China’s leading resort of Yabuli has new owners who are currently investing heavily in new accommodation, new lifts and other facilities, all to a much higher standard than has been seen in the country before.
Indeed many of Melco China Resorts’ innovations at the North eastern Chinese ski area the company describes as, “…Well beyond the standard available in European or North American ski resorts and more consistent with the quality of hotels expected in Asian cities.”
The upgrades include a new heated gondola for the resort’s VIP guests, which goes one better than the heated gondolas already operation in Europe and North America in that the cabins will feature polished timber trim, leather seating, a mini bar, cabin lighting, and a BOSE stereo system.
Melco’s Sun Mountain development at Yabuli, which is located 2.5 hours south-east of Harbin by road or 90 minutes by train, currently has three premium hotels under construction (two at the base of the mountain, one at the of the mountain, Sun Mountain Lodge, recently invited to be part of the coveted collection, Small Luxury Hotels of the World). These will add 312 rooms including 24 luxury sky suites with sauna, outdoor hot tub and observatory due to be completed by December 2008.
Melco China Resorts is the largest operator and developer of world-class ski resorts in China. Currently transforming one existing ski area in Beijing and four existing ski areas in the North Eastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jili. Skier numbers in China are predicted to more than double to reach 10-million skier visits by 2010.
“Our commitment is to introduce standards that did not previously exist in China’s ski industry,” said Graham Kwan, Melco’s CEO.
Our portfolio of integrated resorts and luxurious resort homes represents a status and lifestyle pinnacle that was not available in Northern China until now.”