With landmark resorts already in the Bahamas and Dubai, plus plans underway for another in Oahu’s Ko Olina development, Atlantis Resorts has just announced the opening of its first resort in China.
The new Atlantis Sanya is a massive development on Hainan Island, which is sometimes referred to as the “Hawaii of China” thanks to its balmy weather and numerous beaches. The island is already home to players in the luxury market such as Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood.
In a bid to raise the island’s profile as a resort destination not just for the Chinese, but also for foreigners, the government recently announced that citizens of 59 countries including the U.S., Canada and Australia can visit Hainan for 30 days visa free.
The new Atlantis Sanya opens after four years and nearly $2 billion in investment. It was built by Fosun International and will be managed by Kerzner International, who also oversee the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.
The Sanya resort’s architecture is the work of design firm HOK and is meant to evoke a contemporary vision of what the mythical city of Atlantis might have looked like, while Jeffrey Beers International and Hirsch Bender Associates oversaw the interior design.
The property covers 540,000 square meters overlooking Haitang Beach and the South China Sea with a 52-story tower as its centerpiece. There are 1,160 guestrooms plus 154 suites, five of which are palatial underwater suites. Rooms start at a spacious 48 square meters ranging up to 101 square meters, while suites begin at 101 square meters and go up from there. Guests in club-level rooms and suites get access to the club lounges either on the 18th and 48th floors. Guests also have unlimited access to the resort’s other amenities, including its waterpark, aquarium and activity centers.
The resort includes the enormous open-air Lost Chambers Aquarium that comprises an underwater habitat called The Ambassador Lagoon where guests can scuba dive. It contains over 13.5 million liters of seawater and is home to 86,000 marine creatures representing over 270 species. Dolphin Cay affords the opportunity to swim with the sea mammals, as well as a 1,800-seat theater for shows and demonstrations.
Like the other Atlantis locations, this one features sections for family fun as well, including the Aquaventure Waterpark with waterslides, aquatic playgrounds and pools. There is also a Club Rush to keep kids busy with activities throughout the day while adults can take advantage of amenities like the Ahava Spa and the various classes and personal training sessions available in the fitness center.
The resort’s mall, called Shopping at the Avenues, houses a number of boutiques and shops representing well-known fashion brands like Gucci, Prada and Chanel.
The entire complex has 21 restaurants, bars and lounges ranging from high-end fine dining to casual eateries. Among them are Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen & Bar for continental cuisine, TANG for Cantonese banquets, Netsu for Japanese, a sumptuous afternoon tea at Plato’s Lounge & Bar, and Nereus Brewery for locally made beers, not to mention the Polynesian-inspired Tikki Lounge & Bar, among other choices. The showcase restaurant, however, has to be Ossiano Underwater Restaurant & Bar, which has floor-to-ceiling windows on the Ambassador Lagoon and a menu featuring seafood from around the world.
Rates at the Atlantis Sanya start at $240 per night in May. For more information on the resort, check here.
