Sanya, ChinaHaitang Bay
InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
Aquarium beach resort
Haitang Bay Sanya, China
Opened
2013
Price
$$$
Rated for
Resort Design LuxeOutside the door
The house
IHGAquarium beach resort
The resort fronts the South China Sea with expansive gardens. Indoors, an enormous seawater aquarium houses more than five thousand marine animals.
What it’s good at
Listed
A curved quarter-kilometer building frames ocean views through a massive central opening.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The building itself is a substantial one, set back from the beach and providing its rooms and suites with elevated views over the coastal forest and out to sea from their private balconies.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Along Haitang Bay overlooking the South China Sea, set within self-contained landscaped coastal resort grounds.
The rooms
Every guest room opens onto a private balcony fitted with a deep outdoor soaking tub looking onto the South China Sea.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Sun loungers line the palm-fringed outdoor pools, and a mosaic plunge pool sits on the rooftop facing the sea.
The spa & gym
Restaurant
Aqua
Tables sit inside an arched glass tunnel, where seafood and steaks are served as sea turtles swim overhead.
At the table
Tian Fu serves Cantonese dishes in private dining rooms, and Cove prepares Hainan hot pot behind double-height ocean-facing windows.
How it began
Archilier Architecture drew on the Chinese myth of the leaping carp, designing the building as a sweeping, inverted S-curve.
Sanya
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.