Wonderfully situated on the border of the Xixi National Wetland Park, China’s first wetlands reserve, the Banyan Tree Hangzhou opened in 2009 and embodies the idea of absolute harmony that is so central to Chinese aesthetic principles. Shrubs and clouds are reflected in smooth water surfaces in front of the 72 terrace rooms and villas designed in Jiang Nan style, and the twittering of birds in unheard-of variety provides the background music. You can investigate the quiet water channels by dragon boat or visit Hangzhou, 15 minutes away by car, which the explorer Marco Polo described as the most beautiful city in the world.
