Whilst travel companies typically extol monuments of the past, China’s attractiveness as a destination extends to its impact on our children’s future. For the past few months we have been looking into the folds and contours of China’s evolving landscape. Previously we looked at the revolution in smart phone apps and payment systems, at leapfrogging technologies in retail and at the development of Artificial Intelligence. Expanding upon the concepts of future, we sat down with Will Beloe, a Global Product Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, to discuss China’s approach to the environment. Will has been covering China for nearly two decades and for the last five years has been responsible for driving green investment in financial institutions in developing countries across Asia, including China.
Guy: Why do you think China is taking environmental issues so seriously? Is this a national or global concern?
Will: China is taking its environmental issues very seriously primarily because the country’s narrow focus on economic growth over the last 30 years has pushed its ecologic system to a breaking point. Anything between 3-9% of GDP is lost to pollution (air, water and soil) per annum. China’s government knows all too well that it has an obligation to protect its people from such harm. Climate change is a layer of costs and risks on top of that.
Guy: Are there any areas of green growth where China is leading the world?
Will: China makes 2/3rds of the world’s solar panels and nearly 1/2 of the world’s wind turbines. China had more battery-only electric car sales in 2016 than the rest of the world combined. 1 million Chinese are employed in its solar sector.
Guy: In what areas of climate change is China contributing to a global solution?
Will: China is driving green growth for two reasons – it has tot clean up its soil, water and air, particularly in its mega-cities; and because it is now a market leader in many of the areas. China is beginning to stand tall in areas including green finance. The work IFC has done with local financial institutions (FIS) has led to a reduction in emissions over 50 million tons of greenhouse gasses PA. This is more than our work with other FIS around the globe combined.
Guy: In your field of endeavour how well does China integrate its work with other countries?
Will: Under Xi Jingping, China is no longer 韬光养晦 (hiding one’s light under a bushel). China has bid its time beautifully on the emerging green economy and is now leading the world in many areas, such as those already listed above. It is likely to do the same in the carbon markets (this will take a few more years), in clean green cities, in water management etc.
Guy: In what areas is China a threat to the rest of the world environmentally and in what areas is it a force for the good?
Will: Depends on whether your glass is half-full or half-empty. China is facing some of the world’s biggest problems when it comes to pollution (second only to India). Given its recognition of these threats and the position the government is in, it has the potential to solve these problems in a way that most other countries could not. The solution it implements will do more than most to help put us on track to avoid the worst climate change scenarios, and it will provide a hugely valuable template for others to follow. There are complaints of China dumping solar panels/wind turbines and in the future probably electric cars in other countries. In the end, how bad is that for the world?
Guy: How do you think China could improve in its interaction with multilateral organizations in the area of environmental research, policy formulation?
Will: It has been stymied in its attempts to grow its engagement with already established multilateral organizations. As a result, it ahs ended up establishing a number of its own. Net net, this is likely to be a positive for all but the incumbents.
Guy: How do you view the future of China’s environment and the impact China will have on the earth’s resources and environment?
Will: I am optimistic that China will manage to deal with its population and climate problems faster than almost all other countries will and could. By doing so, it will provide leadership and a roadmap to others. It is an excellent ‘soft power’/economic opportunity that is not lost on its leadership.
Guy: Thank you for your honest opinion and perspective Will, we are looking forward to what the future of China holds.
China is heavily investing in technologies for the future across all spectrums of industry – from renewable energy, medical advancements to transportation. Imperial Tours has collected a roster of experts to showcase the dynamic transitions China is making as a global player. We can arrange for you to meet these experts to discuss and learn about China’s political and economic strategies and investments in technology.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2017
Contact: Jacqueline Soto, 480-430-7511, Jacqueline@slentertainment.com
Guy Rubin, +86 10 8440 7162 guy@imperialtours.net
IMPERIAL TOURS GREAT WALL PRIVATE BANQUET RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
Scottsdale, AZ – An experience offered by Imperial Tours was recognized as one of the top experiential travel offerings at the inaugural CHAD CLARK CERTIFIED 25, a first-of-its-kind travel initiative that annually lists the top 25 travel experiences or products throughout the world. The winners were announced in a special interactive event at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on August 13 in front of leading travel professionals.
Chad Clark, principal and owner of Chad Clark Travel Ventures, is a travel industry expert and self-described, “experience junkie,” who has spent years seeking out top-of-the-line travel experiences and services. Now, he is providing a platform for the best in travel to share theirs.
Clark aims to set the industry standard for luxury travel with the inauguration of the CHAD CLARK CERTIFIED 25, an elite list of the world’s most prestigious, authentic and unique travel experiences or products. Great Wall Private Banquet was among the first recipients of this prestigious honor.
“We are humbled and overwhelmed by the immense number of submissions we received from travel providers across the globe,” said Clark. “It is an honor and a thrill to unveil the very best in luxury travel through the CHAD CLARK CERTIFIED 25. This initiative provides travel suppliers with an opportunity to have their premium experiences recognized and promoted in an innovative way, while simultaneously connecting travel advisors, and ultimately travelers themselves, with exclusive, thoroughly vetted travel experiences that have an industry seal of approval.”
About the Great Wall Banquet
When we hear these days of the daunting logistical and financial challenges of building a wall across the southern border of the US, it brings home the magnificent achievement of the Chinese in resolving exactly these issues many centuries before as they built successive fortifications across their northern frontier to protect their agricultural heartlands from aggressive nomadic invaders from the north. These fortifications are known to us today as the Great Wall of China. The incredible experience we are presenting is the opportunity to walk the Great Wall with the British conservationist who was instrumental in developing the law to protect it, and then to enjoy a white linen banquet in a guard tower.
What astounds visitors about the Ming dynasty Great Wall (1368-1644) is its surprising beauty. Whereas the sections closest to Beijing are the largest with the most tourists, more remote sections benefit from fewer visitors and less renovation. The centuries-old 5 meter high “wild wall” – as conservationist William Lindesay calls it – these days does not dominate its surrounding landscape so much as delineate, define and embellish it. William will introduce his thirty year association with the Great Wall, starting with being the first foreigner ever to walk its entire length, to now when he is known through China as the Guardian of the Wall. After a thorough introduction to his efforts to improve its conservation, you will be taken to a remote spot to enjoy a remarkable banquet on the Great Wall of China.
