Where is it? Just outside China's former capital Nanjing. The 21-villa Kayumanis resort is a slice of Southeast Asian heaven. A pair of smiling Balinese butlers collects you from the train station (it's a two-hour bullet train ride from Shanghai) or airport, offering you iced water and facecloths to cool your brow. What's so different about it? Kayumanis runs three private villa properties in Bali; the Nanjing operation is its first in China. Located on the outskirts of a rural village near Tang Mountain, the site offers space and seclusion. Contemporary or historic? It's modern luxury all the way. Each villa, comprising a contemporary glass and concrete structure and internal courtyard all surrounded by high walls, is totally private. They range from 300 to 700 sq metres in size and have one or two bedrooms. Each has its own pool (far right) and spa tub fed by local springs. What's the decor like? The six design themes blend modern Balinese style with Javanese and Chinese elements. Large flat-screen televisions, Bose stereos and free Wi-fi internet access will keep techies happy. Bedrooms (above right) have four-poster beds, luxurious bedlinen, wooden shutters and plush pillows; the spacious bathrooms have freestanding tubs and lots of decadent toiletries. Ideal for getting away from it all? Absolutely. A butler is on hand to cater to your every whim. Wake in the morning, place a call and breakfast will be served in your dining room. What's on the menu? You can either head to the resort dining room, which overlooks a lake, or stay put and enjoy in-villa dining. Food is Chinese-Western fusion and a romantic candlelit dinner in your accommodation is one of the highlights. What else is there to do? The Kayumanis Spa uses Chinese herbs and Asian spices (kayumanis means 'cinnamon') in a range of beauty and wellness treatments. Also available are sightseeing tours of the area (the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing city tours, the Yuhua tea plantation) and neighbouring Suzhou. What's the bottom line? Rates start at US$499 a night, including breakfast, massage, butler service, afternoon tea and transfers. Multi-night packages are available. Kayumanis, Sizhuang Village, Tangshan, Nanjing, tel: 86 25 8410 7777; www.kayumanis.com .
