_ I finally had a chance to go and try out the new restaurant by Chef David Laris, Le Sheng. Opened in November 2011, and located at the end of the fashionable Anfu Lu in Shanghai’s French Concession, Le Sheng is the latest eatery in a series of wonderful culinary creations presented by the celebrated Australian chef and restaurateur David Laris (from ‘fine dining restaurant Laris’ fame, which was located at Three on the Bund). The restaurant focuses on providing a truly modern Shanghainese cuisine within an intimate ambiance to present the finest of an upscale dining experience. The name ‘Le Sheng’ evokes a feeling of harmony, meaning literally, the exact moment when all musical instruments begin to play. The name was selected as it reflects the idea that all of the various elements of this concept (culture, art, and food) have come together in an unexpected, yet harmonious way. The boutique restaurant is able to accommodate 44 dinars on the ground floor (including 28 dinars in the main dining area), and 8 dinars in the VIP room on the 2nd floor. The latter most certainly looks like and feels like a nostalgic 1930s Shanghai club.
As one enters the restaurant, there is a feel of the traditional Shanghai that blends in nicely with the modern Shanghainese ambiance- both are projected well. Lovely red and black colours that portray the 1930s Shanghai are listed along with the slight nostalgic shades of mahogany. The napkins on the tables are wrapped in various Chinese ornaments, such as jade stone, and even Chinese mah-jong pieces! Fabulous decorations on the restaurant’s walls created by designer Andy Hall brings all the elements of a traditional Chinese culture (a variety of colourful Chinese tea leaves have been immersed in resin to create a unique lighted design effect; and the wall of the private dining room pasted with ancient Mah-jong pieces), neatly with the modernity of today’s Shanghai. Everyone that has a knowledge of China knows by now that the hey days of Shanghai were the 1920s, and the 1930s when the city was known as ‘the Paris of the east’. The decorative ambiance of Le Sheng does portray that in many aspects. Ancient Chinese poems, calligraphy, and wooden screens inspire the concept that Chef David Laris has bought along in a thoroughly modern and reinterpreted way. Quite essentially, David Laris brings along a fine eatery that provides a truly world class menu using the finest ingredients and finest cooking methods and conditions (neat and clean all around which is very important)- all of this accompanied with one of the most respected chef’s in this fast paced Chinese city. The key to the magic of Le Sheng is, as one would expect, the food. Anhui native, Chef Fang Chao, has provided a special concept where he truly understands what is best for both his Chinese and Western dinars. Preparing 150 odd dishes is no easy fete for any chef in any restaurant around the world. This concept of understanding, planning and providing the finest of dishes using the finest ingredients in superb conditions (Le Sheng chefs use state-of-the-art cooking machines), is a key secret to his success. Not many Chinese chefs have this rare gift of having an eye for the dinars tongue when they are preparing and cooking dishes- and it’s all hats off to Chef Fang Chao. No wonder why he has amazed dinars all over Shanghai for over 11 years. To try all the 150 odd dishes at Le Sheng may take you some while, but here are some of the signature dishes to tuck into: ‘Braised pork in soy sauce with quail eggs’, ‘Le Sheng pickled radishes’ (cold but delicious), ‘old-fashioned Shanghainese smoked fish’, ‘Le Sheng restaurant cod fish’ and, ‘traditional shredded chicken, ham, and bamboo served in broth’. Most of the dishes are a celebration of how Shanghai cuisine should be eaten. For example dishes such as the ‘traditional shredded chicken, ham, and bamboo served in broth’ are action packed with local culture, smell, and taste all immersed in one. The Bamboo shoots are a special touch to the rather commonplace meat dishes that are presented in most eateries in Shanghai. Le Sheng is all about sophistication and being different. If you prefer to try the Chef’s recommendation for drinks, then wash it all down with an ‘apple oolong tea’, created by barman Ryan Noreiks. The presentation of each dish is a piece of art, don’t be fooled into thinking that every dish is a just a piece of food. The vibrant colours and flavours will dance on your tongue long after you have left the restaurant. This is very much true when it comes to a simple yet touching dish like the Le Sheng Okra (Lady Finger). It’s just perfect and goes well with any main dish as a side appetiser. Le Sheng is the perfect place to take your loved one for a romantic dinner or lunch. It provides plenty of glamour, intimacy, and elegance all attached in one. _There are not that many places in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen where you can just be spoiled to a lavish feast and feel like an Emperor (or an Empress), except at China Lodge at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Shenzhen. Providing some of the finest views across to the whole of Lowu district, Shenzhen’s most happening place, China Lodge is a place to be if you want some privacy, intimacy and some luxurious food that brings the best of Cantonese, Chinese, and Western cultural fusions altogether on one table. When you consider the amount of massive space dedicated to each of the 14 luxurious private dining suites on the 35th and 36th floors of the hotel, you realise that this is not just a restaurant but a Mecca for serious eating. Allow the local boy, Chef Scott Xu, a native of Guangdong Province, to show off his innovation gastronomic skills. Chef Xu is someone who happens to possess some intuitive abilities when he is presented a few ingredients, and some kitchen tools. Maybe he wants to prove how good he is, but for sure, you’ll be left with a jaw dropping dining experience. With so much competition lurking around in China these days, the rush to be one of the best designers of a perfect dining plate is on in one of the world’s fastest economies. There is certainly no shortage of a beautiful presentation when it comes to good food.
Yes, it is costly, but then again you do exactly get what you pay for (maybe more). The key is that China Lodge prides itself in using one of the best ingredients, and the best cutlery to present it in- there are no real boundaries for diners in terms of showing off to their invitees. Each of the 14 suites accommodates anything upto 20 diners with guaranteed spectacular views from every suite. Each suite comes along with butler service, an en-suite toilet, a large television, and access to the internet. Some may even go as far as thinking that if you want to show off how much wealth you possess, or perhaps you want to treat your close ones to a truly 5-star dining experience for a special occasion, then China Lodge is the place. Though purely a Cantonese style restaurant based on a native Cantonese concept, however the dishes created by Chef Xu contain a delightful fusion of Eastern and Western tastes. Take for example one of the starters such as the ‘goose liver, wok-fried with shelled shrimps, and chive flower’; or the ‘suckling pig cum in plum sauce’. For those of you that don’t know, suckling pig is a very traditional must have Cantonese delicacy dish where the skin of the pig should be crisp and the meat should be just perfectly tender for the tongue. With this particular dish Chef Xu has turned that traditional dish into a Western style concept by wrapping the suckling pig into a sushi style roll (but wrapped with lettuce and not seaweed!), and then decorated it with a sprinkle of plum sauce. It’s the same concept that goes well with the ‘goose liver dish’. The way you are meant to eat it is to put a spoonful of the ingredients (that’s the complete mixture of the shrimps, chive flower and goose liver), into a iceberg lettuce leaf. With each mouthful, that crunchiness texture should include a blending of all the flavours and juices of the goose liver and the shrimps. Both the goose liver and the shrimps are traditional Cantonese fare, however it’s the style of putting everything into one leaf that makes it a Western style dish, but in Shenzhen! Some other specialities include ’king eel, steamed, with rice wine sauce’, and ‘whole tomato, braised, and mixed with cereal crops’. The king eel is special because the eel is fed with coconut flakes whilst in the farm, so the end result of the texture and taste of the meat has a lovely soft yet milky flavour to it. But wait till you try the bright red tomato filled with cereal crops. This hot dish is fabulously attractive from the inside, just as it is attractive from the outside. The brightly red boiled tomato (no colour preservatives) contains an extravaganza of cereal crops. Very healthy, and ‘out of this world’ delicious would be the words that conjure up once one takes a spoonful. All the dishes take into consideration various health issues that diners may have, and a personalised menu can be provided upon request to the individual dinar. Even the desert is not as heavy as one may imagine. Take the Mango pudding for example, which contains freshly cut mangos surrounded in a freshly squeezed mango sauce. Just scrumptious. So get ready to be amazed, and enjoy a truly magical experience whilst sitting on top of China’s Prices for a set menu start from around 700RMB (approx. £70) per person. _ I am in London as I upload this article. I have been busy travelling (went from Suzhou to Hong Kong, then Guangzhou, then Shenzhen, then back to Suzhou...then Beijing and now in London). And all that time I did not have time to update my website. So now I have the chance. Enjoy reading the following articles!
Located in a sophisticated location on the 2nd floor of the Grand Hyatt hotel in Hong Kong, Grissini, the award-winning Italian restaurant awaits the discerning dinar. Grissini is widely acclaimed as one of Hong Kong’s finest Italian restaurants. Why? There are a few reasons for this lavish title that the restaurant enjoys, including the fact that it’s one of the few Italian restaurants in Greater China where 95% of the ingredients are freshly imported from Northern Italy. Then there are the magical views across to the Hong Kong harbour overlooking to the beautiful Kowloon side in the horizon. Prices are indeed a bit on the high side, but then again you do get what you pay for. This is where Chef Andrea Fraire, a native of North Italy, gets to show off his culinary delights. It’s especially true when you ask him to surprise you that he does not fail in that department either. As you enter Grissini, the one thing that strikes the eye is the open, airy environment, which is difficult to find in most parts of a hectic city as Hong Kong. It is the tall ceiling, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer spectacular views across to the harbour that give the restaurant its classy reputation among many dinars from all walks of high life. The restaurant seems to be popular with city yuppies and your average who’s who in Hong Kong during the lunchtime period, while the evening may be welcomed by romantic dinars looking for that slight cupid touch to their special moment. The restaurant is equally respected for its aroma, its taste of luxury, and it’s passion for style as it is with the dishes that are presented by Chef Fraire. All dinars are greeted with the trademark homemade Grissini breadsticks accompanied with some fine authentic Italian Olive Oil. It readily prepares your tongue to try out some of the signature appetizers such as ‘Braised Pink Veal Slices with Tuna and Capers Sauce, Garden Leaves’, or the ‘Deep-fried Anchovies and Squid with Red Onion Compote and Salad’. The former dish presents succulent slices of Pink Veal generously surrounded with chunks of tuna fish, while the latter is best known for its priceless anchovies that dance alongside the colourful red onion and green salad. If you love risotto, then try the ‘Carnaroli Risotto with Leeks, Pumpkin Cream, and Goat Cheese’ as it will simply blow your mind away. It looks simple to the eye, yet the texture and the smoothness of the goat cheese and the pumpkin cream blends in nicely into the risotto- in fact it’s so well hidden that you hardly notice it. Now, that’s the wizardry of Chef Fraire. With good food like this, you need a good wine to go with it. As one may expect, the 1,000-bottle wine cellar is exclusively Italian. For pasta lovers, like moi, Grissini offers such delights as the ‘Tagliatelli with Tuscan Pork Sausage and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes’. Richly thick Tuscan pork sausages go well with vitamin-enriched cherry tomatoes- both ingredients are freshly imported from Italy exclusively for Grissini. It’s so authentic that for a minute or two you may be forgiven for thinking that you are actually in Italy, and not in Hong Kong (it can happen...!). Yet the whole experience is meant to be just like that. There are so many Italian restaurants around Greater China that offer the best f the best, but for sure, Grissini has done everything they can to provide a truly best authentic Italian dining experience. All in all, yes, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice when dining at the fine Grissini. Just go and have a try if you are in Hong Kong! Yes, it's expensive but you get what you pay for. So don't wait but go and add a bit of good food into your life!:-) From what seems as if it’s a large ancient Chinese coin from the distance is actual fact the top square shaped part of the prestigious Beijing Yintai Centre that houses the contemporary designed Park Hyatt Beijing with its 246 guestrooms and suites. Opened on the 18th of October 2008, the luxurious hotel is ideally situated right opposite the China World Trade Centre, and the futuristic CCTV building in Gaomao. It’s strategic location right on the highly prestigious Chang’an Avenue (which goes straight to Tiananmen Square), and next to Gaomao metro station gives the hotel a upper hand advantage to being well connected to all parts of Beijing, including being only 40 minutes from the international airport by car (when the traffic is not so bad).
