Serensia Woods is the hot new property on Hengqin. You could even say it's one of those places so pioneering, many people haven't even heard of it.
The project, headed by Amber Li, president of local business giant HN Group, was conceived to be an ecosystem cluster that includes a hotel, villas, spa and holistic wellness centre, primarily aimed at retirees and tourists interested in a healthy holiday experience.
The property is located in the new Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Zone Hengqin and cost around 2.5 billion RMB to construct. It aims to provide both Chinese and western medical treatments “in a more holistic sort of way” to local visitors and tourists alike.
My trip started with an early morning taxi ride from the Hengqin-Macau border directly to the ‘community’ where I was welcomed warmly at the reception by Donna who later guided me around and introduced me to all the activities available.
Donna promptly handed me a schedule for my entire stay as I checked-in – an option available for the guests who wish to get to know all the facilities in a more organized and structured manner.
As I was already a bit late for the bicycle tour through the Seashore Flowery Corridor & Wetland Park, I went straight to my room, the ‘Serensia Premier King Bedroom’ which did not disappoint – overlooking the spacious piece of land on which the complex will continue to expand and develop in the future.
As I entered my eighth floor room, I was pleasantly surprised by how bright and large it was, with a bath tub placed in the middle of the corridor, in front of the King-sized bed with the softest sheets I’ve had in a while! No doubt that crisp feeling typical of a luxury hotel suite.
After checking out my designated sleeping abode and dropping off my things, I headed out to an early brunch in the recommended Camellia restaurant where I picked from a choice of two menus – Western and Asian.
The feeling I got was that of a very familiar Macau gourmet vibe, where it was quite noticeable that the staff had been trained in the Macau hotel industry. Well-presented, delicious and healthy, I was also informed that the restaurant only uses Camellia oil – a personal favourite of Mrs Li who is very fond of living a holistic natural lifestyle.
In the afternoon, following along with my schedule, I went to try out a 3D Health assessment that involved a non-evasive and radiationless 15-minute full body scan, meant to identify possible health concerns. Using 3D images and directly showing the status trend of human organs, the scan is apparently designed for diagnosing early stage diseases, making an assessment of your body and health, and measuring your electrophysiological activity.
The in-house doctors are then available to you, to better explain what each result could mean, and advise you on what changes or tweaks you can make to improve your health. I found the explanation very thorough and with a clear holistic basis, and no pharmaceutical advertisements or ‘push’.
Next up was my favourite part of the trip, some poolside relaxation time with many optional spa treatments available, such as massages, a traditional Turkish bath, various sauna styles (dry, steam, mediterranean and even an ice bath) and jacuzzi.
I opted for a guided 60-minute hydrotherapy which took me through the full experience!
The highlight was no doubt, the Zero Body relaxation treatment where you basically lie down on a ‘bed’ that simulates a floating sensation on the water while having a colorful light shine down on you and calming instrumental music playing in the background. If I was to explain the feeling, I would say it was like zero gravity, a warm, weightless release of tension, both physically and mentally.
The professional therapists at Serensia Woods are mostly Thai, with extensive international work experience. A beautiful lounge area with healthy snacks and a pool view is also available for guests who wish to kick back just a little longer before heading out ‘back into the real world’.
After a good night’s sleep, I had some breakfast and checked out the gym and the various classes available with certified bilingual fitness instructors.
Overall the visit was a relaxing, activity packed, refreshing weekend mainly catering to local residents wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Macau. For those with not enough time to travel further afield, Serensia Woods offers a comprehesive, healthy and rejuvenating experience just a border-crossing away.
