The 11 Best Luxury Hotels in Guangzhou

Guangzhou’s summers are long and warm, and the water tempts in the mild winter too: many hotel pools in the city are heated, and some sit far above the rooftops.Park Hyatt Guangzhou · LiedeWith a view of the Canton Tower: If you want to look out at the TV tower while swimming at your 5-star hotel in Guangzhou, two addresses fit the bill. At the Rosewood Guangzhou, the 25-meter pool sits on the 94th floor, with lanterns, a whirlpool and cabanas. At the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, a 25-meter infinity pool stretches behind floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Canton Tower and the Pearl River.

In the open air: The Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou has a large Roman-style outdoor pool, heated year-round, with the H2O Bar at the water’s edge. At the Conrad Guangzhou, you swim in a heated 25-meter indoor pool on the sixth floor, then move out to terraces with whirlpools facing the skyline. Massage pavilions line the outdoor pool at the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou.

Music under water: The heated infinity-edge indoor pool at the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich is 30 meters long and plays underwater music. At the W Guangzhou, it is the WET pool, about 21 meters long, heated and filled with daylight, also with music below the surface.

For families: At the Langham Place Guangzhou, you swim in a 25-meter mosaic indoor pool with a jacuzzi, next to a children’s pool 60 centimeters deep. The Rosewood Guangzhou also has a separate pool for young guests beside the main one.

The Rosewood Guangzhou devotes two whole floors to wellness: Asaya Active on the 93rd and 94th floors covers about 2,628 sq m with a spa, relaxation lounge, yoga studio, gym and pool. The menu includes sound baths, Augustinus Bader treatments and the Tai Ji Massage with a Chinese herbal compress.Langham Place Guangzhou · PazhouChinese healing: Looking for traditional Chinese medicine at your 5-star hotel in Guangzhou? You have several options. The spa at the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou holds five stars from Forbes Travel Guide and has nine treatment rooms. At the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, two double treatment rooms connect into a suite with its own living room, and Chuan Spa at the Langham Place Guangzhou follows the Five Elements theory.

Spacious and French: AWAY Spa at the W Guangzhou takes up about 1,500 sq m on the 28th floor, with nine treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and vitality pool; it opened as the first AWAY Spa in China. So SPA at the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich pairs French rituals scented with Provence with Asian healing traditions, plus a hammam, ice room and floatation pool.

A night at the Langham Place Guangzhou on Pazhou starts at 76 €; the Rosewood Guangzhou tops the range at 320 €. Six of the eleven hotels cost no more than 160 € per night. The table lists all eleven luxury hotels in Guangzhou, sorted by area. Today’s rate for every hotel appears in the hotel list further down.

Breakfast for two is part of the stay at all eleven hotels. The suitespot benefits apply from night one everywhere except the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, which requires two nights.

Upgrade: Ten hotels offer an upgrade subject to availability, mostly on arrival; at the Park Hyatt Guangzhou and the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou it is set at booking, just not from a room to a suite. The Rosewood Guangzhou gives no upgrade, but includes breakfast and a welcome gift.Jumeirah Living Guangzhou · BeijingHotel credit: Six hotels give 100 US dollars, The Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou among them. At the Jumeirah Living Guangzhou, suites staying two nights or more get another 100 US dollars, and at the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou the credit doubles to 200 US dollars for suites, divided between dining and the spa.

Special extras: At the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich, 100 US dollars go toward So SPA, and the Langham Place Guangzhou gives at least 150 yuan in credit. Hilton Honors members collect points twice over at the Conrad Guangzhou, and if you book a three-bedroom suite at the Jumeirah Living Guangzhou, the airport pickup is free.

Points and status: Nine of the eleven luxury hotels in Guangzhou belong to a loyalty program. Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt each have two hotels, joined by Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, ALL (Accor), Brilliant by Langham and Jumeirah ONE. You book the Rosewood Guangzhou and the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou without a points program.

When to go: Guangzhou is in season all year. In spring, the City of Flowers shows its colorful side, the long summer belongs to pools and rooftop bars, and fall and winter bring mild, often sunny days for walks along the Pearl River. Around the Canton Fair in spring and fall, it pays to book early.

How long to stay: Plan at least three nights at your 5-star hotel in Guangzhou – time for dim sum at lunch, an evening at the Canton Tower and a stroll through the old town. Trade fair visitors do well to add a night to enjoy the city after their last meeting.