Everyday we are discovering a new Asian spot at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Today we have travelled to China to find out about one of its wonders: the Mount Tai.

The Mount Tai or Taishan is located in Tai’an city in East China’s Shangdong province. Among the Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism, the main religion in China, Mount Tai is the most important one.

It´s a large rock mass covering 25,000 hectares and rising to 1,545 metres. According to Chinese tradition, each day begins with the sun rising at Taishan before it starts its westward journey across the world. Watching the sunrise from the top of the mountain is the aspiration of every Chinese citizen.

The top of the mountain is known as Jade Emperor; only five emperors have been able to reach the peak of the Mount Tai throughout history.

It has been a point of peregrination since 3,000 years ago. According to the legend, Confucius, a famous Chinese thinker, visited the Mount Tai and even drank from one of its rivers. Later, many important leading figures have visited it: emperors, erudite people and political leaders such as Mao Zedong. During their visits, they have left numerous stone inscriptions and different sculptures along the route.

You can visit many temples at Mount Tai: Buddhist temples, Taoist ones and other ones dedicated to the god of the mountain, as the Daimiao temple.

According to the Feng shui doctrine, places with slopes are favourable for the interaction between the physical world and the spiritual one. Besides, Taishan´s stones are considered to be magical and they are used chase away damage.

At the 5 star resorts Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we also have our rituals and ceremonies. If you visit us, take part in our Wishing Fountain Ceremony at the fountain in the Hotel Hall.

At the 5 star resorts Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering new Asian spots. Today we are taking you to India to find out more about its famous Konark Sun Temple.

The Sun Temple of Konark is located at Konark, in the state of Odisha in India. It was architecturally conceived as the chariot of the Hindu Sun God Surya.

King Narasimhadev built the temple in the 13th century around 1250. European sailors named it ‘The Black Pagoda’ due to its dirt after being left and unattended in the 16th century. Currently, it looks brown, its natural colour.

There is a famous legend around its construction. According to it, Lord Krishna’s son Samba was smitten with leprosy due to his father’s curse. After a penance of 12 years, Samba visited the God Surya, the healer of all skin diseases, to be cured by him. Surya cured him and in gratitude, Samba built a temple in the honour of Surya.

Besides being one of the most stunning temples in the country, the Sun Temple of Konark is one of India´s most important Brahman sanctuaries. Its prominent reliefs can be divided in three themes: the mythological reliefs, the ones symbolizing the king´s lives and ornamental motifs of animals and plant. The most outstanding ones are the 24 wheels of Surya´s carriage and the six horses, which lead it.

Two huge lions guard the entrance of the temple. They are lied over two war elephants resting over two human bodies. This scene symbolizes the power of the Sun God Surya.

If you are a 100% Asian culture lover, and you would like to visit Asia without leaving Spain, the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa is your holiday destination. Get to know our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean!

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering different Asian traditions and curiosities. Today we are travelling to China to talk to you about the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy.

Chinese calligraphy is considered both an art and a discipline. In China it occupies a distinguished position due to its ability to bring back emotions. Chinese people compare calligraphy with painting.

It has endured for over 3,000 years. The first Chinese characters were the ones inscribed on tortoise shells and animal bones, which are called Jiaguwen. According to tradition, Tsang Chieh, the legendary inventor of Chinese writing, was inspired by animals´ tracks on sand and mud to develop his discipline.

There are six different categories for Chinese characters, which are known as Liu Chu. They are: Hsiang hsing, Chih shih, Hui yi, Hsing sheng, Chia chieh y Chuan chu.

Through the basic tools known as “four treasures of study” or wen fang szu pao (writing brush, ink stick, paper and ink slab), Chinese calligraphers have been able to develop different and numerous writing styles. They can be classified in five groups: Chuan Shu, seal script; Hsing Shu, running hand; K’ai Shu, regular script; Li Shu, official script; y Ts’ao Shu, cursive hand.

Chinese calligraphy is one of the most representative disciplines in the field of traditional Chinese art. Chinese people of different social classes have collected calligraphy works for years. They consider that by practicing Chinese calligraphy people are able to refine their personalities and change their point of view.

At the 5 star resorts Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we adore Asia and its culture. If you would like to feel Asian tradition at first sight, come see us at our Asian spot in the Mediterranean.

Every corner in our luxury resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa takes us to a different place in Asia. Today we are travelling to Iran discover you one of its most emblematic buildings: the Golestan Palace.

The Golestan Palace is located in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The oldest of the historic monuments in the city, the palace complex is made up of several buildings set around a beautiful garden.

The wonderful Golestan Palace is an example of the successful integration of Persian architecture and crafts with Western influences.

Tehran´s historic Citadel was built during the reign of Tahmasp I in the 16^th century. Once Aga Mohammad Khan of Qajar dynasty chose Tehran as his capital, the Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal Qajar family.

During the Pahlavi Era, from 1925 to 1979, the palace was used for different purposes, mainly for formal royal receptions. In between 1925 and 1945, many buildings of the palace were destroyed on the orders of Reza Shah. He stated the palace was blocking the growth of a modern city.

