Have your say and vote for your favorite in our global Facebook poll.
China's 8 best heritage hotels
Live like a Qing merchant, a Shanghai gangster or China's former president in one of these revamped historic buildings
Heritage hotels dot the length and breadth of China, honoring the nation's rich history.
Situated in revamped buildings with an intriguing past -- be they former homes of affluent merchants, royalty or legendary gangsters -- these heritage hotels provide an intimate and ethnic experience.
More on CNNGo: Boutique hotels in China: The second-tier rush is on
Here are the top eight from different corners of China.
1. The Linden Centre, Xizhou, Yunnan
The Linden Centre was once the residence of a Yunnan merchant. Much of the original architecture survived the Cultural Revolution.
In a village whose name means "happy oasis" stands the two-story hotel, founded by Chicago-born Brian Linden and his wife Jeanee Linden thanks to their passion on the lifestyle and traditions of Yunnan people.
Known as Xizhou (喜洲) in Chinese, the village is located near Yunnan's major tourist city Dali, between the shores of Lake Er (洱海) and the foot of the Cang Mountains (苍山).
The 14-room hotel is a refurbished Bai-style courtyard home, a nationally protected heritage site that once belonged to a local merchant named Yang Pingxiang (杨品相).
Much of the original architecture survived the Cultural Revolution, and to enhance the hotel's cultural background, the Lindens have filled each room with Bai-style antique furniture.
Voted as the best hotel in China in TripAdvisor's 2011 Traveler's Choice Award, Linden's other highlights include its themed programs, which give the guests opportunity of experiencing the authentic village and day-to-day life of various minority groups in Dali.
From photography to cooking, in the past programs have attracted both established photographer Alison Wright and author Amitav Ghosh. Check Linden Centre's latest programs here.
More on CNNGo: Shanghai's best Yunnan cuisine
The Linden Centre (喜林苑), 5 Chengbei Road, Xizhou Town, Dali City, Yunnan 云南大理市西周镇城北路5号, +86 872 245 2988. Room rates: from RMB 830, www.linden-centre.com
2. Le Sun Chine, Shanghai
Savor Shanghai's luxurious past at the 28-room Le Sun Chine.
Tucked away from the bustling Jiangsu Lu, this homey boutique is within a 20-minute drive of several of Shanghai's business and commercial hubs, including Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park and Huaihai Lu.
The building was first constructed as part of a cluster of European-style villas. Some were built with Spanish influence, others with French, and this one -- the only remaining one, in fact -- with British colonial style in mind.
Sun Boqun (孙伯群), owner of China’s first private flour factory, lived in this four-story villa after its completion in 1932. The Sun family was so prominent that even the country’s second president, Liu Shaoqi (刘少奇), is said to have visited and stayed at the villa.
Le Sun Chine's owners have restored the art deco building to the same luxury level of its past: the venue is not only one of the five Relais & Châteaux members in China but also the only place in Shanghai to sip the acclaimed Salon Champagne.
With 28 suites, an indoor pool, a spa (plus a soon-to-open gym) and more than 300 antique artifacts from the owner’s personal collection, this cozy retreat is an elegant tribute to, and meticulous restoration of, Shanghai’s culturally diverse history.
More on CNNGo: The best Shanghai hotels worth blowing your budget on
Le Sun Chine (绅公馆), 6 Lane 1220, Huashan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu, Shanghai 上海市华山路1220弄6号, 近江苏路, +86 21 5256 9977. Room rates: from RMB 1,880, www.lesunchine.com
3. Jing’s Residence, Pingyao, Shanxi
Live the life of a wealthy Chinese merchant from the Qing Dynasty in Pingyao, the historic trading town.
Emanating calm in the heart of Pingyao -- one of the two UNESCO World Heritage cities in China (the other is Lijiang) -- this boutique hotel and member of Relais & Chateaux cultivates a respectful blend of old-world architecture with touches of new-world living.
From the outside, this former silk merchant’s home looks like the set of a Chinese martial arts movie (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). But this restored Qing-dynasty structure manages to integrate bamboo, four brick-paved courtyards, and some 260-year-old original wooden beams with modern facilities and amenities in as sleek a way as possible.
Each of the 19 rooms and two suites has its own design, decked out with northern-style heated beds and natural, simple decor -- including bamboo floors, rice-paper ceilings, and silk and lacquer handicrafts -- that give a nod to traditional art forms and luxuries.
More on CNNGo: 8 China travel tips from a professional fixer
Jing’s Residence (锦宅), 16 Dong Da Jie, Pingyao City, Shanxi 山西省平遥东大街16号, +86 0354 584 1000. Room rates: from RMB 1,100, www.jingsresidence.com
4. Hotel Côté Cour, Beijing
Côté Cour's deluxe suite has everything an old Beijing buff can dream of.
In a city where historical relics are aplenty and the crop of courtyard hotels is steadily expanding, Hotel Côté Cour has managed to become a charming little attraction.
The hotel is hidden in one of Beijing’s hutongs, where imperial musicians, dancers and actors would rehearse during the Ming Dynasty.
Just a few minutes’ retreat into the old laneways, before even passing through the establishment’s red gates, you get a break from the bustle of the country’s capital and a taste of old Beijing. And that laid-back sense of time carries on through the hotel space.
The comfortable, 14-room hotel values authenticity, while providing the level of amenities and services one would expect from a top-notch location.
Guestrooms and lounge areas are fitted with iconic Chinese furniture and trimmings, as well as fresh, modern elements (think Wi-Fi and contemporary art).
More on CNNGo: 8 ways to experience communism in Beijing
Hotel Côté Cour (北京演乐精品酒店), 70 Yanyue Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 北京市东城区演乐胡同70号, +86 10 6523 7981, Room rates: from RMB 1,068, www.hotelcotecourbj.com
