ALILA ANJI, CHINA

GO FOR POSTCARD-WORTHY SCENERY

A serene oasis made for shutterbugs, Alila Anji’s mysterious mountain panoramas captivated us on first glance. It’s tucked away in China’s Zhejiang province, on a lake shrouded by eerie mists and framed by 60,000ha of dense bamboo groves and tea plantations. The resort itself, designed to replicate a traditional Chinese village, doesn’t jar, and the delicate design and calming neutral tones in the suites allow the surrounds to speak for themselves. Art throughout the hotel is in keeping with the setting, botanical sketches back up the verdant landscape and muted yellows run through the soft furnishings.

The well-preserved landscape is guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing. You can recce from the raised balcony of your room or via the panoramic views of the indoor pool before grabbing the camera and heading out. Be inspired by fishermen and pretty blooms on Tian Fu Lake in spring, or book for winter when receding water levels reveal ancient shrines jutting out from the depths. You’ll come across phenomenal birdlife and iconic temples amid the wooded thicket all year round, and the team will introduce you to some secret spots, too. alilahotels.com

74 suites and villas ROOMS

Prices start at £175, room only

PRICE

Hangzhou International, 110km

NEAREST AIRPORT

Classy, outdoorsy-types with an eye for detail THE VIBE

Add on a day in Hangzhou to visit the oh-so pretty West

HOT TIP Lake with its temples and pagodas before checking out charming Hefang Old Street for its ancient-style vendors and teahouses