Not too long ago, Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province was among the most off-path destinations in Asia, a place to visit with the hill tribes that had followed the Mekong River from its headlands in the Tibetan Himalayas. Now Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has made it a place that can be explored in luxury with its newly opened second property in China, the Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa. The 103-key resort is the only five-star hotel and pool villa destination experience in this national scenic resort destination in Yunnan Province, an hour’s drive from Jinghong International Airport. The resort is set along a sweeping curve of the Luosuo River, with gardens and water features, and comprises 80 deluxe guest rooms, as well as 23 one-, two- and three-bedroom Pool Villas. Additional facilities include a selection of dining options, an Anantara Spa, an outdoor swimming pool, a kids club and more. Last November the company opened a resort in Sanya on Hainan Island. “Xishuangbanna is a key new destination on the tourism trail for both local and international travelers,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group, Anantara’s owning company, “giving guests the opportunity to experience a unique blend of spectacular scenery, history and culture. China is a key strategic focus for Minor Hotel Group, both for Anantara and for our other brands, and we already have five further properties in the pipeline.”

Cultural aspects of the local tribes including the Dai, Jinuo and Hani people feature not only in the resort’s design, but also in its culinary concepts. The resort’s indigenous guest experiences can be 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 will guide guests through 1,800-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 the tribe has done for centuries. The Hani tribe will welcome guests into their home and sing traditional songs before sitting down to a home cooked meal, or guests can tour the local Dai tribe’s village close to the resort.

Xishuangbanna is located in the southern extension of the Hengduan Mountains, where the lesser-known Luosuo River later becomes the Mekong. Over 95 percent of its territory is 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. The destination is also home to one of the largest tropical gardens in the world. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is spread over 900 hectares, with 35 different garden habitats featuring a total of over 10,000 species of tropical plants.