About Chad Clark Travel Ventures
A self-proclaimed “experience junkie,” Clark gave up corporate life to follow his love for food, wine, culture, destinations, a.k.a. extraordinary travel experiences, and turn it into a business that helps people make the absolute most of their most precious commodity – their time.
Whether traveling with friends, family or alone on a research trip, Clark is all about the experience – and when he finds one he is passionate about, he just has to share it with his clients and friends. He and his company have the contacts, relationships and dedication necessary to ensure his clients have the best possible experiences. Clark has dedicated his life to travel and is amassing an ever-growing “Experience Journal” that he shares online through social media. Viewers can follow Clark through Rome, Sydney, Paris and even in his own backyard golfing in Scottsdale, Arizona. Clark and his team are committed to sampling, connecting, building relationships and, in essence, helping his clients live their next big adventure.
Chad Clark Travel Ventures works with people who recognize that the types of trips they want require more than time and planning – they require knowledge, experience and connections, all of which Clark and his team can provide.
Chad Clark Travel Ventures, an independent affiliate of Camelback Odyssey Travel – a Virtuoso® Member.
For more information on CHAD CLARK CERTIFIED 25, please visit www.chadclarkcertified.com.
Leading Beijing journalist, Andy McEwen, contemplates China’s global responsibilities from the dizzying heights of her futuristic technological platforms:
Google caused a big stir in China earlier this year when its artificial intelligence system beat the world’s best Weiqi (围棋) player at a tournament in the ancient canal town of Wuzhen, China. “The age of intelligence” is here, Google chairman Eric Schmidt announced to a previously quite naive world. This impressive victory for American knowhow created quite a stir in the West too, but for rather different reasons. “That’s great! Good for Google!” came the comments from western friends on social media. “By the way, what’s Weiqi?”
Tsk, tsk. You really need to take a refresher course on China. As every Beijing schoolboy knows, Weiqi invented in China 2,500 years ago, is the oldest board game continuously played today. Better known in the west under the Japanese name of “Go”, it is a two person game of strategy, the kind of intellectual activity ambitious Tiger Mums in Beijing sign up their kids to play on a Saturday morning when their peers in England are kicking a football around a pitch instead. About 300 times more complex than chess, this massively popular pastime involves the careful placement of black-and-white counters and, often, the pensive stroking of a wispy beard.
A group of young Chinese students playing Weiqi
Losing Grandmaster Ke Jie was reduced to tears. His digital opponent AlphaGo was “perfect, flawless, without any emotions,” the 19-year-old was quoted as saying in the New York Times? “Last year, it was still quite humanlike when it played. But this year, it became like a god.” AlphaGo demonstrated to us all that artificial intelligence, the idea that computer systems can perform functions typically associated with the human mind, is no longer futuristic speculation but present-day reality. For fans of zombie apocalypse movies, AlphaGo’s omnipotence poses troubling questions about the future of humanity. In a now-famous Open Letter on Artificial Intelligence of 2015, public intellectuals Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk et al warned “we could one day lose control of AI systems via the rise of super intelligences that do not act in accordance with human wishes – and that such powerful systems would threaten humanity.”
I, for one, welcome our new overlords: partly because they may be reading this, but also because I am old enough to recall life before the machines. I remember leaving a series of increasingly frantic messages for a friend with the receptionist of a rather haughty London hotel back in the noughties. No smartphone back then — only the trusty receptionist, who carefully transcribed all my messages and handed them to the wrong person in the next-door room. I remember, too, the reams of paperwork required to book a flight from London to Beijing via Paris. I remember faxing it all to somebody who faxed it again to somebody else, or something. Oh the fun we had photocopying passport pages and inking in ticket numbers! Oh yes I remember 2006, the year before the iPhone. It was a simpler time, only with more paper, lots and lots and lots of paper.
My colleagues in Beijing do not fret as I do about the prospect of the Terminator marching into the office, staple guns blazing. They welcome artificial intelligence as a means of replacing repetitive workplace drudgery with multiplying leisure opportunities in their pursuit of limitless personal fulfillment. Beijing is backing artificial intelligence with vast sums of money. Just like their western counterparts Amazon and Google, Chinese tech companies are embracing the enormous potential of AI from autonomous cars to facial recognition. When not too busy playing Weiqi, the Chinese are funding moonshot projects, exosuits for disabled people and robots to teach children computer science.
Take WeChat. Haven’t heard of WeChat? Where have you been? The West, presumably. WeChat is China’s most popular chat app, with over 889 million users as of the end of 2016. Fifty percent of users reportedly spend 90 minutes a day inside the app. And what is WeChat? That’s surprisingly difficult to answer. WeChat is basically Whatsapp plus Facebook plus er, the internet. In China, WeChat pays all our restaurant bills, orders movie tickets and unlocks rental bicycles. And more, much more.
WeChat, the super app, can essentially help you manage everything in one app
WeChat’s parent company Tencent launched a payments service in 2013 that now occupies 37 percent of China’s mobile payment industry. Wherever you shop in Beijing now you will see young people wafting phones at service people, ready to be scanned and presumably uploaded to the Matrix. WeChat even splits the bill equally among a group of buyers of, well, you know, stuff. WeChat is about the only thing from China that I ever successfully converted my family in London to adopting. They all prefer it to feebler western alternatives like FaceTime or Skype. Mum especially likes push-to-talk, a neglected feature in most western countries but a preferred method of chat over here. Now she can leave me reminders to call home. For free. Daily.
I wonder if Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has a WeChat account. He really should get one. It’s so much better than Messenger. Quicker than you can say “Skynet”, WeChat’s savvy boffins seem to sense what customers want and integrate the AI into all their products. “Basically, anything you need to do online can be done through WeChat,” Dr Andy Chun, a leading AI expert and associate professor at City University of Hong Kong told Quartz recently. “WeChat is much more ingrained into the average Chinese citizen’s daily life than Alibaba or Baidu (the Chinese search engine equivalent to Google). Amazon and Google do not have anything comparable.”
