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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

From the valleys of Jiuzhaigou to the city comforts of Chengdu, a new kind of escape invites travelers to reconnect with nature.
<figure id="attachment_144127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144127" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-144127 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigous-blue-lake.jpg" alt="Jiuzhaigou’s blue lake shimmers in striking clarity, a serene mirror to the surrounding peaks." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigous-blue-lake.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigous-blue-lake-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigous-blue-lake-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigous-blue-lake-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144127" class="wp-caption-text">Jiuzhaigou’s turquoise-blue lakes are framed by soaring mountain peaks. (Photo: Carissa Wong)</figcaption></figure>
Travel has undergone a holistic transformation. Gone are the days when intense boot camps defined wellness getaways. Today, restful retreats and sleep-focused experiences are taking their place. According to <a href="https://stories.hilton.com/2025trends?destinasian">Hilton&#8217;s 2025 Trends Report</a>, two in five travelers choose hotels that offer them <a href="https://stories.hilton.com/2025trends/sleep-tourizzzm-2-0-the-next-sleep-cycle?destinasian">a better night&#8217;s sleep</a>.
<a href="https://stories.hilton.com/2025trends/sleep-tourizzzm-2-0-the-next-sleep-cycle?destinasian">Recovery and sleep</a> are being prioritized in precious down time, whether that’s going to a sleepy valley or staying in a hotel that has a planned nighttime routine, from calming teas and relaxing scents to wind down rituals before enjoying a deep slumber in a room set at the perfect sleeping temperature.
The Trends Report found that 70 per cent of luxury travelers look for hotels with sleep-centric amenities, such as wellness rooms, a requirement which is expected to grow in popularity. Enhanced sleep on vacation is also on the wishlist for many, with 1 in 4 travelers booking a spa or wellness treatment to enhance the quality of their shuteye while on vacation.
At 4,000 meters above sea level, Conrad Jiuzhaigou offers the ultimate peaceful vacation, a rare blend of luxury and serenity. Where better to embrace wellness tourism than in the heart of a vast, unspoiled valley?
<figure id="attachment_144110" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144110" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-144110 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-National-Park-scaled-e1746519694233.jpg" alt="Jiuzhaigou National Park in winter." width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-National-Park-scaled-e1746519694233.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-National-Park-scaled-e1746519694233-300x225.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-National-Park-scaled-e1746519694233-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-National-Park-scaled-e1746519694233-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144110" class="wp-caption-text">Jiuzhaigou National Park as spring blooms begin to emerge. (Photo: Carissa Wong)</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Wind Down with Nature</h2>
Just an hour by train from Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou welcomes travelers with long, open roads flanked by tall grass that sways in the breeze. The dramatic silhouette of the Min Mountains looms in the distance, a constant reminder of nature’s power. Depending on the time of year, fields of golden canola, orange poppies, and delicate cherry blossoms paint the landscape with color.
Nature creates instant calm for even the most stressed traveler. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can increase sleep quality and quantity, while regulating circadian rhythms, lowering stress hormones, and reducing anxiety.
There are few natural beauties more stunning than Jiuzhaigou National Park, known for its clear, bright turquoise lakes, created by a multitude of natural factors from minerals to algae. The childlike wonder of experiencing something as novel as this increases dopamine, which helps with sleep regulation.
<figure id="attachment_144114" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144114" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-144114 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-Hilton-Chengdu-Waldorf-Astoria-pool-scaled-e1746525889935.jpg" alt="The heated pool at Waldorf Astoria offers warmth and elegance amidst the chill." width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-Hilton-Chengdu-Waldorf-Astoria-pool-scaled-e1746525889935.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-Hilton-Chengdu-Waldorf-Astoria-pool-scaled-e1746525889935-300x225.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-Hilton-Chengdu-Waldorf-Astoria-pool-scaled-e1746525889935-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Jiuzhaigou-—-Hilton-Chengdu-Waldorf-Astoria-pool-scaled-e1746525889935-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144114" class="wp-caption-text">The heated pool at Waldorf Astoria Chengdu overlooking the city. (Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Chengdu)</figcaption></figure>
<h3>A Science-Backed Sleep Routine</h3>
Relaxation starts by stepping under a warm rain shower to wash off the day, then slipping into a warm lavender scented bath. Waldorf Astoria Chengdu offers a heated pool — or if you prefer privacy, an in-room tub with bath salts — to help you discover a deeper sleep.
After bathing, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe and sipping on a calming cup of tea in a dimly lit room, sleep doesn’t feel far away. Climb into silky sheets, pull up a blanket, and enjoy a book or listen to soft music.
After a post-flight run around the neighbouring Jiaozi Park (which has a direct entrance from the hotel) the heated pool provides a welcome warm down. Soak in the city view while you bathe in the tub, before climbing under the plushest duvet for the best sleep.
Besides the usual tips like no screen time an hour before bed and setting your room to a cooler temperature, sleeping on the ‘right’ pillows also plays a vital role when it comes to sleep quality.
Around 18 per cent of global travelers <a href="https://stories.hilton.com/2024trends-sleep?destinasian">travel with their own pillows</a> to ensure a good night&#8217;s sleep. Many hotels now offer pillow menus featuring different materials, textures, and scents. At Conrad Jiuzhaigou, guests can choose between foam, buckwheat, lavender, latex, or cassia seed. The turndown service includes a Conrad bear and nightly dessert such as locally sourced yak yogurt or a traditional Chinese treat of white fungus soup, as you cozy up in bed. Rest your head on your chosen pillow and drift off in a perfectly cool room.
<figure id="attachment_144125" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-144125" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-144125 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/The-grand-entrance-of-Conrad-Jiuzhaigou.jpg" alt="The grand entrance of Conrad Jiuzhaigou welcomes guests with alpine charm and refined elegance." width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-144125" class="wp-caption-text">The grand entrance of Conrad Jiuzhaigou welcomes guests against a soothing natural backdrop. (Courtesy of Conrad Jiuzhaigou)</figcaption></figure>

Jiuzhaigou’s blue lake shimmers in striking clarity, a serene mirror to the surrounding peaks.

Sleeping in the Clouds in China

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