The main entrance is actually hidden at the back of the hotel at Jianguomenwai Street, and is perfect for A-listers and celebs who want a bit of privacy when they come to reside at the hotel. The lobby itself is located on the 63rd floor, offering spectacular views across to the whole of the metropolis on a clear day and night. On a clear day, guests can see the main sights of the capital with the naked eye, including the Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Tian Tan and the international airport. The rooms are designed to offer the maximum of comfort for the guests, and everything just seems to be working around you and for you. Then you have the beautiful creature comforts that will leave you feeling totally spoilt. These include such luxuries as the heated toilet seat that automatically opens its lid once you enter the bathroom, the oversized rain shower, the extra wide Roman spa inspired bathtub cum Jacuzzi, heated floor in the bath, DVD player, Espresso machine, and the extra comfortable 600-thread cotton duvet in which you can snuggle into. Not to mention the personal safe large enough to house a laptop, and a built in laptop charger, dual-line telephones, mood lighting, and even a humidifier upon request. No matter how many times you enter the room there is that sheer ‘wow!’ factor that exemplifies the detail to immaculate attention that has been paid by the hotel staff. The essence and ethos is to create a sense of belonging so that this may become your home for the next 24 hours or more. It’s a kind of luxury that you can divulge into after a long flight or for a well-deserved rest away from your normal everyday surroundings. Smooth creamy and white colours adorn the walls and the marble flooring. Oh, and what can go wrong when you are provided with what essentially is a studio-house style room in the best location in the capital city of the world’s fastest economy. The Park Hyatt Beijing is a one-stop hotel for all the personal needs of human life. Take for example the 24-hour gymnasium at the 6th floor, and the stunning 25-metre swimming pool, and the Tian Spa (also on the 6th floor) with five spa suites and rooms offering a collection of pampering treatments to cool down those tired heels. In terms of food, you can’t go wrong when you are presented with a few magical treats such as the China Bar on Level 65; a stylish, atmospheric space for drinks and live jazz, while, on the very top floor at Level 66, the China Grill is an informal, internationally renowned eatery with a soaring glass pyramid ceiling. Somehow, it has to be the most magical places out of the whole hotel because the ambiance just captures all the senses with a magnetic touch. Connecting the base of the three towers of the Beijing Yintai Tower, from the lower ground floor to Level 6, is Park Life, which was created by the well-renowned Japanese interior design firm SuperPotato. He highlight of the restaurants is The Private Room at Level 5, positioning itself as the most exclusive business entertaining venue in Beijing. With all these fine ingredients of dining, pampering and entertainment, the Park Hyatt Beijing proves to be a dynamic accommodation providing the finest in luxury lifestyle so that your stay is made as smooth and hassle free as possible. In all my time in China I have seldom had the real opportunity to stay in the country during the festive Chinese New Year season (normally around the late January and early February area). However all that changed this year. I had initially planned not to stay in Beijing and was going to head straight to London from Chongqing (I was supposed to be on the Qatar Airways flight from Chongqing to London (Via Doha)). But destiny allowed me to change my plans at the last minute, and this special window opportunity allowed me to stay in Beijing for FOUR days until the late evening of the 22nd (early morning 23rd January actually). This gave me plenty of time to refresh myself about the sights and smells of China's capital city. I have been to Beijing in the winter before but only for a day or so- never had the luxury to stay for 4 days. On the day I had been due to go to Beijing, first I missed my flight from Shanghai (part of it was my fault for not checking out of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong on time, and secondly I had to thank the ever great Shanghai morning rush hour traffic). I managed to take the Maglev train to the airport, and thankfully was put on the next available flight (there are 22 flights between Beijing and Shanghai everyday so no worries on that account!).
Now, if I thought that the traffic in Shanghai was bad enough, I had a very good surprise waiting for me in Beijing. It took me at least 2 and a half hours to get to the ultra luxurious Park Hyatt Beijing in Guomao area. This included an exciting taxi ride (almost as exciting as in Guangzhou ... but less than Bangkok), where thanks to my impatient taxi driver, I had to change taxies in the middle of my ride (the first taxi driver refused to drive into the heavy traffic). Just like it's wretched road traffic conditions, Beijing weather can also present some ugly surprises of its own. The first two days it stayed as foggy as the shades of Aladdin’s lamp, and then the next two days it become thankfully more clearer, but more bitterly cold (but not as cold as places like Suzhou where the cold just gets into your bones- extreme). I managed to make the most of the weather, going to places I had to before to refresh my memory (Shangdi, Wangfujing, Xidan, Guomao, and others), while also exploring areas that I had not been to before (Olympic Park- which is just dormant nowadays). The highlight of it was witnessing the non-stop fireworks display at midnight on the 22nd January from the waiting gates at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital Airport. The whole airport, and its staff members came to a complete standstill for around 20 minutes (even the pilots and baggage handlers stopped) to witness the fireworks. The backdrop music of opera singing coming from the state owned CCTV1 echoed throughout the terminal. Below are some of the photos of this beautiful city, enjoy: Located within only a few minutes’ walk away from Guangzhou East train station, the busiest train station in China’s Guangdong Province, is the stunning Westin hotel Guangzhou. The Westin Guangzhou was one of the first international hotels to be opened in this southern Chinese city way back in 2005. The remarkable thing about the Westin Guangzhou is that all of its 446 well appointed guestrooms and suites are the most spacious in the whole city- far more than any other hotel around the world actually. With the smallest rooms, the Deluxe and the Renewal rooms being 46-59 Square Meters, the standard sized rooms at the Westin Guangzhou are similar size to what you may get in a junior deluxe suite in another 5-star hotel. In a nutshell, they are so huge that one could effectively do some simple workout inside (not that I did during my stay). One cannot resist the 600-thread cotton duvets in which one can cuddle up on a cold rainy winters Guangdong evening.
But it’s not just the grandstanding of the location or the guestrooms that the hotel has become a firm favourite among the most affluent of Guangzhou people. But rather it’s the quality of the excellent customer service of the staff members that distinguishes the Westin Guangzhou to other hotels within the vicinity of its tall shadows. While the hotel may not be that imposing or beautiful from the outside, it’s the attractiveness of the inside that matters the most. Every attention of minute detail is paid to where the customers are made sure that they do not feel out of place at any one time. What one would like most about the customer service here though is that not only do the staff speak impeccable English, but they are also very proficient in the way they take care of when a customer checks in, stays and checks out. I was rather surprised and happy to know that someone managed to remember my name on at least separate occasions. For such a large hotel that has all the positive advantages of a geographical and physical attractiveness, the key of an eventful stay may include the dining experience as well. There are five restaurants and lounges that can keep you busy for a while should you wish to indulge yourself into the various amounts of culinary delights on offer. Apart from the usual Chinese (Hong Mian), and Italian (Prego) options, the Westin also provides an excellent feast at an American Latin (Yes, a Latin) eatery known as Qba. Not many 5-star hotels in China have a Latin restaurant (they normally have a Chinese or an Italian option). Located firmly on the first floor, Qba is steeped in enticing aromas, music, and atmosphere. Grilled, charred or spicy—an extensive menu offers tempting small plates and entrées. After a good meal, why not savour a drink or leisurely smoke in the inviting Cigar Bar. Another year goes by, and another year comes by- it seems that times flies so quick when life is on an exciting path! I fondly remember that this time last year, I was in Panyu (Near Guangzhou, China), and now I am in Suzhou (China). On mainland China, Western New Year is not taken as seriously as it is in other countries around the world. Being an expat in China does bring its challenges, though I try to cheer myself up by the fact that while the rest of world is celebrating and practising crowd control during this festive season, I am happy being in a quiet place with a small drink or two in the company of fellow expats. I have very fond memories of 2011, a lot has happened this year...let’s see what 2012 brings, and how my life will shape up in this exciting year!
The Chinese celebrate their own special Chinese New Year or CNY (based on the zodiac lunar calendar) sometime in the late January and early February. Though there are 3 official days of holiday, however most people take at least 2 weeks off work to go back to their hometowns. For most people this is the only window opportunity of the whole year to take a long break with their family. The whole country comes to a complete standstill, with trains, and planes all jam-packed with people going back to their hometowns. In 2012, CNY is 'The year of the Dragon', and falls on January 23rd. For the time being, I would like to wish everyone a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful 2012, whereever you are in the world!!!! If the award-winning Sheraton Shenzhen Futian portrays a sense of excellence in architecture, then you not be too far off the mark here. With 354 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian stands proud and tall in the middle of Shenzhen’s Central Business District (CBD). The hotel forms one quarter of the distinctive black building with white stripes running down vertically. It’s rather designed to look like a large waterfall (or a fountain) in a Chinese painting, and its enormous size actually consists of 4 various buildings inside it, one of which is the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian. In fact, the moment you enter the hotel, you may be greeted by a Filipino band (as is the norm in hotels in China), playing some well-known tunes from around the world.
