Old Beijing/Forbidden City
Home to historic palaces, forts and villas where the emperors, generals and scholars of China lived and ruled. Between the 2008 Olympic stadium and the Forbidden City is a string of lakes, including picturesque Houhai Lake.

Lu Song Yuan Hotel
22, Banchang Lane
Kuanjie, Beijing, China
T: +63 10 6404-0436. 57 rooms.US$ 40-
www.the-silk-road.com/hotel
Former compound of 19th century general, the hotel has tiny rooms furnished with antiques, a friendly staff, and shows a little wear. Set in an historical hutong neighbourhood of old Beijing, it is convenient to the Forbidden City and other historical sites.

4 Banqiao Courtyard Guesthouse
No.4 Banqiaohutong, Beixinqiao
Dongcheng Dist., Beijing, China
T: +:86-10 8403-0968. F: +86-10 8402-5601. US$ 85-
www.4banqiaocourtyard.com
Combining a traditional house with modern conveniences - including internet access - this romantic hotel is located in an historic hutong residential quarter, convenient to subway lines, taxis and historic sites. The courtyard has a bomb shelter - which is being converted into a wine cellar - you can tour. The friendly English-speaking hosts are helpful in suggesting restaurants, art and cultural exhibitions to see.

Red Capital Residence
No.9 Dongsi Liutiao,
Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
T: +86-10 6402-7150. 5 rooms. US$ 150-
www.redcapitalclub.com.cn
This campy 5 suite hotel—affiliated with the trendy Red Capital Club restaurant—was carefully restored by traditional craftsman. Located in Beijing's Dongsi preserved heritage district, it was once a private courtyard home for the politically well-connected.

Hotel Côté Cour SL
No 70 Yan Yue Hu Tong
Dong Cheng Qu
Beijing, China
T: +86 10 6512 8020. 14 rooms. US$ 168-
www.hotelcotecoursl.com
A former 500 year old house where Ming dynasty entertainers for the Imperial court stayed is now a boutique hotel located in an historical hutong district of Old Beijing.

Bamboo Garden Hotel
24 Xiaoshiqiao Hutong
Xicheng District, Beijing, China
T: +86 10 6403-2229. US$ 60-
www.bbgh.com.cn
A former mansion residence of a Qing dynasty (1646-1911) minister, this hutong courtyard hotel is located in the bamboo wooded Houhai Lake region of old Beijing.

Aman at Summer Palace
L Gongmenqian St.
Summer Palace
Beijing, China
T +86 10 5987-9999. 51 rooms. US$ 550
www.amanresorts.com
Originally the guesthouse for the empress dowager, this sprawling compound of historic and new build structures adjoins the Summer Palace gardens.

Shanxi Province
Located on a mountain plateau in the northern part of China, Shanxi Province contains the ancient city of Pingyao, one of the last remaining walled cities in China. Pingyao hosts some of China's best-preserved traditional architecture and mostly stands as it was during its heydays in the late Ming and Qing dynasties. It has been listed since 1997 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its old town was featured in the movie classic Raise the Red Lantern.

Jing's Residence
Pingyao
China 31100
T: 86 0354 5841000. 19 rooms. US$ 175-
www.jingsresidence.com
This luxurious house located in Old Town was once the residence of a Qing dynasty silk merchant. Its rooms are spread around four interlocking courtyards and have lacquer headboards and kang-style beds, all made by local artisans.

Lhasa / Tibet
Shangri-la's medieval capital.

House of Shambhala
No.7 Jiri Erxiang
Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
T: +86 10 6402 7151/52.10 rooms. US$ 60-
www.houseofshambhala.com
Upscale Tibetan courtyard house transformed into a boutique inn and tearoom with traditional ethnic fabrics and artwork, painted ceilings and hand-carved beds.

Zhongdian / Yunnan Province / Tibet
Located in Yunnan Province of Greater Tibet, some 10,050 feet above sea-level, this world heritage site sits amid tranquil lakes, snowcapped mountains and the rivers Mekong, Salween and Yangtze. The town features Tibetan monasteries, a car-free Tibetan-style Old Town, and people in traditional ethnic garb.

