Hangzhou, ChinaWest Lake
The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou
Jiangnan merchant mansion
West Lake Hangzhou, China
Renovated
2025
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe LocalOutside the door
The house
Shangri-LaJiangnan merchant mansion
The property reimagines an affluent silk trader's lakeside estate, trading typical hotel formality for the intimate feel of an art-filled home.
“The Silk Lakehouse was redesigned with the feel of a historic Jiangnan merchant’s home rather than a conventional hotel.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Gert Voorjans layered lacquered timber, silk textiles, and framed views across West Lake.
Notable
Personal hosts attend to suites equipped with adaptive smart mattresses and lake-view soaking bathtubs.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The 68 rooms and suites, designed by Gert Voorjans and Lazaro Rosa-Violan, take the home of a Jiangnan silk merchant as their design reference: rich textiles, maximalist florals, freestanding baths with lake views.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Beishan Road runs along the north shore of West Lake right outside, looking across the water toward Solitary Hill.
The rooms
Carved woodwork and bold floral silks fill the bedrooms. Freestanding soaking tubs look out toward West Lake or into private bamboo gardens.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The 20-meter indoor pool sits beneath natural skylights, flanked by stone grottoes with a waterfall and a swing daybed.
The spa & gym
At the table
Golden Silk serves coastal Zhejiang seafood, and the bar mixes evening cocktails with regional yellow wine and baijiu.
How it began
Richard Nixon stayed at the original state guesthouse in 1972, and a lacquer sculpture commissioned for his arrival still stands in the lobby.
Hangzhou
More like this
Seven Villas
“Jiangnan culinary sanctum”
Diaoyutai Hotel Hangzhou
“Diplomatic mansion showpiece”
Hangzhou Wulin Gda Hotel, Vignette Collection, an IHG Hotel
“Textile craft sanctum”
Mumian Hangzhou·The Unbound Collection By Hyatt
“Vertical garden tower”
Grand Hyatt Hangzhou
“Curved West Lake hotel”
Intercontinental Hangzhou Liangzhu, an IHG Hotel
“Jade-inspired business base”
Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake
“Song-inspired lakeside hotel”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.