The good thing about the hotel is that it’s directly accessible to Shenzhen’s Metro system, which connects to the Hong Kong border and Shenzhen’s major shopping, sightseeing, and business districts. Perfect for business or pleasure, especially for all those tradesmen visiting Shenzhen everyday, its Just 45 minutes from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (though give or take 1 hour for the famous Shenzhen traffic!). All guest rooms are furnished with signature Sheraton sweet sleeper™ beds, and high-speed internet access. The Sheraton Club at the 24th floor offers the discriminating traveller unparalleled services and facilities including complimentary usage of the internet, and various refreshments and cocktails throughout the day. Those staying at the Club Level floor can enjoy eating breakfast in quite surroundings with a beautiful view across to the CBD area of Shenzhen. In addition to this there are a further ten floors available exclusively for Starwood Preferred Guest members. In true Sheraton style, the creature comforts such as an iron, ironing table, plenty of drinking water, a safe big enough to house a laptop, and cable international television are all available in all the guestrooms. The guestrooms themselves are decorated in shades of a typical Sheraton room such as brownish and burgundy. The sweet smell of old oak flourishes amongst the furniture too. With a diverse range of stylish restaurants and trendy bars and lounges, you’ll find just the place to gather with friends or family to enjoy a great meal. It all seems a bit too grandular, but then again we are in China where even the smallest of hotels seems to live to the expectations of your well traveller businessperson. They do, on the whole, serve up Italian, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Western specialities with equal flair. If you prefer buffet meals, then head to the Exchange on the ground floor where all kinds of edible fare are on offer to the stylish dinar. You may want to revitalize yourself at the state-of-the-art fitness centre that features an optimally equipped gymnasium, Jacuzzis, sauna and steam rooms, and swimming pool, as well as a variety of personal fitness programs. These fitness facilities are not actually branded under the Sheraton hotel name; however, they may be used by the hotel guests on a complimentary basis. One of the reasons why the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian has won numerous awards, including the ‘Best Business hotel in China in 2009, and 2010’ by the Business Traveller magazine, is because of its spacious 3,500 square meters of function MICE area. Then there is the attentive and personalized service that will turn an ordinary event into an extraordinary and memorable occasion. The MICE facilities at the hotel are really something to gape your eyes upon. For example, the great China ballroom is one of the largest pillarless Grand Ballrooms in Shenzhen, and because of facilities like this that’s why the hotel is highly popular with the MICE audience. The success was proven when the hotel won ‘The best meetings & conventions hotel in Shenzhen in 2010’ as awarded by TTG China Travel Award. Though it no longer holds the title of the highest hotel in the world, the Park Hyatt Shanghai is still in a class of its own, and a still somewhat of an attraction in the city. If there is any consolation for those guests that stay in one of the 174 guestrooms and suites anywhere from the 79th to the 93rd floor, then they may consider themselves lucky as there is no need for them to go up to the viewing gallery on the top of the Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC). Opened in September 2008, the views from any of the guestrooms, and the restaurants are equally magical. It really is a gem of engineering excellence that has been created by humankind, and when one takes the high-speed elevator to the lobby at the 87th floor. That’s where the well informed concierge and reception staff will greet you with a smile and make you feel welcome somewhere special. Here they don’t just speak English and Mandarin Chinese (or Shanghaihua), but also a variety of other international languages (like Japanese, Italian, French...just ask if you are not sure if they speak your language!).
Because of its height, and the limited amount of space, the hotel is quite compact in its structure compared to most other hotels in the area. Frequent travellers may eat their heart out because no space is left for faults- not a whisker of dust in sight! First impressions that come to mind are neat, remarkably quiet, elegant, futuristic, and clean. Had, say, Sir Isaac Newton, stayed at the Park Hyatt Shanghai, he would have whiled away his whole stay wondering how such wonderful gems of architecture could be created by the upmost of humans to defy gravity. Even as a qualified Engineer, I also wondered at the fascination of the remarkable detail to attention paid to all things related to the hotel at such a height soaring above the city of Shanghai. Those who have a fear of heights don’t need to stare downwards as there are plenty of things in the hotel that can keep you busy throughout your stay. In terms of the facilities offered at the hotel you might as well stare with your jaws dropped lower than the height of the building itself. That’s when you can mention luxuries such as electronic curtains with separate curtains with full shades, coffee machine by Nespresso, complimentary internet/wifi, toiletries by Aromatherapy Associates (Balance), complimentary calls locally in Shanghai, room safe big enough to keep a laptop, electronic toilet with heated seat (nice!), and cable TV. Now, I suppose that the most wonderful refreshing experience one can have is to jog whenever they want to, and that’s exactly why the 24-hour gym should be put to good use especially if you want to keep trim and fit. I mean hey, come on, who could not resist working out at 3 in the morning when you are crazily jet-lagged?! Oh and then there is the compact yet sophisticated spa also on the same floor at the 85th floor. The beauty of the guestrooms is that they have everything electronically controlled with the click of a master. The there are the essential creature comforts such as the lavish bathrooms featuring a flat screen television embedded into the vanity mirror, double sinks, an Oriental bathing area, an oversized rain shower, a deep-soaking bath, heated floors and a separate powder room. Not impressed yet? Then why not try to dip yourself into the swimming pool and whirlpool that provide breathtaking views of Shanghai on the 85th floor (part of the ‘Water’s Edge Spa’). Despite the height, there is also the peace and tranquillity in all parts of the hotel- it’s so easy to forget that you are effectively floating in the sky. One key department where the Park Hyatt Shanghai does not fail in is the number of restaurants it offers. When you take into account that the Park Hyatt Shanghai has seven separate bars, dining rooms and restaurants spread out across from the 87th floor to the 93rd floor, then you realise that the hotel management do take their food very seriously over here. There is something for everyone, including Japanese, Western, Chinese (goes without saying), European, and even an all day dining venue at the 87th floor. The 92nd floor contains the gem of a perfect night-life, including a Western bar with live music, whisky cellar and whisky private rooms; and a Chinese bar. Above all else, the Shanghai Park Hyatt is not all about heights, but more about privacy, luxury, a peace of mind, and a serious heaven for the senses. It’s effectively essential for the essentials. Whether you are on holiday, or on business, or you just want to while away the evening in the company of good friends and family then Park Hyatt Shanghai is the place to be at. These are the photos taken last night of the total lunar eclipse that was visible on a clear night over the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Since yesterday (2011-12-10) we had a full moon, so this enabled the eclipse to occur. The lunar eclipse provided the Moon with a beautiful orange colour. It was my first time I had been able to see a lunar eclipse in LIVE motion, and I felt lucky as the sky was totally clear of any clouds (though this provided freezing weather conditions with a chilly wind- which made it all the more challenging to take a photo at 11pm from the top of my 29th floor building in TianYu (Suzhou SIP)). Even with a tripod it was a challenge to keep the camera still with the wind blowing, but I am happy with the results. The next lunar eclipse will take place on April 15th 2014- and I have no idea where i'll be at that time- but I hope I get another chance to see the beauty of it like I did last night. Gotta love that orange colour!
_ Take just one quick glimpse at the beautiful building made up of period colonial architecture, and for a moment or two, it may look like as if you are in New York, but in fact this Waldorf Astoria is situated on the nostalgic Bund in Shanghai, China. It was, of course, in New York where in 1893 the Waldorf became the first hotel to offer room service, and was home to Cole Porter for 30 years, and Frank Sinatra for one, (Porter’s Steinway is behind a gold rope in the foyer at the New York Waldorf Astoria). The revamped 1911 Shanghai Club building, complete with the longest bar in Asia (at 34 meters), became part of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund in the autumn of 2010, and is a fantastic place to have lunch, high tea, or just a drink. The overall style of the bar is made up of a timber panelling with light stone tops and rice, dark masculine furniture.
The beauty of the 257-room Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund is that even though it’s located on the strikingly busy city boulevard that runs alongside the famous Huangpu River, the hotel itself is an oasis of calm, luxury, and great warmth that one may enjoy when they are in a city with a population of 19.2 million inhabitants. Easily accessible by various methods of Shanghai’s efficient public transport (buses, metro, and the ever great Shanghai taxi), the hotel is neatly linked to the futuristic Pudong area by the Yan’an Road tunnel as well. I have always maintained that Shanghai is not really a touristy city, but rather the financial hub of China. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the majority of the hotel guests are businesspersons. If you are landing at one of the two international airports in Shanghai (Hongqiao or Pudong) then the maximum it will take you (pending Shanghai’s notoriously hectic traffic!) is around an hour from Pudong, and around 45 minutes from Hongqiao. Though, just so that you don’t get confused, some Shanghai taxi drivers may end up taking you to the entrance of the Waldorf Astoria Club rather than the foyer of the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund because it’s easier for them to find the entrance on the Bund! Rest assured that if this happens, it is even better because the concierge will whisk you through the Waldorf Astoria Club, and that’s when you can experience the rich ambiance of this wonderful property. Unlike the other hotels in the area where they only have one building for the hotel premises, this property comprises of two connecting buildings - the Waldorf Astoria Club, and the main hotel building. The Waldorf Astoria Club is the heritage building located on No. 2 on the Bund which previously housed the well-known Gentlemen’s Club in the 1920s and 1930s Shanghai. In those colonial days, the admission policy was such that you had to be white, British and male to become a member of this exclusive club. This was indeed the place where various Captains of industries in China made all the major political and financial decisions. The Waldorf Astoria Club houses 20 luxuriously appointed suites- most of which are taken by major A-listers from China and abroad. Don’t be surprised if you bump into the whole crew of a major upcoming Hollywood movie! The place is in serious demand with major luxury brands and the who’s who of China that most of the time the reservations department is inundated with requests to book the M.I.C.E. facilities and the 20 suites because it’s the place to be at if you are a A-lister. All the 20 suites come along with a 24-hour residential Butler service. The main hotel building, known as the Waldorf Astoria Tower, is connected to the Waldorf Astoria Club by a large oval shaped courtyard on the ground floor, which encloses a 168-seat Grand Brassiere where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are presented in nostalgic European style. The Waldorf Astoria Tower houses 237 guestrooms and suites, including the splendid 210sqm Noble Suite (Chinese), and a 260sqm Presidential Suite. All the rooms in the Waldorf Astoria Tower are equipped with the latest technology, including electric curtains, automatic electric toilet (the lid open’s as you enter the toilet!), and complimentary wireless internet. Local calls are complimentary from the rooms. Then there are the creature comforts such as padded slippers, luxury bathrobes, 400-thread cotton bed sheets and quilts, and toiletries by either Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul (normal guestrooms), or Hermes (all the suites in the Club Suites as well as the Suites in the Waldorf Astoria Tower). It really is your very own imperial palace. For those with a taste for classy food, there are ample options available. Pelham’s (New York style cuisine accompanied with a selection of over 500 wine bottles), the 96-seat Wei Jing Ge (Chinese), Salon de Ville (Afternoon tea speciality), and the awesome Grand Brassiere. The whole dining ambiance of the Grand Brassiere provides a strong sense of retreat in urban Shanghai. The beautifully articulated oval shape of the connecting building blends in nicely with the aroma of luxury that this hotel projects from every corner possible. Both hot and cold dishes are served for all the three main meals of the day. Plus there are some ample surprises such as the chef’s in house creations- try pistachio chocolate for example! For those dining at the elegant 50-seat Pelham’s restaurant, make sure you take some time to admire the ‘American’ penny ceiling at the semi-private dining room because its meant to be excellent Feng Shui to dine while sitting underneath a ceiling full of real coins (the 1 Jiao coins are stuck to the ceiling!). The general perception should be that you enjoy the hustle and bustle of Shanghai during the day, and then dine and sleep in style in perfect harmony with peace and tranquillity at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund. Perhaps you would also like to go for a swim at the beautiful swimming pool at level 3 just to cool down those heels from a hard days walking around China’s fast paced financial hub. Just come and have try it for yourself. For sure you won’t be disappointed. And who knows, if you really enjoy it then you also end up staying here as long as messers Sinatra and Porter did in New York. _ Anchored away neatly on the 5th floor of the Waldorf Astoria Club in Shanghai, China is the splendid Wei Jing Ge restaurant. Effectively a contemporary Chinese eatery, the Wei Jing Ge features an assortment of keen authentic Chinese dishes that will simply blow your mind away. The one key thing I really liked about Wei Jing Ge is the ambiance, and the feeling of being secluded in an richly historical building situated right in the heart of Shanghai’s most nostalgic location. When you are dining at Wei Jing Ge, the only thing that will remind you that you are in modern China is the view of the futuristic Pearl Tower and its surrounding building in Pudong visible from one of the ‘Tiger Windows’. The windows are called ‘Tiger Windows’ because in the 1920s and 1930s Shanghai people used to jump onto the window like a tiger would! The entrance is flanked by impressive delicate ancient maiden chinaware, looking around the main room, the restaurant is indulged in silk-draped contemporary elegance decorated with spiritual lotus and traditional Shanghainese style ornaments.