Dong Yu, former Microsoft employee, now new head of Tencent’s Seattle based AI labratory
On May 2, Tencent confirmed it was opening a laboratory in Seattle dedicated solely to artificial intelligence research to be headed by Yu Dong, a former scientist at Microsoft Research. “I have a hard time thinking of an industry we cannot transform with AI,” Andrew Ng, chief scientist at Baidu, told the Atlantic magazine. Ng previously cofounded Coursera and Google Brain, the company’s deep learning project. The implications of AI for a nation of 1.3 billion people and the world’s second-largest economy are mind-blowing, the dystopian alternatives rather too easily imaginable. Economists have suggested that automating workplaces with AI could add 0.8 to 1.4 percentage points to China’s annual GDP growth. But of course wider adoption of these technologies also presents a profound challenge to China as “the workshop of the world”, with the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Chinese workers and Chinese society as a whole hanging on the right or wrong decision. With great technology comes great responsibility.
But what does it all mean? Well, either manmade robots will take over the world, or these technological feats will help bridge cultural diversities around the world. In the 21st century, I believe China will collaborate internationally in the development and governance of AI, ensuring that the necessary frameworks are in place to ensure that these breakthrough technologies make a positive contribution to global growth and human welfare. I have great faith that the world will get it right. Or to put it in Hollywood English, I believe if we all pull together as a team, unite as a planet, we can and will defeat our robot overlords.
The Retail Revolution
China has fast become the holy grail of shopping. Be it high-end or low-end, costly or counterfeit, China is the place where you can find just about everything. In the last decade, the biggest manufacturer in the world has developed the largest consumer base globally. This large population of freshly minted consumers has caused luxury retailers to scramble for a piece of the pie, or should we say, cookie? While sold out Louis Vuitton shops and limits on how many Rolex’s one customer is allowed to buy have been picked up by Western media, another retail revolution has prospered largely unnoticed within China’s borders; online shopping. With $900 billion in sales in 2016 alone, and responsible for almost 47% of digital retail sales worldwide, China has eclipsed the US and is now the largest online retail market in the world (Retail & Ecommerce, August 18, 2016). The story of how this rapid growth in retail evolved is almost fatalistic, with multiple companies taking advantage of an economic environment primed for shopping.
From Zero to Hero
In comparison to many Western countries, wealth and technology are relatively new to China. A significant portion of the Chinese population only began to experience a degree of economic prosperity in the mid 2000s. The rise of the middle class in China has been rapid. During this time of economic expansion, the number of households with an annual income of US$11,500 – US$43,000 grew from 5 million in 2000 to 225 million in 2016 (Economist, 2016). Along with this increase in wealth came an increased demand for technology. Instead of having to go through the technological steps Western consumers went through from gramophone to an iPhone, the first digital contact for many Chinese was either a smart phone or a tablet. However, since almost no digital or retail infrastructure had been built, and with no old infrastructure to tear down, Chinese companies who were able, were in the prime position to take advantage of this technological vacuum. From start-up delivery firms to creating new payment systems, this period laid the foundations for the new digital era.
Taobao – a populat online shopping site in China
Enter the Giants
The three largest online players in China presently are JD.com, Tmall aka Taobao (Alibaba) and WeChat. JD.com went online in 2004 and is the largest competitor to Alibaba-run Tmall, which was founded a year earlier in 2003. Both companies are B2C online retailers who have pretty much taken over China’s online retail market. While JD.com prides itself on having better quality controls on their brands and goods than their competitor, Tmall currently holds a larger portion of the overall market share and has deeper pockets financially. Alibaba, the parent company of Tmall became the largest global IPO ever when it went public in the United States in 2014. Combined, these two companies are the Chinese equivalents of Amazon and Ebay, the only difference being that their customer base is over one billion online savvy shoppers.
Enter WeChat, the super app. WeChat was first released in 2011 by its parent company Tencent, and with 850 million active users, it is now China’s most popular instant messaging application. While the logo and the name of the app look and sound similar to the American WhatsApp application, it is vastly different in its functions and capabilities. The best way to describe WeChat is a combination of Facebook, WhatsApp, Apple Pay, Instagram, TripAdvisor, SkipTheDishes, and online city services combined, but without the advertising. While this sounds quite chaotic and confusing, at its core WeChat is an instant messaging app with all other functions neatly hidden within. While WeChat is not an online retailer itself, it has created its own mobile payment system (WeChat Pay) and has a larger user base than Tmall or JD.com. However, recently WeChat has ventured into creating an online store, which soon could rival its competitors.
For these three companies China has become the digital ‘Wild East’ where opportunities abound. With more and more economic prosperity as well as a savvy online population, the e-commerce environment in China is the perfect breeding ground for digital entrepreneurs to thrive. Right now, between these three giants there is fierce competition for supremacy.
Online apps and sites It has become easier than ever to shop from anywhere
Shopping with Chinese Characteristics
In addition to a rich economic digital landscape, China’s unique political and economic landscape has resulted in oddities and strange paths to purchase.
One of these oddities is the phenomena of the Daigou, which literally translates to “buying on behalf”. Daigou’s are people living overseas who purchase luxury goods as well as items that can be hard to purchase in Mainland China like foreign baby-milk powder, and then sell them to customers living in China. These luxury items can be up to 30-40% more expensive in China and the Daigou either make a profit on charging a small fee for the service or claiming the tax refund. WeChat is the primary platform for Daigou to communicate with their clients as well as transfer money. Diagou is a huge business estimated to be worth around US$12 billion. Approximatley 80% of Chinese luxury purchases are made abroad and a survey of luxury shoppers has found that 35% of customers have used a Daigou to purchase goods online while only 7% used the brands’ website to do so.
