Alila to open in Wuzhen, China’s 1,300-year old water town

Alila Hotels has announced the opening of its third property in Wuzhen, China scheduled to open in November.

Alila Wuzhen, the new property set to open near the famous Wuzhen Water Town, is situated an hour’s drive from Hangzhou and 1.5 hours from Shanghai. The hotel aims to be a modern interpretation of the water town’s design lineage, inspired by Wuzhen’s maze of quiet canals and ancient alleyways. The property will offer 125 suites, villas and pool villas — all wrapped around private courtyards and intertwining waterways.

Inspired by its heritage, Alila Wuzhen’s design is an adaptation of the heritage buildings, south of the Yangtze River. It was designed by one of the prominent architectural firms in China, GOA, which created a reimagination of traditional space reconstruction — including streets, lanes, courtyards and public areas — giving it new functionalities and purpose.

Highlights of the hotel include The Maze at Alila Wuzhen, which comprises of well-proportioned spaces with twists and turns, reminiscent of classic villages, with its own modern waterways that correspond to the water town of Wuzhen, as well as the water system of Hangjia Lake Plain.

Additionally, the property houses an indoor pool inspired by the Arabian Alhambra’s starry bathroom where sunlight etches patterns onto its roof. The main public spaces are gathered around a central water courtyard with water features dissecting indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the resort, while also maintaining the continuity of the buildings, just like traditional villages.

For gastronomic cravings, Alila Wuzhen has a variety of restaurants and bars, including Shui Shi Kou, featuring a mix of Western and Asian cuisine; the Si Shui & Private Dining Room featuring Cantonese and local Wuzhen cuisine; and the Sai Bai, a Day & Night Bar which offers afternoon tea and an extensive choice of local “San Bai Wine” and Whisky.

Other facilities at Alila Wuzhen include Spa Alila, a state-of-the-art gym with private yoga studio, as well as curated meeting and event space catering for up to 500 guests.