Sanya, ChinaLuhuitou
InterContinental Sanya Resort
Terraced water-garden resort
Luhuitou Sanya, China
Opened
2010
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Resort LuxeOutside the door
The house
IHGTerraced water-garden resort
Reflecting pools and terraced waterways step down the hillside, cooling the open-air courtyards before they meet the beach.
What it’s good at
Notable
Terraced water gardens and patterned shading screens by Singaporean architecture firm WOHA.
Listed
Spacious terrace rooms with sunken outdoor bathtubs, overlooking the Xiao Dong Hai crescent.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The building itself stands over a crescent-shaped beach, providing elevated views for its sea-facing rooms and suites.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Forested hills climb behind the grounds, and the calm crescent of Xiao Dong Hai curves along the front.
The rooms
Terraces look out across the bay, each fitted with a sunken outdoor bathtub bordered by bougainvillea.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
The 47-meter Serenity lap pool sits between stone columns, and a freeform lagoon winds through coconut palms.
The spa and gym
Floor-to-ceiling windows look into the rainforest from the gym, and private spa suites sit within orchid gardens.
Restaurant
Ocean Front Pavilion
Open-air tables extend across a jetty over the bay, serving Hainan specialties and Cantonese dishes at the water's edge.
At the table
Mediterraneo prepares Mediterranean dishes in an open theater kitchen, and the Beer Factory pours house-brewed craft beers beside the lawn.
How it began
The grounds borrow the stepped geometry of Hainan's rice paddies, using planted roofs and open breezeways for natural cooling.
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.