With all the hotel growth in Asia, it's hard to even fathom the question: what's your favorite hotel? The choices change daily and with so many new hotels to see and anticipate, it's possible the 'favorite lists' will change year over year.

For those loyal hotel travelers, the favorites will hold sentimental value, and for good reason: there's nothing like the feeling of coming back home -- when home is a hotel -- and being treated to your favorite amenities. For those who look forward to the new, China travel will certainly leave you longing for more... hotels that is. There are so many hotels it's hard to know where to begin, and there's hundreds more coming over the next few years.

Just last week TripAdvisor, the US-based online customer review site, published their Travelers' Choice 2012 awards. These awards are given to hotels around the world, on various scales (luxury, budget, service, B&Bs, family-focused, etc.) based on user comments and reviews following their stays.

The following are the top 10 hotels in China for 2012, as rated by TripAdvisor travelers:

1. Fairmont Beijing - Beijing, China. One reader said "The suite was huge, beautifully designed, aesthetically pleasing. Service was unparalleled. The perfect place to stay to escape the chaos, traffic and congestion of Beijing." 
2. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong - Hong Kong
3. Les Suites Orient - Shanghai, China
4. Island Shangri-La Hotel - Hong Kong
5. Pousada de Mong-Ha - Macau, China
6. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong - Hong Kong
7. Songtsam Hotel - Shangri-La County, China
8. InterContinental Hong Kong - Hong Kong
9. Altira Hotel - Macau, China
10. Hotel ICON - Hong Kong

The interesting thing about this list is that most of the hotels have been here for a while. Hotel ICON, the newest hotel on the list, has also won awards for the most outstanding "art hotel" and one of the best newcomers to the market.

Noticeably absent from the list are the boutique favorites The Opposite House in Bejing and The Upper House in Beijing. In my opinion, the Peninsula Hong Kong still holds the title for "best afternoon tea service" - something Hong Kong visitors should plan to take part in.

I'd also add the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong as one of the must-see hotels in Hong Kong. The hotel, which opened in March 2011, currently holds the title of the highest hotel in the world and you'd be remiss if you didn't get a glimpse of Hong Kong from the hotel's rooftop bar, Ozone, on the 118th floor.

To view the entire list of the 2012 travelers' choice awards for China hotels, or to leave your review, click here:
tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTop25-g294211

Melanie Nayer is a hotel reviewer and expert on luxury travel around the world. She has covered all aspects of hotels including corporate restructures, re-branding initiatives, historical aspects and the best of the best in luxury hotels around the world.

Melanie writes a weekly exclusive column for 4Hoteliers.com