The Luxe Manor WHERE 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong WHY The studded wooden entrance to this outrageous designer hotel is redolent of imperial Beijing but leads the way to a surreal world of droopy chandeliers, copper mosaics and scarlet leather furniture. The glam ' manor house' style is sprinkled through the 159 rooms and, true to its name, the hotel goes into ' luxe' overdrive with the six recently- finished suites. Travellers overwhelmed by Hong Kong's urbanity might consider switching to the Safari suite. It comes with rustic wooden floorboards and ceiling lights which twinkle like savannah stars above the bed. CONTACT www. theluxemanor. com ACCOMMODATION msafiri 100 Landmark Mandarin Oriental WHERE 15 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong WHY Whatever way you arrive at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, it's obvious you're entering elite circles. Stroll from the Star Ferry terminal and Gucci and Louis Vuitton will announce themselves from behind polished glass facades; cruise along Queen's Road and pass Prada and Bulgari glowing in storefronts; rise from the subway and negotiate the Landmark, Hong Kong's most prestigious shopping mall. The hotel represents a sanctuary from this spending temptation. Dressed in off- white and ebony tones, rooms are homely, with flat-screen TVs built into the crescent wall that wraps around the circular bathtub. A contemporary feel is clinched by the socket that connects your iPod to the stereo system. It's savvy, and easily as chic as those nearby boutiques. CONTACT www. mandarinoriental. com/ landmark White Swan WHERE 1 Shamian Nan Jie, Shamian Island, Guangzhou WHY Located within the former colonial trading enclave of Shamian Island – easily Guangzhou's most picturesque district – the White Swan has long been a landmark for the scores of cruise ships which wind along the Pearl River. Opened in the 1980s, this was the first independently- operated 5- star hotel in the ' new' China. Though it can't compete in the opulence stakes with the newer kids on the block, the White Swan still boasts a winning combination of great views, solid five- star services and peculiar Chinese charm. In particular, check out the eye- popping lobby waterfall and surrounding rockery. CONTACT www. whiteswanhotel. com 13 14 12 Landmark Mandarin Oriental Landmark Mandarin Oriental The Luxe Manor