Where to Stay in China for a Soulful Getaway

Urban life can wear down your body and tire your senses. Sometimes you need an opportunity to cleanse your mind, body, and soul.

At these three great getaway locations you can escape from the chaos of everyday life and put your physical and emotional relaxation first (dining on deliciously prepared organic food, hiking in the great outdoors and creating a deep connection with local life is also guaranteed.)

Six Senses Chengdu

China’s Six Senses resort is nestled under the green shadows of Mount Qingcheng, one of a handful of sacred mountains linked to the origins of Chinese Taoism. The hotel’s authentic blend of modern and oriental architecture reflects the harmony of qing cheng tian xia you, a popular folk name for the region meaning “the most peaceful place under heaven.”

Just beyond the resort lies the meditating silence of mist-woven conifer and evergreen forests, only broken by the splash of crystal streams cascading down the mountain and a flash of a tragopan’s crimson plumage along the path. Six Senses’ neighboring verdant forest also holds another deep, elusive secret: the Giant Panda.

Eat Well

You’re allowed to pick your own organically grown local vegetables from the Six Senses chef’s garden. You can even go one step further to create your own meal as you learn how to cook in traditional Sichuan mala style from local cooks.

Moment to Savor

After a relaxing day at the spa being rejuvenated by traditional Chinese ba guan orgua sha therapy styles, go on a night photography expedition in the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site, Dujiangyan town. Atop the ancient city wall, there is a fantastic vantage point over the softly lit town and river, home to one of the world’s earliest and still used irrigation systems.

You can enjoy a luxurious stay at Six Senses on our Chengdu: Panda Country tour. You will also get a chance to snuggle up to China’s adored giant panda in a natural setting, try your hand at mahjong in a local teahouse and discover why the rest of China thinks Sichuan’s famously spicy cuisine is what makes the region’s women so beautiful.

Songstam Lodges

Five Tibetan style lodges tucked in the fabled Shangri-la region of Western China boast some of the most impressive views and up-close experiences the country has to offer. Between Yunnan Province’s highest mountains, largest monasteries, and deepest valleys, the Songstam Lodges have space for the mountaineer, wine connoisseur, spiritual seeker, and all like-minded travelers who seek to uncover Shangri-la’s wildest treasures.

Eat Well

At Songtsam Tacheng, the chef serves up a delicious Tibetan style meal of Yunnan wild salmon, Benzlian’s famous pork,and a taste of wild honey alongside the veggies picked from the garden that afternoon.

Moment to Savor

As the sun rises over Songtsam Meili, guests practice yoga on a terrace facing Yunnan’s most famous and holy mountain. The mighty face of Kawagarbo, Meili mountain’s highest peak, lights up first and heralds the dawn. Enjoy a relaxing stay at the Songtsam Retreats on our Songtsam Circuit journey.

Norden Camp

Created by former nomads and owned and operated by local Tibetans, Norden Camp lies between 11 hectacres of winter pasture in an area of southern Gansu Province known as “little Tibet.” Surrounded by over 600 different types of grasses and wildflowers, the grazing yaks that dot these fields are accompanied by hares, marmots, gazelles, foxes, and migratory birds who, similar to the people who claim this as their home, also enjoy the wild freedom of these lands.

Norden Camp greatly contributes to the sustainable local tourism infrastructure of the area and is the perfect place to escape city life. The local Tibetans that run the place are paid fairly, trained well and are excited to share their slow pace of life with visitors.

Additionally, on a WildChina Tibetan Camping Retreat, you’ll be introduced to another social enterprise supporting the local economy: Norlha Textiles. This sister project of Norden Camp helps local people capitalize on an abundant resource in the area, yak wool, and turn it into high end textiles like blankets and scarfs.

Eat Well

The former Aman head chef prepares a delicious specialty of local, sliced droma root atop a plate of rice dusted by a topping of sugar and melted butter.This is served alongside traditional, steaming Tibetan momo dumplings and a variety of yak butters,yogurts, and creams.

Moment to Savor

After a long horseback ride across the Tibetan plains, guests can end their days with the pleasure of sliding under the soft khullu yak blankets piled upon your bed. Out on these high plains people don’t count sheep: they count stars. The skylight directly above you bed will allow you to watch the shooting stars that spin across the expansive sky.

Camp out under the stars at Norden Camp on our Tibetan Camping Retreat. We’ll also help you to explore the region’s vast Tibetan grasslands, take you on a kora around Xiahe’s awe-inspiring Labrang Monastery and introduce to local nomadic families who will welcome you into their camp.

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