The FINANCIAL — Park Hyatt Hangzhou opened to welcome guests in Hangzhou, the picturesque and cultured city fabled as a “paradise on earth” in East China.
The 242-room luxury residence is imbued with the rich nature, culture, history and artistry that are unique to this former imperial Chinese capital. Combined with the elegance of the Park Hyatt brand, guests are welcomed into a refined sanctuary where a journey of rare and intimate experiences unfolds in exquisite style.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Park Hyatt brand to Hangzhou,” said Christopher Koehler, vice president and managing director – operations, Hyatt in China. “This opening is a testament to our commitment to meaningful and strategic growth of our brands in this region where we know our guests are travelling. We look forward to welcoming our guests to this signature hotel that creates sophisticated and enriching experiences for which the Park Hyatt brand is known.”
Located in the heart of Qianjiang New City CBD, Hangzhou’s burgeoning hub for commerce and culture on the west bank of Qiantang River, Park Hyatt Hangzhou is an ideal place for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel forms part of the 800,000 sqm miXc complex, which also houses Grade-A offices, residential apartments and a six-level high-end retail podium. Crowning the uppermost levels of the 49-floor skyscraper, the new Park Hyatt Hangzhou is the tallest hotel in the city, according to Hyatt.
Park Hyatt Hangzhou is a 30-minute drive from Hangzhou International Airport and a 15-minute drive from Hangzhou East Railway Station for high-speed rail links to major cities across China. The miXc complex is directly connected to the interchange of two Metro lines enabling easy citywide transportation. Guests can reach Hangzhou’s famed West Lake in just 20 minutes by car.
“We are excited to welcome guests to experience the personalized, understated luxury at Park Hyatt Hangzhou,” says Stephan Tschuppik, general manager of the hotel. “Park Hyatt Hangzhou reflects the poetry and luxury of life around famous West Lake and Jiangnan, located on the top of the city and next to Qiantang River. From the moment our guests arrive, they are surrounded with contemporary luxury at its best, from original works of art and thoughtfully considered design to the finest in culinary expression.”
Design
Designed by award-winning New York duo Yabu Pushelberg, Park Hyatt Hangzhou has been conceived as a contemporary Jiangnan-style residence, referencing the local South Yangtze River (Jiangnan) area. Inspired by the former home of Hu Xue Yan, a legendary merchant during the Qing Dynasty who was hailed as a “Hong Ding Shang Ren (Red Merchant)” for his contributions to Chinese society, Park Hyatt Hangzhou reflects the home of a Hangzhou connoisseur who loves travelling, art, culture and, most of all, hosting friends from around the world.
Guests embark on an enchanting journey of discovery through sophisticated contemporary chambers, courtyards, corridors and outdoor garden spaces infused with subtle Chinese detailing and nature motifs. Soaring ceilings imbue a sense of grandeur while intimately sized spaces maintain an exclusive residential ambience. Hand-carved wood and bronze screens and atmospheric lighting evoke the shadows and reflections on the surface of West Lake, adding a soulful, romantic ambience for guests.
Upon arrival, guests are led through a series of lobbies crafted from luxuriant materials, such as deeply veined marble and contemporary Chinese lattice screens backlit in gold-leaf. Express elevators whisk them to the Sky Lobby on Level 37 where they are welcomed into an ethereal glass and marble reception hall with 5.2-meter-high ceilings, elegantly furnished with hanging Chinese lanterns, a fireplace and an art gallery.
Guestrooms
Park Hyatt Hangzhou’s 242 guestrooms and suites are the highest in the city and also offer the tallest ceilings, maximizing guests’ appreciation of uninterrupted views of the city skyline, river and mountains. Starting from 55 sqm, the guestrooms welcome travelers into a contemporary sanctuary defined by natural woods and a relaxing lake-blue color palette. Each decorative element has been custom designed, from the hand-tufted silk carpets depicting Hangzhou’s plum blossoms to the hand-painted Chinese lacquer cabinet concealing the minibar.
Catching up on work is a pleasure at the oversized executive desk crafted from a single 1.8-meter-long piece of hardwood, while the unique bed-head features a cherry-blossom shadow pattern that gently glows at night conjuring mystical Hangzhou dreams. Spa style bathrooms of white marble feature freestanding marble bathtubs, double vanities and deluxe bath products.
Drinking and Dining
Park Hyatt Hangzhou’s showpiece restaurants and bars offer the city’s ultimate dining and drinking experiences at Hangzhou’s most elevated entertainment venues. The soul of the residence, Living Room, wraps around the lobby embracing 270-degree panoramic views of the city and West Lake. Guests can relax in the serene, naturally-lit social space with five-meter-high windows to enjoy elegant afternoon teas and refreshments.
Dining Room serves authentic local Zhejiang and Cantonese cuisines crafted by master chefs using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients from the hotel’s organic farm. Filled with natural light and eye-catching city views, the pastel-hued restaurant is decorated with large glass lanterns and delicate silk panels hand-embroidered by Suzhou artisans. Private and semi-private dining rooms for up to 16 guests are also available.
Spanning the two highest levels of the hotel with a glass-bottom floor extending out from the top of the tower, Forty8 offers a sophisticated ‘above-the-clouds’ experience. The casual restaurant is styled like a vibrant gourmet marketplace with open kitchens specializing in fresh seafood, grilled meats and regional Chinese and Italian cuisines. Forty8 also encompasses a standalone cocktail and wine bar, a whisky and cigar bar, a stage for live music, plus a large outdoor garden terrace featuring three private semi-alfresco dining pavilions.
Weddings, Special Events and Meetings
Meetings, celebrations and special events are elevated to a new level of exclusivity and style at Park Hyatt Hangzhou, enhanced by signature Park Hyatt brand service and creativity. Event guests enjoy private hotel access through a marble reception hall leading directly to the main 650 sqm Ballroom on Level 2. Blessed with a seven-meter-high ceiling and sunlight, a unique bronze and ceramic blossom lighting installation across the ceiling and one feature wall adds a distinctive flourish to this elegant event space. Hosting up to 400 guests, the Ballroom is divisible in two and connects to a 265 sqm pre-function area.
On the same floor, The Residence offers a more casual setting with four meeting venues and residential-style lounge spaces, for all kinds of meetings and events of between 30-100 guests. Overlooking the city, the multifunctional penthouse Park Salon on Level 49 hosts up to 100 people with wraparound windows ideal for intimate weddings and other unforgettable events.
Wellness and Leisure
On Level 35, guests will discover the highest swimming pool in Hangzhou – a split-level space in dark granite and marble with feature wooden screens. After a relaxing swim, guests can retire to the lounge deck or Bath House offering a series of whirlpools. The adjacent Fitness Centre invites guests to get active with the latest LifeFitness cardio machines, including the Synrgy360.
For guests seeking to explore the legendary delights of Hangzhou, Park Hyatt Hangzhou has curated a collection of unique guest experiences, ranging from a private West Lake cruise to golfing on a tea plantation and witnessing the dramatic Qiantang River Tide. The hotel’s experienced team is on hand to provide guests with enriching experiences as well as the signature warm, intuitive and discreet service that they will remember long after their stay at Park Hyatt Hangzhou.
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