Wei Jing Ge does not fail to let you down when it comes providing splendid authentic Chinese cuisine. Shanghainese, Cantonese, Sichuanese and other typical Chinese dishes are all offered. The Chef-de Cuisine, Sam Yuen, brings along over 25 years of solid culinary experience into the kitchens floor. His culinary wizardry will not only leave the guests with a ‘Wow!’ factor but will exemplify to the dinar what a true Chinese meal should be like. With so many dining options available in Shanghai these days there are definitely a few things that differentiate Wei Jing Ge from other restaurants such as its period Shanghai 1930s style interior design that complements the rich heritage of the Waldorf Astoria Club to create a luxurious dining environment, and the extensive wine cellar that boasts over 500 bottles of handpicked wines by the resident sommelier. In addition to the main dining area that can hold 96 seats, there are also six private dining rooms each with around 10 seats. The central corridor features contemporary back lit walls that showcase Chinese ‘treasures’ and interesting finds. Dining at the Wei Jing Ge is as close as you can get to experience what it may have been like to dine at the Waldorf Astoria Club back in the hey days of the Shanghai of the 1920s. The restaurant may not have been open in those days but the feeling created in the current restaurant is meant to resemble the glamour of the colonial period of Shanghai. My dining experience included a feast of the finest hairy crab in Shanghai. Hairy crab is available but once a year, and autumn is the season famous for the hairy crab, especially when it harvested from nearby lush lakes around Shanghai. The feast is presented in front of your eyes, with a male crab and a female crab coming in as a package. It’s an experience of a kind to have a real crab in real style at the Wei Jing Ge. The hairy crab goes perfect with a small glass of fine Shao Xing rice wine. The perfect finale to a meal at Wei Jing Ge has to be the Walnut soup. Rather strange as it may sound, but its actually very delicious and healthy. Soft and chewy pieces of crushed walnut are resting at the bottom of the bowl, while the thick, creamy, and richly flavour soup is ready to swim down your throat. Just make sure you don’t get too tempted as it can be a but hot at first. But with each spoonful, the taste becomes more and more irresistible. Almost too good to believe. Then again, you cannot expect anything less from a top quality eatery such as the Wei Jing Ge. It may just leave you gobsmacked. ;-) Winner of the "Winning Wine Lists Ratings," as awarded by Zagat Shanghai Restaurant and Hotels Survey, the 80-seat classy Palladio offers the finest Italian dining experience outside of Italy. Chef de Cuisine Gianluca Serafin and Palladio Italian Restaurant Manager Fabrizio Bosco present a variety of signature dishes blending the best of Italian and Ritz-Carlton traditions. Located on the ground floor of the Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Palladio has gained a serious reputation among its loyal clientele as one of Shanghai’s finest Italian restaurants.
Whilst the menu is representative of all regions in Italy, there is a particular emphasis on the cuisine of Naples, and Sicily. Through his menu, this talented and passionate chef showcases some of the best seasonal dishes in this booming financial capital of China. With a strong commitment to sourcing ingredients from small, artisan producers in Italy, Serafin cooks in a way that best represents the flavours and seasonal variations of his home country (and home town of Torino). In true Italian style, he insists on preparing and making all his bread and pasta fresh each day. These main ingredients’ are neatly complimented by the very best in sourced local Chinese produce from specially partnered farms in and around the immediate region. The restaurant, whose name is inspired by the renowned Italian architect Andrea Palladio, has two dégustation menus that change on a regular basis according to what chef Fabrizio can get his hands on from all the myriad amounts of ingredients’ that are offered. At Palladio you can expect to sample the team's intricate dishes that seek to reconnect diners with nature, such as the ‘Crispy scampi with pan seared scallops, lemon scented leek, celery, and, green apple infusion’, or the ‘Black ink tonnarelli pasta with lobster, crustacean sauce, basil comfit, and cherry tomatoes’. With such delightful dishes chef Serafin combines his rigorous understanding of ingredients jostle with produce-driven cuisine. This man has culinary magic embedded in his DNA. His food basically dances on your tongue with each delightful spoonful. Anyone somewhat fatigued by samey high-end restaurants should definitely consider a trip to Palladio, where its hyper-creative, conceptual tasting menu will be equivalent to a round of electric shock therapy, stimulating mind and body alike. Palladio’s warm and welcoming interior features dark leather banquettes, neutral walls with tumbled stone mosaics. In contrast to its contemporary glass exterior, its entrance showcases a traditional Italian dark wood bar. In the evening, soft lighting creates a relaxed and comfortable ambiance. The staff uniforms were created by the renowned Italian designer Stefano Ricci. On the whole there are 4 different seating areas that would spoil you apart. Nevertheless, the separate, chef’s table, which accommodates up to 6 people, overlooks the main kitchen allowing guests the opportunity of watching the chefs at work at the wood burning oven. Most people are easily fooled into thinking that Palladio is not part of The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai- but of course, it is, and if anything, just give it a go and see how taste buds would be delighted on any evening. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing was my final Ritz-Carlton property to review (for the moment, until other Ritz-Carlton properties open in China), and I am glad I had waited to review it last (not that I wanted it to be the last one to review!). Why? Well, the interior architecture, and furnishings portray a nostalgic sense of what a true Ritz-Carlton property should be like. So, yes, good things do come to those who wait! Opened in December 2007, this luxury hotel is not quite as modern as The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street. Nevertheless, with its 305 well-appointed guest rooms, including 38 suites and 61 Ritz-Carlton Level rooms, it does offer something for everyone from businesspersons right the way through to luxury travellers who prefer a touch of elegance on their travels. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is contemporary, yet designed with comfort and relaxation in mind.
The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is situated in the capital city’s new business hub, known as China Central Place. Centrally situated in one of Beijing’s most fashionable areas and adjacent to Shin Kong Place shopping centre, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing offers guests unparalleled convenience while providing a luxurious stay. If you are looking for a bit of calm within the craziness of Beijing’s city life, then The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing could be the place to stay. No matter what the weather outside, rest assured that with the automated temperature controls available in all the rooms will keep you in comfort throughout the four seasons. All the rooms are attractively ornamented in warm, earthly tones that imparts a sense of cosiness and intimacy to guests. Just some of the luxuries of life include the signature Ritz-Carlton 600-thread linens and featherbeds, state-of-the-art in room facilities including iPod®, 42-inch flat screen LCD television and, internet access (wired and wireless). It’s true that from the moment that you step inside your room, you will feel the grandeur envelope you, and draw you into a world of sheer comfort, and perfect security. The hotel is a key preferred accommodation by many distinguished celebs, CEOs, and foreign Royalty. Some of the key reasons for this include the excellent security it provides, it’s close proximity to all the government and corporate offices in Beijing, and it’s only a 30-minute ride to the international airport. Naturally, these aren’t the only attractions on offer. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing also has a host of luxurious leisure facilities, such as The Ritz-Carlton Lounge, which is exclusively reserved for Executive Club guests who can indulge themselves in complete privacy. I’ll be the first one to say that nothing beats the feeling of sitting at The Club Lounge, and drinking a fine glass of Bombay Sapphire. It would be a blameless affair with the drink as the chefs at The Club Lounge serve the tempting ‘too good to say no’, all-day light buffets. Oh maybe a dip in the beautiful pool is on the cards for you? Located on the top floor is the indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi with an illuminated roof, where guests can soak or swim at their leisure. You may even find that a nice sauna session after working out at the gymnasium is equally refreshing. Located at the same level is The Ritz-Carlton Spa, spread over a spacious area of 2,500 square meters. The Spa is divided into Ladies and Gentlemen resting areas. It features nice treatment rooms that including six single lavish treatment rooms with an Aqua Bed, two Couple’s Suites, and a Manicure & Pedicure Salon. If you have just arrived from faraway lands, and are jet-lagged (and tired), then I would highly recommended you commence with a 30-minute Tension relief back massage (costs 380RMB at the time of writing), and then follow it up with a 60-minute Aromatherapy Facial (costs 1000RMB at the time of writing). This combination of a gentle and calming massage on the body and face using a variety of luxury products is to make you feel fresh, restore your inner self, and to neutralize your skin, and restore its natural appearance. It was so good I fell into a deep sleep (I had to be physically woken up!). Breakfast can be enjoyed in the comfort of your room, or at Aroma at lobby level, the all day dining restaurant that offers international gourmet experiences featuring mouth-watering Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Southern Asian and Western dishes from an open kitchen setting. Now, if that’s not enough to fill your appetite, then for lunch or dinner there are two more dining options available on the 2nd floor, Yu (Authentic Cantonese), and Barolo (Classic authentic Italian). Fancy a Cigar? Then head off to the lavish Davidoff Lounge. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is one of the few Ritz-Carlton properties that specialises in providing authentically imported Cigars of high quality (The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou is another one). The Lounge is a luxurious haven to bask in the unmatchable pleasure of exclusive cigars, choice wines, and live entertainment. In fact, apart from the above, the key things that really make The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing a firm favourite among Chinese guests is that it’s one of the only hotels in the city that offers excellent one stop shop for weddings (including a wedding chapel). The hotel features more than 1,100 square meters of meeting and conference space, including a Grand Ballroom, six function rooms, three meeting rooms, one boardroom, and the only wedding chapel within the hotel in Beijing. Therefore the wedding experience at the hotel is all-encompassing; the Chapel features a preparation room, separate resting rooms for the bride and groom, an outdoor Rose garden where wedding cocktails can be held. In 21st Century China, Chinese people are spending BIG MONEY on their weddings (much more than they would on their honeymoons!); and so there is no better way to say ‘I do!’ than to walk down the aisle in style in front of your friends and family (or the who’s who of Beijing), at The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing. Evidence of this struck me straight in the face- while I was residing at the hotel I witnessed two simultaneous weddings. So, yes, this is the place to be at if you want to get married in Beijing. The hotel features more than 1,100 square meters of meeting and conference space, including a Grand Ballroom, six function rooms, three meeting rooms, one boardroom, and the only wedding chapel within the hotel in Beijing. The wedding experience at the hotel is all encompassing; the Chapel features a preparation room, separate resting rooms for the bride and groom, an outdoor Rose garden where wedding cocktails can be held. An opulent and personalized wedding can be staged in the Grand Ballroom. The hotel offers a one-stop-shop service by collaborating with some of Beijing’s premier wedding service providers including beauty stylists, wedding gown couturiers, photographers, floral designers, and jewellers. The impeccable service of The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, is further executed by the multi-lingual concierge team, and personalised service that is unmatchable anywhere else. So in many ways, a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is perfect for you whether you are sight-seeing, have a night in town (oh we love Beijing Duck!), or simply just get away from the stress of life and soak in the surroundings of the beauty of your room. Whatever tickles your fancy, the property is definitely designed to last through rapidly changing times and trends that will encompass Beijing for years to come. So, how can you resist falling into the lap of luxury? Dining at the Yu Restaurant at second floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing is an experience to cherish for again, and again. The Chinese people pride themselves in on being one of the earliest people to develop sophisticated notions of polite social culinary interaction. This includes the highly sophisticated rules of etiquette governing acceptable table manners and tastes. Yu Restaurant, which can hold up to 110 dinars, presents exactly that and nothing more than sheer sophistication. The restaurant offers a traditional tea-themed Cantonese cuisine. As I sat in one of the seven luxurious private chambers to dine like a Qing Dynasty emperor, I was mesmerising on the thoughts of what surprises I may be in for. A large water feature welcomes guests to the restaurant.
