Chinese wellness operator SOKO Fitness & Spa Group has expanded its presence in its core Northeast China market with three new facilities.

The group recently opened its second day spa in Shenyang, a beauty salon in Dalian, Liaoning Province, and a health and fitness club in Dalian, which is operated under a management agreement.

The 7,000sq ft (650q m) Legend Spa Wanda in Shenyang is located in the city's downtown area and boasts 11 treatment rooms.

Tong Liu, Chief Executive Officer of SOKO, said: "We believe this presents new opportunities for us to expand into new markets without significant initial capital costs but consistent with our core strategy of maintaining total control of all our facilities."

The openings increase the number of facilities in the SOKO portfolio to 24. Seventeen of the properties are wholly-owned while six are majority owned and one is minority owned and operated by SOKO under a management agreement.

Liu added that the company is on track to open 16 new facilities during the 12 months to 31 April 2011.