Another oddity about Chinese people’s shopping culture is that there is very little trust in direct marketing and advertisement. This mentality has led to the rise of Key Opinion Leaders or KOLs. These are Chinese online influencers, similar to Bloggers or Vloggers in the West, who maintain trusting relationships with their often large fan base. This phenomenon has resulted in many companies hiring KOLs to endorse products or place ads in their feeds to market to their fans. Working as a KOL can be quite profitable if your fan base is large enough. For instance, KOL Papi Jiang, has a following of over 24 million fans on Weibo (China’s equivalent to Twitter) and was paid US$3.4 million for a single ad in 2016 (China Skinny 2016). While Papi has managed to amass her millions of fans through witty commentary and funny videos, other KOLs have made themselves experts on specific brands or items and often attend fashion shows to share their knowledge and expertise with their followers. One of these expert KOLs is ‘Mr. Bags’ a 24-year-old Beijinger with over 2.7 million followers on Weibo. Using his influence he claims to have helped brands sell over US$170,000 worth of designer bags in just 12 minutes (Business of Fashion, 2016).
Both Daigou’s and KOLs are phenomena that have emerged as a result of the unique position of the Chinese economy and its cultural past. While the world has opened up its markets to Chinese made products, not all foreign made products have found a way into the Chinese market yet, which has created a niche for the Daigou. Additionally, decades of state propoganda has made the Chinese population suspicious of anything written on billboards or aired on TV resulting in the rise of the KOLs.
Digital Destiny
In 2015 China’s e-commerce share of global sales were almost double that of the United States at 22.2% to 42.8% respectively. However, it is estimated that by 2020 China is on course to take up to 60% of worldwide e-commerce retail, while the United States share could drop as low as 17%. With an ever expanding middle class, with more disposable income, greater mobile and internet penetration into rural areas and growing competition of e-commerce players who are constantly improving logistics in China, infrastructure and payment systems, the environment for online retail is perfect. Additionally, one of the most astonishing aspects of this digital shopping revolution is that in 2016 more than half of all e-commerce transactions and sales in China were conducted on a mobile or tablet. Reading the signs on the retail horizon, it is a safe bet to predict that China’s shopping destiny is digital.
If you believe the media, there is never a good time to travel to China. We hear repeatedly about China's lack of political freedom but rarely about China lifting 680 million people out of poverty over the last 30 years. What about the very real economic liberty that brings? Every spring, we hear about various flu's from China killing a small number of people. This is often spun by the local WHO office and the media as a major risk to the world's health, but we rarely hear of medical breakthroughs from China, whether the latest malarial cure or the first ever children's vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis. We hear often about China's backwardness but rarely about its progressiveness, for example being the world's biggest investor in renewable energies, nanotechnology and other developing sciences.
The press is paid to be critical rather than representational and China is one of the biggest stories of our lives, as a result of which there is a lot of critical, rather than representational, information about it. If you believe the press, there is never a good time to travel to China because it is constantly plagued by epic problems, most of them life-threatening. To be misled by the hype is to miss one of the most positive developments of our lifetimes. Remember – not a single journalist, not one, foresaw the thirty-five year rise of China. Most of them have spent this period predicting its "inevitable" implosion, explosion, demise, hard-landing, collapse… the tiresome list goes on and on. And yet I, having lived in Beijing for nearly 20 years, have had the fortune to experience a good part of this incredible national transformation.
At the same time, over the past ten years, there has been a phenomenal investment in China's hotel industry. China now boasts some of the most spacious, luxurious and beautiful hotels in the world. The Shanghai Peninsula Hotel is often celebrated by magazines and travel agencies as one of their favorite hotels in the world. When you compare the rates of these hotels to what is available in other destinations, you will realize the incredible value that China offers at the high end, in some cases charging as little as a fifth of the price of comparable hotels elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, this cannot last indefinitely. As the local Chinese market develops both economically and in terms of brand awareness, many of the five star hotels in China will increase their prices towards global norms. And by the time many overseas travelers realize how amazing China is and the availability of these magnificent properties, the window of opportunity will already be starting to close. I estimate that in five years, a luxury tour to China will cost double what it costs today for exactly the same inclusions. Hence, you will be saving yourself 50% of the total tour price by traveling now rather than waiting for the media to tell you a good time to go.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 28, 2007
Media Contacts:
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U.S. Office: Margot Kong Imperial Tours 888-888-1970 web_inquiry@imperialtours.net
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Germany Office: Marlis Leo Imperial Tours +49 69 864259 web_inquiry@imperialtours.net |
Imperial Tours Opens European Office and Expands U.S. Office
San Francisco, Calif. – Imperial Tours announces the opening of its first European office in Frankfurt, Germany. This office will be headed by Marlis Leo and staffed by Nicole Grundler and Benjamin Ceccarelli. Ms. Leo and her team will be responsible for sales and marketing of Imperial Tours' luxury private tours of China to the German-speaking countries of Europe including Germany, Austria, Luxemburg and German-speaking Switzerland.
"For several years, it has been Imperial Tours intention to grow our European business," commented Guy Rubin, Managing Partner of Imperial Tours. "Marlis is a travel industry veteran and has good contacts in the Beijing government, having organized a tour to Germany for such individuals as the mayor of Beijing. Marlis and Imperial Tours are an excellent match and have very similar ideas about how our tours should operate."
To support Imperial Tours' sales to the German-speaking market, the company has hired a Beijing-based German speaking China Host to lead private tours and plans to recruit additional Hosts this spring. Additionally, the company is launching its websites in Spanish, French and German:
http://www.imperialtours.es
http://www.imperialtours.eu
http://www.imperialtours.de
Imperial Tours has also expanded its U.S. operations by hiring David Goodman-Smith to round out its sales team in their San Francisco office, headed by Margot Kong. Mr. Goodman-Smith, who is half English and half American, recently returned after living and working in Yingkou, China for over a year. He speaks a smattering of Chinese and has had several years of experience in the service and hospitality industries. Mr. Goodman-Smith studied Chinese History at university and is excited to share his passion for China with Imperial Tours' guests.
