The south-eastern Chinese island of Sanya is often billed as the country’s answer to Hawaii. The jury is still out on that front, but there’s no denying that the year-round sunshine and sea breezes make for an intoxicating mix. It might also explain the flotilla of bold-faced named hotels arriving on-shore.
The newest kid on the block, for now, is the 238-room Hyatt Place, which occupies the 23rd to 36th levels of the Woods Bagot-designed Sunshine Financial Plaza. Designed by BLVD International with a subtle nod towards the ocean and forests, the interiors incorporate stylised waves into the ceiling and shades of blue and silvery flashes alongside the long lined silhouettes of fish baskets reimagined as pool-side salas and timber grilled screens.
The rooftop swimming pool might be a poor substitute for an actual dip in the South China Sea, but take solace in chef Guohao Pan’s comforting Hainanese menu of braised Dongshan lamb and chicken.§
