Category: Interview

This is a story of protecting ancient trees and buildings with a deep reverence for culture and life. It is the story of Amanyangyun

On the outskirts of Shanghai, amidst a flourishing forest of camphor trees, stands Amanyangyun – Aman’s fourth destination in China, a picturesque retreat embodying the essence of Chinese spirituality, introspection and beauty with dozens of re-mastered Ming and Qing Dynasty houses. But the old trees and the buildings are not Shanghai natives, they come from other distant parts of China to escape the impact that accompanies development. They were rescued to serve as the setting for one of the most unusual hotel resorts in the world.

In 2002, a decision was made to build a reservoir in a historic rural area near the city of Fuzhou in Jiangxi Province to the west of Shanghai. The result was that three counties would be submerged and the ancient trees and buildings that were central to the rich culture of the area would disappear forever. At that time, Mr. Ma Dadong, a young entrepreneur born in Fuzhou, returned home from Shanghai and saw that some of the big trees had already been cut down and he was shocked.

He made a bold decision to save the big trees and the old buildings by moving them to Shanghai and finding a home for them. A preservation campaign thus began, aimed at protecting history, culture, Nature and Life. Mr. Ma put aside his real estate business, and fully committed to the project of migrating the huge plants and the classical buildings, thereby becoming a firm protector of cultural folk heritage.

But the project didn’t go as smoothly as had been imagined. In addition to a huge input of human and material resources, many doubts and questions arose from those people involved and unforeseen difficulties and dangers proved to be a great challenge. 

Mr. Ma invited experts and specialist in botany and ancient architecture to join the team and he visited various regions and sought support from the local governments. Most of all, the team strove to gain the approval from the local villagers with sincerity.

In order to ensure the survival rate of the trees as they were transported over hundreds of kilometers, the team was attentive to every detail. Before moving a tree, first a circle of grooves was dug around the base and filled with fertile soil to cultivate a new root system. While digging out a tree, it was necessary not only to cut off the main branches, but also to bring soil together with the tree and wrap the trees with cotton and bamboo strips to protect the bark. In the specific process of transportation of the trees, huge problems we were encountered.

A tree uprooted with soil and root can weigh tens of tons and the trucks needed to carry such a weight were too heavy for the village roads to bear. Moreover, in many places, there were no roads or bridges, so they had to expand the road and build temporary bridges. Sometimes, iron bridges were washed away by sudden mountain torrents and the ground collapsed on days of heavy rain. Even though the team was very careful, still many accidents with trucks turning over took place. Every time an overturn occurred, a large crane would come to hoist the tree to another truck and continue the journey so that the tree could be planted back into the earth as quickly as possible. There were also many other problems such as bridge openings being too low and toll gates being too narrow. Then, they had to dig the ground more deeply, or demolish walls and pave roads so that the trees could pass through smoothly. 

By 2005, thousands of camphor trees had successfully been moved to Shanghai. During the three-year migration process, the team used scores of heavy loading vehicles, paved hundreds of kilometers of temporary roads, built more than a dozen temporary metal bridges, and made more than a thousand trips with the original soil of Jiangxi Province to Shanghai to nourish the transported trees. At the same time, the component sections of the ancient village buildings were also transported and the first ancient house was successfully re-built in Shanghai in 2005.

Upon arrival in Shanghai, the big trees were immediately re-planted, carefully confirmed to be facing in the same direction as they had been in Jiangxi. The original soil was delicately mixed with the local soil in precise proportions. Even so, it was still questionable whether the trees could adapt to the new location. Again heard doubting voices arouse from all around.

But with the attentive care of the team, the trees began to take root and sprout. Every means was used to improve the soil, the trees were fed with nutrient solutions, and bamboo was planted around the trees to loosen and moisturize the earth. After three years, more than 80% of the trees had survived and were growing vibrantly.

Mr. Ma likes to stay with the big trees and listen to their voices – their delight of gaining a new life again.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the world, Mr. Adrian Zecha, founder of Aman Group, had for over a decade been looking for an ideal place in Shanghai to build an Aman resort, yet had failed to find one. In 2009, he came to the garden where the ancient trees and houses were located. Touching the mottled trunks and green bricks, Mr. Zecha was deeply moved and immediately decided to bring Aman here. An international architects team led by Kerry Hill and a professional Chinese team began their partnership on the planning and designing of Amanyangyun. Mr. Ma’s only hope is that people are able to see the work in 500 years’ time.

