Minor Hotels and its joint venture partner in China, Funyard Hotels & Resorts, has announced the signing of Anantara Shaoxing Resort in northeastern Zhejiang Province. Perched on the slopes of Mount Kuaiji, the luxury resort – developed in partnership with Shaoxing Lan Ruo Lake Real Estate Development Co – will be the first internationally-branded resort in the city of Shaoxing when it opens in 2024.

Anantara Shaoxing Resort will form the core of Taoyuanli Health and Wellness Town – an integrated mixed-use community comprising landscaped courtyards, playgrounds, world-class restaurants, organic supermarkets, communal dining, and comprehensive health and wellness facilities for all ages.

The design of the 120-key Anantara Shaoxing is inspired by a multi-deck luxury yacht, with clusters of low-rise buildings cascading towards Lanruo Lake. In addition to modern guestrooms and suites, the property will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a tearoom serving some of China’s best blends, a specialty restaurant, and a 700m2 banquet area. The wellness-centric resort will promote health and wellbeing through natural immersion, with facilities ranging from a hot spring-fed outdoor swimming pool and a water landscape platform to Anantara Spa complete with yoga rooms and fitness centre. A special concert area, art gallery and secluded library will further add to the sensory experience.

Anantara guests have the chance to explore local farms, hiking along scenic trails, as well as enjoying a spot of off-roading, wall climbing, or playing recreational sports. Guests can also visit the variety of clinics available in the Taoyuanli Health and Wellness Town, specialising in traditional Chinese and Western medicine and offers diagnostic tests, chronic disease management, lifestyle risk factor reduction, longevity and telemedicine services.

“Eastern China has always been an important market for Minor Hotels. Shaoxing is blessed with rich cultural heritage and pristine nature, making it an attractive tourist destination,” says Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels. “Anantara’s reputation and know-how in creating meaningful, nature-integrated experiences for the luxury traveller is crucial to the successful development of the city and the region as a whole.”

Sam Gao, President of Funyard Hotels & Resorts, comments: “Shaoxing is a key city for the integrated development of the south coast of Hangzhou Bay. It has a vital strategic position, with plans in place to link it up with Hangzhou, Ningbo and, eventually, Shanghai.The city’s tourism industry is an important pillar of the province’s economic development plans, and the arrival of Anantara fills a gap in the luxury hospitality and wellness segment and ensures Shaoxing is on track to achieve broader development goals.”

Anantara Shaoxing Resort, along with the recently announced Anantra Anji Resort, will join Anantara Guiyang Resort in Guizhou Province and Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort in Yunnan Province as the brand’s fourth property in China.