A luxurious throwback to Hogwarts: The Castle Hotel, Dalian now open for business

Fabled surroundings, five star rating and a spot on our ‘The most anticipated luxury hotel opening across Asia for 2014’ list, there’s a lot that makes The Castle Hotel, Dalian, worth a visit. That’s correct, you can now pay the lovely mythic icon a visit as its 292 tastefully decorated guest rooms and suites are now taking in guests.

“We are thrilled to debut The Castle Hotel in Dalian, an enchanting city whose diverse cultural heritage blends seamlessly with its modern point of view,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis, W Hotels and Resorts and of course, The Luxury Collection. And while his sentiments remain best understood only by a man in his position, we can’t help but find similarities between his view of the city and the Hotel, a palatial Bavarian-style castle set amid lush foliage on Lotus Mountain in Dalian, Northeast China and overlooking the bustling Xinghai Square.

One of the few hotels in the world set inside a castle, The Castle Hotel that also overlooks Xinghai Bay and the Yellow Sea boasts an eclectic blend of European, Russian and Japanese architecture. So while the statues of Poseidon, Aphrodite, Piper and the Four Seasons adorn the gardens, the former Castle’s already grand interiors are further enhanced by a grand double staircase, lushly detailed artworks and beveled ceilings. Starting with the hand-carved mahogany desk with mother of pearl trim that welcomes guests in the Grand Lobby, each space flows into the next, including 2 restaurants and 2 lounges.

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If The Lounge offering the classic high tea is upholstered in rich velvets and silks and decked up with white neoclassical columns and coffered antique gold ceilings, Aristocrat Lounge is a smaller, more contemporary cousin with comfortable café style seating, wooden parquet flooring and colorful paintings. For world cuisine, Collections, the all-day dining venue is perfect, located in what would traditionally be the gathering hall and kitchen for the castle. Zhenbao, the Chinese restaurant with a whopping 15 private dining rooms that were formerly the library, sitting rooms and parlors, calls for more of an elegant dining experience

For connoisseurs, the Royal Cellar, located on the 5th floor, is a comfortable and contemporary pub offering beer brewed by one of the oldest breweries in the world (dating back to 1308) Braurerei Drei Kronen. Of course, fantastic views of the Yellow Sea from a large refurbished terrace are an added bonus. And when you aren’t busy enjoying the views from up there, those from each of its 29 unique guest suites can offer tough competition. Even the majority of the 263 guestrooms have been designed to offer stunning views of the coast or Dalian.

Even the indoor heated swimming pool offers stunning views of the ocean. This brings us to the obvious- the hotel is the ideal romantic destination.

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With Dalian’s ‘City of Romance’ status and given that The Castle Hotel is the starting point for the romantic Binhai Road, a popular and romantic 32-kilometer coastal route that borders along China’s northern coast, we can only think of one phrase- An affair to remember. If your affair involves a celebration, The Chengbao Grand Ballroom located on the 2nd level of The Castle, provides just the right mix of modern luxury and French grandeur dotted with custom carpets and elegant chandeliers. In addition, Dalian is also the sixth city in Mainland China and one of the first northeastern cities to introduce a 72-hour visa-free stay.

castle-hotel-dalian-the-esplanade-3 So we say you make the most of yours with The Castle Hotel’s The Luxury Collection Concierge service that helps you see the very best of the destination. Signature experiences include a tour of Fisherman’s Wharf and the Coastal Road; a memorable visit to historic Lvshun, site of the main battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War; as well as a day outing to Jinshi Bay to explore Golden Pebble Beach and the Jinshi Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by famed golf course designer Peter Thomson. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center with multi-functional yoga room, and luxurious Kaiser Spa as part of the opulent experience.

Address:
The Castle Hotel – Dalian
No. 600 Binhai West Road,
Shahekou District,
Dalian,Liaoning-116023, China
Tel : (86)(411) 8656 0000