Maybe China isn't on your radar as a luxury destination. The picture a lot of people carry is crowded tourist sites, language barriers and tour buses. Check into The Peninsula Shanghai, look out over the Bund's art deco buildings glittering against the Pudong skyscrapers, and that picture changes fast. This is not the China you imagined.
Is China a good luxury destination for Black travelers? Yes. The top hotels in Shanghai and Beijing give service on par with Europe's best, violent crime against tourists in the big cities is rare, and the attention you'll get is almost always curiosity. Go in spring or autumn, and set up WeChat or Alipay before you fly.
Key facts
- Best months: April to May, or September to October (our favorite). Skip Chinese New Year and Golden Week (October 1-7).
- Where to stay: The Peninsula Shanghai or Amanyangyun in Shanghai, Aman at Summer Palace or The Temple Hotel in Beijing, Banyan Tree Lijiang in Yunnan.
- Before you fly: set up WeChat or Alipay, since many places don't take foreign cards, and check the State Department's travel advisory for China.
- How long: I'd plan 10 days: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu.
China's luxury hotel scene has grown fast, and at the best properties the service stands with Europe's finest.
Why Should Black Luxury Travelers Consider China?
China offers something you don't always find: open curiosity about Black visitors, usually warm. At good hotels, international guests are treated as honored guests, and the idea of miànzi (face) means staff care a great deal about getting your stay right.
What Are the Best Luxury Experiences in China?
Shanghai: Where East Meets Art Deco
Photo: Timothée Gidenne / Unsplash
Shanghai is China's luxury capital, and it isn't shy about it. The Bund waterfront is a mile of grand old banks and trading houses. Stay at The Peninsula Shanghai for white-glove service and its fleet of Rolls-Royce cars for airport transfers (arranged through the hotel), or Amanyangyun for quiet minimalism among ancient camphor trees and restored Ming and Qing houses, on the edge of the city.
For dinner, book Mr & Mrs Bund, Paul Pairet's playful French brasserie on the Bund, and ask for a table by the window. I've ranked my favorite rooms in the best luxury hotels in Shanghai and Beijing.
Yunnan Province: Tea Estates and Ancient Towns
Photo: Noppon Meenuch / Unsplash
Yunnan is China's quiet surprise, a province of snow-capped mountains, old tea forests and the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Lijiang. Stay at Banyan Tree Lijiang, with views toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Nearby, the Three Parallel Rivers area is one of the most biologically rich places in the country.
Sichuan: A Valley Hideaway
Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, sits in a Tibetan valley near Jiuzhaigou. It holds three MICHELIN Keys, the only hotel on the Chinese mainland with that rating.
Photo: Courtesy of Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Photo: Courtesy of Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Beijing: Imperial Grandeur Reimagined
Photo: Bells Mayer / Unsplash
The Forbidden City alone is worth the trip to Beijing. Aman at Summer Palace sits in historic buildings right beside the Summer Palace, with its own private gate into the gardens. The Temple Hotel turns an old temple complex into one of the most atmospheric small hotels anywhere.
Is China Safe for Black Travelers?
Violent crime against tourists in China's big cities is rare, and most travelers feel safe walking around at night. You will get attention, especially outside the major cities. In our experience it's almost always curiosity, sometimes a request for a photo, rarely hostility.
Language can be a challenge. Staff at the luxury hotels speak English, and translation apps with a camera feature help a lot. Set up WeChat or Alipay payments before you fly, since many places don't take foreign cards. Check the State Department's travel advisory for China before you book.
When Is the Best Time to Visit China?
Photo: Vincent Guth / Unsplash
- Spring (April-May): Blossoms, comfortable temperatures
- Autumn (September-October): Our favorite, with crisp weather, golden leaves and clear skies
- Avoid: Chinese New Year (late January or February) and Golden Week (October 1-7), when the whole country travels
Claire's Personal Recommendations
Photo: Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra / Unsplash
My must-do in China? Take the bullet train from Shanghai to Hangzhou (under an hour) and spend a day at West Lake. Have lunch at Longjing Manor overlooking the Dragon Well tea fields, then head back to Shanghai for cocktails at the Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria, with its famously long wooden bar.
For group trips, I'd plan 10 days: 3 in Shanghai, 2 in Hangzhou, 3 in Beijing and 2 in Chengdu (yes, you need to see the pandas, and nobody is too grown for baby pandas). I mapped a version day by day in my 10-day luxury China itinerary. You deserve a trip that surprises you.
Claire B. Soares, 6X Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist
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