What’s more is that a tea master await all comers to intimate and sumptuous gastronomic affairs. Yu in Chinese stands for ‘Jade’, and there is plenty of it decorating the walls and the interior of this luxurious eatery. The interior of Yu is bathed in a bright red and mahogany wood colour, blended in neatly with golden beige accent pieces. These somewhat create a sooth feeling of elegance, sheer prefecture, and absolute comfort. Each of the seven private chambers is named after a type of jade stone, for example our room was called ‘Blue Jade’. Attention is paid to even minute details, from the tea corner to the silk wrapped menus. The menu includes at least a dozen tea samples encased within the menu. As I was presented with the menu, I just looked at the Chef de Cuisine, Ku Chi Fai, and asked him to ‘Surprise me’ with his culinary magic. Then there was the house tea sommelier who was available to assist in guiding our choice of tea to go with each dish. It’s best to commence with the sweet yet tangy flavoured ‘Double whelk matsutake soup’ (松茸炖响螺) which is a lovely medium-to-deep yellow in colour, and shows the red and black cherry aromas as the soup touches the back of your tongue and neck with each sip. Yu offers an extensive menu of refined Cantonese dishes made with fresh ingredients and precise execution. The ‘Appetizer selection’ (前菜拼盘) contains the popular honey roasted suckling pig—a classic Guangdong dish—has skin cooked to a perfect, crisp orange and a smooth and juicy centre. Also, watch out for those baby cucumbers- they are immensely tiny and cute! If you have a special place in your heart for seafood, like I do, then go for the main gem of a dish: ‘Braised cod fish ball with spices in casserole close-up’ (大千焗银鳕鱼). It looks like a piece of art work rather than a dish. Dare to tuck into the noodle nest which achieves high level of sophistication, as the whole dish is edible. You cannot argue with exceedingly good boneless pieces of succulent codfish lying side-by-side with the baby shallots. Yummy! Continuing with the seafood theme (they love seafood in Canton!), the next dish that sandwiches the meal is ‘Grilled prawn with preserved vegetables dry eggplant’ (宫廷梅干虾球). Bright, elegant, and delicate looking (and tasting) prawns add enough sweetness and sourness to this wonderful gastronomic jewel. Autumn breeze marks the perfect season for slightly nutty yet buttery dishes such as the grilled prawns. No Cantonese meal is complete with the ‘Taro puff and egg tart’ (芋蓉酥拼蛋挞), this ‘out of this world’ dish is a delight to have with any Cantonese dish. Its not really the presentation of the dish that matter’s but rather the taste. Cantonese people (especially those from Hong Kong), would not hesitate in pointing out the quality of a perfectly made egg tart. Soem will even argue to the point that their egg tart is the best in the city. The bright lemon colour of the yolk inside the tart, and the slight softness of the tart indicates to outstanding quality of the product. The easier it is to drop out of your hands, the worse the quality (i.e. the stronger the egg tart, the better it is). Challenge any Cantonese person and they will have no hesitation is proving you wrong. The nose of the dish displays a certain aroma of vanilla (it may be true), and lemon. Enjoy it while you can and make sure that you don’t leave any bits and bobs lurking around. For the finale, ‘Chilled sago mango cream, and fresh fruits’ (杨枝甘露拼水果) is the treat of the day. But forget the fruits, its the chilled sago mango cream that can eat your heart away. Slightly dry, sweet to the front of the mouth, but all in all a complete journey of sheer perfection and a beautiful long length of butter, sago and mango kissing your throat with each spoonful. It’s great, and it’s all truly Cantonese at the Yu restaurant. It’s one of such prestige appellation to round off a perfect meal at one of the most sought after eateries in Beijing. Just a simple, yet basic observation of how fast the Chinese economy is growing at. There are a few key indicators that portray the health of a country's economy. These include the following:
Below is a photo showing some basic food items that I bought in the supermarket in Shanghai. These days it is common in the big Chinese cities to come across western supermarket chain stores such as Tesco's (U.K.), Walmart (U.S.A.), Jusco (Japan), and Carrefour (France). While the vast majority of the food items are actually 'Made in China', some, however, are imported (such as Cereals, pasta, wines, and other minor but important things that expat would miss when they are in China). Unlike in the west, where food prices tend be of a similar status irrespective of where the food item is from, in China, however, the better the quality of the food item, the more expensive it is. You may argue that this is common sense that prevails everywhere, but actually it tends to stick out more in countries where attention to high quality is only given to those items that are being exported (though this is slowly changing in China). My food basket below cost 89RMB (that's around £8 GBP)- which is no different to what it would cost back in the UK (or elsewhere in Europe or America). But the items I have in the basket are not imported, but all are Chinese local brands. So this goes to conclude that basically things in China are getting more expensive (including house prices, cars etc.)...but wait...are salaries also increasing? No. The average salary in China for a new graduate with, say a Bachelors or Masters degree, is 2,900 RMB (approx. £280 per month).I fear this may pose a tricky challenge for whoever is in the Chinese management (i.e. government) in the coming years. For now, all we can do is enjoy the booming success that this country is experiencing. - Navjot Singh Greetings from a sunny London! Thanks to the ever lasting global warming that the world is experiencing all kinds of weird and wonderful weather spells. I left my home in Suzhou on Wednesday afternoon (London 8am GMT), and within that short time span until now I have had the pleasure of experiencing the sights and smells of the following places:
Wuxi (tiny town next to Suzhou- this is where I got the plane to go to Guangzhou), Guangzhou (lovely photos as taken below), Doha (airport Business and First Class lounge is NICE!), London (HOT weather in October), Milton Keynes, Birmingham, and then back to London again. Thats around 14,000km in approx. 90 hours and 23 minutes. Not bad at all I say. Now, one thing that did tickle my fancy were the amazing shots I managed to get of Guangzhou as we landed in from Wuxi. Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, sparkles at night, especially places such as Zhujiang New Town (as seen in the photos below). These photos were taken from a moving plane as we turned into the final approach into Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Guangzhou sparkles at night time! I flew in from Wuxi to Guangzhou on a clear evening last week, and was gifted with this beautiful view of Zhujiang New Town and Tian He District. You can clearly see all the city’s major landmarks, such as the Canton Tower and the Tian He 88 floor building! Guangzhou’s pollution levels have improved vastly in the past few years. 10 years ago there would have been smog everywhere and this view would have been impossible. Guangzhou is becoming more modern and clean as the days go by. Its not easy to get nigh time photos, and even from a moving plane. But I am pleased with this result. For those of you who live in Zhujiang New Town, can you see your home? :-) The last time I visited Suzhou was in 2006, and I only had the chance to see the ancient part of the city for a day's short trip. Life is amazing. When I first came to China in 2003, and even the last time I came to Suzhou in 2006, I never imagined that life would take me to Suzhou again. Nevertheless, here I am living and working in this wonderful city. The vast majority of my time in China has been spent in Shenzhen and Guangzhou (with some pockets of it in Shanghai and Beijing), and I suppose when one is used to travelling so much that it does not matter much where you live. However, on this occasion I did feel sad (even on some days I still do), of leaving Shenzhen and Guangzhou. I miss Guangdong Province (especially Shenzhen and Panyu!!), and felt homesick when I arrived in Shanghai and Suzhou. I have no close friends here, and the people are not as friendly and open to talk to strangers as they are in Shenzhen (this is true of the East Region of China). In addition, there are too many westerners here...it’s not as exotic as the real China down south! Anyways, I must stop complaining and whinging, and enjoy my life in Suzhou!
Suzhou is actually more or less a remote suburb of Shanghai (as most people see it). Indeed being located only 20 minutes away from Shanghai by the CRH high speed rail link, Suzhou is the perfect place to visit for a day's or weekend's break. The city is also gifted with excellent weather all year around with an average temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius (winter low of -2 degrees Celsius, and a summer high of around 30 degrees Celsius), and a perfect relative humidity of around 76%. Though the main source of income for the majority of local Suzhou people As a satellite city of Shanghai, Suzhou has grown in the past 10 years or so to become an industrial hub with many multinationals setting up their manufacturing facilities there due to the low land costs (well, these land costs are on the rise now). For tourists, writers, and photographers, the city is a gem of a place to visit. The city is no stranger to any travel guide, and there are probably a million books and websites paying homage it to it. What does fascinate me is the stark contrast that Suzhou possesses between the ultra modern, clean, and spacious Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) area, and the old city. The old city is the real Suzhou, and how Suzhou looked hundreds of years ago. It’s full of natural canals, ancient architecture, beautiful natural gardens, and lakes. While the SIP is the opposite. It is dominated with manmade canals, manmade parks, and ultra modern homes. The SIP is the largest cooperation project between the Chinese and the Singaporean Government. It is located around the circumference of the beautiful Jinji Lake, which lies to the east of Suzhou Old city. SIP has a total jurisdiction area of 288 km2, of which, the China-Singapore cooperation area covers 80 km2 with a planned residential population of 1.2 million. This part of Suzhou is home to many Korean, Japanese, British, American, and German expatriates. Big corporations such as Bosch, Honeywell, Samsung, Hitachi, and many others dominate the area. To cater for the education of the growing number of expatriate children, famous international schools have set up lavish campuses in the SIP area. These include such fine establishments as Dulwich College. In fact, the SIP area in Suzhou is perhaps the most modern and cleanest part of China now. Its ultra wide roads, spacious clean parks, and huge shopping malls (Times Square Suzhou) make it a real home away from home for expatriates. Cities such as Suzhou are definitely signify what the future of China may look like. There is one problem though- in the SIP area it is very difficult to get a taxi or a bus after, say, 8pm. It becomes almost like a ghost town. So the best way to travel around is on one of the electric bikes (E-bikes). But the problem with E-bikes is that they don’t make any noise, and with the way people drive erratically in China, it is very easy to get into an accident. The worst-case scenario is at night time when people drive wrongly in the opposite way without any headlights on (because they want to save battery power). People are so used to being struck into an accident that if there is an accident then they don’t show any emotion on the face whatsoever- it’s just a blank look as if nothing has happened. I hope that this transport problem should be resolved by the end of 2011, when two metro lines will open allowing residents to commute safely and quickly across the city. Right, here are some photos that show life in and around Suzhou- the Venice of China! 10 years on, and the memories of that terrible day are still fresh as ever in my mind. Here in Suzhou (China), we (a few of my American colleagues, friends, and I) observed a one-minute silence in respect of all those innocent victims who lost their lives. Here in China, it was somewhat of a bad timing for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 event because today (9/12/2011) is the official Mid-Autumn Festival. The vast majority of the population in China is not aware of what 9/11 means, and when the attacks actually happened in 2001, there were mixed feelings among many Chinese people. The general reaction that comes across from many Chinese people is like 'oh, this is America's problem, nothing for China to worry about', or 'China does not have any presence in Afghanistan or Iraq, so we don’t need to worry any such attacks here'. The vast majority of the population still has this belief. For local Chinese people, there is a sense of confusion and sympathy when it comes to this subject.
