August 6, 2007

Asia | China | Shenzhen

Swiss-Hawaiian Wonderland… in China

By Nicole Cotroneo

Southern China finds inspiration in a bizarre mix of cross-cultural pollination.

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Twenty years ago Shenzhen was a mere fishing village bordering Hong Kong. Today, it boasts the priciest residential real estate in mainland China — not to mention two new luxury resorts that are putting the moneyed town on the global tourist map. They’re an unlikely pair: a Swiss-styled village and a beachside hotel. The former is a full-on alpine resort village called Interlaken Town — one of its six restaurants is housed in a lakeside conservatory, and the cavernous main bar is conceived as a gothic cathedral. The compound’s new hotel features premier club suites with 24-hour butlers, and specially-designed “ladies’ guestrooms.” And come next spring, Interlaken — part of an even bigger resort called OCT East — will boast both the world’s longest water flume ride and the largest manmade waterfalls.

South of Interlaken, the mountain valley shifts to Shenzhen’s first international beach resort. Just opened, the Sheraton Dameisha is set on Dapeng Bay, otherwise known as the “Hawaii of the East.” With its dramatic curling wave of glass, the property reflects an equally impressive vista: every guestroom has a private balcony with views of the South China Sea. But if the natural wonders are not enough, you can always turn to more of Shenzen’s theme-park fixations — including replicas of the Grand Canyon and the Eiffel Tower at Window of the World.