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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China News
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Contents Industry News Hotel/Restaurant News Imperial Tours News Blast Odds N Ends – Digital Library & Diego Azubel Discovery – Tibet Qinghai Railway |
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Dear Guy, Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is a beautiful and inspiring city. Visiting it, however, requires a compromise. Sue Trotter (Sterling Travel) was somewhat bemused by this: "so you are saying that the food and accommodation are disappointing, altitude sickness is a concern, and yet that Lhasa is a must-see destination?" Yes, that is what we are saying. Luxury travelers who prioritize cultural exploration will love Lhasa. Ask Karin Hansen's (Frosch Travel) clients who visited Lhasa this September and, in their feedback, report it as the highlight of their trip. But why write about Lhasa now? It hasn't been screamed from the rooftops but on October 15th, about three weeks ago now, the world's highest train line, linking Beijing to Lhasa in a 48 hour train journey, was completed. This raises questions about how Lhasa will change and when luxury travelers should visit it – before the changes or after? To help you address those issues, this newsletter looks at:
But that is one of two momentous events this October. The other was the revolutionary issue of Departuresmagazine. By highlighting the luxurious aspects of contemporary China, this issue has revolutionized luxury travelers' expectations. Imperial Tours is delighted to have been selected as one of three "oustanding outfitters" wholeheartedly recommended by the magazine. In our turn, we advise you pick up a copy to convince customers to visit and enjoy fashionable, trend-setting China. To keep up to date with how China is changing, read on! |
Virtuoso's China Onsite Traveling China…in style Phone us at 888 888 1970 |
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Aviation A step towards peace – In a historic political development, Taiwan's commercial planes were permitted to fly over China, marking an end to the no-fly policy imposed in 1949. Despite increased fuel costs, China's aviation market grew at 16% or twice the world's average over the past year. As a result, four Chinese airlines have recently agreed to purchase another 42 Boeing 787 jets. To accommodate some of the new jets, Hong Kong and China signed a new air services agreement facilitating an immediate 57% capacity increase on all routes. Market News Trips abroad by mainland Chinese visitors increased by 10% in the first six months of this year. Foreign travel agencies and properties are starting to take notice of the growing purchasing power of the Chinese outbound market. Seeing its potential, Travel + Leisure magazine launched its China edition. The US economy is similarly exuberant. Between 2003 and 2004, Americans visiting overseas markets (i.e., excluding Canada and Mexico) increased by 12%, with China ranking as the fourth most popular overseas destination. More exciting is that travel to China grew by 72% over this period making it the destination with the highest growth. Events The combination of Sino-US tourist ties can hardly be better represented than by the September opening of Disney's Hong Kong theme park, attended by the Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong. Macau is being strongly marketed these days. The former Portuguese colony – the only territory in China where gambling is permitted – is hosting the fourth East Asian Games this year. It is also being promoted as a gambling and golf Mecca by various international gambling and hotelier companies. Zhongdian, recently renamed Shangrila, is another Chinese destination receiving a great deal of investment. Ben Wood, the architect behind Xintiandi projects in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chongqing is the driving aesthetic force behind the renovation of its old town. He has also been commissioned to improve the tourist infrastructure of nearby Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is overrun by domestic tourists. Calendar – Luciano Pavarotti, the world's best known opera singer, has decided to hold his farewell concert in Beijing on December 10th at the Capital Gymnasium Theater. Tickets can be bought by clicking here. – From October 10th to the end of the year, one of China's most famous and longest antique paintings will go on display in Beijing's Palace Museum Health News Travelers are concerned about Avian Flu. We would recommend that you consult websites run by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the US government and the UK Department of Health. These information sources give a different picture to that generally available through the mainstream media. Here are some of the facts you will find on these websites:
To summarize: the fear surrounding Bird Flu is not related to something that has happened. It is a fear of something that might happen, but which hasn't over the last 127 years. According to Stratfor (www.stratfor.com), a website evaluating global political and economic risk, the feared pandemic of human to human transmission of Bird Flu is as likely as a meteor strike. |
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In tribute to Departures China-dedicated issue, Imperial Tours provides ancillary comments to some of the hotels, restaurants and bars mentioned in that edition that we have not previously reviewed in our newsletters. We do this to add a second, independent opinion for your easy reference. Restaurants RBL, Restaurant & Bar, Beijing. RBL, which stands for Restaurant, Bar and Lounge is the latest Handel Lee project following on the heels of the extremely impressive Three on the Bund. We are disappointed by the restaurant at RBL but enjoy the bar's live music. Also, we are increasingly disappointed that the food at Mr Lee's first, award-winning restaurant, The Courtyard, is becoming too inconsistent. Family Li Cuisine, Restaurant, Beijing. The owner of this shabby hutong restaurant is a former Mathematics Professor at Beijing University. He claims to be the grandson of the head of the Imperial Bodyguard, whose responsibility it was to ensure that the Imperial dinner plate was poison-free. It's a great story and forms the basis for the restaurant's Imperial menu. When we visited, the supposedly fresh Peking Duck pancakes were covered in mold, and that was more than enough for us. Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, Restaurant, Beijing. On hygiene grounds, we would not recommend this hutong restaurant. Although it is surprisingly popular amongst the expat crowd, they have never inspected the kitchens. Ignorance may be bliss, but it can also be life-threatening. Le Quai, Restaurant, Beijing. This restaurant is very popular with the hip crowd, foreign and Chinese. Located by a lake with a glass structure built around an antique Huizhou home, this restaurant at first served great food but has since seen a decline in culinary standards. The decor is a strange smorgasbord of design concepts. South Silk Road, Restaurants, Beijing. Not one but in fact two restaurants, one on Qianhai Lake, the other inside the SOHO office building. The ownership includes world-famous Chinese artist Wang Guang Yi and the colorful cellist cum restaurateur Bai Fang. The lake location offers Japanese-style grilled foods, the office building location serves spicey Yunnanese fare. Both are decent, informal lunch venues. Laris Restaurant, Shanghai. Like Jean-Georges, Laris can be disappointing at lunchtime. The evening fare is of high quality and to be recommended. How can one not be suspicious of chili-flavored chocs? Nevertheless Laris' wonderfully theatrical chocolaterie is a devilishly tempting introduction to this sophisticated venue. Yong Foo Elite, Restaurant and Private Club, Shanghai. The stylish mansion set in its own garden, with wide-ranging decor and curious antiquities has won the hearts of many Shanghai cognoscenti. Though a delightful place, we were markedly disappointed by the quality of its food. Ye Shanghai, Restaurant, Shanghai. Like Crystal Jade, this restaurant is part of a stylish, East Asian restaurant group. Both offer good quality food and unique environments. TMSK, Restaurant, Shanghai. Incorporating pate de verre in many aspects of its design, TMSK offers a fantastic dining venue. The shortfall lies in the quality of its food. Also, the portion sizes are uncomfortably reminiscent of Cordon Bleu. T8, Restaurant, Shanghai. Part of the group that owns the Fuchun Resort near Hangzhou, T8 offers good fusion food in Xintiandi. In our opinion however, neither the food nor the venue compare to Jean-Georges, Laris, M on the Bund or Sens and Bund. Shanghai Bars. Of the Shanghai bars mentioned in Departures, we would recommend Bar Rouge.Barbarossa Lounge is achieving some renown but we would not recommend it. Cloud 9 in the Grand Hyatt, though not in the magazine, should also be considered. Hotels JW Marriott, Shanghai There is no question that the location of this hotel on the corner of Renmin Square has its advantages, but the quality of this hotel's furniture and fittings disqualify it from consideration amongst the city's best, comprised of the Grand Hyatt, Shanghai and, for those who crave familiarity, the Four Seasons. Whereas the JW Marriott is a secondary hotel in a primary location, the St. Regis, Shanghai, by contrast, is a primary hotel in a secondary location. Fuchun Resort Nestled in the tea fields west of Hangzhou, the Fuchun Resort is one of the first in an upcoming breed of luxury destination resort hotels in China. Modelled on similar properties in South East Asia, its minimalist psuedo-Zen chic feels out of place in Hangzhou. Although this formula is wonderful on an Asian beachside, it is a shame that something more original of Chinese inspiration was not conceived for the capital of Song dynasty China. Unfortunately, this beautiful property is located too far on the wrong side of Hangzhou to be easily incorporated into a touring itinerary. Other Hotel News Travel + Leisure reports that the two women-only floors at the St. Regis, Shanghai have been so successfully received that the hotel is soon to add a third. Congratulations to the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong on being named the best hotel in Asia's Best Hotels & Resorts guide. Congratulations also to the Grand Hyatt, Shanghai for being nominated the fifth best. The Shangrila Hotel, Shanghai has just completed its US$138 million expansion program. A second glass tower block, neighboring its first in a curve of the Huangpu river, offers 375 rooms and suites in its 36 floors. The Banyan Tree has opened a resort in Zhongdian, now known as Shangrila. We plan to visit next year and will post a review. Hyatt Hotels, Lhasa – Hyatt Hotels are in preliminary talks to open a new five star hotel in Lhasa. Whilst Lhasa's tourist industry is cock-a-hoop by the possibility, the Hyatt group stresses that the project is in its very early stages. |
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New Shopping Venues Agnes Tamissier is a French jewelry designer we have recently discovered in Beijing. She does not have a shop but sells her beautiful objets d¡¯art from her home on an appointment basis. Younik is a new craft store in Shanghai, one of whose designers is responsible for jewelry for Dolce & Gabbana. Tour News Although we are not an adventure company, Imperial Tours sometimes receives highly adventurous clients. For these, we are now able to offer white water rafting near Lhasa. One half day trip visits Class II and III level rapids. Another full day trip features Class III and IV level rapids. Please note that water levels dictate that whitewater rafting can only be enjoyed between June 1st and September 30th. If you are a travel agent and you wish to participate on our Educational trip (FAM), please note that places remain on our March 2006 Educational. Contact Margot Kong at 888 888 1970 or at Margot for details. Foodies should make a note of our Culinary Tour, departing May 12th, 2006. Visiting the four centers of Chinese cuisine, the tour includes lessons, lectures and delectable dining! Please click here for details. Imperial Tours completed a successful incentive tour for a US financial services firm this October. We look forward to expanding this side of our business, and hope you will think of us for private tours, monthly departure group tours & incentive tours. Company News On November 23rd, Imperial Tours expands its forays into Chinese culture by sponsoring a philosophy lecture series in Beijing. Our first lecture looks at Zhuangzi, a disciple of Laozi. A synopsis of the lecture will be published on our website. We are excited to introduce two new tour directors. Jamie Greenbaum, who has a Phd in Chinese History, has started to tour direct for us in order to fund his post-doctoral thesis. Having already been featured as an expert lecturer on Oxford and Cambridge tours, he is already familiar with the tour industry. He lead his first tour this October. Jordi Morell, who grew up in Majorca, Spain and was educated in London, U.K. and Beijing, China is a native speaker of both Spanish and English. He has already led tours in both English and Spanish for Imperial Tours this year. Together with Karin Hansen (Frosch Travel), Imperial Tours is delighted to have been selected by Travel + Leisure as a China expert in its 2005 listing of Super Agents. We try hard to satisfy customers and travel agents in the luxury segment but we cannot do this without feedback from you to learn how we can improve in the future. Please provide feedback, good and bad, and ask guests to complete our feedback forms. |
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Retracing The Footstep Of Nain Singh: An Expedition by Diego Azubel Our November 2004 Newsletter introduced Diego Azubel's second expedition in which he recreated the trek of Nain Singh, a nineteenth century Indian mapmaker across 2,000 miles of the Himalayan mountain range. At that time, I pointed out the dangers posed by the Nepali civil war, mastiff guard dogs, the Himalayan gales and the challenge of carrying a 60lb backpack across 15,000 foot passes in the depths of winter. You will be heartened to know that this determined expeditionist has now completed his second solo trek. He negotiated his way past Maoist guerillas in the monkey-infested Nepali jungle and lost a chunk of his calf to a fierce mastiff guard dog in the Himalayas where he suffered severe frostbite and was laid up for four weeks with acute tendonitis. Despite it all, Diego clung stubbornly to his goal, returning to Beijing 34lb lighter than when he left. We can now share his amazing journey through spectacular photos which you can see by clicking here. The Tibetan Himalayan Digital Library The University of