Hi There,

I was following the post. I have been to Hangzhou 9 times in the last 3 years. I often stay there a few days after a business trip to Shanghai.
I have tried all the 3 luxury hotels several times: Amanfayun, Four Seasons and Banyan Tree.
I find Banyan Tree by far the best. It has a fantastic location in the Wetlands, so it is peaceful and has a beautiful setting. The food is surely better than Amanfayun.
Four Seasons is quite boring and too ordinary. Yes, it is a luxury product but it could be anywhere in the world and is nothing special. The Amanfayun and Banyan Tree give you a sense of place; both have local architecture with of course the same luxury amenities and facilities. And in Banyan Tree and Aman you stay in a large villa, while FS gives you just a normal hotel room!
Both are beatifully designed, but the interior design of Aman is too simple and cold.
I foumd the staff at Banyan Tree also going more out of the way than in FS and Aman.
I am going back in November and I will definitely stay in Banyan Tree again!
Best regards,
Francis