The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort

Located on a pristine beach with a dramatic mountain backdrop, the St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort is the premier resort on China’s exclusive Hainan Island.

The five-star, 401-key luxury resort includes 29 residential villas, 27 hotel villas, two large swimming pools, a state-of-the-art spa, a three-meal restaurant, bars, an ocean-side restaurant and a private marina.

The design concept evolved from the property’s location between the South China Sea and rugged topography of Hainan Island. The team developed the site plan and massing based on the story of a sea dragon and mountain dragon meeting as one on the beach.

This “twin dragon” concept informed the resort’s distinctive roof forms, which rise from the beachfront to create softly vaulted structures linking the waves and mountains. Large overhangs and grand arched public spaces enable the open-truss structure to bring the dragon forms into the main buildings.

The plan divides the property into two equal parts, with the beach resort and hotel facilities facing Yalong Bay to the south and separate villas running along an inlet to the north. By creating a linear arrangement along the beach, with a wide central court, the design gives nearly every guestroom a dramatic view.