The hotel's sculpture park, Yuzu Paradise,
houses over 200 large-scale outdoor
art projects.

Every May, Conde Nast Traveler releases its Hot List, a collection of the best new hotels, spas, restaurants, and nightspots. Check the Daily Traveler every day for a new post from this year's list.

The first Relais & Châteaux hotel in China, the 46-room Hotel of Modern Art-HOMA Libre is nestled among unearthly karst mountains in the heart of the 1,350-acre Yuzi Paradise Sculpture Park, which is dotted with more than 200 contemporary works by artists such as Eberhard Eckerle and Allen Jones. This pyramidal hotel (sister to the larger, similarly art-oriented HOMA Sutra, also in the park area) feels light and airy, each room designed with futuristic furniture and objets d'art produced by artists in residence, while providing the modern necessities of flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and free Internet--some suites even have wine fridges. The service is exceptional: An English-speaking concierge greets you at Guilin airport, offering a complimentary cell phone so that he may be at your beck and call during your stay. A swanky spa stays open until 1 am, and staff are happy to arrange a private dinner inside one of the park's magnificent caves, complete with candles, musicians, and a man-made waterfall. Guests can enjoy a nightcap in the Moon Lounge and breakfast outside at the Woods Café as well as fine dining at its soon-to-open Asian-fusion restaurant, Lotus.

Address: Yuzi Paradise, Dabu Town, Guilin, China
Tel: 86 773 386 7888

When to go: Autumn is the best time to enjoy Guilin's stunning karst peaks and rice terraces.
Which room to book:The Guilin cave-inspired rooms are surprisingly light and airy, with views of the park. Choose No. 2303, a Deluxe Double; No. 2305, a HOMA Deluxe; No. 2501, a Family Suite; or No. 2311, a Deluxe Twin.

Further reading:
* Hotel of Modern Art's Web site
* Hot List 2008
* China's latest music export