What’s behind China’s sizzling spa culture?

Sparked by plans for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, new hotels and resorts boast spas that blend traditions of East and West.

On a Mission

When the Guinness World Records cited Mission Hills as being the world’s largest golf club, we went online to get the skinny. Golfers can tee off on ten courses, then find comfort and rejuvenation in not one, but four spas.

Mission Hills is near a national park in Dongguan province. The resort’s three spas feature herb and spice gardens, rooftop pavilions for yoga or qi gong, fitness centers, spa treatments, and salons. Opening this spring, Mission Hills’ first destination spa “Wellsprings” will offer elaborate bath rituals, including aquatonic pools, tepidariums, a samarium, and a caldarium. For more information visit  www.missionhillsgroup.com.

Workouts by the Great Wall

Designed by twelve Asian architects, Commune by the Great Wall is Beijing’s most creative new place to live and enjoy historic wonders. Set in a retreat-like environment, the Commune includes a five-star hotel managed by Germany’s Kempinski group. Gazing out at the Great Wall from the hotel’s Anantara Spa, your inner voice may remind you of other wonders. Offering healing massages from around the world, as well as Chinese wellness rituals, this new entry by an Asian spa group promises a revolutionary experience. For more information visit www.kempinski.com.

Experience Shanghai Marriott Style

Towering over Tomorrow Square, the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai has China’s first Mandara Spa. A cobblestone walkway leads to your private suite. Experience the Elemis skincare line from the United Kingdom or treatments utilizing the Dr. Spiller line. Complete with a salon for hair/nail care, baths, massage, Thai stretches, and an indoor swimming pool, the Marriott is steps from museums, opera, dazzling shops, and restaurants. Join tai chi groups in the park or just explore this cosmopolitan city to see the new China. For more information visit www.marriott.com.

Tea-off at Fuchun Resort

The tea plantation surrounding Fuchun Resort supplies fresh leaves for the spa and delicately scents the air. This design hot-spot for Shanghai business executives and expats blends contemporary style with traditional architecture. Enjoy spa treatments with organic products by A. W. Lake in your private villa or lakeside pavilion. Join tai chi and yoga groups every morning, swim, or play the par-72 golf course. The resort restaurant is associated with one of Shanghai’s top kitchens for new Chinese cuisine. For more information visit www.fuchunresort.com.

Sojourn to the Silk Road

Dating to the Song Dynasty, Lijiang was once a stop on the Silk Road trade route. Set in the foothills of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Banyan Tree Resort and Spa is close to the scenic Tiger Leaping Gorge and a dry sea where you can go grass sliding. Built like a Tibetan village, fifty-five private villas with red-clay roofs nestle in secluded gardens. Treatments incorporate such ingredients as green tea, bamboo, and ginseng. For more information visit www.banyantree.com.

Return of the Mandarin

Legendary style and service distinguishes the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Inspired by feng shui, the hotel’s makeover features the three-story spa with herbal steam room, Vichy shower, Kneipp water walk, Ayurveda sanctuary, as well as consultations in traditional Chinese medicine. Indulge in the ice fountain, tropical rainfall shower, or vitality pool soak. Men’s treatments include the Mr. So pedicure. Did I mention that this beautiful oasis on the twenty-fourth floor overlooks Victoria Harbour? For more information visit www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

By Bernard Burt

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