Lakeview Hotel Yulongwan Kunming, an SLH Hotel

Egrets wander the grounds here as if they're on the payroll, which sets the tone for a lakeside resort that takes its amenities seriously. An 18-hole Nick Faldo golf course and an equestrian club with more than 30 horse breeds share the property with a lake for water sports. Norihiko Shinya of Super Potato Design handled the interiors, warm wood and raw stone with a Japanese minimalist sensibility, and every room looks out over the water.