By Guy Rubin
Centuries ago, in a cliff-face in the midst of China's vast Taklamakan desert, artists hollowed, sculpted and painted 492 caves, creating over 450,000 square feet of spectacular murals, or more than thirty times the mural area of the Sistine Chapel. But whereas the Sistine Chapel was painted over a few years, the works at the Mogao Caves began in the fourth century and were completed over the next millennium.
By Guy Rubin
Centuries ago, in a cliff-face in the midst of China's vast Taklamakan desert, artists hollowed, sculpted and painted 492 caves, creating over 450,000 square feet of spectacular murals, or more than thirty times the mural area of the Sistine Chapel. But whereas the Sistine Chapel was painted over a few years, the works at the Mogao Caves began in the fourth century and were completed over the next millennium.
Given that over that thousand year period competing Imperial dynasties, local aristocracies and even foreign nations conquered the nearby city of Dunhuang, it would have been an astounding feat, perhaps even a miracle, for the painted caves to have survived the subsequent wars and mayhem. However, the Mogao caves – in spite of the unavoidable cultural differences between these different religions and peoples – did not just survive, they prospered through this period. For although rival dynasties, families, tribes, religions and nationalities dominated the area, the sheer magnificence of the Mogao Caves was so overwhelming as to prevail over any differences in its successive rulers. Rather than destroy all vestige of their predecessors, a new ruler would instead fund local artists to incorporate his image into the mythological chorus of the caves' hallowed murals. The ruler would thereby use the caves' beauty to legitimize his new administration. In this way, art served as a bridge linking different peoples to each other; the murals provided a space in which alien cultures could make compromises to each other and salve potential sources of enmity. They were used to finesse contradictions between rich and poor, between Confucianists and Buddhists and between Tibetans, Han and other ethnicities. As such, the murals of the Mogao Caves, bespeaking a universal harmony, herald the triumph of transcendent beauty over the destructive dynamic of temporal orders.
Compare this example of cultural intercourse and compromise with another of Dunhuang's famous sites – the remnants of the earliest sections of the Great Wall. This 16 foot high wall of stamped earth, reinforced with wood, appears as spectacularly random in the midst of the world's second-largest desert. Over two thousand years old, this sinuous fortification, as weathered and cracked as the gargantuan rock formations it purports to divide, now seems more a product of nature than of humanity. Even though the power and scale of the seemingly infinite desert mock the Great Wall's pretensions to mastery, it is an achievement for this human endeavor to have been constructed and have survived for so long in such a hostile environment.
On the one hand, the Mogao Caves create a space for cultures to meet. On the other, the Great Wall was intended to keep cultures apart.
From its inception thousands of years ago, the Great Wall has been a touchstone for debate on how China should deal with her fierce neighbors. Opponents of the Great Wall claimed that peace could only be assured through economic, social and political engagement with China's borderland tribes. When this policy of engagement was preponderant, the borderlands were peaceful. However, at just these times, proponents of the Great Wall argued that Chinese prestige was suffering as a result of China's continual concessions to the warlike tribes, and thus the pendulum swung the other way.
Let us leave the ancient remnants of this Great Wall to travel along the local trade route that led Chinese culture to clash for its first time with a foreign civilization. The Silk Road brought great economic and military benefits to China. The westward export of goods from China fostered terrific fortunes: silks, teas and jade products as well as such brilliant inventions as paper, gunpowder and the compass reaped unimaginable financial rewards. The eastward import of goods most importantly introduced the legendary horses of Central Asia's Ferghana valley; their speed and stamina giving China the military edge in the region. However, the benefits of this trade came at a cost, namely commercial and ideological exchange with alien peoples, societies and cultural values. The homegrown religions of Daoism and Confucianism were threatened by the eastward spread of Buddhism. Han Chinese were forced to deal with the growing military threat of Tibet and the semi-nomadic tribes of the Western regions. Meanwhile the rapid economic and territorial growth of the Chinese Empire was drawing an ever increasing diversity and number of peoples' and thought systems into its sphere of influence. There was a clear danger that this crucible of heterogeneous admixtures would so overheat as to blow the Chinese Empire asunder!
So, how did governors of Dunhuang, the wealthiest and most significant of the borderland areas on the Silk Road, deal with the challenge of managing so much diversity? To understand the factors of their successful strategy, you should firstly put yourself in the saddle of a traveler of the time.
The first time you, yourself, journey to Dunhuang, the closest you will probably come to the vicissitudes of the desert, will be in the flickering shadow of your airplane as it fleets across the pitiless expanses. However, not far from Dunhuang, at the Dunes of the Singing Sands, you can mount a camel and recreate the experience of traveling along the Silk Road two thousand years ago. Even when you are lulled into reverie by your proud-nosed camel's lolling sway, you will still feel the heat of the sun parching your skin. In your imagination, you might see yourself within a large caravan of traders. There may even be a protecting contingent of soldiers accompanying your group. However, it is early morning and the hum of the tall, shifting sands fills you with foreboding. You open your eyes to see the dunes rise out of the air before you; instantly you are dwarfed by the immensity of the desert. One foul sand storm is all that is needed for you to lose your group, your family and your bearings. You recall the stark warning of Fa Xian, that famous monk of the fourth century, who writes from this spot, "the only signs of a road are the skeletons of the dead. Wherever they lie, there lies the road to India." Though you have heard tell of brigands along the way, you now feel all too keenly that your greatest threat lies not from other people, but from nature itself.
The perennial threat of the desert hung over every oasis town, inhabitant and traveler. This constant reminder of life's transience and death's arbitrariness acted as a break on any dispute; it added a broader dimension to life along the Silk Road. Although this factor naturally calmed social unrest, Dunhuang's governors did not need to rely on it. At any given moment, they could enforce their will through a forceful military presence. The threat of their strong garrison was softened however by conciliatory cultural policies. It is the syncretic give and take of this cultural policy of engagement that is exhibited in the murals of the Mogao Caves.