Virginia, the oldest public university in the U.S., is a world leader in "Humanities Computing". David Germano, its dynamic Associate Professor of Tibetan Studies based in Lhasa, is applying information technology to Tibetan studies in an attempt to make a real contribution to Tibet's development. And we in the travel industry have a role to play in this vision. The Tibetan Himalayan Digital Library (www.thdl.org) is a project in which he is engaged together with Tibet University and the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences. As well as an encyclopedic depositary and publisher of Tibetan culture, including music, poetry, medicine, etc., this website also aims to channel economic benefits to the Tibetan community. His idea is to empower the knowledge of academia with the know-how of commerce and to infuse the power of government with the noble ambitions of NGOs. Professor Germano hopes his website will provide a forum for these four parties to meet, share information and conduct their affairs to the material and cultural advantage of Tibetans. Travel agents and agencies can contribute to his project by promoting wider and greater travel in Tibet. For the moment, we in the travel industry can visit www.thdl.org to learn more about Tibetan culture. By May 2006, Professor Germano is planning to provide various tools and forums to enhance the quality and number of travel opportunities in Tibet. When this happens, we will tell you. |
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Discovery – Tibet Qinghai Railway This article is based on a lecture on October 26 by Li Guo Cheng of the China Academy of Sciences Since 1975, the Chinese government has been planning to link Lhasa to Beijing by train. In 1985, the first phase of this project was completed with a 530 mile (860 km) rail link from Golmud on the Tibetan border to Xinning in Qinghai province. On October 15th, 2005, the second phase of this grandiose project was triumphantly concluded when tracks were laid between Golmud to Lhasa. One of the primary motivations for this rail line is said to be tourism. The government projects 900,000 new tourist arrivals per year along the single-gauge railway line, on which passenger service is planned to begin operation in July 2006. Tourists will travel on two types of train, normal and luxury, with a top speed of 100 km/h. Like a jet airplane, the carriages will be sealed and pressurized. This is necessary since 80% of the US$3 billion rail line is at an elevation of over 13,000 feet (4,000m). In fact, at one point the track rises to a vertiginous 16,640 feet (5072m) above sea level! Were the carriages to be open, atmospheric pressure and oxygen content would fall to uncomfortably low levels. Why did the government wait so long before completing this project? The reason lies in the technical domain. 340 miles (550km) of the recently laid track lie on a bed of melting ice. Laying rail track on permafrost is not unique: this is also evident in Alaska, Canada and Siberia. What differentiates the Chinese project is that unlike those other locales the permafrost in China, subject to higher temperatures in summer, is liable to melt. Building a railway on melting ice seems an impossible challenge! But Chinese engineers are confident that they have squared this circle through various stratagems, for example bridging the areas of permafrost most liable to melt. From the get-go, environmental protection has been a much trumpeted factor of this engineering masterpiece. The migratory routes, particularly of species unique to the Tibetan Qinghai plateau, such as the endangered Tibetan antelope (whose fur is used to make the highly priced and illegal shatoush), were closely studied and incorporated into the design of the track and its 34 stations. Various structures, such as tunnels and bridges, have been built for the use of deer, antelope, gazelle, snow leopard and other fauna in this precious eco-system. Cameras lining the railway route continuously monitor the migratory routes of all such animals to enable further fine-tuning of ancillary structures. Similarly, the four different types of vegetative environment, characteristic of the area, namely desert, steppe, meadow and shrub, have been accommodated in the design. What will this train line mean for Lhasa and Tibet as a whole? There are various consequences. Firstly, it will now be possible for government and private companies to export the mineral deposits long known to be present in the Tibetan mountains, most particularly chromium and gold. This will establish a strong economic platform for the region. Secondly, the price of goods in Lhasa will drop. This will be welcomed by locals and tourists alike, who are likely to see an increase in value for money and quality. Thirdly, Lhasa as a city and as a tourist destination is likely to prosper. Since there will be reluctance to limit tourist access, the most famous tourist sites are likely to be ever more highly priced and subject to over-crowding. At the same time, we should expect facilities to improve in the travel sector. Fourthly, in order to foster international tourism, we can expect some liberalization of the situation in Tibet. Many Tibetan travel industry professionals moot the removal of the current, restrictive permit system in Tibet. There are even whispers of a resolution of the underlying political question, which has so undermined the development of the tourism industry there. |
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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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Contents China Travel News Hotel/Restaurant News Calendar Odds N Ends Discovery – Braille Without Borders |
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Dear Guy, This April issue includes:
Additionally, we congratulate the actors and actresses nominated for this year's Academy Awards with a gift of a private Imperial tour to China. We look forward to welcoming them. First, some travel news: |
Virtuoso's China Onsite Traveling China…in style Phone us at 888 888 1970 |
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China Travel News Okay Airlines, a new budget airline in China, was recently launched. With 2 Boeing 737-900s and plans for another 4, this privately owned airline plans to link lesser known provincial airports. This is not China's first budget airline, but it is the first of a new breed of low cost carriers that seek to compare themselves to western models. (We note that their maiden flight touched down 1 hour late.) Facts & Stats On The Chinese Outbound Travel Market The China outbound market is growing by an average of 21% per year with Australia (32%), France (27%) and the U.S. (21%) as Beijingers' top three overseas destinations. The average expenditure of Chinese tourists is also increasing: since 2003 mainland Chinese have been outspending American tourists in Hong Kong. According to Glenn Tilton, CEO of United Airlines, China is creating 6 million new air passengers every year. China Requests U.S. Help To Curb Smuggling of China's Art While Christie's and Sotheby's report a doubling in sales of Chinese antiquities and art between 2003 and 2004, China's government is showing new steel in curbing the theft and subsequent smuggling of objects from China's provincial museums and grave-sites. Under a proposed new customs regime, American visitors will only be able to import items less than a hundred years old. It remains to be seen if