Legacy of tea traders

When you hear that a hotel's newest property in China embraces a theme of the ancient Tea Horse Caravan Trail, you might conjure a mental picture that's rather rustic: traders hauling Yunnan tea to Tibet to exchange for sturdy farm horses.

But while Hotel Indigo celebrates the spirit and culture of those caravan days, don't expect your stay there to be boot camp or summer camp. The acclaimed Thai firm P49 Design has created a fantasy of a modern post house, infusing a contemporary design with Naxi and Tibetan ethnic touches that you can enjoy amid all the comforts of a luxury hotel in a southern pocket of Lijiang Old Town.

The boutique Indigo Hotel group, 39 strong with five properties around China, targets upscale travelers who want individual and authentic experiences that combine great historic, cultural and natural elements.