In the shadowy caves (take a torch with you), there is no apparent contradiction between the thousands of Buddhas painted on the lower walls and the Daoist symbols painted on the ceiling. Nor is there one between the Confucianist veneration of ancestors on one wall and a representation of the historic Buddha running away from his family on another. Instead of analytically challenging components of each others' belief systems, the artists have assimilated all aspects of the faiths in a rich mythological tapestry. What appears irrational to one person will surely seem inspiring to another – both will agree that the representations are dazzlingly rich and beautiful.
Hegel observed that we learn from history that we do not learn from history. As we enter an age which the historian Samuel Huntingdon has characterized as being afflicted with the clash of competing civilizations, we do well to remember that civilizations have clashed many times before. They did so along the Silk Road approximately two thousand years ago, and the principle fruit of this encounter were hundreds of cave paintings of spell-binding harmony and beauty.
First published March 2003 in Culturaltravels.com under the title "A Study In Harmony".
The museum at Sanxingdui, nearly 30 miles north of Chengdu, presents one of China 's most splendid, if mysterious, archeological finds. In 1929, when a collection of 400 multicolored jades were accidentally uncovered by a farmer here, this site was recognized as having rich potential; digs were organized in the 1930's by Gei Weihan, an American-Chinese professor, and then again in 1960's under Chinese direction. It wasn't until July 1986 however, that archaeologists discovered the two sacrificial pits containing hundreds of elaborate ivory, jade, gold and bronze artifacts that were to launch Sanxingdui onto the world stage. Intricate gold and bronze castings, dating from the first millennium BCE as well as ceramics from the third millennium BCE, revealed the remnants of a technologically-proficient ancient society and questioned the prevailing orthodoxy of Chinese culture originating in the Yellow River basin. Here was proof of a sophisticated culture from the Chengdu Plain that seemed to have little to do with its contemporary counterpart at Anyang in Hebei province (south of Beijing), but something to do with the cultures further down the Yangzi River.
What does the slender, finely-worked gold scepter represent? What were the variously-sized, intriguing gold-plated bronze masks for? What do the magnificent bronze trees harboring strange birds, sun gods and other figures indicate? Not only can scholars not agree in their interpretations of these artifacts and symbols, they cannot even say which ancient culture of approximately three thousand years ago is represented by them.
Some say Sanxingdui is the forerunner to the later Shu culture (romanticized in the novel Three Kingdoms), others see strong central Asian influences. Whichever of those it may be, a vibrant artisanal connection with the bronze-working cultures of northern Thailand and southern Yunnan seems certain. Although many of the faces do not look especially Chinese, some of the bronzes carry Chinese patterns. What is remarkable is that Chinese records, usually so all-encompassing of anything that their brush could touch, are silent – we really just do not know. Another unknown is some of the technology used in the production of these cultural artifacts – without diamond-saws how on earth did they cut the jade so smooth?
What is beyond doubt is the quality of the magnificent bronzes – the strange huge mask with the protruding eyes, the enchanting shaman figure that may have once held an elephant tusk in his capacious hands, and the birds and other totemic animals of the 'divine trees', as well as other works.
Day One
Today you will fly to Chengdu, the capital of modern Sichuan province. A historic capital serving as the traditional gateway to the Tibetan plateau, Chengdu has in recent years become a vibrant and sophisticated metropolis. Prepare yourself for mouth-watering Sichuan food, wonderful cultural sites and of course one of the rarest bears on our planet. (Shangri-la Hotel – Executive Riverview Room) (B, L, D)
Day Two
Early this morning we will take you to the Panda Research Institute, set within spacious parkland, where you will be able to observe pandas being fed a breakfast of bamboo shoots in their lush green pens.
Before lunch, we will visit a traditional Chengdu street to view, if not taste, some traditional Sichuanese street foods and tea-houses. This afternoon, you will drive an hour outside the city to visit one of the most mysterious archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century – Sanxingdui. The site is believed to date from the third millennium BCE. As well as cast bronze "sacred trees" on which stand molded singing birds and hundreds of jade and lacquer wares, there are a series of gold-plated bronze masks that are astonishingly beautiful. Compounding the archeological wealth of Sanxingdui is the silence of any historical record positioning this advanced civilization within the arc of China 's pre-history. This has wrapped the site in a shroud of mystery as intriguing and compelling as that of the Egyptian pyramids. (B, L, D)
Day Three
This morning, we will travel to one of China's most important Daoist Temples, Qingyang Temple. Daoism as a religious practice and institution incorporates a broad and set of historic disciplines within its belief system. As well as the worthwhile chemical and herbal research completed over the ages in pursuit of an "Immortality Pill", Qingyanggong also has a Daoist orchestra, a Taiji master, a Taiji tea instructor, a homeophathic doctor and a Daoist restaurant. Quite apart from a personal meeting with a Daoist monk to learn about such ideological matters as synchronicity, the Eight Trigrams and their interaction with the energy forces of Yin & Yang, visitors will be able to investigate some of the above disciplines and also tour the living quarters of the monks. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to your next destination. (B, L)
Please note that B, L, D denotes Breakfast, Lunch Dinner.
Day One
Upon arrival at Beijing's Capital International Airport, you will be met at the gate by airport VIP staff who will lead you through immigration, baggage claim and customs. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Treat yourself to a swim or spa treatment, take a stroll in the local neighborhood, or dine at one of our recommended restaurants (Raffles Hotel – Landmark Room).
