The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian

Deer wander the forested grounds below the battlements, which is either deeply charming or deeply on-brand for a Bavarian castle overlooking the Yellow Sea, depending on your mood. This hotel on Lotus Mountain above Xinghai Bay has 292 rooms with stone walls, handcrafted timber, and ceilings that make you feel appropriately small. The Royal Cellar brews its own beer, and Binhai Road's 32-kilometre coastal route begins at the front door.