Located in Kunshan next to the scenic Yancheng Lake, the hotel has 242 rooms and more than 2,100 sqm of meeting space. In addition, there is the Fairmont-managed Willow Spa, swimming pool, gym, the all-day dining restaurant Essence, and Yi Feng Court, a Chinese restaurant serving popular dishes from around the region as well as Yancheng Lake’s renowned hairy crab. The restaurant has a spacious outdoor terrace and 10 private dining rooms.
Rural activities
The property is located beside a 15-hectare organic farm, so there are plenty of teambuilding activities available for business groups wanting a different resort experience. Delegates can take part in a tea–picking experience where they gather and roast their own bi luo chun green tea. The farm also organises scarecrow-making competitions, with the best ones used in various places across the site. Another popular activity is harvesting lotus root, a common ingredient in Chinese cuisine, which participants can then take home with them. The farm has a man-made lake kept well stocked with fish. Overlooking it is the Waterhouse – a wood-panelled building with four small meeting rooms and a terrace.
Farming fun
Also within the grounds is a traditional Chinese farmhouse. The couple living there manage the farm and can organise cooking classes in the kitchen for groups of 12, using ingredients sourced on-site to create home-cooked dishes such as dumplings.
With advance booking, the couple can also cook up a rustic Chinese meal for groups of up to eight to enjoy in the intimate dining room. The hotel can also hold Top Chef-themed cooking classes for MICE groups in the function rooms and the farm will unveil an outdoor show kitchen in December 2011. Prior to the cooking class, participants can pick their own ingredients from the farm’s extensive vegetable garden.