Langham Place, Ningbo Culture Plaza

A crystalline boat made of dandelion-shaped forms hangs in the lobby, which tells you this hotel is not shy about a statement. Two low-rise towers in Ningbo's Eastern New Town sit beside what's billed as China's largest public culture complex, and some of that ambition seeps inside. Rooms run a generous 45 square meters with timber floors. Ming Court handles Cantonese cooking; Blend picks up afternoon tea and cocktails after dark.