Then, there was an interaction, absorption and integration of Western design concepts and Chinese traditional architectural art. The result is a great piece of work that not only meets the comfort requirements of contemporary architecture, but also conforms to the principles of ancient Chinese culture and tradition. In 2011, the hotel officially commenced construction.

Today, every guest who sets foot in Amanyangyun can sense the unique atmosphere here which is imbued with the wonders of life and history. The whole area is filled with camphor trees and lakes, amidst which stand majestic ancient buildings that have been transported and rebuilt brick by brick. Wood, stones and bamboo poles were the main construction materials of yore, and they deliver a natural and tranquil atmosphere. Whether you are enjoying Chinese art in Nanshufang or taking a dip in the swimming pool, the color green will unfailingly soothe your eyes and soothe your mind. Going outside and wandering amidst the trees, you will forget where you are and get lost in the river of history. Located in the courtyard garden, the Spa & Wellness Center is the heart of the journey of tranquility and well-being.

“We humans live at most 100 years, and we are just passers-by under the trees,” Mr. Ma said. It is this love and awe of life that fulfills the miracle of Amanyangyun.

The guests of Amanyangyun and those who hear of this story are witnesses of this defense of life and culture. Mr. Ma shared his thoughts with us: “Just as Chuang tzu said, true beauty is a result of refinement through the ages.”

Interview with Ms. Sun Yuxuan, the President of Sheenjoy Health and Wellness Tourism Group

Positioned as high-end vacation resorts, Sheenjoy hotels are located in unique destinations with stunning scenery and rich natural resources, aiming to provide guests with joyful and healthy holiday experiences. Though a relatively new brand, with its continual development and steady operations, Sheenjoy has become a trustworthy choice in the hospitality industry. Now, Sheenjoy is beginning to shift to the health care industry and has plans for dozens of wellness tourism programs that target the market demand, further driving the active and healthy development of the health industry.

Sheenjoy Health and Wellness Tourism Group’s president Ms. Sun Yuxuan is the sole figure behind the company’s success. With a master’s degree in Business Administration from Tsinghua University and a bachelor’s degree in Economic Administration from Fudan University, Ms. Sun has been dedicated to real estate and the hospitality industry since the 1990s. In 2005, she established the first Sheenjoy hotel – Kunming Anning Spring Soul Garden Spa & Resort. Afterwards, she created various influential business modes such as Sheenjoy Health, Sheenjoy Wellness Tourism, Sheenjoy Senior Migratory Living and Health Maintenance Vacation. SpaChina interviewed her to learn more about her current wellness campaign in China.

How does Sheenjoy differentiate itself from other wellness resorts?

Our vision is to create a place where guests can talk with their inner self and pamper their mind and soul. So with all our hearts, we keep pursuing perfection in every aspect, from design and construction to operations and service, aiming to set a premium and romantic brand image.

Sheenjoy hotels has more family guests than other resorts. What are the particular requirements of China’s family guests in terms of hotels and resorts?

It is true. From the very beginning, we have created two sub-brands for Sheenjoy Hotels to target different guest groups. One is Sheenjoy and the other is Sheenjoy YI. The former is precisely a leisure vacation resort brand designed for Chinese middle-class family guests, while the latter offers body-mind pampering and a recovery experience for high-end consumers both home and abroad.

The pillars of Sheenjoy’s family guests are young parents normally ranging from 20 to 35 years old. They enjoy spending vacations together with other family members on weekends, holidays and festivals. So they usually prefer the resorts which can offer multiple facilities and services to cater to the needs of both old and young. They prefer a relaxing style of the hotel’s interior design. And they have higher demands on the comfort level of the hardware facilities and everything the hotel offers. 

What services and facilities do Sheenjoy hotels offer to the elderly and children? What development potential do you see with those two markets?

