Stay here: The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou review

In many people’s minds, there are two Hangzhous. There’s the modern, 21st-century city: one of China’s key innovation hubs, home to tech giants and a hotbed for new ideas and enterprises. And then there’s the enduring classical Hangzhou: the city of lyrical Tang dynasty poetry, misty paintings of West Lake, and the famous saying “The sky has heaven; the earth has Hangzhou”.  

As you drive along the edge of the famous West Lake, past the vibrant colours of a wooded hillside and into The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou , it becomes immediately clear this hotel is a solid encapsulation of the older, literary Hangzhou. 

What’s the deal?  

Opened in mid-2025 and inspired by the elegant home of a traditional silk merchant, The Silk Lakehouse is the first hotel in the Shangri-La Signatures collection, a new concept that celebrates Asian luxury. As such, this is a truly impressive debut.  

The complex features sprawling gardens and greenery, all strikingly faithful to Hangzhou’s unique aesthetic. At its centre is a modern yet whimsical five-storey vision: a classic hillside mansion dedicated to luxury, comfort and Hangzhou’s recognisable heritage.

Why stay?

So what’s it like staying in a silk merchant’s mansion? Despite the grand chandelier in the lobby, you can feel a relaxed, homelike charm as soon as you step inside. Indeed, making guests feel at home is one of the hotel’s priorities, as your personal host will tell you when you check in. It’s not just lip service – it’s manifested in one detail after another throughout your stay.  

The Living Room, a bistro with a menu curated by the renowned chef Alan Yu, is at the heart of the hotel and radiates the unifying tone of cosy chinoiserie.  

The 68 rooms and suites, meanwhile, showcase a playful palette of Chinese aesthetics mixed with elegant modernity. Imagined by Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan and Belgian interior architect Gert Voorjans, their cosiness is emphasised by the amenities and services on offer.  

Each room has a smart mattress which tracks your sleep and can be adjusted for firmness. You can have four items of clothing laundered per day – more than enough for most guests. And then there’s the highlight: the Delight Corner, a complimentary mini bar (which is actually quite sizeable) amply stocked with a cornucopia of comforts: a house range of four gins, wine, artisan tea and a beautifully presented selection of local snacks and nuts, to name just a few of its contents.  

Best of all is the location. This hotel sits just high enough on the hillside to afford expansive views of West Lake, while also being just a few minutes’ walk from the water’s edge. Many of West Lake’s most revered highlights are located nearby, including the Su Causeway, Gushan Mountain, Quyuan Lotus Pond and the Enduring Memories of Hangzhou show.   

editors say…

“Many hotels aspire to capture a sense of place, but few do it as well as The Silk Lakehouse. And when that place is as culturally rich as Hangzhou, the result is as tasteful as it is romantic.  

Delight in a moment of relaxation in the beautifully designed, garden-centred pool house – wade in, sit beneath the waterfall and soak up the serene atmospheres.”