Anantara has opened the first five-star hotel in China’s Yunnan province, making it one of the resort group’s biggest openings in 2013.

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort and Spa is set within lush tropical gardens, flanked by the serene Luoso River and exotic unspoiled countryside, but only an hour’s drive from Jinghong International Airport.

Its stunning interior reveals Chinese accents blended with regional touches from Thailand, Burma and Cambodia, reflecting Anantara’s signature brand of luxury accommodation. The resort comprises 80 Deluxe guest rooms, as well as 23 one, two and three bedroom Pool Villas.

The influence of local tribes including the Dai, Jinuo and Hani people is evident not only in the architecture, but also in the resort’s culinary and leisure offerings.

Xishuangbanna’s 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 provide tours through 1800-year-old tea plantations high in the misty mountains where guests will pick tea the traditional way before heading back to roast the leaves as they have done for centuries.

The Hani tribe will welcome guests into their home and sing traditional songs before sitting down to a home cooked meal.

Xishuangbanna has over 95% 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. Nature pursuits include visiting a 900-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.

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 stay in touch with WiFi in the guest library and a neat business centre kitted out with iPads.

Younger guests 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 chill out zone and high tech entertainment such as Sony Play Stations, TV and DVD viewing, computers and WiFi.

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.

The resort also offers Dining by Design, where guests to create their perfect menu 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.

Business and events become more pleasurable with a range of fully equipped venues, in the form of a large function room for up to 100 people, an additional two meeting rooms and a boardroom.