Day Two
This morning we take you to one of ancient China's most sacred sites, the majestic Temple of Heaven. The afternoon's activities contrast colossal monuments of the past and present. After strolling across the impressive Tiananmen Square, an authoritative symbol of today's China, you will by awed by the majesty of the magnificent Forbidden City (as in Bertolucci's film "The Last Emperor"). Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's private quarters, normally closed to the general public. (Please note that access to this site is controlled by local authorities, who may deny access on occasion. (B, L, D)
Day Three
Today you will visit the Great Wall which has fascinated generations of travelers. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon saw it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. Spanning from the Gobi desert in the west to the Bohai Gulf in the east, it reaches as far back in time as the seventh century BCE and is being projected forwards as one of China's proudest symbols for the 2008 Olympics. While the utility and meaning of this defense mechanism has been contested by centuries of diplomats and invaders, its unprecedented scale will astonish you and its unexpected beauty will inspire you. You will be treated to a private banquet on the wall itself (weather permitting). (B, L, D)
Day Four 
We begin with a pedicab tour through Beijing's historic alleyways (or hutong ). During this you will be afforded an insight into the everyday life of Beijingers. The hutongs ' intimacy contrasts with the poetic expanses you will see at our afternoon visit to the Summer Palace, a retreat built exclusively for the Dowager Empress Cixi. Its ornate temples, pavilions, and covered corridors, set amidst a graceful landscape, epitomize the refinement of this powerful matriarch. This evening's dinner perpetuates this sense of grace, leaving you with a wonderful memory of this Northern capital. (B, L, D)
Please note that B, L, D denotes Breakfast, Lunch Dinner.
The above itinerary is based on what past guests have generally enjoyed on a short visit to Beijing. No two guests are the same and while one might love to see the pandas at Beijing Zoo, another might prefer to hear a private lecture on Chinese literature in an elegant tea house. Please tell us your interests and we will customize an itinerary to suit. Guests who prefer to see more and rest less or who have more time to spend in Beijing, might choose to also visit the iconic Hutong neighborhoods, 798 Contemporary Art District, Lama and Confucius Temples, the West Qing Tombs or the East Qing Tombs. Note that these are only several of the additional sites in Beijing – you really could spend a couple of weeks here alone!
City tours are arranged on a private basis only. Visitors interested in a small-group tour of China, should view our frequent Imperial Tour itinerary.
Xi'an and its surrounding area is at the very heart of China's history. This city served as the capital seat of twelve dynasties for more than 1100 years, and its Wei valley is the legendary birthplace of Chinese civilization. It was here that the mythical Yellow Emperor (third millennium BC) conquered the other warring tribes to give birth to the Chinese nation.
Over the centuries successive capitals have changed their names and locations, as well as their characters. The remains of Gaojing, the capital during the Western Zhou dynasty (1027-771 BC), consist of crude bronze artifacts for cooking, burial and farming. They reflect an early agricultural society. This is in contrast to the despotic Emperor Qinshihuang's (r. 221-207 BC) Xianyang, a capital city erected twenty-eight km west of modern day Xi'an. Built on a scale to befit such a tyrant, it came to be detested by the people as a symbol of his oppressive and short-lived regime.
The Western Han dynasty (206BC-8AD) moved the capital to within ten kilometres of Xi'an. It was during this prosperous period that Chang'an, as it was then known, rose to international prominence. A century after the opening of the Silk Road, Julius Caesar appeared one evening at the theater wearing a garment that caused a sensation – it was a silk robe from Chang'an. Silk, paper, tea, iron casting and irrigation were other inventions similarly exported to the West at this time.
After the Eastern Han dynasty (8-220 AD) transferred the imperial capital to Luoyang, it didn't return to Xi'an until China was once more reunified under the Sui dynasty (589-618). Once more the grandiose schemes of a despotic, conquering Emperor were curtailed by a dynasty more amenable to the people. During the golden age of the Tang dynasty (618-907), when China led the world in culture, technology and wealth, Chang'an became a focus for new ideas. A vast and splendid city of eighty square km, only twenty less than today's industrialized city, it contained a two million strong population. So beautiful were its buildings and orderly its design that the Japanese used Chang'an as the model for the still extant, smaller cities of Kyoto and Nara.
As the Tang Emperors pushed back China's frontiers more and more cultures from Central Asia, India and Persia were absorbed into the cosmopolitan capital. Besides the especially strong Buddhist community, there were also Zoroastrian, Muslim, Manichaean and Nestorian ones. The town thronged to the raucous rhythms of markets, taverns, workshops, and even polo matches.
Renowned for its numerous gardens and canals, Suzhou is frequently mislabeled as the "Venice of the East". Its size and trading volumes though once significant nonetheless do not warrant such a grandiose comparison. Rather, it is best to think of Suzhou as the most distinguished of a multitude of canal towns, dotted around the Yangzi delta.
Suzhou's history dates back to the early seventh century BC at which time the semi-mythical ruler, He Lu, of the Kingdom of Wu is said to have founded the city. With the completion of the Grand Canal during the Sui dynasty (581-618 AD), Suzhou became a thriving commercial district as items such as silk were transported along the bustling waterways. Marco Polo recorded that its populace was comprised of "prudent merchants, and, as already observed, skilful in all the arts. They have also many persons learned in natural science, good physicians, and able philosophers."
During the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) with the increased concentration of silk manufacture here, Suzhou became an ever more fashionable cultural center. Thus by 1794, one of the members of Lord Macartney's ill-fated embassy to China described the town as having "(ruling) Chinese taste in matters of fashion and speech, and is the meeting place of the richest pleasure-seekers and gentlemen of leisure in China."
The city's good fortune ran out during the 1860's due to its occupation in the Taiping rebellion and then again in World War II by the Japanese. Today however, Suzhou is regaining its reputation for leisure as its visitors are afforded the rare opportunity to wander through the ancient gardens and homes of aristocrats, scholars and merchants. It is said that at one time, there were more than two hundred gardens in Suzhou. While not all of these still exist, some of the more famous such as those of the Humble Administrator and the Master of the Nets have been restored to their former beauty.
