Banyan Tree Lijiang

China is vast, and contains multitudes. Lijiang, for example, the home of this particular Banyan Tree resort, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, an ancient town surrounded by endless rice fields with a spectacular view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (which needs little additional description) and just generally about as scenic as a place can be.

As for the resort itself, it more than lives up to the promise of its location — its 55 villas are in the no-holds-barred luxury vein, scattered amidst tranquil gardens and pools. Within them you’ll find just the necessities — sprawling bedrooms, palatial bathrooms, and yet more pools: jet pools, plunge pools, or even full-fledged swimming pools. And should anyone need to unwind a bit after all that plunging and pooling, there’s a spa to end all spas, and a dizzying array of treks and tours for the restless, conducted on foot, bike or horseback, through the rugged Yunnan countryside.

Travel advisory: Passport and visa requirements differ from country to country. Please check with your local authority before booking.

How to get there: To get to Banyan Tree Lijiang travel to Kunming International Airport. From there it is a 40 minute domestic flight to Lijiang Airport. Alternatively, you can take a flight to Shanghai International Airport, followed by a four and a half hour domestic flight to Lijiang Airport. Lijiang Airport is approx. a 40 minute drive from Banyan Tree Lijiang.