China's Magnificent Mountaintops by Private Jet

Hotel Pullman Zhangjiajie is the only 5-star international hotel in the Wulingyuan scenic area. The hotel is located approximately 50 minutes from Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport. The hotel offers modern, specious rooms with a flat-screen TV, complimentary wireless internet, minibar, and Bose docking station for audio devices. Hotel amenities include the Pullman Fitness Lounge with cardio and weight lifting equipment, outdoor swimming pool, spa, tennis courts, and snooker and billiards tables. Multiple dining options are available and include the V Cafe and an open kitchen.

The new Ritz-Carlton Jiuzhaigou is located near the heart of one of China’s earliest UNESCO world heritage sites at the stunning Jiuzhaigou National Park. With snowcapped mountain ranges, glass-clear waters, and a myriad vivid colors, the park alone provides an unforgettable experience for visitors. At the Ritz-Carlton the park’s beauty to be enjoyed from the comfort and class of a world-class luxury resort. The 87 villas furnish panoramic views over the surrounding valley and house such luxuries as a rainforest shower and walk in bath tub. The hotels three premium restaurants offer a variety of dishes encompassing Tibetan, Sichuan, Cantonese, Italian, and Southeast Asian flavors. The resort is replete with a spa, indoor and outdoor event spaces, kids’ programs, and knowledgeable staff. The Ritz-Carlton Jiuzhaigou is due to open soon, and may be tentatively included in Remote Lands itineraries pending the opening date.

Set amidst the finger-like, limestone karsts overlooking the placid waters of the Li River, the Shangri-La Guilin offers unparalleled comfort in one of China’s most scenic cities. Each room features complimentary Internet access, tasteful furnishings and décor, and a view of either the surreal scenery of the Li River or the hotel’s verdant, expansive grounds. Dining options include the signature Shang Palace, featuring various regional specialties from Cantonese, Hunan, and Guilin cuisines; the elegant Li Café, which features a modern take on Asian cuisine; and finally, U Bar, which offers authentic western food and a view of the surrounding countryside. Drinks can also be had at the tasteful Lobby Lounge, or at the leisurely, relaxing poolside bar. Amenities include a comprehensive spa, as well as a health club with exercise facilities, swimming pools, and massage services. Nearby lies the famous Diecai Mountain, an iconic landmark that has long occupied many a Chinese painting, while steps away, guests can find bustling street markets packed with products of silk, crystal, and jade. The Shangri-La Guilin is about thirty five minutes away from Guilin’s Liangjiang International Airport (KWL).

Banyan Tree Lijiang sits just south of the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with 55 deluxe mountain-view villas. The hotel is constructed in the regional Naxi style of architecture with its distinct rooflines and courtyards. Each villa is decorated in contemporary Naxi style and has a heated pool, jet pool and Internet connection. The Bai Yun Restaurant serves Chinese Cantonese banquet style meals with local musical accompaniment. Asian and Western-style cuisine are offered in a choice of indoor and outdoor settings at the Ming Yue Restaurant. The Spa offers treatments featuring Asian healing and relaxation techniques as well as European rejuvenation therapies. There is a business center with fax and Internet services, a fitness center, yoga room, and tennis court. The Banyan Tree Lijiang is an approximately 40-minute drive from Lijiang Airport (LJG).

The Aman Group’s 28th resort in their ever-expanding portfolio of luxurious accommodation just happens to be one of their most impressive to date, spread over a hectare of land on a hill perched above the Old City of Lijiang - a World Heritage Site. The quaint winding lanes of the town below are an image of classic China, and the breathtaking luscious green mountains and snow-capped peaks provide the perfect backdrop. The hotel itself is relatively small; with only 35 suites the resort is kept quiet and peaceful, just like the surrounding countryside and historic town below. Even the smallest of accomondation options here start at close to 800 square feet, and Yunnan pine wood from Shangri-La is used throughout to create an inviting, cozy log-cabin feel. Modern conveniences are in ample supply too, both inside the range of rooms and throughout the rest of the resort. Guests can find no less than three superb dining options including a signature Chinese restaurant, as well as a luxurious spa, an on-site cinema and an impressive indoor heated swimming pool – difficult to resist jumping in after a day of sightseeing in Lijiang.  

Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prefecture-level city in northwest Yunnan that is close to 8,000 feet above sea level and known for both its old town of cobblestone streets and the incredible natural landscapes beyond its borders. Instead of situating itself in the middle of this touristic hub, however, the Songtsam Linka Lijiang is located Ciman, which is a small Naxi-ethnic village located nearby where traditional ways of living have persisted into the present. From the hotel, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the old town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Lashi Lake. The hotel itself is designed in a Naxi courtyard style and is decorated with exquisite Hui-style stone sculptures. Spacious, well-appointed rooms have balconies, comfortable beds, and are decorated in a cozy manner. There is a spa, a heated swimming pool, and a 24-hour fitness center on site, along with a library and a boutique shop. In terms of dining, there is a restaurant that primarily serves local Naxi dishes, but there are also some Western dishes available. Breakfast is served buffet style, and guests can enjoy tea or a selection of wines later in the day. There is also a café that serves a variety of drinks and snacks. Besides exploring the old town of Lijiang, travelers can also go on hiking trips through the surrounding natural landscape, or they can explore nearby Buddhist temples and other cultural sites.

Banyan Tree Ringha is in China’s Yunnan province, in a mountainous area that has been officially designated “Shangri-La” by the Chinese government and is part of Greater Tibet, both historically and culturally. The architecture reflects the local Tibetan culture: the 32 spacious lodges and suites are traditional Tibetan farmhouses with intricate woodcarvings, enormous pine pillars, smoky fireplaces and wooden balconies that have valley or river views. There are three restaurants to choose from: Llamo, which serves Chinese and Western dishes, Chang Sa, for Tibetan specialties, and Jakhang, a cozy teahouse with a large fireplace and an encyclopedic collection of teas. The Ringha has a divine Banyan Tree spa and a business center, but no fitness center or pool. The Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is a half-hour drive from the hotel.

Set in the high hills outside Zhongdian, Songtsam Shangri-la brings a new level of five-star luxury to this wind-swept, scenic area. Each of the resort’s rooms feature a collection of hand-made fixtures, from antique furniture to Tibetan textiles and carpets; in addition, all rooms offer amenities such as cable and satellite television, complimentary high-speed Internet access, and large, expansive windows. Songtsam is home to a restaurant serving Tibetan specialties as well as creative, fusion dishes, such as pizza with Tibetan cheese. Additional amenities include a conference room, a rooftop that offers guests wonderful views of historic Songzanlin Monastery, as well as a delightful, spacious courtyard for guests to browse at their leisure. Songtsam Shangri-la lies twenty minutes from Zhongdian’s Diqing airport.

Enjoy this modern hotel and its pleasant, helpful staff at the heart of Zhangye, China. Hua Chen International Hotel is wonderfully-situated for exploring the cultural and geographic offerings of the surrounding area. The largest and most luxurious hotel in the area, guestrooms come equipped with writing desks, kettles, air conditioning, domestic and international direct dial phones, and more. Hotel facilities include internet access, a banquet hall, a business center, and restaurants serving up authentic Chinese cuisine from many different regions. Guests may also enjoy gift shops, beauty salons, spa services, an indoor swimming pool, a nightclub, karaoke, and much more. The hotel boasts, spacious, clean rooms with views of the snow-capped Qinghai mountain range.