More recently, the city has been undergoing a new transformation. A Singaporean consortium, with the contribution of I.M. Pei, a Suzhou native, has helped to revive Suzhou's original architectural facade. Once more, Suzhou offers a parade of traditional white buildings and cobble-stoned walkways, lined with trees and flowering plants.
A further modern addition, indicative of the ingenious planning being invested in the city's renovation, is the newly built Sheraton Hotel. We will stop here for a dimsum lunch to admire the creative synthesis of traditional Chinese design with the demands of a modern luxury hotel.
The Western view:
"Green mountains surround on all sides the still waters of the lake. Pavilions and towers in hues of gold and azure rise here and there. One would say a landscape composed by a painter. Only towards the east, where there are no hills, does the land open out, and there sparkle, like fishes' scales, the bright coloured tiles of a thousand roofs."
(Jacques Gernet, Daily life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion)
The Eastern view:
"In heaven there is Paradise, On earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." (popular saying)
Hangzhou's inordinate beauty has been an inspiration to artists for centuries – Lin Hejiang, a tenth century poet is famous for having lived as a recluse on Solitary island for twenty years. And indeed, two more of China's most influential poets, Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo, served as governors here at that time.
During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) the city became known as a popular tourist destination, much frequented by such notables as the Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong, who built a palace and important library here. Similarly, during the late twentieth century, Mao Ze Dong was smitten by its charm. He snatched moments from his hectic political life to write "Ode to the Mume Blossom", which by its very title recalls Lin Heijiang's "To the Mume Blossom", written a thousand years earlier.
Hangzhou rose to prominence as the capital of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Forced to flee before the invading Jurched, the Imperial court under the rule of the pusillanimous Emperor Gaozong (1107-1187) moved its capital southwards from Kaifeng to Hangzhou. Under the patronage of this court, Hangzhou's arts and commerce received unprecedented impetus, transforming it, in Marco Polo's words into, "a city of heaven…the finest and most splendid city in the world."
Chinese products, such as silk and ceramics, were traded for wood, pearls and handicrafts from Japan; ginseng and medicinal herbs from Korea; and spices, ivory and jewels from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. As a result, by the end of the thirteenth century, the wealthy population had swelled from half a million to nearly two million. The city became known for its sybaritic life: one resident had the floor of his house covered with tiles inlaid with silver; pets were dyed pink with balsam leaves and Hangzhou's West Lake became the focus of a thirteenth century pleasure-ground with splendid boats, restaurants and entertainers.
Seven hundred years later, Hangzhou's West Lake continues to draw foreign tourists and local Chinese to its beautiful shores.
CONTACT:
Hilari Graff at Strategic Vision
Tel: 914-881-9056/9020
hgraff@strategicvision.org
IMPERIAL TOURS SETS 2010 ‘FAMILY TOUR’ DEPARTURE & PRICING
FOR LUXURY ESCORTED GROUP PROGRAM IN CHINA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 3, 2010) – Imperial Tours, the leading luxury tour operator based in China, has set the 2010 date and pricing for its annual escorted group Family Tour.
Ideal for families (with young kids to teenagers), the 11-night Family Tour takes travelers to Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai from July 9 (arrive in Beijing) to July 20 (depart for home from Shanghai). Recognizing that too much history and sightseeing can be overwhelming for children, Imperial’s Family Tour strikes a superb balance by incorporating kite flying, pandas, boat rides, kung fu, a shadow puppet show and more into an enchanting program for all ages. Specially crafted experiences indulge children and inspire their interest in China, and all hotels and restaurants selected are extremely family-friendly without sacrificing the upscale quality of the vacation.
The Family Tour includes:
To view the Family Tour program in detail, visit http://imperialtours.net/family_tour.htm.
The 11-night Family Tour is priced from $7,270 per adult and $6,580 per child (under age 12) based on two adults and two children. Domestic internal China air in economy class (Beijing – Xian, Xian – Guilin, and Guilin – Shanghai) costs an additional $1,065 per adult and $535 per child (under 12).
Prices do not include international airfare to/from China, visa processing, travel insurance, personal expenses (such as alcoholic beverages, imported mineral waters, excess luggage fees, telephone charges, room service and laundry charges), and gratuities to the China Host.
The Family Tour can be extended to include visits to other destinations such as Chengdu, Dunhuang, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Lhasa, Lijiang, Sanya, Shangri-La and Suzhou.
The Family Tour is limited to 20 people (an eight-person minimum is required for departure). Upgrades to accommodations in suites and first-class domestic China air cost extra. For more information on Imperial’s Family Tour or other scheduled group departures, please visit our tours page. Imperial Tours also has a Spanish-language website at www.imperialtours.es.
Imperial Tours – Traveling China…in Style
The leading luxury tour operator based in China, Imperial Tours offers customized private tours and scheduled escorted group departures that combine local expertise with the high levels of service and quality expected by sophisticated Western travelers. For the ultimate journey in style, bilingual, China-based Western hosts accompany each group and private tour. Through its portfolio of programs and themed excursions, Imperial Tours provides the ‘best of the best’ in China encompassing accommodations, dining, sightseeing, experiences and much more at unrivaled value. Founded by Westerners in 1999, Imperial Tours has offices in Beijing, San Francisco, Offenbach (Germany) and Poole (UK).
A testament to its unparalleled knowledge and experience in planning luxury customized programs to China, Imperial Tours has been awarded the distinction of a ‘top travel specialist’ by Condé Nast Traveler in 2008 and 2009 and has been named to Travel + Leisure’s ‘A’ List of Super Agents every year between 2002 and 2009. In addition to top accolades, Imperial has been privileged to bring celebrities and royalty to China including Anthony Edwards, Natalie Portman, Michael Phelps, Sara Lee, Baroness Katherine de Rothschild, Katie Couric and the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Contact Information
For more information, please call (888) 888-1970, send an e-mail to margot@imperialtours.net. Become a fan of Imperial Tours on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/imperialtours.
