Conrad Urumqi

A 32-story luxury hotel rising above Urumqi's central business district, Conrad Urumqi leans into the city's Silk Road past through jewel-toned fabrics and cherry blossom embroidery on the throw pillows, which is a lot more charming than it sounds. The modern Chinese restaurant doubles as a skyline-viewing perch, though the rooms manage the same trick. The crowd runs toward deal-closers with expense accounts, but leisure travelers slot in without much friction.