Six Senses has opened its first Chinese resort, Qing Cheng Mountain, in the historic and cultural setting of Chengdu. The hotel is the largest Six Senses to date, with 102 suites and 11 villas, and is the seventh Six Senses Resort, with an eighth resort due to open in Douro Valley next month and several others in the pipeline.

Designed by Bangkok-based Habita architects, the resort is set at the gateway to the Qing Cheng Mountains, in the homeland of the giant panda and where the Silk Road began, and has been created to complement the UNESCO World Heritage & Natural Cultural site at nearby Dujiangyan.

Six Senses’ perspective of “responsible luxury” dominates the design, which incorporates regional architecture and landscaping. A village theme means that a collection of four suites open onto a central courtyard, enabling them to be grouped into a private community for friends and family if desired, and a canal runs through the property, allowing for waterside accommodations and classic arched footbridges.

The design aesthetic of the resort is “a brilliant amalgam of the inimitable Six Senses approach of clean, uncluttered and organic, together with the undeniable sense of place amplified by rich cultural elements.” Antique Chinese-inspired furniture, exposed beams and classic rattan accents all help to reflect the cultural heritage of the area.

The Qing Cheng Mountain resort will include a 10-treatment-room, 18,400sq ft (1,710sq m) Six Senses Spa with waterfall and garden views, which will open in August. The spa will draw on the area’s Taoist roots, incorporating elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine into its treatments.

“Tao, meaning the Way, considers all things to be unified and connected, just as Six Senses’ overall vision is ‘reconnection’ – achieving harmony with nature, doing good, and always striving for self-development,” said CEO, Neil Jacobs.

Six Senses has created a Daoyin Tao massage as well as three ‘journeys’ specifically for the new spa. The Jing journey is a series of restorative treatments to boost the body’s overall defence systems, and includes a traditional Chinese medicine consultation, ba guan cupping, acupuncture and tui na. The Qi journey takes the theme of yin and yang and aims to restore balance to the body through manipulation of meridian pathways; it includes a Six Senses signature body toner treatment, oriental massage, and Chinese reflexology. The Shen journey focuses on the spirit, and includes private yoga tai chi, a herbal bath experience, tui na, and a Six Senses Soothing Facial with jade stone.

Amala products will be used at the new spa.

In addition to the spa, the Qing Cheng Mountain resort boasts three swimming pools (including one for children), a gym, outdoor fitness trail, outdoor and indoor movie theatres, and a Kid’s Club with a unique dinosaur bone dig.

Six Senses first announced its plans for a Chinese resort back in 2011 and chose a Chinese brand for the resort in November to ensure the brand resonates with the mainland China market.

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