While Neolithic Europe was beginning to grapple with Bronze Age tools, China’s Shang and Zhou Dynasties had already made dizzying progress with detailed arts and crafts. But now, 4,000 years on, the erstwhile ‘Sleeping Giant’ has shaken off the conservative shackles of communism and is reacquainting itself with the finer things in life.
This is no more poignantly evident than right now, as the world’s most populous nation embraces a swathe of new luxury hotels. Visitors to China's capital may be inclined to discover the box-fresh W Beijing - Chang'an and Rosewood Beijing, as well as the new 279-room St Regis Chengdu - but this trifecta of familiar five-star favourites barely scratches the surface.
In addition to its new St. Regis and W properties, Starwood also unveiled its Azure Qiantang, A Luxury Collection Hotel back in September. The 205-room hotel sits on the picturesque Qiantang River in China’s Shangcheng District, which is an area famous for its museums and the arts.
When it comes to cutting edge design, Kempinski has looked to the skies. The Geneva-based hotel chain is opening the doors to The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel (pictured above), Beijing this month, overlooking Yanqi Lake. Shanghai Huado Architect Design Company consulted 60 designers over 60 days before finalising the hotel’s distinctive ‘rising sun’ aesthetic.
Away from the capital, Jumeirah has upped the ante on its plans for new properties in China. After opening The Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai in 2011 (pictured below), the Dubai-based hotel group now has eight properties in the works, including new developments in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Sanya, Macau and Qiandaohu.
Just last month, Jumeirah announced an additional trio of luxury openings being readied in Nanjing, Haikou and Wuhan, due to open in 2016, 2018 and 2020 respectively.
But even before the ribbon is cut on the Sir Norman Foster-designed Jumeirah Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei could potentially welcome the world’s tallest building. If the designs by London architect firm Chetwoods are approved, Wuhan’s US $2 billion Phoenix Towers development (top picture) will pair two super-sized skyscraper towers that will include as-yet-unnamed hotels, alongside leisure facilities, retail spaces and cutting edge “bio-dynamic” innovations.