Shanghai Daily news

The only establishment in China included in the "Best New Hotels in the World" list is the Fuchun Resort outside Hangzhou, the capital of neighboring Zhejiang Province.

Ayesha de Kretser samples some of the extravagant delights of Fuchun.
Forget the queues at Pudong International Airport. Forget wasting hours waiting for connecting flights in Bangkok or Hong Kong. Escape from Shanghai is closer and more accessible than you think.
Fuchun resort near Hangzhou, capital of neighboring Zhejiang Province, is the perfect place to run to when Shanghai is too hot or too cold or too hectic to bear any longer although luxury on this scale comes at a price.
Rooms at Fuchun start at US$230 and suites run to US$450. For villas, one can expect to pay between US$450 for a one-bedroom hotel-style villa and up to US$2,000 for a four-bedroom, free-standing villa with private swimming pool. Not cheap, but also unlike any other stay in a hotel in China.
Recently awarded the accolade of being named one of the "Best New Hotels in the World" by Conde Nast travel magazine, the Fuchun Resort is the first Chinese hotel to receive such recognition.
However, it is easy to see what sets it apart from the rest. Impeccable service standards while maintaining unparalleled privacy make the resort an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life in China.
Fuchun is not quite in Hangzhou and it takes about 40 minutes to drive to the West Lake area. But weekenders need not worry about running out of things to do and see within the resort grounds with an 18-hole golf course among its many attractions.
It doesn't get much more relaxed than this when it comes to weekend escapes within China. In fact, in terms of romantic and peaceful getaways across the whole of Asia, it would be hard to top this destination.
While the restaurants and facilities within the complex are of the highest quality, visitors staying for more than a weekend might need to venture outside for a little more variety.
Fuchun is affiliated with Hangzhou Xintiandi's T8 Restaurant and Bar, signaling that the quality of the food is second to none. There are four different places to dine, ranging from the Asian Corner or Club House for more substantial meals to the Lake Lounge or Aqua Lounge for breakfast, light meals and lunch.
With decor based on Oriental themes, Fuchun is anything but tacky or gaudy. Not a single detail seems to have been forgotten and the result, quite literally, is breathtaking.
Outside the resort, the surrounding vistas are just as stunning, with mountains and lakes all in view. The resort offers tai chi lessons for 250 yuan (US$31) as well as a full range of Asian-inspired massage and spa services.
Getting there takes three hours by car or you can arrange to be picked up from the railway station in Hangzhou. The train trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou takes two hours.
For more information and bookings, please visit the Website at www.fuchunresort.com or call 0571-6346-1111.