The Century Sunshine Hotel is located in the city of Emeishan within the larger municipality of Leshan in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan. A city of 3.2 million, Leshan is in a popular tourist area for Chinese tourists, but still a new off-the-beaten-path destination for American tourists.

Last year the region drew 40 million visitors, both domestic and international. Its largest international market is Southeast Asia, comprising travelers who visit primarily to explore the Buddhist sites.

The hotel is near Mount Emei, the highest of the four sacred mountains of Buddhism in China. The mountain is 10,000 feet above sea level, higher than Machu Picchu. The area is also home to the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone Buddha in the world, and another major tourist attraction for Southeast Asia travelers.

The hotel, which is located in two towers that converge into one master lobby, is a few blocks from the Sichuan International Travel Expo Center, a huge new venue that hosts a variety of events, including the Third Annual Sichuan International Travel Expo, which was held in September. The National Tour Association sent a delegation that stayed in the Century Sunshine Hotel, which is a short drive from the Emei Railway Station.

Accommodations: The hotel offers 430 guestrooms, which come in a variety of double and single options. Its collection of 40 suites includes some designed with families in mind.

What’s Included: Rooms rates include breakfast for two, even for single rooms. Rates also include use of the gym and the swimming pool.

Best Attractions: The most notable attractions are Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Other attractions of note include Wuyou Mountain, Jinkouhe Grand Canyon, the Leshan Stone Tomb, Leshan Little West Lake, the Museum of Hanye Tomb, the Mountains Arch, the Farmhouse Museum, Lingyu Mountain, Laoxian Peak and Lake.

Best Entertainment: Although the best diversion would arguably be to take in the cultural richness and natural beauty of southwestern Sichuan, conference guests seeking to unwind will find a movie theater near the hotel and a shopping mall across the street. The Century Sunshine Hotel itself houses a gymnastic sports hall, a swimming pool, a tennis court and massage services.

What’s for Dinner? The hotel’s main restaurant specializes in Sichuan cuisine, accommodating 400 people in 17 dining rooms. A café on the 19th floor offers coffee, drinks, light fare and an expansive view of the surrounding area. The property is also equipped with a lobby bar on the ground floor level.

Who Books This Resort? The hotel maintains a 50/50 mix between business and leisure travelers. It caters to conference-goers attending events held at the nearby Sichuan International Travel Expo Center, which opened just last year, and others on business trips to the region. The property has eight convention rooms and one multi-function hall that can accommodate 500 guests.

Prior to the debut of the Expo Center, the hotel derived the bulk of its business from domestic leisure travelers. The region, however, is beginning to capture international attention as a second-tier destination for other travelers who have already experienced Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Xian, Chongqing and the Yangtze River.

The property also caters to families. In addition to its family suites, the hotel features a colorful play area on in the atrium just below the lobby.

Key Selling Points: The hotel offers business travelers a deluxe option in the city, and serves as an excellent headquarters for conferences held at the nearby Expo Center. It also is an excellent choice for leisure travelers interested in the region’s myriad Buddhist sites.

The hotel is less than a two-hour drive to Chengdu, China’s fourth-largest city, which is well known for its Panda Center, and about a four-hour drive from Chongqing, an embarkation port for Yangtze River cruises.

JUST THE FACTS

Resort Name: Century Sunshine Hotel Emeishan

Size: 470 rooms, including 40 suites

Year Opened: Soft launch in 2009, with an official opening in 2011

Facilities: Two restaurants, lobby bar, banquet hall, swimming pool, children’s lay area, business center, meeting rooms and ballroom

Price: From $408 to $688 per room

Website: www.centurysunshinehotel.com