Both of these two markets have great potential in China’s hospitality industry. Almost all inland investors and resort operators have realized this. For children, in addition to offering a homey interior and highly comfortable appliances, we also create dedicated theme rooms for kids such as CAT, BABE BEAR, and other services including a children’s park, DIY studio, painting and calligraphy center, reading room and hot spring pools. In the restaurant, we have children’s DIY cooking lessons. For elders, we have created special rooms for them to live in both medium and long term. In these rooms, there are skid resistance and anti-collision facilities and emergency buttons. We also offer laundry and room cleaning services for them. Other facilities for elders include a senior care reception center, recreational center, a canteen with a tailored menu, music and dance studio and fitness center. Apart from these, we have a health and wellness center, hot spring center, organic farm and more for all guests to enjoy. It is our goal to become a vacation platform of joy and health which is the first choice for family vacation guests.

Wellness Tourism has been flourishing rapidly in China in recent years. From your perspective, what are the characteristics of wellness tourism compared with traditional leisure tourism?

The biggest difference between wellness tourism and traditional leisure tourism is that the former has the goal of improving body and mental conditions while the latter is for mere recreation. Every aspect of wellness tourism is designed around health improvement including destination selection, design and construction, functional planning, business models, service modes, and etc.

What guest groups do Sheenjoy Wellness Tourism projects target?

Sheenjoy wellness tourism projects mainly target modern elite groups who suffer from sub-health conditions. They are usually well-educated, affluent, and are specialists in a certain area. They are also passionate about social public affairs and make endeavors to push forward society’s progress. However, due to their busy work schedule and burdens of life, they also suffer from various discomforts of body and mind. So they not only hope for a leisurely trip but also desire to be healed during the journey.

What role does Sheenjoy hotel and spa play in its wellness tourism projects? How do you integrate them with other resources to offer a more comprehensive wellness tourism project?

Sheenjoy’s wellness tourism is developed based on consumers’ increasing attention to and pursuit of health, as well as the increasing market segmentation. We study and search for the most suitable destinations for wellness experiences. We also take into consideration the travel habits and health demands of our guests, and then develop a series of wellness tourism programs for joyful and healthy experiences.

As China’s aging population keeps rising, elderly people are often the target of wellness projects. Has Sheenjoy developed any tourism or real estate project to target this group?

Yes, we have senior care and living programs especially designed for elders between 55 and 75 years old who can walk and move freely. Now we have accomplished 36 senior care retreats and 3 wellness resorts nationwide. As a result, more elders can set off on their wellness journey any time they want. We offer butler services for each elder throughout the program.

Two years ago, the national and regional governments launched many policies guiding and supporting the construction of wellness projects. Do Sheenjoy wellness tourism projects conform to the guidance of these policies?

Definitely. Our projects are in high consistency with the core spirit of these wellness policies. Yes. In the last couple of years, both the national and regional governments have issued many standards and outlines to promote the development of China’s wellness industry. Among them, the Healthy China 2030 Plan issued by The Central Committee and State Council in October 2016 calls for developing new modes of health services and actively enhancing the integration of health, senior care, tourism, internet, fitness and food. The Plan also advocates developing the health & culture industries, setting standards and regulations for health and medical tourism, creating internationally competitive health and medical tourism destinations, rapidly developing TCM tourism, as well as developing quality brands and industrial clusters prospering in virtuous circles, and supporting the development of medium small and micro-sized enterprises. To respond to the call, Sheenjoy has launched “Sheenjoy Wellness World” for all those who love and pursue healthy lifestyles. We focus on a holistic health and joy of body, heart and soul and therefore have tailored a series of health products such as health tour and wellness vacations. We want to make people healthier and happier and our vision is to become a global healthy lifestyle platform. We have developed four core businesses: wellness tourism, senior migratory living and health maintenance vacation, integrative health and health education. We have already debuted several product lines including Sheenjoy Wellness World, Sheenjoy Medical Hot Spring, Sheenjoy Seasonal Wellness SPA and Sheenjoy Senior Migratory Living and Health Maintenance Vacation, as well as 20 Sheenjoy wellness retreats. So undoubtedly, Sheenjoy has been totally consistent with the wellness policies of the government. 

What plans do you have for the future development of Sheenjoy Wellness Tourism?

Sheenjoy hopes to become a premium healthy lifestyle platform through continual study and exploration. We want to make people healthier and happier.

What wellness projects by Sheenjoy are most popular in China?

Generally speaking, we are still at the initial phase of the transformation to wellness industry. Most of our projects will be accomplished in 2019. At present, many of our 3-day-2-night wellness vacation programs, 7-day-6-night senior living programs and senior care programs are most popular among guests.