Banyan Tree Expands in China With New Resort at UNESCO-Listed Mount Emei
Set in one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, the new resort features 130 rooms and villas.
Banyan Tree Mount Emei. Photo: Banyan Tree
The Banyan Group has opened Banyan Tree Mount Emei, a 130-room resort in China’s Sichuan Province that also serves as a gateway to the Mount Emei Scenic Area, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Set in the foothills of Mount Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, the new resort features 130 rooms and villas across six categories, each equipped with a private outdoor hot spring pool.
Accommodations range from Mountain View Rooms to Garden Villas and one- and two-bedroom Lakeside Villas with private courtyards. The resort’s largest accommodation, the 3,445-square-foot Presidential Villa, includes a similarly sized private garden and a terrace overlooking the forest.
The property takes inspiration from the traditional courtyard homes of western Sichuan and was designed around the site’s existing landscape. Seven century-old camphor trees were preserved during construction, along with existing trees measuring more than 10 centimeters in trunk diameter. Pathways were also built around the property’s bamboo forest and natural terrain.
“Mount Emei holds a distinctive place in China’s cultural and natural heritage,” Philip Ding, senior vice president and head of hotel operations for Northeast Asia and business development for China at Banyan Group, said. “As one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, it brings together centuries of tradition and exceptional ecological value.”
Wellness is a major focus of the resort. Banyan Tree Spa has five private treatment rooms designed for couples, along with a Rainforest-inspired hydrothermal experience and spa cafe. The property also features a temperature-controlled swimming pool overlooking the bamboo groves and lake, a yoga studio and a fitness center. Additional experiences include morning yoga, walks through the bamboo forest and floating therapy.
Guests can also take part in cultural activities tied to the region, including Emei martial arts, traditional tie-dyeing and bamboo weaving. Banyan Tree Gallery showcases works from local artisans, while the Terra Kids Club offers nature, art and exploration-focused programming for children.
Dining options include Jiayao Chinese Restaurant, which focuses on Sichuan specialties and locally sourced ingredients alongside Cantonese dishes, and Mingyue All-Day Dining, serving Chinese and international cuisine. The Lobby Lounge offers afternoon tea and evening drinks. Banyan Tree’s Destination Dining program is also available at the resort, with private dining experiences around the property. Options include afternoon tea aboard a traditional black-canopy boat, dinner in the Mid-Lake Pavilion or bamboo forest, and private tea experiences in the Study Room.
A separate Study Room designed by Chinese architect Zhuang Ziyu follows the contours of the mountainside and includes six multifunctional rooms that can be used for private dining, cultural gatherings, tea rituals and calligraphy.
Banyan Tree Mount Emei is a two-minute drive from the entrance to the Mount Emei Scenic Area and five minutes from Emeishan High-Speed Railway Station. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is approximately two hours away by car, while Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is about two hours and 15 minutes away.