Note to Editors
High-resolution digital images of Imperial Tours/China are available upon request.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2007
Media Contacts:
Margot Kong
Imperial Tours
888-888-1970
web_inquiry@imperialtours.net
Imperial Tours Provides Exclusive Activities in Hong Kong
San Francisco, Calif. – Imperial Tours is now able to offer a multitude of unique, exclusive experiences to its guests in Hong Kong. Visitors may participate in private activities only otherwise available to those "in the know," from a historical walking tour of the city to high tea with a fortune teller.
Special activities include:
Diplomatic Channel
The VIP treatment begins as guests deplane from their international flight. An airport official will meet weary travelers as they come off the jet bridge. They are whisked through the diplomatic channel without having to wait in long lines for customs and immigration. Then, a driver from the Peninsula Hotel meets guests and delivers them to the hotel in one of their ultra-luxurious Phantom Rolls-Royces.
Helicopter Tour
Imperial Tours can arrange for a helicopter tour of the city, providing stunning views of Hong Kong's dizzying skyline and the waters off Repulse Bay.
Personal Shopper
Aside from being a financial and commercial hub, Hong Kong is also a Mecca for serious shoppers. For those who want to take their shopping up a notch, why not hire a professional shopper? Choose from a networking of ex-pats who have lived in Hong Kong for decades and are truly passionate about shopping. Depending on specific interests, they can direct shoppers to the best and most reputable places for antiques, tailoring, custom jewelry, jade and porcelain, furniture, clothing, decorative items, leather goods and eyewear.
Fortune Teller
Take a break from shopping and sightseeing by having High Tea at the Peninsula with a Feng Shui and I-Ching master. This fortune teller will give a "Destiny Reading" based on one's date and place of birth. Alternatively, guests may bring along their architectural plans and the master will provide Feng Shui consulting.
Cooking Lesson
Food aficionados can take a private dim sum making lesson at the Peninsula Hotel. This experience is not only fun, but also instructive and will be followed by one of the best dim sum lunches anywhere in the world.
Art Expert
For serious art collectors, Imperial Tours – through its connection to Sotheby's – can arrange introductions to private collections and top tier dealers. Whether the interest lays in contemporary art, ceramics, or general antiques, access to these connections lends legitimacy to one's art purchases.
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Imperial Tours has the ability to open up the Tiffany store prior to its opening to the general public. Guests can enjoy a private breakfast and then have the store to themselves for an exclusive shopping spree. This can also be arranged at Prada and Chanel.
"There are so many amazing sightseeing, shopping and dining possibilities in Hong Kong," said Imperial Tours Managing Partner Nancy Kim. "Our company's aim is to help guests weed through the countless options and choose the best and most unique activities available. Hong Kong makes an excellent addition to any private tour to mainland China."
About Imperial Tours
Imperial Tours offers luxury set-departure and private tours of China, combining local expertise with the high levels of service and quality expected by sophisticated Western travelers. Imperial Tours has first-hand knowledge of world-class hotels and restaurants as well as the history, culture, arts, and little-known exclusive destinations within China. Founded in 1999, Imperial Tours operates out of Beijing, China; San Francisco, California; and Frankfurt, Germany. For more information, visit www.imperialtours.net or call 888-888-1970.
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Dear Guy, The 2008 Beijing Olympics are re-casting the competitive landscape of Beijing's hotel industry. The opening of three luxury hotels in Financial Street this autumn, in addition to Raffles Hotel in central Beijing, will re-distribute high-end leisure and corporate guests within the city. This edition of "Imperial Tours China News" will introduce these new properties and will discuss the relative merits of the eastern Central Business District (CBD) versus the up and coming Financial Street on the western side of the city. The three new hotels herald a shake-up of Beijing's luxury hotel industry. And, we're only at the beginning – many more hotels, including the Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Aman, JW Marriott, and another Ritz Carlton are not even included in this missive because they haven't yet opened. !!!! Rooms for 2008 Beijing Olympics NOW coming onto market!!!! We have begun the process of booking hotel rooms for the 2008 Olympics period. This process contains many caveats because the Beijing Olympic Committee has not yet released logistical and ticketing information. Also, many of the properties now taking bookings are new and untested in terms of service. However, early bird bookers can now make room reservations via Imperial Tours. This is on a first come, first served basis, so please drop us a line if you have clients interested in booking rooms during the 2008 Olympics. To recap, this broadcast covers the following issues:
Lastly, to inspire your day at work, we are including an introduction to the zaniest of ancient Chinese philosophers, Zhuangzi. Professor Wang Bo of Beijing University will take you on a voyage through Zhuangzi's startling viewpoints to reveal fresh and provocative insights into life. |
Virtuoso's China Onsite Traveling China…in style Phone us at 888 888 1970 |
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East or West Beijing? Financial Street, located in west central Beijing, is a new development in which the new Intercontinental, Ritz Carlton and Westin hotels are based. Previously, Beijing's luxury hotels, such as the St. Regis, were on the east side of the city in an area now called the "Central Business District" or CBD for short. This includes foreign embassies and the most sought after commercial real estate. To compete, the government of Xicheng District, on Beijing's western side, has launched Financial Street. This is a real estate development targeting the country's top insurance, banking and telecommunications companies. Already JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, the two top U.S. investment banks in China, have moved their offices to Financial Street following in the wake of a stampede of major Chinese companies said to represent almost half of China's GDP. Clearly, this puts the Intercontinental, the Ritz Carlton and the Westin Hotels in good company and shifts the city's center of gravity westwards. Financial Street is still taking its first