Dalian's iconic castle is now a stunning Starwood Hotel, Zhu Chengpei and Zhang Xiaomin report.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts debuted The Castle Hotel in Dalian as part of its luxury collection on Sept 19, setting a new benchmark in Northeast China.

The palatial Bavarian-style castle set amid lush foliage on Lotus Mountain overlooks Asia's largest city center square - Xinghai Square - and the Yellow Sea.

It offers 292 luxurious guestrooms and suites as well as 67 residences in the popular coastal tourist city in Liaoning province, complete with stunning sea views with meticulous interior designs.

The iconic castle was previously a museum for seashells. It took five years and more than 2 billion yuan ($326 million) to renovate it into a luxury hotel. It remains a city landmark.

Re-imagined by world-leading designers, The Castle Hotel has an opulent, contemporary design where each detail - from the wall decorations and furniture to the ornaments and art collections - tells a story.

Its exterior remains true to the original European-inspired architecture with hand-selected stones gracing the facade.

"It has been our pleasure and honor to transform this enduring icon into a unique and enchanting luxury hotel - unlike any other in China," said Eddie Tang, general manager of The Castle Hotel. "We look forward to providing global visitors with authentic travel experiences and exceptional service as they visit the multifaceted city of Dalian."

Guests can enjoy the hotel's spacious indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and luxurious Kaiser Spa.

Cuisine options at the three restaurants are creative and authentic. Zhen Bao offers gourmet Cantonese fare featuring fresh "sea-to-table" seafood from Dalian and "farm-to-table" meats and produce.

Collections is an all-day restaurant with an international menu, while the Royal Cellar features German beer brewed on site and northern European specialties.

With its prime location, The Castle Hotel is an outstanding special events venue offering a spacious grand ballroom, seven function rooms and a 4,000 square meter rooftop garden that provides an elegant space for memorable occasions.

The hotel is owned by Dalian Yifang Group and managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

"We have opened six of our Luxury Collection Hotels in China in less than five years and will open five new ones within next two years," said Fay Linn Yeoh, brand management director of St. Regis and the Luxury Collection.

"The rapid growth is based on the demand of developers and the thriving domestic travel by increasing numbers of billionaires and millionaires who want to try something different and new that can give them authentic experiences," she said.

Dalian-based Yifang Group is one of the most valuable enterprises in China, doing business in many domestic cities in real estate, capital investment, city operations, and cultural tourism and many other fields.

"I've been to a lot of countries and stayed in various hotels," said Sun Xishuang, president of Yifang Group. "The experience with Luxury Collection Hotels is really good, so when the local government in Dalian proposed to remold the original castle, we chose to make it a Luxury Collection Hotel.

"Enriching the castle with something that can be handed down, we are building it into not merely a luxury hotel but also a classic art museum that can stay in the city forever," Sun said.

Contact the writers at zhuchengpei@chinadaily.com.cn and zhangxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn

Owned by the Dalian Yifang Group and managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, The Castle Hotel marks The Luxury Collection's first hotel in Liaoning province, offering the brand's signature concierge service and indigenous cultural experiences in a majestic urban retreat. Photos Provided to China Daily

(China Daily USA 10/01/2014 page11)