A lot of strange resorts that would be impossible in Japan… [China] A little “strange luxury hotel” to stay in

A myriad of outlandish lodging facilities, including those filled with more than 100 stuffed pandas, built on the slopes of cliffs, and where you can meet polar bears….

These unique hotels operate throughout China, and many people would like to visit them at least once. Chinese journalist Zhou Laiyu explains, “Recently, hotels that have been the talk of the town, where influencers have stayed, tend to be popular.

These hotels often become the talk of the town on social networking sites before they are picked up by the media, making them a kind of “hideaway. A fancy hotel decorated with pandas is one such example.

The “Cliffside Hotel” in Mangxian Valley is a beautiful and unexplored area designated as a National 4A Scenic Area (4 out of 5 tourist attractions in China), yet it costs less than 10,000 yen per night. In addition to the satisfaction of staying in a hotel with a spectacular view at a reasonable price, you can also feel a sense of superiority that you can transmit on your social networking service. A hotel that combines both cost performance and buzz is exactly what these young people are hoping for.

Despite the high-profile nature of the hotel, some problems have been brought to light. The “world’s first hotel where you can see polar bears” is a luxury hotel that offers 24-hour viewing of polar bears and costs more than 30,000 yen per night. ……

When the hotel opened in ’21, it was flooded with reservations due to its newsworthiness, but animal rights groups have criticized the hotel for keeping polar bears, an endangered species, in poor conditions. As animal protection activities are becoming more active worldwide, there is a strong possibility that hotels that make a spectacle of animals will lose customers in the future. Rather, hotels like those in the Gobi Desert that allow guests to experience an extraordinary experience by going into nature themselves are more in line with the needs of the times. The Gobi Desert is well-received by word of mouth, with guests commenting on the scenery, “It’s like being on Mars! and it’s fun, just like being on Mars! In fact, there is a phenomenon in China, such as a sharp increase in the number of campervans sold since last year,” he said.

It seems that the public is looking for “hidden trend hotels” that match the values of the times rather than strange hotels.

From the December 22, 2023 issue of “FRIDAY