Banyan Tree Ringha
Hong Po Village, Jian Tang Town
T: +86 88 7828 8822.22 rooms. US$ 400-
www.banyantree.com/ringha/index.html
The villas design was inspired by traditional Tibetan lodges, only much more luxurious. This romantic hotel is located 40 minutes outside Zhongdian.

Shanghai
A rich history dating back 5,000 years. In the mid-19th through early 20th centuries, Shanghai became a booming cultural and financial center—the Chinese port of entry for tens of thousands of European and American businesspeople who made their home in Shanghai's International Settlement and French Concession; Shanghai was known as the "Paris of the Orient".

Moller Villa
30 Shanxi South Road
Shangai, China
T: +86-21 6247-8881. 16 rooms. US$ 40-
www.mollervilla.com
In the 1920's Eric Moller, a wealthy Swedish businessmen, built this surreal looking fairy-tale villa for his daughter. Located in the former International Settlement.

Mansion Boutique Hotel
82 Xin Le Rd.
Shangai, China
T: +86 21 5403 9888. 30 rooms. US$ 420-
www.chinamansionhotel.com
Designed by a French architect in 1932, the five story white limestone hotel captures the essence of old Shanghai with an artful blend of Classic French and Asian ambiance. It overlooks the former French Concession and was originally the club house of Du Yue-Sheng, China's most powerful syndicate boss.

Ruijin Hotel
118 RuiJin 2nd Road
Shangai, China
T: +86 21 6472 5222. US$ 170-
www.ruijinhotelsh.com
A 100 acre fenced compound of lovely gardens, grounds and 1930's-era buildings in the middle of the French Concession. Ask for a romantic hotel room in the Old Villa overlooking the gardens.


Hangzhou Region
The region is located in mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River, 112 miles and a one hour train ride southest of Shanghai. It includes scenic rural beauty with terraced tea plantations as well as a large prosperous city, Hangzhou. Here you'll find gorgeous pagodas, historic temples and 13th-century bodhisattvas and Buddhas carved into mountain cliffs. Not that well known to the outside world, this area has inspired Chinese poets and artists for centuries.

Amanfayun
22 Fayun Nong
Xihujiedao
Xihufengjingmingsheng District
Hangzhou, China 310013
T: +86 571 8732 9999, 42 rooms. US$ 550-
www.amanresorts.com
Located in the mountains above Hangzhou, this romantic hotel is an example of Aman-style restrained rustic sophistication. The compound was once an entire village manned by tea harvesters; its stone floored homes have now been converted into suites. Some of the rooms have breath-taking views of the carved cliffside Buddhas.

Moganshan
This bamboo covered mountain once lured Shanghai's elite as a getaway retreat. Located a 3 hours drive from Shanghai, the hillside station is being rediscovered again.

Le Passage Moganshan
Deqin County
Moganshan Town, Ziling Village, 313204
T +86 572 8052958
www.lepassagemoganshan.com
High ceilings and old wood floors are found in this restored French country house overlooking a tea plantation. It's garden contains 12,000 rose bushes.

Guangdong Province
Formerly known in the west as Canton, this prosperous subtropical province is located on the South China Sea next to Hong Kong. China's southern most province includes the surreal bamboo forests of Nankun Mountain Reserve.

Crosswaters Ecolodge & Spa
Nankunshan
Guangdong Province, China
T: +86 752 769 3666. 56 rooms. US$ 175-
www.crosswaters.net.cn
Set within the bamboo groves of Nankun Mountain Reserve, this ecolodge features an open-sided organic restaurant, plush interiors with poster beds, and rammed-earth walls.


Macao
For 442 years a Portuguese territory; since 1999 part of the People's Republic of China.

Pousada de Sao Tiago
Avda. de Republica,
Fortaleza de Sao Tiago da Barra
Macao
T: +853 378-111. 24 rooms. US$ 186-
www.saotiago.com.mo
Pousada de Sao Tiago translates to Fort of St. James, patron saint of the Portuguese military. This fort successfully fought off the Dutch in 1622 and its canons were never needed again until they were sold for rice to feed WWII refugees. In the l980's the chapel was restored and the fort ruins converted into an inn.

.