Banyan Tree, Lijiang

Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as “the Venice of Asia” for its centuries-old network of canals and bridges, sits in a forested nook of mountainous Yunnan province. The recently opened Banyan Tree resort is as picturesque as its location. Each of the 88 traditional curved-roof villas is set in its own walled garden; opulent red fabrics and lacquered furniture accent the polished interiors. Shining pools and ponds dot the property, reflecting Lijiang’s intimate association with water.