Wanda Hotels & Resorts unveiled its Wanda International Resort Complex in Xishuangbanna on 26 September, a holiday destination collectively formed by three hospitality operators – Wanda Vista, DoubleTree by Hilton and Holiday Inn.
Known as a green oasis in the northern tropics, Xishuangbanna is home to the largest and most well-preserved rainforest in the northern hemisphere and which, in legends, is said to be a paradise. Located in the north-west corner of Jinghong city in the Dai autonomous prefecture, the Wanda Xishuangbanna International Resort Complex covers a sprawling 5.3 square-kilometers, and can be reached inside a 15-minutes drive from Gasa International Airport. The complex includes a theme park, a rainforest recreation and adventure park, a commercial centre, a Dai Show Theatre, a hospital and a new resort village. Taking up approximately 29 hectares in the east wing of the complex, the three luxury resort hotels comprise the five-star Wanda Vista Resort Xishuangbanna, the five-star DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Xishuangbanna, and the four-star Holiday Inn Resort Xishuangbanna, each offering its own signature experience.
Wanda Vista Xishuangbanna Resort is the 11th property and the first resort launched under the Wanda Vista brand. Covering a land area of 160,000 square-meters, it is made up of a cluster of 26 buildings that include guestrooms, restaurants, function rooms and a spa. They are all designed to blend with their natural surroundings while emphasizing the local Dai heritage and culture, and they cocoon guests in a majestic, comfortable and refined resort environment. The 151 guest rooms, comprising villas, suites and detached private villas, are nestled within a tranquil setting lush with tropical flora that forms natural “green lungs”. Each elegantly designed room has a spacious area of at least 137 square-meters, and comes with a private pool, tropical garden and open terrace.
The hotel has three distinctively styled restaurants, a lobby lounge and a wine and cigar bar.
Inspired by the famous Mekong River, the Mekong specialty restaurant offers authentic delicacies from the Thailand, prepared by a Thai chef who has mastered the tropical ingredients and spicy accents of their local cuisine. Café Vista offers all-day dining with an a- la-carte menu and international buffet, while ZHEN Chinese restaurant will delight your taste buds with authentic Cantonese and Yunnan specialties.
The signature Wanda Vista “Cha Journey” tea service is also offered to guide guests through an authentic experience of enjoying local Pu-Er tea. A 4,000 square-meter conference centre is equipped with advanced audio-visual and lighting facilities that can be tailored to suit any event needs. The luxury SHUI Spa is the only rainforest-themed spa in the resort complex, and is made up of five detached villas, each featuring a spa treatment room, card room, hot tub and outdoor swimming pool. The resort’s other recreational facilities include a large 40-meter by 8-meter outdoor swimming pool framed by a green fence of tropical plants, a children’s playground and a fully-equipped gym. Another highlight is the Buddhist pagoda, which is surrounded by a peaceful garden of reflection in which are grown the “five trees and six flowers” that are significant to the Buddhist philosophy.
The 412-room DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Xishuangbanna is Hilton group’s first hotel to open in Yunnan. Its architecture is heavily influenced by the local Dai culture and it also enjoys surroundings of lush tropical greenery. Each comfortably appointed room has a private balcony that lets guests take full advantage of the stunning views. The hotel also has three restaurants including Joy, an all-day dining restaurant, and Tailwind, which serves refined Cantonese and local Dai cuisine, a lobby lounge, a bar, a 660 square-meter grand ballroom, private lawn, a large fully-equipped hillside gym, a hair and beauty salon, outdoor swimming pool and children’s swimming pool.
The Holiday Inn Resort Xishuangbanna marries to perfection the Dai traditional heritage while providing all the comforts of a modern hotel, as can be seen from its lobby, courtyard, three restaurants which include Ji all-day dining and Xiang Chinese restaurant, as well as a lobby lounge, expansive 2,300 square-meter conference area, a massive T-shaped outdoor pool, a gallery hall and a fitness center. The 415 guestrooms and suites are equipped with modern facilities while highlighting the local heritage with beautiful displays of authentic Dai handicrafts.
“The group of premium hotels that form the Wanda Xishuangbanna International Resort Complex represent the ambitious development plans of Wanda Hotels & Resorts in China’s south-west region,” says Mr Qian Jin, President of Wanda Hotels & Resorts. “These three hotels will provide an outstanding vacation experience inspired by the unique local cultural landscape, enhanced by a wide offering of resort activities and facilities. They have made Xishuangbanna into a new world-class holiday destination, taking local tourism to new heights.”