Hylandia by Shangri-La to Open 3 August 2015

Shrouded in mist and myth, explorers have long sought to find the paradise rumoured to be hidden deep within the Snow Mountains of northwestern Yunnan in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Now, modern-day seekers can journey there to discover their own interpretation of paradise, with the new Hylandia by Shangri-La as their gateway to one of China’s most captivating regions.

Owned and operated by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, the 166-room hotel will open on 3 August in Shangri-La City with an introductory rate of RMB 850 plus tax and service charges.

Located at an altitude of 3,260m (10,695ft), Hylandia will be the first international full-service hotel in the city.

The hotel is a modern, high-altitude interpretation of the caravansaries once found along the Silk Road, with exotic courtyards, gardens, lounges and restaurants. Its architecture and design is an eclectic blend of Yunnan and Tibetan styles, featuring extensive use of local pine, limestone and other native organic materials.

Diqing is renowned for mystical snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, shimmering lakes and vast grasslands. It is the only Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Yunnan and is as equally rich in culture as it is in natural resources, with 13 distinct ethnic groups including Tibetan, Han, Naxi, Bai, Lisu and Yi living there.

Diqing has long been a strategic passageway to Tibet and its capital, Shangri-La City, was a pivotal point on the Ancient Tea Horse Trail.

“Travellers are searching for unique and individual experiences, for something beyond the ordinary,” said Shangri-La President and CEO Greg Dogan. “Diqing is an incredible and special destination. We saw a natural opportunity to move beyond the traditional description of hospitality and create a guest experience at Hylandia that is truly immersive and genuine.”

The hotel has been designed as a window through which guests can learn and ultimately experience everything that Diqing has to offer. The hotel was envisioned to be more like a cluster of pavilions, courtyards and gardens instead of a traditional hotel, with paths and plazas for guests to explore and discover.

Hylandia’s 166 guestrooms have all the trappings of modern convenience and comfort – free Wi-Fi, pillow menu, tea brewer, etc. – and the design borrows elements from regions along the Great Silk Road. Rooms are decorated in warm blues, greens, reds and ochres and ornamented with elements such as turquoise, coral and lacquer. In particular, the rooms celebrate woven works as weaving is one of the main means of expression and craft in Yunnan.

In addition to numerous F&B outlets, the hotel also has the city’s largest ballroom as well as four other meeting rooms, an indoor pool and a fully equipped gym with men and women’s jacuzzis and changing rooms.

Debuting on 3 August, Hylandia by Shangri-La is Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts’ 92nd property. With its opening, the group will operate 45 hotels in mainland China in 34 destinations.