Luxury travel in China has evolved significantly in the past decade. The properties are genuinely world-class: Amanfayun in Hangzhou sits in a preserved Tang dynasty tea village adjacent to Lingyin Temple. The Peninsula Beijing has rooms facing Chang’an Avenue. The Opposite House in Beijing is a design hotel that would stand out in any global city.
The private guide infrastructure has also matured: excellent English-speaking guides with academic credentials in history or art are available in all major Chinese cities. Here is how to put together the high-end version. For family luxury: China Family Tours. For solo luxury: Solo Travel China.
The Luxury Operator Landscape
| Operator | Base | Style | China Specialisation | Price Range (14d pp) |
| Abercrombie and Kent | UK/US | Fully serviced private | Good. Long China presence. | $8,000 to $20,000 |
| WildChina | Beijing | Private. Deep local access. | Excellent. China-specific. | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| Audley Travel | UK | Tailored private | Good. Strong China product. | £4,000 to £12,000 |
| Scott Dunn | UK | Premium tailored | Good. 5-star focus. | £5,000 to £15,000 |
| Remote Lands | US/Hong Kong | Private ultra-luxury Asia | Excellent. Regional specialist. | $8,000 to $25,000+ |
The Accommodation That Defines Luxury China
Aman resorts in China
Aman has three properties in China that represent the highest standard in the market. Amanfayun (Hangzhou): set in a preserved village of Tang dynasty structures adjacent to Lingyin Temple, with original stone-paved paths and tea fields surrounding the villas. Amanyiri (outside Beijing): traditional courtyard architecture within walking distance of the Summer Palace. These are not hotels that happen to be in China: they are architecturally specific to their settings in a way few properties achieve.
City-center luxury
The Peninsula Beijing on Goldfish Lane (Jinyu Hutong) is the finest city-center luxury property in Beijing: Rolls-Royce fleet, spa on two floors, rooms facing Chang’an Avenue. In Shanghai: the Peninsula overlooks the Bund from the north. The Mandarin Oriental Pudong has floors dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine treatments. Both cities have properties at £400 to £1,000 per night that meet genuine luxury standards.
Private Guides: The Luxury Differentiator
A private guide transforms a China trip. The difference between a tourist-market guide and a private guide with an academic background in Chinese art history or archaeology is the difference between reading a label and understanding what you are looking at. In Beijing: former Palace Museum (故宫博物院) scholars are available for private tours. In Xi’an: archaeologists from Shaanxi Normal University work as private guides. These are not marketed on Western operator websites. WildChina and China Highlights specialise in connecting travelers with this level of guide. Expect to pay ¥800 to ¥1,500 per day for a specialist private guide.
Exclusive Experiences Worth Paying For
- Sunrise at Mutianyu Great Wall: Arrange early access before the cable cars open to public. Walk the wall in complete silence with a private guide. Some operators can arrange this through park management relationships.
- Private Peking Opera backstage: Meet the performers before the show, watch the makeup process, and have a front-row private table for the performance. Available through luxury operators and specialist guide networks.
- Hutong courtyard dinner: Private dinner in a restored Beijing hutong courtyard with a local family or chef. Nothing like the tourist restaurant version.
- Tea ceremony with a Longjing farmer: Not a demonstration for tourists but an actual sitting with a fourth-generation Hangzhou tea farmer. Amanfayun can arrange this for guests.
- Private terracotta warrior pit access: Before official opening, with the archaeologist currently working on the site. Rare but available through WildChina-type operators with museum relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
For family tours: China Family Tours. For private vs tour: Private Tour vs DIY China. For accommodation: China Accommodation Guide.