steps. Star chefs such as Jereme Leung and luxury good stores, such as Gucci, have not yet moved into its vicinity even though all have plans to do so. Corporate customers in the insurance, financial and telecom sectors are likely customers for hotels in this area, but how attractive will it be for leisure travelers? We think that the hotels on Financial Street will become a good alternative for travelers. The majority of Beijing's tourist sites are in the center or to the west of Beijing. Only the airport is to its north east. Little but inertia and a proven track record tie leisure clients to hotels located in the CBD. When we take into account the larger average room sizes of hotels on Financial Street, the impact of these hotels should be to increase the competitiveness and value for money of Beijing luxury hotels. Consequently, we view the development with its new bars, restaurants and hotels as a welcome innovation in the city. Chinese – American Ties We are used to hearing of enmity rather than amity between China and America. Thank goodness the facts do not bear this out. For just as China is Americans' most popular destination in Asia, with 19% more Americans visiting this year than last, so is America the most popular destination with Chinese citizens, 20% more of whom visited America in the same period. Dunhuang Expands Its Airport Dunhuang lies in the Taklamakan Desert, the world's second largest after the Saharan. Fifteen hundred years ago, this city marked China's border with the Silk Road and was one of the largest and wealthiest entrepots in the world. Thanks to the rise of sea travel and the protection afforded by its own desert remoteness, one of the world's greatest art treasures has lain forgotten in the sands for millennia. The Mogao Caves boast nearly 500 frescoed caves dating from the Silk Road era of the fourth to the fourteenth centuries. By expanding the existing Dunhuang domestic airport to receive international flights, the Mogao Caves and the insights they afford into the Silk Road era will become more accessible to all. To learn more about Dunhuang and the Mogao Caves, please click here. |
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Hotel/Restaurant Update For Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing Hotels Comment:The top hotels in Beijing and Shanghai offer excellent service, larger rooms, more modern facilities, superior equipment and lower prices than their peers in London, New York, Paris and Rome. Why not recommend China for a private tour? For a lower daily price than a typical European hotel, your clients can enjoy an altogether superior and more exotic experience in the form of an exclusive private tour of China. Beijing New Hotel Properties On Financial Street The hotels reviewed below have raised the bar still higher for five star hotels in China. A flat screen TV, sound system, DVD player, broadband internet access, quality bath products and spa are now taken for granted. The newly extended characteristic is the room size. Ritz Carlton Hotel Intercontinental Hotel Westin Hotel Update – Since its opening, travel agents have complained to me about the Westin's service. This is not unexpected. Hotel's are opening at an unbelievable pace in China's main cities, and their human resource departments find it hard to get up to speed. New properties in China often have excellent hardware, but their service levels should be expected to be erratic in the first weeks, months and even years of operation. One To Watch – Raffles Hotel Commune By The Great Wall – Phase 2 When Imperial Tours went to inspect the properties shortly thereafter we discovered that many of the bedrooms did not have en-suite bathrooms and many of the room fixtures fell short of expectations. For this reason, we used its excellent restaurant and banquet facilities but never booked its rooms. On Saturday September 24th, 2006, the second phase was opened. In all there are 12 buildings based on modifications of 4 designs from the first phase. Now managed by Kempinski, the mid-level five star German hotel operator, all bedrooms come with en-suite bathrooms, and while fixtures are not first class, they are serviceable. The in situ Six Senses Spa is well done, and I can foresee many Friday afternoons when my office-numbed mind will race one hour out of the city ahead of me in quest of reinvigoration. Commune By the Great Wall is a design phenomenon nestled in a valley running by the Great Wall of China about one hour's drive north of the city center. As a design concept, it delivers. However, the challenge of successfully delivering a range of high quality services to demanding guests in approximately 60 rooms in 12 separate buildings, is likely to stretch the capabilities of the local staff. Notwithstanding that it would be wise to forewarn guests of the likelihood of service issues, visitors will be pleased by the architectural journey that this property offers. Shanghai Le Royal Meridien Other Destinations Sofitel Xi'an at Renmin Square Four Seasons, Hangzhou Restaurants Comment: Over the past year, Shanghai's restaurant scene has become so much hotter than Beijing's that we Beijing-based expats have been scratching our heads in wonder at the widening gap. The capital's restaurant scene is now responding. In this broadcast, we report on four new restaurants in the city, of which three would meet our customers' high expectations. Meanwhile, Shanghai has not been idle. Bund 6 is a new lifestyle center that has opened to challenge Three on the Bund and Bund 18. And Bund 5 is repositioning itself to join the three other buildings as a lifestyle center. Beijing Garden of Delights – At long last, Beijing has an independent western restaurant to challenge the complacent Courtyard. Long time Beijing resident and award-winning Venezuelan architect, Antonio Ochoa-Piccardo has teamed up with star chefs Mariano Montero and Edgar Leal of "Cacao" in Coral Gables, FL to open this wonderful South American restaurant. "Garden of Earthly Delights", the painting by Hieronymus Bosch, images of which appear throughout the restaurant, is a fitting metaphor for this stage of epicurean adventure. Our journey through the garden began with delicious black bean foam and ended with a hot chocolate so creamy that three of us duelled over it with our spoons. Between the beginning and end of the satiating repast, we dined on finely prepared ceviche, seared foie gras, seafood tamale and an Argentinean Matambre steak, all of which are to be recommended. The restaurant's surroundings are as warm and inventive as its cuisine. And the Chinese wait staff, under the watchful direction of the charming restaurant manager Alex and executive chef Daniel, were inspired with the charm of the Latin skies. Lan by South Beauty – Beijing joins the ranks of metropolises boasting a Philippe Starck-designed restaurant. South