Nevertheless, for me personally 9/11 has changed a few things in my life, whether it is for the good or worse, that is something only fate will tell me. As I have explained in my profile that I wanted to be an airline pilot in my youth, and just when the airline industry was booming in the early 21st century, then these attacks happened. Right after the attacks happened, most western airlines (like British Airways, American Airlines, and others) started losing revenue, and oil prices soared to a high. Many other airlines even went bankrupt (Ansett Australia, Sabena, Swiss Air, VARIG Brazilian, VIAZA Venezuela, Olympic Airways, AOM, and many others). With all of this chaos in the airline industry, my childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot also died. It took me some time to come to terms with this fact, but there was a point when I had just up regretting this and just moved on in life. Then there were the stories of some of my friends who had Arabic names, and even though they had a fully qualified Airline Transport Pilots License (ATPL), but still they were denied any job opportunities because of their name (even though they were American or British born). I recall speaking to a mate of mine who was a fully qualified airline pilot (flew the Boeing 737-300), but could not get a job and was constantly stopped by airport security. He had the final straw when airport security confiscated his pilot’s flight case. Understandably, in a very emotional state, he told me that he had given up his career as an airline pilot. Perhaps no other industry was as immediately affected by the devastating events of September 11th as the airline industry. Apart from the passengers and airline crews who lost their lives on that day many airlines simply shut down. Of those that managed through the crisis-filled days and months that followed, tens of thousands of airline employees lost their jobs. Most airlines immediately put a stop to their sponsored cadet pilot scheme because of this. When the attacks happened, I was a 22-year-old student in London, and at that exact moment, I was in Kingston, London (U.K.), working as an intern with the retailer TJMaxx. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon with clear blue skies, and I had just finished my lunch. Then suddenly my manager turned into the staff room and said: 'Oh, we just heard that two fighter planes have crashed into the World Trade Centres in New York'. The details were very sketchy at that moment. It only started to become apparent in the late afternoon and evening when I got home and watched the news. The saddest (and scariest) feeling I got when I saw that plane American Airlines Boeing 767 aircraft smash right into the tower. It seemed so unreal and inhuman. Buildings, resources, and planes can be rebuilt after a time, but PEOPLE cannot be replaced. My instant feeling was 'what idiot wants to do that?'. A passenger plane is not meant to be a missile or a weapon, and to use a beautiful thing such as a plane to kill innocent people is just evil and ridiculously inhuman. There was a strong sense of sadness, anger, confusion, and sheer fear in my mind on that day. I do remember seeing a few changes in London immediately after the attacks happened. The most apparent one was that there were no planes seen over the capital. The London airspace was completely empty. It felt very surreal because the skies over London are usually noisy and filled with many planes waiting to land at Heathrow Airport (there are four holding points: Biggin Hill, Lambourne, Bovingdon, and Ockham). At peak time in the evenings, it is common to see at least 30 aircraft in the London sky, twinkling as if they are little stars at night- all waiting in turn to land at Heathrow (or Gatwick, London City, Stansted, or Luton). As I listened to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) on my VHF radio, all I heard was planes being re-directed back to their points of origin, or being diverted to airfields in safer places such as Ireland, Birmingham, Manchester, or Scotland. Flights at Heathrow and Gatwick that were due to depart were cancelled at the last minute and planes return to the terminals. Indeed what a crazy day it was. I have never had the chance to go to the U.S.A, and I hope one day I can go to New York to pay homage to the site, and respects to those victims who lost their lives where once those iconic towers stood in tact. 9/11 was definitely a day that changed the world over, and we can only hope that with such harsh times in life, future humankind never experiences anything like this atrocity ever again. May god bless all those innocent souls that lost their lives on this day 10 years ago. Amen. When I was first informed that I would be going to review a boutique hotel in Shanghai, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The general perception in China is such that if you are not a 5-star international brand hotel then there are going to be some suspicions on your hotels effectiveness. I asked around a few friends of mine in Shanghai’s 5-star hotel PR circle about the Mansion Boutique hotel in Shanghai, and they seemed to be at a loss as to its knowledge. So when I actually arrived at the posh looking 25- seat lobby lounge, it somewhat changed my perception of the hotel’s image into becoming a positive one. Maybe I did not know the Chinese name of the hotel, by which it’s normally known locally. Located minutes away from Shaanxi Nan Lu metro station (Line 1) in a quiet and historical surroundings of the French Concession, and originally designed by a French architect Lafayette in 1932, Mansion Boutique Hotel Shanghai is the actually China's first deluxe boutique hotel. The hotel building was originally built as the clubhouse of Du Yue-Sheng, China's most powerful syndicate boss (i.e. a mafia gangster), but is now owned by the Hua Dian Hotel (Shanghai) Company, an affiliate company of the Boutique Hotel Investment Group (BHI). First impressions were that it’s nostalgic, very quiet, well placed, and in a very affluent Shanghai suburb. That air of romance, elegance, and peace projected the moment I stepped into the courtyard. I felt as if I was entering a rich Shanghai 1930s home of a rich Jewish family. With its rich historical legacy, the Mansion Boutique Hotel Shanghai captures the spirit of yesteryears Shanghai, a period when this beautiful city was considered the ‘Paris of the Orient'. Even today when the city is dubbed by some as the ‘New York of the East’, the hotel has that air of strong historical jest to its ambiance. The design and period architecture of the hotel reflects the graced bygone era with its graceful blend of classic French and Asian tastes. Interior is designed to capture the culture, modern ambiance and elegance altogether. With 30 enormous elegantly decorated guest rooms each with its own individual design and layout, the Mansion Boutique Hotel Shanghai offers its guests individual attention. All rooms have a ceiling of 5 meters, with most rooms being 60 square meters, and suites vary from 100 to 140 square meters. Sized is not everything when it comes to boutique hotels, and the real experience is measured by the experience of the guest. The quality if that of a 5-star hotel, and all the products are branded by the hotel itself. 1930s style Chinese music is heard being played at low volume on the speaker system that again gives it the nostalgic feel. The rooms include deluxe king size beds, armchairs with ottomans, business desks complete with 3 in 1 printer, fax and scanner and wireless high-speed Internet access (all complimentary). As far as boutique hotels go, Mansion Hotel Shanghai is something very unusual. Normally I would not use that word to describe a hotel straight away. That air of romance, silence, and affluent 1930s Shanghai feeling looms in all quarters across of the hotel. However, blended in well with that traditional service is modernity, consider having a with Japanese-style heated electronic toilet seat which may come very handy for those cold harsh Shanghai winter nights. It’s difficult to get rid of the smell of rich oak wood that embeds itself in your nose once you enter the rooms. The bottom line is that the hotel makes you feel like you have gone back to the 1930s of Shanghai but there are small touches of modernity inside that remind you that you are in the 21st century Shanghai. For the guests entertainment the rooms have stereo CD/Radio systems and 42" Panasonic HD flat screen televisions with cable system offering over 60 channels. Bathrooms have marble floors and countertops with separate Jacuzzi baths and high-pressure full body showers. Bathroom scales, hair dryers, makeup mirrors, bathrobes and slippers are included as well as bathroom amenities by Lanvin. Therefore, overall it does have the true 5-star touch to it except that it’s probably a good idea to go here for your honeymoon or a holiday with your loved one rather than on business. The place feels too romantic and intimate for a business setting. I reckon you would find it hard to focus on your work if you were here for business because the ambiance is so mesmerizing. The hotel features a traditional styled gourmet Chinese restaurant serving the finest seafood the city can offer. A rooftop restaurant/lounge with terrace overlooks the French Concession district, and a slight glimpse of the city’s skyline looms on the distance. Though the chefs may need to work a bit more on providing an authentic western breakfast, it does however provide the essentials using very basic ingredients that they have. The service is equally adequate too, and has plenty of room for improvement. I had asked for tomato sauce, and it arrived by the time I had finished my slightly warm omelette and Chinese style pork sausages. On the other hand the Western restaurant on the 5th floor portrays a different image altogether. The surprisingly quiet restaurant is headed by the talented Chef Albert Jao who provides such delights as ‘scallops with sweet corn, chilli salsa- beetroot, and mash puree’; and ‘Italian sea bass and carrot with Chinese herbs, lemon cream sauce, and spinach’. With stunning views, lovely ambiance and a delightful staff you’ll be left completely gobsmacked by the magic of the dishes. On top of all this, the hotel also boats to have the best Cantonese cuisine restaurant in the city. At comparatively reasonably priced room rates, the Mansion Boutique Hotel Shanghai is the perfect alternative to those want to experience living in the old Shanghai. Penthouse Rooftop RestaurantLocated on the 5th floor of the Mansion Hotel Shanghai, the Penthouse restaurant strives to offer one of the finest western cuisine hotbeds in town. The restaurant is sometimes referred to as just the ‘Rooftop Restaurant’, or sometimes as the ‘Mansion Skyline Bar’. The Mansion Hotel Shanghai was built in 1932 as a quaint French garden house with a Chinese courtyard. With over 300 pieces of artworks, the hotel brings along lovely memories and an experience to cherish of what life was like in 1930s Shanghai. The restaurant, which was during my visit quiet as my local graveyard in London, is not only used by tourists, but apparently is a beehive for corporate clients who want to have their board lunches here. With seating for upto 105 people, the archaic design and the colonial architecture appeal in laid-back French Concession appeal to many white-collars in the city.
For starters, this was a meeting of Chef Albert Jao whose talents extend beyond the walls of the city. It looks as if he might be a bit of a star when he brings out the best of the ingredients he was using. Being a one-man band that looks after the running of the restaurant day in, day out he told me that he was actually exhausted as he was working since 4am to prepare for a corporate breakfast. He knows what he's doing. Ok I’m gushing I hear you say, but hey, I am a huge fan of eating fine meals in a typically local Shanghainese setting. To be honest I must say that the Penthouse Restaurant is really an astonishing place (it really is). This hulking colonial Shanghai building, squats in its neglected floors like a setting from some old Shanghai black and white movie. I mean, there you are sitting on your own having a nice meal while mesmerizing the beauty of this city that is growing at a dizzying pace- so where are the culinary jewels which I came here to taste? The killer dish is a starter of ‘pumpkin puree with clam and cheddar’. The smoothness of herb paired with clean-tasting, juicy and fresh clams, the thick creaminess of the pumpkin and the savoured addition of a French bread piece is novel for the taste buds. As far as decorative pieces of art go when it comes to presenting the finest of foods, then the next dish is something to savour for. The ‘scallops with sweet corn and chilli salsa- beetroot and mash puree’ are a delight not only for the eye but for the heart too. The fruitiness of the beetroot (which is rare to find in China) goes well with the humbleness of the sweet corn and the scallops. For the seafood, the chef recommended a sweet tasting white wine: 2010 Valle Andino Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile, Central Valley, Maule Valley, Valle del Maule). With the exception of perhaps the bland breadbasket, every dish that I tried, including the ‘sea bass and carrot, Chinese herbs, lemon cream sauce and spinach’, is as exhilarating as the setting. However, the real test came when it was the turn to present the ‘saffron residue, beef steak with cherry tomatoes, and asparagus’. While the choice of the wine to go with the beefsteak was excellent (Bordeaux Le Chapelier A.O.C), the actual quality of the beefsteak could have been had a bit more homework done to it. The truth is that Penthouse felt like the kind of place I might go if I wanted a memento souvenir, by which I mean a memory of the greatest steak experiences I have had in China and elsewhere across far away horizons. Overall, it was an OK experience. On those thoughts, I will bow away by saying that the Penthouse is never going to be everyone's cup of tea: too quiet and hard-nosed. However, the food will be the thing that will cheer you up. It will provide an escape for you to get away from comments regarding the usual banter of what Western food should be like in China. It is cool, arty, flamboyant, and the presentation of the food certainly shimmers with jittery romance. Hmmm...I am wondering as to where shall I begin with when it comes to reviewing yet another Ritz-Carlton property. In fact, this is only the 8th Ritz-Carlton property I have reviewed, and there are still a further 67 properties that I need to review worldwide (not sure when I’ll manage to do that!). One thing I can comment on is that even though the true Ritz-Carlton ethos of excellent ‘customer comes first’ mentality is evident in all the properties, every single one is unique in its own way. So therefore, even if you have two Ritz-Carlton properties in one city, as is the case here in Shanghai, they are both bound to be different in terms of the interior ambiance.
