Sanya, ChinaClear Water Bay
Kimpton Aqeos Hainan, an IHG Hotel
Art-collector coastal resort
Clear Water Bay Sanya, China
Opened
2025
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Resort WellnessOutside the door
The house
IHGArt-collector coastal resort
The property reimagines the beach resort as an art collector's seaside estate, linking open-air salons with sculptural fireplaces and cascading water terraces.
What it’s good at
Notable
Lounges styled around the personal estate of a fictional globetrotting art collector.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Kimpton Aqeos Hainan stands on the banks of the Lingshui River, surrounded by rainforests and wetlands, a short stroll from a beautifully undeveloped beach.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Coastal wetlands and the Lingshui River border the grounds. Clear Water Bay's undeveloped beach is a short stroll away.
1 of 6
The rooms
Guestrooms come with yoga mats for morning practice, and pool villas have their own private plunge pools.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Footbridges cross the outdoor waterways, where cabanas and submerged loungers wrap around a thatched-roof swim-up bar.
Gym and steam room
Treadmills and stationary bikes face floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking bamboo hedges, backed by an on-site steam room.
At the table
Hai Yu prepares island-sourced Cantonese dishes in private dining rooms, and Bar Ronero pours rum flights toward the coastal horizon.
How it began
The resort was built inside an unfinished concrete shell that sat abandoned on the coast for nearly a decade.
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.