The Urban Resort Concept-operated (URC) PuShang Hotel and Spa in Xiamen, China, is set to open in Q4 of 2016 with a Water Palace Spa, based on the importance of bathing in Chinese culture.

The 175-bedroom hotel’s 3,200sq m (34,445sq ft) URSPA will include 12 treatment chambers – two of which are double treatment suites. The chambers, which occupy 2,717sq m (29,246sq ft) of the spa, are lantern-like cubes dispersed throughout the whole of the water palace. Spa consultancy A.W. Lake is responsible for the spa concept, design consultancy – in collaboration with hospitality architecture firm Layan Design – and pre-opening and operational services.

The extensive wet zone facilities will include separate baths with the following ingredients: salt, ice, hot stones, herbal, detox tea and scented dew. There will be a hydro circuit including a swan neck jet, a hydro-massage chair and a separate hydro-jet circuit.

Korean-style scrub tables will also feature in the spa, as well as a heated stone relaxation platform and an Indian rope massage chamber.

There will also be a retail area, a salon with a hair station, a mani-pedi section and a gym with both cardio stations and a yoga/Pilates studio. The male and female locker rooms will be complete with a sauna and steamroom.

Adria Lake – founder and owner of spa consultancy A.W. Lake – told Spa Opportunities that the Water Palace Spa is a 21st century interpretation of the ancient Imperial Chinese baths. “Although the benefits of hydrotherapy are well understood, hydropools are usually tucked away in lockers as more of an afterthought than as a main feature of most spas,” said Lake.

“At the Pushang Water Palace, baths with different therapeutic effects, temperatures and features will be the main offering of the spa,” Lake commented. “Treatment rooms will also be located inside the Water Palace, to ensure full integration and a seamless experience for guests.

“This design concept has been used to capture a larger portion of in-house hotel guests. With spa capture rates hovering in low single digits, we need to re-think the way we design our spas to attract more than just the die-hard spa addicts,” Lake added. “The hydro-based spa has a proven track-record of success but what it needs is a fresh approach and innovative redesign – relevant to the lifestyle and high expectations of today’s consumers.”

A.W. Lake recently revealed a hydro-thermal Kids Spa concept and plans for a natural hot spring spa in the IHG-operated Changbai Mountain International Resort in the Chinese Jilin Province – set to open in 2015.