Moganshan's new naked

Opened this October, Moganshan's naked Stables Private Reserve could set a new standard in sustainable luxury in China. Blessing Waung takes an exclusive first look at the resort

Grant Horsfield was lost biking in Moganshan when he happened upon an abandoned, derelict dwelling. He fell in love with it, made an offer, and turned it into Purple Ridge Lodge, the original bungalow in his hugely popular naked Retreats collection. This row of restored houses, which laze low on a bamboo-covered hillside, will soon be joined by a new Moganshan naked that aims even higher. naked Stables Private Reserve is a 60-acre site where luxury villas line a ridge overlooking a beautiful fir tree forest.

Bumping up the long stone driveway from the main road, we’re among the first to see the completed cabins. Passing open pastures that will house Mongolian horses by spring, we arrive at the stone-floored clubhouse, where private butlers will be ready with tablet computers to take down your preferred itinerary. From the clubhouse, you’ll be sped away in solar-powered golf carts to your private cabin. There are two types of accommodation at the new complex: as well as the treetop villas, which afford views over the valley’s terraced bamboo and tea plantations, there are forty earthen huts (or rondavels as they’re known in Horsfield’s native South Africa) which snake their way across the hillside.

Between the thatched roof and rammed-earth walls of the huts, with trees all around, it’s striking how far from Shanghai you can get in just a couple of hours. Even if after such a short journey you feel the need to freshen up, you can do so in a secluded outdoor shower set on a balcony jutting out into the forest.

naked Stables is clearly angling for a slice of China’s growing luxury eco-tourism market, with price tags to match. The rondavels will start from 2,600RMB/night, and the treetop villa rooms from 2,900RMB/night.

As well as its prices, naked is serious about the eco part of its new business. Designed by Horsfield’s wife, architect Delphine Yip, the buildings were created using a mix of cutting edge technologies and traditional local construction methods that they hope will make Private Reserve the first resort in Asia to attain a platinum Leader in Energy and Environmental Design rating. You’re encouraged to do your bit too, with guilt-inducing energy meters fitted in each room for you to keep an eye on your power consumption.

While there is a very serious sustainability agenda at naked, there is plenty of fun to be had too. The plan is to offer private cooking classes specialising in local dishes in a kitchen attached to the clubhouse. There will also be a pottery studio utilising local clay where you can get your hands dirty, and other activities ranging from white tea harvesting to group hiking and mountain biking.

For a more serene experience, two infinity pools -- complete with a poolside bar serving Western food -- have been designed to give swimmers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hilltop also has a hidden heated plunge pool, open only by reservation, and the naked Leaf Spa and Wellness Centre, which will offer a range of massages and relaxation treatments in its 16 rooms -- nine of which are located deep in the surrounding woods.

When Horsfield first stumbled across Moganshan, the area was withering -- the young people had all moved to Shanghai for work and many of the houses were empty or inhabited by widows. Many of these women now work for him at the naked Home Village, and soon they’ll no doubt be moving about Stables Private Reserve, the next step in the revival of Moganshan. Yes, it’s an exclusive, commercial operation, but there are worse things that could happen to the area than a classy, conscientious operation like this.

naked Stables Private Reserve soft opens on October 1. Room rates start from 2,600RMB/night; Treetop Villa rooms start from 2,900RMB/night.

naked can arrange private cars for the hour-long journey to and from Hangzhou airport or train station, starting at 350RMB/six people plus 15 per cent service charge one-way. For pickup from Shanghai, prices start at 2,500RMB. If you’re driving yourself, detailed driving directions can be obtained by emailing info@nakedretreats.cn.

See www.nakedretreats.cn for more details.