Banyan Group has opened the Banyan Tree Mount Emei, in China’s Sichuan province, at the foot of Mount Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. The property serves as a gateway to the Mount Emei Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognised for its cultural richness and biodiversity. This opening strengthens the group’s flagship brand presence in China, following that of Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay a few months earlier.
Philip Ding, Senior Vice President, Head of Hotel Operations, Northeast Asia and Business Development at Banyan Group, noted that Mount Emei holds a singular place in China’s cultural and natural heritage, bringing together centuries of tradition with exceptional ecological value. The property invites guests to explore this destination at an unhurried pace, beyond simple sightseeing.
Inspired by the traditional courtyard homes of western Sichuan, the property follows the natural contours of a wooded valley. Seven centuries-old camphor trees, along with every tree with a trunk diameter of more than 10 centimetres, were preserved in their original location during construction. Pathways through the bamboo forest follow the natural terrain, allowing the bamboo to grow undisturbed around them. The entrance, framed by mature camphor trees, leads to an open-air courtyard inspired by the Chinese architectural principle of “si shui gui tang,” where sloped roofs channel rainwater into a central courtyard.
The property features 130 rooms and villas across six categories, each with a private outdoor hot spring pool. The Mountain View Rooms frame the landscape as the seasons change, the Garden Villas open onto private gardens, and the one- or two-bedroom Lakeside Villas offer landscaped courtyards by the water. The 320-square-metre Presidential Villa is complemented by a private garden of similar size and a terrace overlooking the forest and waterway.
The multi-award-winning Banyan Tree Spa draws on Asian healing traditions and local inspiration, with five private couples’ treatment rooms and a rainforest-inspired hydrothermal experience. Guests can also explore the bamboo forest trail, practise yoga, or try their hand at Emei martial arts, traditional dyeing or bamboo weaving, while the Terra Kids Club caters to younger guests.
On the dining side, the Jiayao Chinese Restaurant showcases local produce and regional specialities alongside Cantonese classics, while Mingyue All-Day Dining combines Chinese and international flavours with views of the lake and mountain. The Destination Dining offering provides more intimate experiences, from a lakeside pavilion to the bamboo forest and a tea salon. More than 1,200 square metres of event space, including the 500-square-metre pillarless Xiangzhang Ballroom, complete the property.
The Banyan Tree Mount Emei is located five minutes from Emeishan High-Speed Railway Station and around two minutes from the entrance to the Mount Emei Scenic Area, roughly a two-hour drive from Chengdu’s international airports.
===AT_A_GLANCE===
At a Glance
Banyan Tree Mount Emei — Sichuan, China
Location: foothills of Mount Emei, gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mount Emei Scenic Area
Property size: 130 rooms and villas across 6 categories, each with a private outdoor hot spring pool
Dining: 3 main venues (Jiayao Chinese Restaurant, Mingyue All-Day Dining, Lobby Lounge) plus signature Destination Dining experiences
Wellness: Banyan Tree Spa with 5 couples’ treatment rooms and a Rainforest-inspired hydrothermal circuit
Event space: 1,200+ sqm, including the 500 sqm pillarless Xiangzhang Ballroom
Access: 5 minutes from Emeishan High-Speed Railway Station; ~2 hours from Chengdu’s two international airports
Context: reinforces Banyan Tree’s flagship brand presence in China, following the recent opening of Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay
