Now is an excellent time to consider Shanghai or Beijing for your next business meeting, event or incentive. These two cities offer world-class hotels, spacious meeting/dining facilities and fantastic leisure pursuits at a fraction of the price found in other international destinations.
Take the Peninsula Shanghai for example. On a price per square foot basis, this award-winning hotel comes in at just under a fifth of the cost of the Peninsula Paris. The Shanghai property was named World's Best Business Hotel in 2013 by Travel + Leisure and it has the largest deluxe rooms within the Peninsula brand. Similarly, the Four Seasons hotel in Beijing offers more spacious rooms than their London Park Lane property at about a fourth of the price. Downstairs at the Four Seasons Beijing, the team of Michelin-starred chefs at the award winning Cai Yi Xuan restaurant can present an extraordinary meal for considerably less than one at the Four Seasons Washington, DC.
Leisure pursuits in China now rival that found in other international cities. Jack Nicklaus has designed golf courses in both Beijing and Shanghai. His Shanghai Lake Malaren Club will be hosting the BMW Shanghai Masters this November. His Pine Valley Golf and Country Club in Beijing is the first invitation-only golf club in China, featuring both a world-class course and private club space. The Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, which has hosted a number of PGA tournaments over the years, played host to the Volvo China Open this past April.
For those seeking pampering, China is no less a draw. Angsana Spa Shanghai, founded by Banyan Tree Spa, has won a coveted Travel + Leisure award for Best Newly Opened Spa. In Beijing, you might consider SPA by MTM. Kocoon Spa, with two locations in Beijing, is recommended by both the Luis Vuitton City Guide and VOGUE; so expect it to win some accolades in the near future. For an alternative take on wellness, those seeking to balance mind and body should look no further than a private session with a Tai Chi master.
Art lovers should not miss Shanghai’s Long Museum and Yuz Museum, both with extensive collections of contemporary Chinese art. In Beijing, the Red Gate gallery was Beijing’s first private contemporary art gallery and is located in a watchtower of the historic Ming dynasty city wall. The largest concentration of galleries exhibiting Chinese contemporary art is still found at the 798 Art District and the Caochangdi factory area where Ai Wei Wei’s studio is located. Expect chic cultural events this fall, such as Literary Festivals in Beijing and Shanghai, Beijing Design Week, and BolognaFiere Shanghai Contemporary Art Show. As China’s contemporary art scene continues to be red hot, there has never been a better time to head east and pick up a piece (or five) for your office collection.
Whether you are looking to relax, be active, or enjoy shopping or culture, China will pleasantly surprise you in terms of both its array of offerings as well as its unbeatable value. Book your meeting, event or incentive with Imperial Tours soon, because this excellent value that China offers today won’t last forever.
For more on upcoming events in China:
http://imperialtours.net/blog/contemporary-art-events-china
http://imperialtours.net/blog/literary-events
http://imperialtours.net/blog/2015-atp-tennis-events-china
