall’s designer boutiques, restaurants, and cinema, but within walking distance you’ll also find The Place, Sanlitun, and other popular commercial and cultural hotspots.
The hotel houses the largest collection of Salvador Dalí works in Asia and original pieces by masters like Zeng Fanzhi and Andy Warhol, drawing art lovers for its uniquely designed, luxurious artistic ambience.
Hotel Éclat Beijing has its own fitness area, restaurant, and bar, plus 100 personalised rooms and lavish themed suites (some with private terraces or plunge pools), each paying homage to contemporary art icons.
With 24-hour customised concierge service, the hotel provides a comfortable stay while striving to be an exceptionally stylish high-end social venue for your urban retreat.
Which of these 15 SLH hotels do you love most? Leave us a comment!
