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Even the most devout urbanista needs some downtime. Here are
our top picks for weekend getaway hotels—all destinations in themselves, and within 100 miles or so of the world's greatest cities.
The Draw: One of China's first and finest rural retreats, the Fuchun specializes in two of the country's boom industries: golf and spas. The par-72 golf course is surrounded by a working tea plantation, while the luxurious spa treatments such as the Hangzhou-spun silk cocoon package play on historic local traditions. The Scene: With a core customer base of Shanghai CEOs and ambassadors, Fuchun is among the most exclusive resorts in the country. Nonetheless, the 70 deluxe rooms and suites provide a more affordable alternative to the 16 private lakeside villas, designed by Aman Resorts' master architect, Jean-Michel Gathy. Yoga and tai chi classes, conducted on picture-perfect waterside verandas, will tease out the inner hippie from even the staunchest corporate bigwig. Hot Tip: Fuchun Resort owns one of Shanghai's best restaurants—Xintiandi's celebrated T8—so expect great things from the resort's incarnation, Asian Corner.
The Draw: Set in the heart of the Sheshan National Tourist Park in the Shanghai burbs, Le Meridien She Shan is the quickest and easiest escape from downtown that won't demand any noticeable step down in comfort. The Scene: With its spacious rooms with private balconies, the older of Shanghai's two Le Meridien hotels has a relaxed resort vibe compared to its new business-friendly downtown sibling. Surrounded by an artificial lake and rimmed by verdant hills, Le Meridien She Shan opens up the nine nearby "mountains" (think big hills) for easy hiking and biking exploration. In addition to the natural attractions, She Shan has a huge Catholic cathedral and the oldest astronomical observatory in China. Hot Tip: The pretty canal town of Zhujiajiao is only eight miles away, an easy cab ride. Try a late afternoon visit, when the majority of the tour groups should have headed back to the big city.
Naked Retreat 395 Village, Moganshan, 021.5465.9577, $ nakedretreats.cn
The Draw: When the autumn tiger wags its tail, head for bamboo hills—not an ancient Chinese proverb, but sound practical advice from 1920s colonialists who found Shanghai's fabled September heat unbearably fierce. In the nearby Moganshan Mountains, they found the perfect escape. The Scene: Naked Retreat takes the rustic charm of the surviving colonial houses on this lush and lofty mountain and injects more than a modicum of comfort—as well as some green schemes (including—gasp—a recycling program). Accommodation is in one of the 80-year-old wooden farmhouse buildings. They're designed mainly for groups, but there are three studio apartments for couples. Great walking trails take guests away from the increasingly well-trodden modern tourist route. Hot Tip: Renovations have recently finished on the Huahua Bungalow, a traditional countryside home with sensational panoramic views. It's great for groups of four to six.