Beauty, a fast-expanding Sichuanese restaurant chain in China, is moving into the high end segement. Having opened South Beauty 881 in Shanghai (featured in a previous broadcast), Philippe Starck was commissoined to design a huge restaurant space in the LG Tower on Jianguomenwai Road. South Beauty's culinary success is attibutable to their embellishment of Sichuanese food. Well-loved classics such as chilli-spiced chicken and "Lion head" meat balls sit on a menu together with Indian lettuce with sesame sauce and delicate bamboo and squid appetizers. Although the food is good not sublime, it meets the expecations created by the avant-garde decor. My criticism of this space is that it bears no relation to its context. You could be anywhere in the world; Chinese themes and materials are absent as though the owner, Zhang Lan, wished to create an entirely western locale in the midst of the ancient Chinese capital. Imperial Tours will use this restaurant because Philippe Starck's is a fascinating statement. However, it is a shame that this opportunity to benefit from the talents of a world-class designer was not used to innovate a Chinese aesthetic. Jaan – As promised in our last broadcast, we dined at Jaan, Raffles' new French restaurant. Guillaume Galliot, the Chef de Cuisine, hails from Michelin three star "Le Jardin Des Sens" in Montpellier, France, whose sister restaurant, Sens & Bund in Shanghai, regularly features on our private tours. For this reason, our expectations of Chef Galliot were high. The lightness of touch of the salmon carpaccio, seared tuna, lobster capuccino, seafood salad, steamed sea bass and baked cod were a delicious tonic. Jaan is clearly one of the best western restaurants in the city. Nhu – This is a recently-opened western restaurant – bar – club opened by a few veteran Beijing restaurateurs. This venue has already become the darling of PR companies for multimedia events using its panoply of multi-functional spaces. Although Nhu is a welcome addition to expat life, judged on the quality of its food, its appeal is limited to a local rather than international clientele. Shanghai The Chinoise Story – Various restaurants of Andrew Tjoe, the Singaporean restaurateur, have been previously reviewed in our past broadcasts. One of the first, "Humble House" in Chengdu, was featured in "Departures" as part of our Culinary Tour, and his "Humble House" in Beijing has been reviewed here long ago, and has now appeared in many international magazines. "The Chinoise Story" is his new venture in Shanghai, in which he is partnered by the Old Jinjiang Hotel, an Art Deco structure in which the restaurant is located. The food is good and the design of the restaurant is suitably nostalgic whilst remaining contemporary. White leather banquette seats allude to the glamour of the interwar period, whilst articulated white lacquer panels and geometric pendant lighting reflect the aspirations of modern times. T Sens – Since Sens & Bund is our favorite western restaurant in Shanghai, it is hardly surprising that their recently opened casual dining venue on Suzhou Creek wins my plaudits. While many will question the interior design of this waterfront space both for function (the glass building may be hot in summer and cold in winter) and form (a cross between a wedding cake and a doll's house), the service and food are in line with the pricing. Since Sens & Bund is only a short walk away, the menu has been designed around lower cost items to encourage market segmentation rather than risk having this venue cannibalize sales at Sens & Bund. T Sens is more appropriate for lunch than dinner and should be judged on that basis. Hugo's – This Chinese – Dutch joint venture is located across the street from the Four Seasons in a period building that was formerly the Spanish Consulate. The ground floor and garden make a pleasant brasserie and the upper two floors with their terrace spaces are for fine dining. The restaurant manager and chef hail from De Hoefslag, the Michelin rated restaurant outside Utrecht in Holland. Having eaten my way through four restaurants in a two day period, I had little appetite by the time I arrived at this establishment. The restaurant had not even officially opened when I visited for a bowl of soup, so there is time for me to go back to make a more informed judgement. Shanghai Club – The decor at this restaurant at the north-west corner of the Music Conservatory on Renmin Square is known to be gaudy, so I was pleasantly surprised when the decor was not quite as tacky as I had been warned. Although the chef comes from a Michelin-rated restaurant, the dishes were as disappointing as the service. A Future Perfect – Perfection is a laudable aim. This newly opened restaurant in Shanghai offers easy and light western food. Whilst it is a welcome addition to the expat dining scene in Shanghai, as an alternative to such restaurants as "Mesa", "A Future Perfect" does not make it for the international traveler. Elements Fresh – There are now 5 casual western restaurants in Shanghai offering light salads, soups, pasta and easy western food. For independent travelers who are looking for a break from Chinese food, these casual eateries might be an option. None of these restaurants belong in the luxury bracket. For luxury travelers seeking a more casual dining option in Shanghai, we would recommend "New Heights" on the top floor of "Three on the Bund". The array of newly wealthy Chinese and newly arrived expats taking coffee or a hamburger on the balcony of this historic building recaptures the spirit of Shanghai past. Bund 5 & Bund 6 – So many foreign companies are investing in buildings on Shanghai's Bund these days that at the last People's Congress a Chinese representative complained about the prospect of a second colonization of the Chinese city. As a result, there is some sensitivity to development here. Nonetheless, the current spate of development projects are coming to fruition. Bund 6 offers Dolce & Gabbana's stylish new store on the ground floor. Refreshment is provided at an eponymously named "Martini" bar next door. On the second floor, the Suntori owned and beautifully crafted "Sun" Japanese restaurant is already open, together with Aqua, its accompanying bar. We look forward to the exciting prospect of Tiandiyijia opening on the third floor. Bund 5, which houses the newly enlarged "M on the Bund", is also now upgrading itself to a lifestyle center. The designer furniture store on the ground floor is of interest. However, the spa does not compare to the Evian Spa at Three on the Bund. Attica Shanghai – The dome of a stately Victorian building further south along the Bund, as of last month, played host to the hottest new dance club in Shanghai. Boasting three roof top restaurants looking straight onto Shanghai harbor, it seems that for the next few months this is the place to be seen.
