The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou
杭州湘湖·香格里拉臻选
The Nixon-era provenance. This was the state guesthouse compound at the time Nixon came to Hangzhou in 1972, and the 1971 Zhou Jinyun sculpture commissioned to welcome him is still on site.
- Indicative nightly rate
- ¥4,000-7,000 a night
- The collection
- Shangri-La Signatures
- Setting
- Hangzhou · 68 rooms
Bedroom at The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou
Why stay here
68 rooms on the West Lake shore, opened in May 2025 as the first property of Shangri-La Signatures, the group's new ultra-luxury line. The site was formerly the Xiling Hotel, used for visiting state guests; Kokaistudios rebuilt it as a Jiangnan silk merchant's house, with heavy textiles, floral maximalism and freestanding baths facing the lake. A 1971 sculpture by the artisan Zhou Jinyun, originally commissioned for Nixon's visit, has been kept.
The newest serious hotel on West Lake and the only one of this size directly on the water. At 68 rooms with a brand that is trying to prove a new tier, you get the attention that a flagship opening buys, in rooms whose design has an actual argument rather than generic Jiangnan motifs.
The Nixon-era provenance. This was the state guesthouse compound at the time Nixon came to Hangzhou in 1972, and the 1971 Zhou Jinyun sculpture commissioned to welcome him is still on site. No other hotel in the city has that.
Rooms worth asking for
A lake-facing room with the freestanding bath at the window, which is the design conceit of the whole hotel and is wasted in a garden-facing room.
Note the exact room or suite name before opening the booking provider, along with any connecting-room, step-free access or celebration requests.
Dining & the evening ahead
In-house restaurants built around Hangzhou and Jiangnan cooking, plus a bar. Too new for any starred recognition.
Request restaurant availability alongside your stay. Tasting menus, private dining and dietary arrangements should be confirmed separately.
Spa, pool & wellbeing
A spa and indoor pool. New and well equipped; no track record yet.
Ask which facilities are included with your room, whether treatments require advance reservations, and whether any seasonal closures affect your stay.
Photos & films
Videos open on their publisher’s site. YouTube is unavailable in mainland China; watch before travelling.
Hangzhou, at your pace
Destination photography · explore the surrounding city.
what to do in HANGZHOU, CHINA vlog | west lake, street food, han fu, pagodalivansi · A first-time visitor walks West Lake, eats street food, rents hanfu and climbs a pagoda over a few days in Hangzhou.Watch on YouTube ↗2 Days in Hangzhou 🇨🇳 | West Lake, Local Food & Things to Doivyluvv · A tight two-day Hangzhou itinerary filmed on location, centred on West Lake plus local restaurants and practical things to do.Watch on YouTube ↗Videos open on their publisher’s site. YouTube is unavailable in mainland China; watch before travelling.
Longjing with a protected-origin grower, west of West Lake ↗Explore the experience and its booking detailsAmanfayun: a restored village and bath house below Lingyin ↗Explore the experience and its booking detailsBefore you decide
It opened in May 2025 and is unproven: no Michelin Keys, no Forbes rating, and almost no independent reviewing beyond airline-magazine and launch coverage, which is paid or hosted more often than not. Shangri-La Signatures is a brand-new label, so there is no standard to hold it to yet and no guarantee the opening-year staffing persists. The maximalist interiors are divisive. Treat the current uniformly glowing scores as a small, self-selected and largely invited sample.
Location. On the West Lake shore in the scenic area. Walking distance to the lakeside paths; a short drive to the city centre.
Prices are indicative, not live availability. Confirm the total including taxes, meals, transfers and cancellation terms on the provider’s checkout before committing.