Revisiting China 2010

I hadn’t been to China in a while so I was eager to catch up on all the excitement at our Fairmont Willow Stream Spas over there and now I can’t wait to tell you about them.
Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, just northwest of Shanghai, is open and busy.
Our Willow Stream spa in Kunshan, like all our spas, is inspired by local flora, fauna and traditions. Here, the historic lake is one of our main inspiraitons.
The beautiful grounds around the resort include bee hives so there will always be pure honey for many of our recipes, plus a large organic garden, a lakeside walking trail and a climbing wall.
So much has happened at Fairmont Yangcheng Lake since my last visit just a few months ago. The spa has expanded both indoors and out and the Willow Stream staff is trained, experienced and confident.
The spa team here now shares the special bond you notice when experts are at “the top of their game”. It was nice to see that several of them had already been promoted. Perhaps the best part was the special presentation the secret Willow Stream dance. Ask about it when you visit. It’s wonderful.
When you visit, you might want to try a  personal training session. I did and Richard gave me a great workout. Then, when he noticed the tension in my neck, he taught me a few stretching tips that helped  wonderfully.
After a few days, I flew up north to see the team at the Fairmont Beijing. The fitness area is open and we are so looking forward to the Willow Stream spa’s debut. It is huge – three stories – on a bridge 19 floors up and encased in rose gold. Spectacular? You bet.
I took the opportunity to work out every day in Beijing under the watchful eyes of the team. Did I feel a little pressure? Yes, I did. We tested some treatments and they are very ready to welcome clients in just a few more weeks.
Jetting back down to Shanghai, I got excited about revisiting the Fairmont Peace Hotel, a landmark along Shanghai’s famous Bund . It first opened in 1929 and soon become the most luxurious hotel in the Far East. After 1949, it was renamed The Peace Hotel and eventually hosted nearly as many celebrities and dignitaries as our other famous Fairmont Hotels, including The Plaza in New York.
Our Willow Stream spa is in the Peace’s new wing but its design reflects the hotel’s mix of art deco, western and eastern influences. We chose the ancient symbols of the mystic knot (longevity) and the art deco spiral as our inspirations for signature treatments.
There are 11 treatment rooms and a reflexology lounge here as well as relaxation lounges, steam areas and special showers. A wonderful pool sits at the center of the spa and it offers amazing views of this impressive and very big city.
There is also a unique “spa within a spa” you can reserve with friends for a private day at the spa.
It is a beautiful, peaceful place even with hundreds of workers on site preparing to get it ready for a fall opening. Shanghai was hot – temperatures in the 40’s C. (well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). There were lots of people in town to see the world’s fair, and the vibrant restaurants and nightlife pulsed with activity. Our new spa fits right in. I think it will be the hottest spa in Shanghai. You’ll love it.
And you’ll love the combination of emerging ultramodern vibe and ancient traditions, including TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) which is high on the list of great spa opportunities for our guests. We’re developing ways to incorporate the best of the traditions into our experiences.
If you get a chance to visit one of our Willow Stream spas in China, please take a moment to drop us a line. I’d really appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.