Review: Lohkah Hotel & Spa, Xiamen, China

Published Mar 7 2025, 8:21 AM, Updated Mar 10 2025, 10:05 AMLohkah Hotel & Spa in Xiamen, China, is an incredible urban resort in one of the country’s most vibrant coastal cities. A distinguished member of The Leading Hotels of the World, this sophisticated retreat offers stunning design, modern opulence, and a taste of the cultural heritage of the Fujian Province. It also offers amazing ocean views, a magnificent spa, and Michelin-recognized dining.

Location

For generations, Xiamen has remained quietly underrated, letting cities like Shanghai and Beijing take the spotlight. However, this laid-back coastal gem is now capturing the attention of travelers drawn to its historic waterfront, charming old town, and wonderful gardens. With high-speed rail bringing visitors from Hong Kong in just four hours, Xiamen’s blend of colonial elegance and tropical cool is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Set on Xiamen’s magnificent oceanfront and overlooking the city’s famed marina, Lohkah Hotel & Spa enjoys a prime location in this up-and-coming port city. Situated in the affluent Huli District, the hotel sits at the heart of Xiamen’s burgeoning luxury lifestyle scene.

Gaoqi International Airport in Xiamen is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Travelers can fly in directly from major cities across China, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and international hubs like Amsterdam, Vancouver, Sydney, and Los Angeles. The hotel offers private transfer services at CN¥ 350 per trip for a seamless arrival.

Xiamenbei Railway Station is part of China’s high-speed rail network, which provides fast connections to key cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. The station is half an hour away by car, so the train offers a great way to travel around the country.

Xiamen’s proximity to UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as Gulangyu Island and Fujian Tulou, further enhances its appeal, making it an ideal base. Within the city, you can hike around The South Putuo Temple and up to Walao Peak, which links to the city’s huge Botanical Gardens. Make sure you bring flat shoes, as Xiamen’s Cycling Skyway is another fantastic way to explore the city on a bike.

Gulangyu Island is also well worth visiting. It’s reached by a 20-minute ferry ride. The island offers some great beaches and traditional architecture. No cars or bicycles are allowed on the island, but exploring the island on foot makes great day out.

Style & Character

The lobby, with its dramatic high-concept lighting and fusion of Fujianese design motifs, offers a creamy and warm entry point that stretches almost the length of the building. It has partitioned seating areas to either side of this massive corridor and lots of muted and hidden lighting. A modern sculpture of vertical lines sits in the center of the room, and the shiny cream marble floors are reminiscent of a peaceful temple.

Lohkah Hotel & Spa is a masterpiece of modern design, drawing inspiration from the elements of water, light, and Fujian’s storied stones. Its architecture integrates traditional influences with contemporary clean line aesthetics.

The nearby courtyard and pool area host lavish greenery and trees. The hotel has done a great job bringing the city’s tropical setting into its urban setup.

Service & Facilities

The extensive range of services includes an inviting outdoor pool with an urban-garden feel. The pool’s borders are dotted with palm trees and round bushes that grow out of an impossibly perfect hedging and lawn. You could completely forget you are in a city because this area is so green and lush. A decked area to one side of the pool houses wooden loungers with plush cream cushioning that run parallel to the pool and enjoy amazing bay views. Each duo of loungers sits under a matching wood and white parasol, and they look picture perfect.

Another highlight is the world-class wellness center, The Spa at Lohkah, which spans an entire wing of the hotel and provides a holistic approach to relaxation and rejuvenation. Beyond the spa is a state-of-the-art fitness center, laundry and pressing services, and extensive event and meeting spaces.

Rooms

Each of the 188 guest rooms and suites at Lohkah Hotel & Spa feature elegantly designed interiors with a soothing color palette and natural materials that reflect the coastal surroundings. The colour scheme incorporates white walls and sheets offset by black, charcoal, and dark brown furnishings. All rooms have private, furnished balconies.

The views from the rooms are either of the green gardens and surrounding trees or of the city’s waterfront, which is an incredible view of the sea spanning the entire horizon. Some rooms have cute patio gardens, and all have striking bathrooms with cream tiling and stand-alone baths.

A particularly nice choice is the Marina Studio with its ocean views and a round deep soaker tub. High-end amenities include daily-replenished minibars and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Food & Drink

With two exceptional flagship restaurants, culinary excellence is at the forefront of the Lohkah Hotel & Spa experience. XIA, the Michelin-recognized Chinese restaurant, showcases the depth and complexity of modern Fujian cuisine, delivering an exquisite dining journey steeped in tradition.

Meanwhile, AMOY Eatery & Bar presents a contemporary take on Mediterranean fare, infusing it with local seafood and French-inspired techniques. For a more relaxed yet equally sophisticated experience, Long Bar in the lobby serves expertly crafted cocktails, fine wines, and an exclusive selection of teas.

Conclusion

Lohkah Hotel & Spa in Xiamen offers strikingly modern architectural design that you might expect from a brand like Edition or Aman. Its Michelin-recognized dining, state-of-the-art spa, and meticulously designed rooms are all reasons to stay here. But it’s the incredible views from the rooms, restaurants, and the pool that we love so much. The views from the pool are beautifully framed by swathes of greenery, making lounging in the sunshine a fantastic botanical rather than urban experience.

Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2025. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.

Image(s) courtesy of Lohkah Hotel & Spa.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.