Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake
An intimate lakeside getaway
In the midst of grand Chinese gardens, striking pagodas and ancient temples in Hangzhou’s historic West Lake district, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake could easily be mistaken for being a longtime fixture in the city. It blends into the landscape with its traditional Jiang Nan architecture — black-tiled-roof, pagoda-style pavilions that look out on a bamboo forest, gardens and lily-strewn ponds.
The lush, peaceful greenery surrounding the Four Seasons separates you from buzzing Hangzhou, just on the other side of the road. And while the hotel is just 45 minutes from Shanghai (albeit via high-speed train), it couldn’t feel more different from the big city. But the luxury hotel was newly built when it opened in 2010.
The lush, peaceful greenery surrounding the Four Seasons separates you from buzzing Hangzhou, just on the other side of the road. And while the hotel is just 45 minutes from Shanghai (albeit via high-speed train), it couldn’t feel more different from the big city. But the luxury hotel was newly built when it opened in 2010.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The design style of Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is traditional Chinese meets Western.
- The hotel has a white exterior and pagoda-style, multi-level roof done in traditional dark tiles. The lobby is airy and filled with sunlight, as are the two restaurants; nearly all of the spaces at the Hangzhou hotel have windows so you can enjoy the view.
- From private terraces etched into the foliage to the infinity pool in the stately courtyard to the gondola ride available at check-in, this wondrous hotel works in harmony with Mother Nature.
- Four-Star Jin Sha turns out Hangzhounese, Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisine, utilizing local ingredients like farm-fresh free-range chickens and produce from nearby farmers. A must-try dish is the sweet and tender honey barbecue pork.
- Four-Star The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake was made to look like a Chinese palace. Step through the treatment room’s round door to use a private shower and steam room (some even have sunken tubs).
Things to Know
- The intimate property has just 81 rooms — including five suites and three villas — and three residential-style villas, making it more boutique than behemoth.
- The hotel’s convenient location in the West Lake historic district restricted its height and so all of the rooms are spread across just two floors.
- If you don’t feel like making the five-minute walk over to West Lake, grab one of the hotel’s complimentary bicycles.
The Rooms
- The units are quite large, starting from 678 square feet, and all offer nature views. They are furnished with soft beds, either one king or two queens, and carpet you’ll want to sink your feet into after a day of sightseeing.
- A beige and dark gray palette gets a boost of color from fresh flowers and throw pillows.
The Restaurants
- Jin Sha, the hotel’s elegant, light-filled Chinese restaurant, has an outdoor terrace that serves up scenic vistas of the well-manicured grounds right alongside your meal.
- The restaurant’s specialty is its private dining — it offers 11 standalone rooms, each of which has a terrace with great garden views.
- Families will want to opt for West Lake Bistro, the Hangzhou hotel’s kid-friendly restaurant that serves Western and Asian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (it also provides alfresco dining).
Amenities
24-hour room service 
Babysitting services
Bar
Gym
Indoor pool
Meeting rooms
Outdoor pool
Restaurants
Spa
Getting There
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Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake
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