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I wanted to let you know Joe & I felt our China trip was phenomenal! Every aspect of it was so well done; the attention to details was unlike anything we'd seen (and you know we're well traveled). We totally appreciated how you made every effort to have our sightseeing excursions be as uncrowded & uncommercial as possible. And we totally appreciated how you made almost every meal an occasion – we kind of ate our way through China! Unbelievable experience from start to finish!" Tour News 2007 dates and prices for our 13 night monthly departure, the Imperial Tour visiting Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou and Shanghai, are now out. The price of US$7,680 per person remains a steal in comparison to Europe, and we encourage travel professionals, journalists and editors to re-gear visitors' expectations of China. For details of this tour, please click here. We are also pleased to introduce the new Majestic Tour at US$6,790 per person. Since excellence only comes in one form, Imperial Tours' supporters will be delighted to know that there is no quality difference between this and the classic Imperial Tour. The lower price follows the elimination of Hangzhou from the itinerary. The 11 night tour, visiting Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai, follows a market trend towards shorter itineraries. For more details of departures in April, May, September and October, 2007, please click here. For more information about our August 2007 Family Tour or the subsequent Culinary Tour, departing in September 2007, please call Margot Kong at 888 888 1970 or email her now by clicking here. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) To date, Imperial Tours has principally given assistance, both financial and administrative, to the ambitious Special Olympics program in China. For several years, we have also been sponsoring the education of various rural children. In this newsletter, we thank former customers, particularly guests of "Diversions" of Baltimore, for their assistance in co-sponsoring a new playground for the children of a rural school outside Guilin in southern China. Details of Imperial Tours CSR and the playground can be viewed by clicking here. Thanks to the technical assistance of Kelly Lau of Nike, China, as well as offers of help from other guests, this project will now be moving to a second phase, which we will report on in due course. |
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Zhuangzi, Ancient Chinese Philosopher Discovery – The Spirit of Zhuangzi Imperial Tours sponsored a series of four lectures in Beijing on Chinese philosophy with the aim of increasing the range of materials in English on ancient Chinese philosophy and its impact on modern times. Our first lecture was on the philosopher Zhuangzi and was provided by Professor Wang Bo of Beijing University. Although Zhuangzi lived over 2,000 years ago, his thoughts are relevant to all times. Reveling in paradox and delighting in the absurd, Zhuangzi defies conventional norms. His jesting wit challenges us to re-examine our society, our role in society and our values. He is also appealing in that he practiced what he preached: when the king offered him the prime-ministership, Zhuangzi turned him down. When his beloved wife died, after a few days of sorrow he realized the pointlessness of mourning. His searing gaze is so committed to seeking truth whereever this might lead that he can appear harsh in his views. But although he takes the world as no more than it appears to be, he does invest his vision of it with beauty, value and love. Professor Wang provides a humorous and interesting insight into the challenging ideas of Zhuangzi. Enjoy – and even if you don't read the whole piece, please tell me what you think of it! By Prof. Wang Bo "Good evening everybody. My name is Professor Wang Bo and I have been at Peking University (PKU) for about 24 years since 1982. My area of research is Chinese philosophy. Zhuangzi is my favorite philosopher. Generally speaking philosophers should not like things, you know, they shouldn't be anyone's fan. Well, Zhuangzi is really very special, very cool. So I am just Zhuangzi's fan, and not anyone else's. Tonight we are going to talk about Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi did not like theories – he liked to relax. I hope both you and I feel relaxed. So, let's begin. Zhuangzi was a person; however, I have always suspected that he was not human. In Chinese if you say that someone is not human, you are insulting them. However, there is a story about the famous poet, Su Dongpo, during the Song dynasty. Once, when he wanted to praise a girl he started as though he was going to insult her. He said that the girl was not a human. But he went on to say "but rather a fairy descended to the mortal world". Thus, he created a very strong contrast. Imitating him, I say that Zhuangzi is from heaven. The reason why I say so is because he is so different. Many, including he himself, considered him crazy. Of course this was not due to any mental disorder but because of his understanding of the world and life. Zhuangzi lived about two thousand three hundred years ago. It is very far from us, especially, from you. To us Chinese he is far in time, while for you there are many other kinds of distances also. However, I believe human beings can share many things. Thus, not only I, but I believe also you can comprehend him as well. During his lifetime, Zhuangzi did many strange things. I'll give you two examples. The first is that he refused official positions. We know that Zhuangzi was a great scholar. My name is Wang Bo. Bo means abundant. But compared with Zhuangzi, I am like a grain of rice measured against a granary. So you can imagine the extent of his knowledge. Because of his knowledge many people wanted Zhuangzi to become an official in their government, particularly in the Kingdom of Chu. Zhuangzi was offered the position of Prime Minister, like China's Mr. Wen Jiabao today. Generally speaking, Chinese intellectuals are convinced that "he who excels in study can follow an official career". So many people seek a position in government. However, when Zhuangzi was invited by the King of Chu, he resolutely refused. He told the emissary the story of two animals, a pig and an ox. The ox had often been used as a sacrificial offering in ancient China. Prior to the sacrifice it would receive very good treatment. It would be placed in a nice pen where it could enjoy good food, hot baths and even wonderful music. However, its destiny was to be butchered. By contrast, although the pig is housed in mud in a poor environment, it lives a longer and more unconstrained life. For Zhuangzi, entering government was like becoming a sacrificial ox. Zhuangzi asked the emissary whether he would prefer to be the sacrificial ox or a pig. For Zhuangzi, the answer was obvious. He preferred to be a pig. From the story of The Bull and the Pig we can see Zhuangzi's attitude towards power. He considers power the dirtiest, ugliest and cruelest thing in the world. In Chinese we can describe someone as a "Renwu" ?C literally a human object. In my opinion, and I believe that Zhuangzi would agree with me, this means a person is turned into an object. In other words, power is so corrupting that it can turn a person into an object. The second example of Zhuangzi's peculiarity is related to his wife's death. In China – I believe this is universal – you should demonstrate sorrow in such circumstances. To read the rest of this lecture, please click here. |
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We hope you enjoyed this newsletter. As always, please do write back with any feedback that you would like us to incorporate. Alternatively, please call Margot Kong, our Director of Sales and Marketing, in San Francisco, at 888 888 1970. With Best Regards, To forward this newsletter to a friend, please click here. |
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