Anantara Opens First Five Star Resort in China's Utopia

The resort proudly boasts the status of the first and only five star hotel and pool villa destination experience in China's utopia.

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa is located in the midst of this national scenic resort destination, an hour's drive from Jinghong International Airport through unspoiled countryside, offering a hidden enclave of tropical majesty along a sweeping curve of the Luosuo River. The resort is set within lush gardens and water features, and comprises 80 Deluxe guest rooms, as well as 23 one, two and three bedroom Pool Villas.

Revealing intimate glimpses of China through a luxurious blend of contemporary and local culture, authentic influences are drawn from the textures, colors and flavors of the region to deliver a bewitching blend of Chinese accents, integrated with regional touches from Thailand, Burma and Cambodia. Moreover cultural aspects of the local tribes including the Dai, Jinuo and Hani people will feature not only in the resort's design, but also in its culinary concepts.



The resorts indigenous guest experiences are enhanced with visits to the many ethnic tribes in the area such as a tea picking journey with China's last minority group to be recognized - the Jinuo tribe. They will guide you through 1800 year old tea plantations high in the misty mountains where you will pick tea the traditional way before heading back to roast the leaves as they have done for centuries. The Hani tribe will welcome you into their home and sing traditional songs to you before sitting down to a home cooked meal or you can tour the local Dai tribe's village close to the resort.

Xishuangbanna opens a window to a unique blend of nature, history and culture including multifarious folklore. Located in the southern extension of the Hengduan Mountains, where the lesser known Luosuo River later becomes the mighty Mekong, Xishuangbanna has over ninety-five percent of its territory occupied by mountainous and hilly areas, creating ample opportunities for leisure activities including mountain hiking, bird and wildlife spotting, and boat trips along the Luosuo River, all made even more attractive by an average temperature of 18 – 22 degrees Celsius. Inspiration by nature at large will include gazing in wonder upon a nine hundred year old banyan tree, as well as spotting China's last few Asian elephants in Wild Elephant Valley.



The destination is also home to one of the largest tropical gardens in the world. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is spread over an impressive 900 hectares, with 35 different garden habitats featuring a total of over 10,000 species of tropical plants.

Gastronomic journeys will capture diverse international cuisine at the all-day dining restaurant, accompanied by a lobby lounge bar and the poolside bar and snack zone, balanced by the rich flavours of local culture fused within an Indo Chine specialty restaurant.

Vying for attention in the realm of private dining, are the resort's Dining by Design and in-villa dining concepts. Unforgettable Dining by Design experiences invite guests to create their perfect menu (which again can incorporate the local Dai cooking style) in collaboration with a personal chef and to choose a dream location for a private table to be set up, whilst enjoying personal butler service. By comparison in-villa dining options will include barbeques and specialist hotpot dinners, to be prepared by a master chef and served in the comfort and absolute privacy of the guest's own villa.



In this scenic resort, leisure will marry relaxation with breathtaking scenery and state-of-the-art modern comforts. Guests will be able to plunge into an expansive outdoor swimming pool set amidst extensive landscaping, or energise in the fitness centre 24 hours a day. From one of eight treatment suites at Anantara Spa, treatments sourced from Asia's ancient wellness traditions and beyond will be tailored precisely according to each individual's needs. Guests can look forward to staying in touch with WiFi in the comfortable guest library and a neat business centre kitted out with iPad.

Little treasures can be kept safely entertained at the kids' club where a sizeable activity room of quiet and active areas will feature alongside a dedicated young children's zone. Moving up the entertainment programme, a teen's centre will offer a cool hangout thanks to a chill out zone and high tech entertainment such as Sony Play Stations, TV and DVD viewing, computers and WiFi.

Business and events become more pleasurable with a diversity of fully-equipped venues, in the form of a large function room for up to 100 people which is dividable to cater for two smaller events, an additional two meeting rooms and a boardroom.

See China's utopia through Anantara's eyes. Experience fabled beauty that is felt, not told.