Indeed as mentioned, Shanghai is gifted with two Ritz-Carlton properties. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, and The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. So what’s the difference between the two? Well, apart from the difference in location (the former is located in the ‘Manhattan’ equivalent of Shanghai along with all the other financial corporations surrounding its lavish building, while the latter is located in downtown Shanghai), the main difference is that The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai tends to cater more for government officials and diplomats, while The Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai tends to attract Shanghai’s money crazed super rich, or the city yuppies that work in Pudong. Opened in 1998, and refurbished in 2003, The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai stands tall and proud right in the heart of Shanghai’s most happening place, and the world’s busiest street, Nanjing Xi Lu (which leads to Nanjing Dong Lu). The 50-story building in its trademark white colour scheme is hugged by two adjoining building that contain a myriad of premier shopping outlets (don’t be shocked to see a few Chinese- registered Lamborghinis parked outside!). And its not all modern glamour that adorns the hotels’ surroundings as within a few minutes of walking distance there are a few historical gems lurking around, such as the Jing An Temple (Golden Temple) and People’s Square as well. The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai experience begins not from the lobby but from the airport or train station where you’ll be picked up in one of the Wi-Fi enabled chauffeur driven cars. All the Ritz-Carlton cars are equipped with bottled weather, leather seats, plenty of magazines and newspapers and a bi-lingual Chinese-English speaking driver (the latter is very important in a city such as Shanghai because of the lack of English spoken in Shanghai). Upon arriving at the hotel, the first thing that strikes you is a bellboy who projects a greeting in perfect English: ‘Good morning/afternoon, welcome to the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, please allow me to take your luggage, Sir/Madam’. For those guests that have made the journey straight from the airport, and are coming to Shanghai for the first time, this would be a perfect welcome to the ‘Paris of the East’! The second thing that strikes the visitor is the ultra chic lobby, which includes a beautiful old university style library, leather sofas with rich fabric, and a piano. VIP guests and those guests that are residing in one of the Suites or the Club Floor rooms don’t need to check-in at the lobby, but are rather whisked straight to the quieter Club Lounge at the 43rd floor to have an express check-in (or check-out). The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai is also flagged as having a more flamboyant and nostalgic ambiance to it plush surroundings. With its 610-well appointed guestrooms and suites, it’s one of the preferred choices of residences in Shanghai by visiting government officials because of the excellent security it provides. It’s also a favourite of many American Presidents that have stayed here, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. I fondly recall one of my mates telling me that he happened to bump into Mr. Clinton at the hotel’s well-equipped gym. I am not sure if Mr. Clinton tried the highly useful and exceptionally flexible ‘Power Plate’. This rather boring looking piece of equipment will no doubt surprise the most athletic of us humans. As simple as it looks, but apparently one can make use of it in at least fifty different ways including as a stomach churning vibrator, a muscle enhancer, a yoga assistant and much more. If that’s not enough then burn those much wasted calories in the Squash and tennis courts (now, this sport is very popular among Presidents!). Even though the hotel does not have an in-house Spa, the guests can still choose to have a signature Ritz-Carlton massage in the privacy of their rooms or at the hotel’s health club located on the 7th floor, which is, one of the city’s largest. Guests can choose a few therapy options including Chinese, Japanese, and Swedish. Normally I tend to have a massage at the Spa area, but because The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, offers the massage in-room, so I went for that option. It was my first time I’ve had an in-room massage, and I must say that it was actually a very relaxing experience to have a massage on your bed- I went to sleep within minutes. Well who wouldn’t, especially when you are lying on a sealy bed with 300-thread count bed linen, down feather pillows and throws. Its so easy to float your mind into your dreams when your head and body rests on such sheer comfort. It’s truly a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Shanghai. Impossibly clean and modern in look and feel, all of the guestrooms and suites are designed with traditional Asian fashion with a modern flair. Exclusively Luzerne provides in-room cutlery and bone china, while the bathroom amenities in the Club floor rooms and Suites is provides by the designer Italian brand, Acqua Di Parma. Contemporary Chinese paintings adorn the walls, as well as the rosewood furniture, which forms most part of the amenities, including rosewood sliding doors. For the business minded individuals, keep in touch with the world through 3G and Wi-Fi internet throughout the hotel, as well as cable TV (provided by 32-inch TVs in guestrooms). In-room i-Pod docking stations are also provided. The highlight of the hotel has to be its seven eateries, which include a variety of dining options including Western, Italian, Japanese and, of course, authentic Chinese cuisine. Confusing for some guests as it may be, but some of the restaurants, such as Palladio (Italian) and Tables (Western) are located outside of the main hotel building just near the lobby entrance so guests may think they are not part of the hotel but, of course, they are. The chef de cuisines at all the restaurants are highly experienced, and can magically create a dish upon the customers’ request. So if there is something that does tickle your fancy, just ask them to surprise you with the dish! Not only that, but there are plenty of Shanghainese petit fours that you can nibble onto, or a drink of a Chinese herbal drink. Despite the dizzying pace at which Shanghai is growing with multiple loads of new buildings cropping up all the time, I am sure the hotel will continue to be one of the iconic buildings in Shanghai for many years to come. The Ritz-Carlton brand stands for a real luxurious experience and one that is just unmatchable by no other. In saying this it is quite right to conclude that The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai really stands by the words of being a ‘timeless symbol of luxury and beauty. Located on the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road, The Peninsula Hong Kong is comfortably the most recognised hotel in Hong Kong. Its trademark 32-storey glorious cream-coloured building is visible from all elevated parts of the city (including from the Peak, and from the new ICC building), and if you are bit higher then you get a clear glimpse of the two signature helipads on the top of the hotel as well.
The Peninsula Hong Kong is the glamorous flagship property of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. It presents the ultimate in luxury, and apart from being the only historically luxurious five-star quality hotel in Hong Kong, The Peninsula Hong Kong is very much seen as a reminiscent of the British colonial days of Hong Kong. Though it looks smaller from the outside, the interior, however, does reveal a rather grandular ambiance where lavish space dominates all throughout. One thing is for sure, when it comes to having that perfection of customer service, comfortable rooms, and exceedingly good food; there is no comparison to this nostalgic property. Usually when one mentions the words, The Peninsula Hong Kong, most people just have one thing in mind- ‘The Peninsula Afternoon Tea’, which has its roots cemented from Hong Kong’s old colonial days. In fact, the lavish hotel is much more than that, and effectively gives more to its guests in return. Yes, The Peninsula Hong Kong is renowned for its delicious food, its high quality of comfort, and its excellent customer service. However, there is one thing that people tend to brush off without even realising it- The Peninsula Hotel has one of the oldest fashion arcades in Hong Kong. Throughout the years, the hotel has hosted world-renowned brands such as Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and many others. There’s also a branch of the famous Graff Jewellers. All 300 richly decorated rooms and suites have a lovely blend of the colonial past, and the ultra modern touch with state-of-the-art facilities throughout. This includes luxuries such as electronic curtains and blinds, DVD players, complimentary internet (wired and wireless), complimentary local calls, and, sophisticated touch button technology that allows you to control all the room lights from your bedside (so you don’t have to get up from your bed). Oversized marble bathrooms feature separate showers and tubs (Jacuzzi in the Peninsula Suites), built-in LCD TVs, hands-free phones, and complimentary toiletries by provided exclusively by Davi. Guests residing at The Peninsula Hong Kong are also presented with a lovely red Chinese soap box in which there is a complimentary round Davi soap bar with the signature of the Peninsula crest stamped on it. The whole ambiance of the hotel projects a strong sense of the old British colonial era. Some parts of the premises, such as the corridors, the lobby, and the Verandah really does give you a feeling that you are back in the 1930s colonial Hong Kong. Except, of course, the only difference being that you don’t see guests wearing period clothing. As everyone who works in the hospitality business knows that it only takes one chance to make a lasting impression, and the reason why the vast majority of the guests keep coming back to The Peninsula Hong Kong is because every single member of the hotel makes a very good lasting impression. It’s the ethos that has been built and maintained by Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. The true heydays of The Peninsula Hong Kong were when the Kadoorie family initially opened it in 1928. In those days, passengers from the luxury cruise ships used to disembark at the Kowloon quay, and, the famous trans-Siberian rail link from mainland China would stop right in front of the hotel, which enabled people to go straight to the Peninsula to have the signature Afternoon Tea. Though, with the change of the times, the train is not there anymore, nevertheless, the traditional ceremony of having Afternoon Tea is still very much part of the culture and ethos of The Peninsula Hong Kong. The luxurious Rolls-Royce cars, and the helicopter rides are two of the other key ingredients that have distinguished The Peninsula Hong Kong for many years and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Since December 2006, the hotel has had a fleet of 14 Rolls-Royce Phantoms painted in the hotel's signature ‘Peninsula green’. This was the largest order placed for Rolls-Royce in the history of the company, and still stands as of today. The Peninsula Hong Kong is the only hotel in Hong Kong where the helicopter can land. The two helipads are used primarily for sigh-seeing rides over Hong Kong, or to transport the hotel's VIP clients to Hong Kong International Airport, with flight duration being around 10 minutes. The China Clipper aviation lounge is located on the 30th floor, and allows passengers to freshen up before or after their helicopter flight. The toilets in the lounge are originals from an actual aircraft. The lounge has parts of the ‘China Clipper’ aircraft, a four-engine seaplane belonging to Pan American Airways that was used on the inaugural flight from San Francisco to Manila in November 1935 (it stopped en-route and landed at the former Kai Tak airport). The Peninsula brand in Hong Kong is so strong and powerful that there really is no room for failure. From the moment you step into the hotel premises to the moment you check-out, everything is done to the absolute perfection with the minute detail in mind, everything. That smoothness with which the Rolls-Royce is driven at, that signature smile from the crisply attired Peninsula Pageboy when he opens the door to welcome you, and that sheer effectiveness of the housekeeping maids to make sure that you have the luxurious experience of a lifetime. During my brief stay I got the feeling that the entire staff have a sense of strong attachment to the history of the hotel, and they are not just there because they have a job to do. Indeed, some of the staff are so closely part of the Peninsula family that have been at the hotel for almost their entire life. A beautiful illustration of this is provided in a new book called ‘Our Hong Kong’, which is a collection of personal stories from the staff at the Peninsula. The limited edition hardback is given as a complimentary gift to all guests who stay at this hotel. As Ms. Rainy Chan, the Area Vice President - Hong Kong and Thailand General Manager, The Peninsula Hong Kong puts it: ‘Our Hong Kong offers a highly privileged view- like a city guide created by 50 of your local friends, with antidotes and insights that are rich and varied’. The Peninsula Hong Kong provides six dining venues (eleven including the Lobby, Room service, The Verandah, The Pool Terrace, and The Bar), which means you have no excuse to miss your friend’s invitation. There are many highlights, and it would probably take a book to write about them all. If time is your enemy then it may be worthwhile to check out the Philippe Starck-designed Felix restaurant and bar, the Verandha (which still has the old colonial Raj style fans), and the Salon de Ning which is located in the basement floor (just like at The Peninsula Shanghai). The latter features live band with dancing and cocktails. There is no other better way to polish off your nostalgic experience at The Peninsula Hong Kong than to pamper yourself with one of the signature massage treatments at The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, or relax at the swimming pool overlooking the Victoria Harbour. Equally beautiful are the roman bath style sauna and Jacuzzi facilities that are offered in the separate men’s and ladies changing rooms. As you swim you can either admire the beautiful views of the Hong Kong Island’s unmistakable skyline, or just while away your time in the vicinity of the thought that you have been part of a bit of Hong Kong’s proud, and prosperous history. Try it yourself, and see what the Grande Dame of the Far East has in store for you. Who doesn't love Hong Kong? This tiny city is full of magic, noise, sights, and plenty of fan-fare 24 hours a day. In the past 3 months, I have had the pleasure of visiting Hong Kong a number of times. The great thing about Hong Kong is that no matter how many times you go, it’s very difficult to resist the temptation to take some photos. Here are a few shots of Hong Kong I have taken from various places. I hope that you can enjoy these photos no matter where you are in the world. One thing I’ll say is that no matter how much of an experienced hiker you may be, Hong Kong (and its unpredictable weather) will most certainly challenge you. After a long day of walking around on a hot and humid day, it feels exceedingly exhausting. Who needs to go to the desert or to a sauna when you are in Hong Kong?! For a number of times I actually felt as if I had been to the gym in my suit! (You know that feeling of wearing a suit and tie in extreme hot and humid weather?!). Anyways, enjoy feasting your eyes with these photos!
