Four Seasons West Lake

Nestled on the shore of the city’s main attraction—West Lake—the Four Seasons West Lake offers a beautiful, serene respite from China’s relentless buzzing and has already become a favorite of wealthy local (and international) travelers.

• The arrival on West Lake via gondola
• The spectacular spa pods and massive indoor swimming pool
• The outdoor infinity pool overlooking West Lake

Designed to blend into the serenity of the natural setting, the low-built resort is situated within a beautifully landscaped park-garden, featuring tons of water elements (lotus ponds, waterfalls, portions of West Lake), so that each public space and most guest rooms come with picturesque views. The architecture is based on the region’s traditional Jiang Nan style, with many of the buildings boasting Pagoda-style rooftops, latticed trellises and shiny, lacquered doors. The traditional feel continues on the interiors as well, though all has been designed with a lot of style and stunning materials, one more luscious than the next.

Whether you’re sampling local cuisine in the soaring dining room of renowned Jin Sha restaurant or taking a dip in the massive outdoor or indoor pool edged by cozy, pillow-topped lounging nooks, all the details are top-notch and work together to create a backdrop that is at once traditional yet also sophisticated, stylish and sexy.

The resort has just 81 accommodations, including three villas. The in-room design is surprisingly restrained—some would say less inspired—compared with the uber-chic public spaces, but the resort’s main clientele tends to be mostly wealthy Chinese, explaining this penchant for more formulaic interiors. The furnishings are polished blond wood, touches of color include painted silk panels above the bed, the bathrooms are large marble-clad extravaganzas and the technology is, of course, first-rate.

The resort is close to all of the city’s main attractions, while also maintaining a tucked-away, serene feeling, thanks to the gorgeous landscaped grounds whose flower-lined paths and willow-framed ponds make the relentless beat of modern China feel blissfully far away.

Those looking for some downtime after a busy China itinerary (and who are not enthralled by the monastic-like simplicity of the Amanfayun), will be very happy here. Those considering the Four Seasons should know that it has a strong business and incentive side, with large ball- and meeting rooms (the business-leisure balance is handled with Four Seasons professionalism, however).