After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Golestan Palace became a historic and architectonic museum. Some of the most important museums you can find at the palace are the Marble Throne Musem, the Negar Khan one and the Sham-al museum.

If you are an Asian culture lover, we suggest you to visit our 5 star resorts Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, where you will be able to enjoy the Asian luxury in the Mediterranean.

At the luxury hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering new surprises from the Asian continent. Today we want to tell you about fashion, that´s why we are taking you to Indonesia to find out more about the batik technique.

Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to cloth. It comes from Java Island. The word batik is derived from the word ambatik, which means ‘a cloth with little dots’.

During the process, selected areas of the cloth are covered with hot wax keeping them blocked out. The parts covered in wax resist the dye and keep their original colours. In order to draw the designs, people who make batik use a spouted tool called canting. After the final dyeing the wax is removed and the cloth is ready.

The most used fabric for batik clothing is cotton and silk. The dye is produced from Indonesian plants, spices and wood. For the wax, manufacturers either use synthetic wax or bee wax.

At first, batik motifs were sacred and showed the status of the person who wore it.

Batik is an essential part of Indonesian life and culture. There are different ways of wearing and making it, influenced by local beliefs. Many regions in Indonesia have their own traditional motifs and colours. Java´s north coast typical batik is shiny and with animal and flower motifs; and Java Central´s one is with geometric motifs. There are registered over three thousand different batik designs.

Batik fabric is used for all types of clothes, from dresses to tablecloths. Designers from all over the world use this cloth and design due to its colour, exoticism, elegance and comfort. You can also crate your own batik designs, it´s very easy.

At the 5 star resorts in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa you will be able to contemplate wonderful Asian designs. Visit us and travel around Asia without leaving Spain!

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we worship wellbeing and relaxation. That´s why we are taking you to China to find out more about Traditional Chinese Medicine, in particular about two of its modalities: acupuncture and moxibustion.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are two therapeutic methods from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their effectiveness has made them expand all over the world.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the human body is a small universe with a set of complete interconnected systems. Through acupuncture and moxibustion, these systems can stimulate and maintain the healthy function of the human body and heal diseases.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles at strategic points of those systems of the body, and moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials of Chinese mugwort called moxa are burnt on the surface of the skin.

Acupuncture experts check their patients´ pulse to derive a diagnosis. Pulse diagnosis is one of the most important tools used in Chinese acupuncture. According to this method, each organ has a specific pulsation.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are considered to date back to ancient Chinese dynasties, which started using stone and bronze needles for healing and later, thin metal ones. These techniques were taught orally and through demonstrations and they were transmitted from teachers to disciples and between families.

If you visit us, Asia Garden´s Thai Spa offers a complete variety of treatments to suit every taste, which let naturally release the body and optimise the harmony of body and mind. Enjoy unforgettable sensations at our Asian relax paradise!

Every corner in our luxury resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa takes you to a place in Asia. Today we are travelling to Thailand to find out about one of the wonders of the country: The Erawan Falls.

Erawan Falls are one of the main tourist attractions in Kanchanaburi, located 65 kilometres away from the city. They are the most famous in the country and for many people; they are also the most beautiful ones. They are located at Erawan National Park.

Erawan Falls have seven levels dropping down and each of them is magic. We suggest you to visit all of them. You can walk to each level easily through paths and wonderful sceneries. The seventh waterfall is the one that gives name to the park due to its similarity with the three heads of the sacred elephant Erawan.

Natural pools are all around the different levels. People are allowed to swim in all of them and tourist don´t hesitate to enjoy their crystalline water and their fish. If you like ictiotherapy, you will be able to relax with a free therapy; fish will love it.

Its lush vegetation and its wonderful waterfalls make Erawan a perfect destination for nature lovers.

If you visit the 5 star hotels Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, you will be able to enjoy a relaxing bath under the waterfalls of the Faces of Angkor pool, which is heated to 30º degrees all year.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we keep discovering you new Asian traditions and rites. Today we are taking you to Japan to celebrate Children’s Day: Kodomo no hi.

Kodomo no hi is a Japanese national holiday, which takes place annually on May 5. Japanese families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of their children in the last day of the Golden Week.

Originally it was a celebration dedicated exclusively to boys, girls celebrated Hinamatsuri or Doll Festival on March 3. However, nowadays this holiday includes both sexes.

During the previous week, Japanese families fly carp-shaped streamers, which are called koinobori, outside the house. They usually raise one carp for the father, one for the mother and another one for each child. They believe that the bigger they are, the better the children will grow. For Japanese culture, carps symbolize strength and determination, due to the obstacles they overtake to swim upstream. According to Chinese tradition, carps swim upstream to become dragons.

Another important ornament on Kodomo no hi is the gogatsu ningyo. Families display these doll warriors, which reproduce historic heroes. They also show the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto.

Japanese families enjoy special desserts on Kodomo no hi. These are kashiwa, mochi rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves, and chimaki, mochi wrapped in a bamboo leaf. Oak symbolizes prosperity.

At the 5 star resorts Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we also have our own traditions. If you visit us, don´t miss out our Wishing Fountain Ceremony, which takes place every Saturday at the fountain in the Hotel Hall.