Sitting on Taihu Lake to the west of Shanghai, the horseshoe-shaped Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is the latest innovative creation from Chinese architect Ma Yansong, whose previous projects include Canada’s rippling Absolute World towers.

Comprising 27 floors, two of which are underground to give the hotel its distinctive shape, the Sheraton Huzhou boasts 321 guest rooms and a dedicated spa village with 40 hot springs, eight villas and its very own yacht dock.

The interior of the hotel is decorated in white and citrine jade, with over 20,000 Swarovski crystal lamps suspended from the lobby ceiling to replicate a rolling wave.

Each room has a lake or city view with a private balcony, and comes complete with high-speed internet access, a sunken bath and a walk-in shower. For business travellers and tourists who like to stay in shape, the hotel also features a state-of-the-art gym and two swimming pools.

The city of Huzhou is known as the home of Chinese tea culture and silk production, with nearby attractions including the Lotus Garden, featuring a large Koi pond and Tea House, and the Anji Bamboo Museum Garden.

Sheraton’s ‘horseshoe’ hotel is the latest addition to China’s growing luxury sector, which saw construction begin on the US $490 million Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental, a five star hotel built in an abandoned quarry, just last month.

With online luxury sales worth an estimated US $27 billion this year alone, and with 83 million tourists coming out of the country annually, China’s luxury sector is the fastest growing of any nation and there is massive demand for top-class hotels and unusual attractions.

The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is currently in its soft opening stage, with an unofficial opening date set for August.