When one stands at the Ozone Bar at the 118th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which (if you don’t already know by now), is officially the highest watering hole in the world, at the highest hotel in the world, you get a true feeling of how tiny yet vibrant Hong Kong really is. During the day, everything looks like as if you are standing on top of a matchstick city, while during the night it looks like you are standing in the middle of a garden full of a billion Christmas trees twinkling in the far distance.
Opened on the 29th of March 2011, and occupying the top 17 floors of Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre (ICC), The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is your castle in the sky. The elevator that propels the guests to the arrival lobby at the 103rd floor takes exactly 53 seconds- that’s 9 metres per second to be precise. It’s not as fast as an aircraft taking off on rotation; nevertheless, it may still require you to swallow or even chew a candy to stop your ears popping. On a windy or rainy day, you can hear the wind whistling in the background as the lift goes up (or down). If you ever wanted to experience what life is like above the clouds, and what it feels like to sleep in the clouds, then you have come to the right place. In fact, it’s more than that. Call me mad, but during my brief stay, I could not resist just sitting in my room and watching how quickly the weather went past me and it’s so good that you can see the weather coming towards you from a distance of over 15-20 miles in the horizon. What I am trying to say is that if you were on the ground, you would probably think that it’s a clear day, and you would have no warning or idea that in, say, half an hour it will start raining. Whereas if you are at 1,500 feet above the ground in your cosy room at The Ritz-Carlton you can easily see that it’s raining 20 miles away, and that rain is heading right towards you. A beautiful experience that makes you feel as if you are floating gently on the cloud tops. All the 312 rooms and suites are designed to give you the ultimate in luxury and to make you feel special for whatever reason you are staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Whether it is for business or pleasure. Unlike other hotels, the distinguished service at The Ritz-Carlton comes with the best customer experience, and effectively everything that has to be superlative- there is no room for failure when guests are paying around 5000HKD (approx. 450GBP) per night for the privilege. At that point, it comes to the important part, which is the experience received rather than the height of the hotel. The best part of the stay has to be the sleep. Lovely slumber and cosy 400-thread count bed linen with down feather pillows and throws (600-thread in the Club rooms and Suites). You just can’t beat the experience, and it’s so good that it makes you feel like you don’t want to get out of the bed. Exceeding expectations, the rooms all are fitted with state-of-the-art facilities such as electronic blinds and curtains, 42-inch LCD television (17-inch LCD television in the marble bathroom), Blu-ray DVD player, i-pod docking station, both wired and wireless high-speed internet service, and the all important- Nespresso coffee making machine. Oh, and then there is the useful bedside clock which has an automatic light that comes on only when you pick it up- so you don’t have to get out of your bed to switch on the lights. Sometimes, the latest high-tech gadgets used at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong can even confuse the housekeeping staff. Like for example, the tiny ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) and ‘Please clean’ LED lights outside the doors that are neatly camouflaged inside a black glass panel. It’s a lovely invention that covers the minor but important details of what an experience should be like at a fine accommodation. All the Suites have a telescope that overlooks to the Victoria Harbour and beyond. The views are just fascinating. On a clear day you can get spectacular views with the naked eye for as far places as Lantau Island, Lamma Island, the shores beyond Stanley on the far side of Hong Kong Island, Sha Tin and, even Clear Water Bay. The old airport, Kai Tak, which closed down in 1997 after the British handover, is clearly visible with its runway (runway 31-13) and taxiway all intact even after all these years. In fact, airline pilots would who used to fly into Kai Tak would love The Ritz-Carlton. Standing at the Club Lounge and admiring the views is a treat because the view from the Club Lounge is the same (and from the same height of around 1,500 feet), at which planes would have started their final approach into Kai Tak. The old checkerboard in Kowloon is still very much visible along with Mongkok hill. I highly doubt that the guests residing at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong would have any requirement to take a helicopter tour of the city, as the views are perhaps better because sigh-seeing helicopters in Hong Kong normally fly at around 1000 feet (lower than the IFC!), whereas The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is as mentioned, higher than that. As you may imagine that for a hotel of this height, security and safety are two of the most important features that are looked at very closely by the staff. Even if, say, the fire alarm sensors pick up the slightest of smoke signals then it can set off the alarms fairly effortlessly (as it did when I was there). I was there during a moderate tropical typhoon (which is a common occurrence in Hong Kong), and interestingly enough it felt as if one is floating in the sky with the rain clouds. That whistling wind is so catchy to the ear. Despite the enormous height of the hotel, kudos has to be given to the designers and the architects to make sure that all the facilities are within easy reach by the guests. The Ritz-Carlton Spa and the Club Lounge are on the 116th floor, while the futuristic swimming pool, Gym and the Ozone bar are all on the 118th floor, and all the restaurants are located on either the 103rd or the 102nd floor. The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA features 860 sq m/9,257 sq ft with nine deluxe treatment rooms and two couples’ suites, plus floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views. The facility redefines the Hong Kong spa experience with a personalised and caring service. Guests are welcomed by the sight of a massive crystal chandelier in the Spa reception that costs over USD$0.5 million. Equally well, when it comes to presenting gastronomic delights, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong certainly gives a new meaning to the phrase ‘dining with a view’ like no other. All of the three enormous restaurants on the 102nd floor are gifted with two-story windows that provide a flood of natural light. Acclaimed Japanese firm, Spin Design Studio, designed the restaraurants. The views become more romantic and dramatic at night time- no wonder why all the dining tables are always fully booked. All the restaurants also have private dining rooms to rent that come with sweeping views of Hong Kong, and into the horizon. The three restaurants are: Tosca, which presents authentic southern Italian cuisine as managed by Neapolitan Chef de Cuisine Vittorio Lucariello; Tin Lung Heen, which is Cantonese for Dragon in the Sky, costs HK$888 (£71), an auspicious number in Chinese culture for a prix-fixe dinner; and the Lounge & Bar where one can have their breakfast and admire the stunning views (weather permitting). The most interesting design feature of all has to be the highly illuminated walkways connecting the three main dining venues on the 102nd floor. The walkway panels are either gold, red, green, or blue- depending on the time of the day. With its honeycomb theme interior, the Ozone bar is purely a chic bar that is designed for three things in mind: the views, the elegance (and there is plenty of that here), and the menu on offer. It has it all- the glamour, the looks, the food, the flamboyant architecture, and the jazzy staff to go with it. If you want to just down a few drinks and absorb the atmosphere that is designed to attract Hong Kong’s cashed-in crowed then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tuck into the tasteful carte du jour. The interestingly hologram covered menu contains a wonderful selection of Western, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine (Oysters and Sushi dominate the front few pages), and an equally special selection of wines, cognacs and some exceedingly mind-blowing martinis. However, I would not mind drowning myself into a trademark moijito either. There are endless options from the wine list; well, that should not be a surprise when you have over 10,000 bottles of wine in store at any given time of the day...right? Nevertheless, one thing is for sure, the fact that The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is the highest hotel in the world, is of course, not the real guest experience. For sure, the height at which it’s placed is unquestionably a lure for the masses. However, the real experience and the notion that sets this hotel apart from the rest is The Ritz-Carlton personalised guest provision. One would anticipate nothing short of an exceptional customer service experience from a hotel that has over 30 percent of the 525 staff members having come from the old Ritz-Carlton that stood in Hong Kong Island’s Central district. Glimpses of the old Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong are still somewhat present in this new Ritz-Carlton, however with a twist. For example, the old Ritz-Carlton’s Italian restaurant was named Toscana; while here, they have renamed it ‘Tosca’. Then there are the minor but important details such as the traditional period English furniture, gilt-framed mirrors and the snug-like ambiance of a true five star quality product such as The Ritz-Carlton. The phrase ‘quality and quantity’ certainly fits the bill correctly at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong as it blends in both values with precision. On that note-, interestingly enough there seems to have begun a ‘highest hotel in the world’ race between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Until March 2011, the Park Hyatt Shanghai was officially the highest hotel in the world. Now that title can be enjoyed for a few years by The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong before it goes back to Shanghai again in late 2014 when the J-Hotel (Jin Jiang Group), will be opened on top of the 623-meter Shanghai Tower. But for now, it’s about taking all the chances that you can and be as far removed away from life at street level as possible. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong doesn’t disappointment in that category for the time being. Give it a go, and see if it exceeds your expectations by being pampered in sheer luxury and engage yourself in life at the castle above the clouds. |
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