HANGZHOU, CHINA - Summer is such a special time in this ancient provincial capital which Italian explorer Marco Polo described as “the most charming city in all the world.”

That’s because summer is when the divine lotus flower opens its giant petals and turns legendary West Lake a vibrant pink.

Millions are drawn to Hangzhou (pronounced Hang-Joe) each year to see the lotus flower spectacle, which first captivated emperors and their courts 3,000 years ago.

But recently, there’s been something else that everyone who comes to this UNESCO World Heritage city wants to see — the new Four Seasons Hotel on West Lake.

The Four Seasons West Lake, which opened in October 2010, has quickly blossomed into the star attraction among China’s new hotels — it earned “Hotel of the Year for 2011” in the China Best Design Hotel Awards presented by a well respected national magazine called The Bund.

Once you step inside this architectural masterpiece, it’s easy to see why magazines and guests are so enthusiastic in their praise of the property. Set amidst a tranquil splendour of ponds, streams, lagoons and lush gardens, this Canadian-managed hotel, which sits on the edge of West Lake, also qualifies as the best hotel in all China, in our humble opinion.

Built in the traditional Jiang Nan style of the region, the Four Seasons at West Lake features a series of pagoda-like pavilions surrounded by landscaped gardens, thus creating a tropical paradise which only the lotus flowers in West Lake can match.

The owner of this Four Seasons property, a local land developer who is respectfully called “the chairman” by staff, spared no expense in building a magnificent hotel which boasts 78 of the most sought after rooms in China.

Public areas are decorated in beige marble with black and gold trim; crystal chandeliers and fine art pieces dominate the corridors; the spacious 678 square foot “standard” rooms are packed with the best of everything; the hotel spa is a pleasure palace which has quickly jumped to the top of China’s spa rankings; its traditional Chinese restaurant called Jin Sha is being hailed as the finest dining room in the country; and the staff assembled at this 5-star property is the cream of the crop — dare we say they are the best hotel staff we’ve ever experienced on our many visits to this fascinating land.

The Four Seasons at West Lake is certainly a reflection of China’s new found fortunes. It’s bold and opulent but dignified and tranquil at the same time — a place fitting for a city where emperors and the country’s elite have been coming for centuries to rest and relax in summer. In fact, this city of six million, whose population almost doubles in summer, is often referred to as China’s summer capital.

The hotel’s ambience certainly gets you in a relaxed mode but for those who need a little help winding down, the property’s ultra-modern spa, with the calming influences of water and soft lighting and expert therapists, can help fast track your trip to “Pleasureville.”

Spa director Helen Yau, a charming Hong Kong native, has assembled an all-star cast of therapists from throughout Asia and the eight large but intimate double bed treatment rooms quickly become your own personal haven.

Treatments are enhanced by the use of indigenous ingredients prized for their therapeutic values. Treatments are named after the seasons — the Spring massage is highlighted by scrubs featuring water lilies and peonies; Summer features jade and lotus; Autumn focuses on chrysanthemums; Winter is made bearable by hints of plum blossoms.

“We’ve created a place where everyone will find comfort, pampering and an overall sense of wellness,” says Yau, who came to Hangzhou from the famed Four Seasons property in Hong Kong.

After a calming spa, guests can make their way down long marbled corridors to the hotel’s excellent dining room, Jin Sha, whose menu was conceived by Shanghai celebrity chef Tony Lu.

Jin Sha, whose spacious main dining room — it also features 11 cozy private rooms — is the place to be seen these days in Hangzhou and offers up authentic Shanghainese and Cantonese dishes using the freshest of local ingredients.

Chef’s three-layered pork appetizer with the crispy topping is an orgasmic taste delight. Other signature dishes like Beggar’s Chicken, Jin Pai Kou Rou (pork in bamboo shoots), Hua Jiao Tang (fish soup), Long Xia Mian (lobster soup), and Long Jing Xia Ren (fried local lake shrimp) are just as satisfying.

Fish plucked straight out of West Lake is accented by locally grown vegetables and tea — white, green, oolong, black and of course Hangzhou’s longjing tea are used to infuse many of Chef’s dishes.

After dinner, guests gather in the hotel’s quaint lobby bar which is where high tea is served every afternoon.

The oversized guest rooms feature plush amenities like 37-inch plasma TVs and walkouts to traditional Chinese gardens, which come complete with ponds and rare shrubs that rival some of the city’s famed 1,000-year-old stone gardens.

The spacious marble bathrooms in each room feature deep soaking tubs, separate glass shower and large basin vanity with remote control television.

For centuries, West Lake, which is surrounded by arched stone bridges, rare flowers and treasured monuments erected to honour China’s legendary emperors and generals, has inspired poets, one of which wrote: “There is heaven above and Hangzhou below.”

Now, thanks to the Four Seasons, Hangzhou has a special hotel that makes you think you’ve arrived in heaven.