At the spa center, Watsu, a type of water therapy from California, is combined with conventional treatments to rejuvenate clients. The first of its kind in Asia, Watsu is a form of aquatic bodywork done by a certified therapist who tries to imitate the movements of an embryo by gently cradling, stretching and massaging the guest who is chest-deep in water heated to 35 degrees Celsius.
Unlike conventional hotels, the resort does not have room rates. Instead, the retreat creates personalized programs based on the health requirements of their guests, with the minimum cost of spending a night being around 9,000 yuan for one person. Standard packages include Chinese Taoist Cleanse, Indian Ayurvedic Cleanse, and Visceral Fat Management.
Tsao, the fourth generation owner of Singapore-headquartered shipping company IMC Pan Asia Alliance, recalled that only ancient Chinese books managed to inspire him when he first tried to learn about business management.
In 1995, Tsao took full control of the family business and transformed the business from a traditional shipping company to a global conglomerate that today boasts diverse business interests. One of these businesses is Octave, the parent company of the resort.
That same year, he founded the East West Cultural Development Center which aims to foster harmony in a rapidly globalized world. It was also in the 1990s that Tsao developed an interest in Taoism and sought spiritual support from the ideology which is believed to be the root of qigong, fengshui and martial arts.
In 2012, he donated 15 million yuan to fund a research center with Tsinghua University in Beijing to focus on sustainability research.
"Traditional Chinese culture is fascinating. All it needs is a modern expression that fits the 21st century," he said.
The flagship business of Octave is a wellness and fitness center that was opened in Shanghai in 2015. The group also owns the Thought for Food restaurant that is focused on wholesome-eating. A similar but smaller retreat by the group is currently under construction in China's Sichuan province. It is expected to open in 2018.
Tsao added that the two retreats, if run successfully, could eventually be introduced globally as a promoter of traditional Chinese culture.
