A Blend in the River Luxury Chinese Resort Features Region’S Rich Ethnic Heritage with a Thai Touch, Writes Penny Watson
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
48 Hours July 25, 2013 A blend in the river Luxury Chinese resort features region’s rich ethnic heritage with a Thai touch, writes Penny Watson If taste were of no concern, the new what’s to come – luxury comforts and Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort and service Southeast Asia-style. Spa might have been named to reflect The resort didn’t stray far from its its Chinese and Thai influences. “Thai- Thai roots when it chose the locale, na” perhaps. Or “Chi-land”. which has a very Southeast Asian feel Thankfully, taste does come into and climate. Eighty deluxe guest play. And some would argue that rooms and 23 pool villas are spread Xishuangbanna, a spectacularly throughout a luscious tropical garden cultural region tucked in the southern dotted with pagodas and waterfalls, part of Yunnan province, bordering along with statues of peacocks and The open-air lobby (left); a River Pool Villa; misty mountains surround the resort (below). Laos and Myanmar, is only Chinese by elephants (China’s last Asian elephant name, not nature. herd can be found in the region). the terrace has a pergola, sun loungers On another day we take the short They’d be half right. Elsewhere, market umbrellas and and a river view. walk from the resort to Xishuangbanna Xishuangbanna is a semi-autonomous palm trees shade deck chairs beside a The following night, we are Tropical Botanical Garden, one of the region with 12 recognised ethnic pool where frangipani trees send a upgraded to a two-bedroom River Pool largest in the world, with 35 different minorities, including the Hani, Ainu whiff of would-be expensive perfume Villa. Walk-in wardrobes lead into garden habitats featuring more than and Dai people, plus Han Chinese, through the air and pool boys stand at bathrooms, which lead into bedrooms, 10,000 species of tropical plants. making up the population. The Dai the ready with icy water, fluffy towels which lead into rooms that seemingly Many of these plants feature on the people are the most populous and and a cocktail list. serve only to separate one room from menus. The Mekong restaurant dishes recognisable here, and it’s their unique Guests have a stone’s-throw view the other. With a butler service, daily up cuisine from the lands the river ethnic aesthetic that has inspired the of the Luosuo river, which becomes the high tea offerings and the option of a runs through: we have Thai one night region’s first five-star resort. mighty Mekong further downstream. poolside barbecue for dinner, the and Sichuan the next, but my favourite The open-air lobby is impressive. The overall effect is pure Thai holiday effect is privileged and princely, and it is Dai, a cuisine heavy on fresh local Its palatial, peaked teak ceiling, with just the Chinese staff hinting at takes effort to venture out again. herbs, and roasted chilli and garlic. towering columns with hand-painted our locale. But we manage. The region is Maybe this place should be called gold motifs and trickling green pond We spend the first night in the known for its pu’er tea, so we take a “Dai-land”. water feature are all informed – on a Deluxe Riverview Terrace Suite, a day trip to Yiwu Mountain where we grander scale – by the traditional Dai spacious bedroom decked out in walk through the old town and are home. Cushioned couches in myriad creature comforts (deep bath, iPod shown how the tea is made. Anantara Back at the resort, we have a tasting patterns and delicately crafted “an- dock, walk-in wardrobe, feather Xishuangbanna teak” chairs where cold towels and duvets) and Asian decor (crafted teak hosted by a Dai lady in the resort’s welcome tea are served, all hint at furnishings, ethnic fabrics). Outdoors, tea lounge. Resort and Spa Menglun town, Mengla county, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province anantara.com Getting there Several carriers fly from Hong Kong to Kunming International Airport. From Kunming, carriers including China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines connect to Jinghong where you’ll be collected for the 45-minute drive to the resort. Allow two hours’ transfer time at Kunming. Staying there Entry-level Deluxe Garden View suites cost from 1,800 yuan (HK$2,276) per night, or 2,035 yuan, including breakfast. Pool villas cost from 3,600 yuan. 50.