This luxury compound – one of just eight Ritz-Carlton reserve hotels – in central China’s breathtaking Min mountains pays homage to traditional Tibetan culture and offers a wonderfully serene escape
Location
Surrounded in all directions by snow-capped mountains, this remote hotel is worlds apart from China’s towering neon metropolises. Two hours on the high-speed train from Chengdu, followed by an hour’s drive, the hotel’s villa hotel rooms have breathtaking views of the Minshan mountains and old Tibetan villages.
Just half an hour’s taxi ride from the hotel is Jiuzhaigou National Park. A popular Unesco World Heritage Site, it remained untouched for centuries, inhabited only by Tibetan people, until loggers came across the area in the 1970s. Logging was banned in 1979 and it became a protected area. Meaning ‘nine settlement valley’ in English, the 180,000-acre area is a patchwork of sweeping mountain ranges, crystal clear lakes and cascading waterfalls.
The vibe
The late interior designer, Jaya Ibrahim, known for his dark and subtly luxurious style, with a distinctly Asian influence, has left his mark in the carefully constructed lobby. There’s mindful use of natural stone and dark woods throughout, with partitioned areas that are cosy and intimate. Throughout the building, guests are struck by mountain views at every opportunity; floor-to-ceiling windows allow guests to drink in the view from the lobby, bar, restaurants and spa terrace.
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The local culture is imbued into the design, with art inspired by Tibetan pattern work, staff uniforms in traditional style and a moody library with a central fireplace that’s packed with books on Tibetan and Chinese history, art and culture. Nature is a major theme, whether that’s blazing red foliage through the window or using flowers and plants as decoration.
The service
Immediately swept up with a warm welcome, we were greeted with yellow sashes and a traditional Tibetan dance by a smiling performer. Some staff don’t speak English so a bit of extra effort (translation apps, pointing) can be needed if you don’t speak Chinese….
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