Amanfayun

Located in the bamboo-filled mountains above Hangzhou, China, this rustic 42 room property, is actually a conversion of an entire village whose inhabitants once harvested the tea for which the town is justly famous. Bisecting the resort's grounds is one of the village's original main roads, a stream-lined cobblestoned path that's today navigated by not only hotel guests but day trippers walking to and from the temples that mark the area.

The landscaping is natural and the signage is minimal and perhaps too much so as you'll need a flashlight for night time strolling. The 42 accommodations, once houses, with their stone floors, lantern lights and subdued palette are stunningly spare and stylish. There are no TVs, no electronic locks and no pools. In their place is silence, stillness, and visible from some of the rooms, the breathtaking sight of 13th century bodhisattvas and Buddha’s carved into the nearby cliff.

Perhaps Amanfayun's only shortcoming is its shy staff, who busy around the hotel lacking anything better than basic or pigeon English. That said, the service is swift and prompt lacking only verbal communication, though many people will see this as a bonus!