the U.S. customs will go along with China's plea for help. Imperial Tours Airport Pick-ups Imperial Tours is now arranging to pick up all your customers from the airplane gangway as soon as their plane docks at Beijing International Airport. This service will be automatically included in all our itineraries arriving at this airport. Customers who wish to expedite their passage through Chinese customs at Beijing Airport by using a special channel can apply for this service, which Imperial Tours offers for an additional charge. Please inquire for details. Airline News The 36% increase in (highly profitable) passenger traffic between the U.S. and China between 2003 and 2004 is provoking competition between the financially straitened US airlines for new air routes. Continental Airlines has announced that it received approval to become the first U.S. passenger carrier to offer daily, direct flights to Beijing from its hub at New York/Newark Liberty International Airport beginning June 15th. Meanwhile American Airline's triumphant application for a direct flight from Chicago to Shanghai came at the expense of Atlanta airport from which there is still no direct service to China. In the European market, Lufthansa German Airlines on March 27th started a new daily non-stop flight between Frankfurt and Guangzhou linking the two countries' industrial heartlands. Cathay Pacific, the British carrier based in Hong Kong, reported that 2004 provided its second best year of profits ever. Since then it has bought a 10% stake in Air China, mainland China's flag carrier. News From the WTO The least known of the three WTOs, the "World Toilet Organization", is delighted by the US$48 million that Beijing has earmarked to build 2,800 brand new public toilets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sources report that the spokesman for Singapore, which sees itself as a trail-blazer in toilet technology, pooh-poohed China's sanitary success. |
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Restaurant News Shanghai For Glam sor, Beijing For Glory With "Jean-Georges" and "Sens & Bund" stealing the limelight in recent months, it has seemed as though Shanghai was taking all the press in China's vibrant restaurant scene. Beijing has responded wonderfully with "Jin Feng Gu Yun". Situated inside the precincts of a Buddhist temple with a history of over a thousand years, the kitchen – inside which the restaurant is located – was used in the eighteenth century to serve Qing dynasty Emperors. This restaurant, now between its soft and hard opening, is hard to find and so not appropriate for independent travelers to Beijing. Although its food and ambiance is wonderful for corporate entertainment and high end foreign visitors, the wine list is currently limited. We have been assured that this will be remedied before the restaurant's grand opening in May. Travel To Lhasa With A Private Chef Of Historic Significance Imperial Tours is pleased to welcome Chef Jin to its China-based staff. Chef Jin previously worked as the Executive Chef at the Peninsula Palace Hotel in Beijing. He is qualified to the highest level in both Chinese and Western cuisine. As well as taking responsibility for Imperial Tours' privately catered meals – such as our signature white-linen banquet atop the Great Wall – Chef Jin is available to accompany private tours around China, especially pertinent for trips to Lhasa. History buffs will find it fascinating to meet Chef Jin since he formerly worked as the personal chef of General Zhang Zhen, a key military leader during China's civil war and a supporter of Deng Xiao Ping during the reform era thirty years later, Hotel News Marriott's Worldwide Expansion Continues Apace In China With 30 hotels in China already, Marriott foresees itself adding six or seven new properties annually. Review of Hotels In The Guilin Area The third in our hotel review series looks at Guilin. This is prompted by the recent opening of the Hotel of Modern Art. Hotel of Modern Art, Yuzi Paradise – "Very seldom do I walk around with my mouth hanging down. There's major art money in Fortworth but they don't have anything like this,"commented Valerie Riefenstahl of Sanders Travel during her recent visit. Yuzi Paradise is a contemporary art production and exhibition complex located within 1,650 acres of stunning karst scenery. With a busily functioning atelier producing glass, bronze, ceramics and stoneware as well as prints and photography, this contemporary art center, which boasts 115 monumental sculptures by internationally renowned artists from 25 countries, is more than just a place to spend the night. It offers a fascinating journey into China's contemporary art scene. The Hotel of Modern Art has only just opened and is in the process of appying for five star status. The new hotel wing with standardized rooms is not scheduled to open until June 2005. Currently, Imperial Tours is using rooms in the owner's private residence for FITs by special arrangement. Their suites range from 300 to 1700 square feet. Group tours are accommodated in the Reception Center in a variety of rooms ranging from 250 to 325 square feet. Sheraton Hotel, Guilin – Originally constructed by the Korean company, Daewoo, the Sheraton Hotel in Guilin has long been the premier five star hotel in Guilin. At its opening in 1988, it was no doubt a startling innovation in Guilin, which at the time only offered basic amenities. However, the bedrooms are quite dated now. That said, the service at this hotel, run by Guilin's most experienced staff, is good. Standard rooms start at 270 square feet and the largest suite is 530 square feet. The Waterfall Hotel, Guilin – This three star hotel was completely rebuilt and renovated to Chinese five star standards at the end of 2002. The opening fanfare was accompanied by the international attention garnered by the hotel's trumpeting of the world's tallest artificial waterfall. However, maintenance is not what it could be, and as a result this comparatively new hotel is already starting to look down at heel. Standard rooms range from 250 – 300 square feet, the suites from 300 – 400 square feet. Bailelai Paradise Resort Hotel, Yangshuo – Once a quiet market town, Yangshuo has mushroomed into a bustling tourist center. The Bailelai Paradise Resort Hotel has expanded with it, introducing four star bedrooms in 1999. These are clean and spacious (300 square feet). However, the major selling point of this hotel is in having the option to accommodate guests in the midst of this area's scenic countryside rather than in the more stressful, urban environment of Guilin city. |
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Beijing April 20 -23: Beijing's International Tourism and Travel Market at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center creates a forum for businesses keen to tap into the opportunities of China's outbound travel market. Click here for details. May 3 – May 7: Yang Li Ping, one of China's best known contemporary dancers, performs his own works at the Poly Theater. Price: RMB280, 380, 580, 780, 980. May 7 – 8: La Bayadere, a ballet performed by the Royal Ballet Van Flanders of Belgium at the Tianqiao Theater. Price: RMB120, 280, 380, 580, 680, 880. May 15: Patricia Kaas performs a solo concert at The Great Hall Of The People by Tiananmen Square. Price: RMB280, 480, 680, 1280, 1880. June 18: Britcham Ascot in Beijing combines the sartorial grace of Britain's Royal Ascot horse race with the competitiveness of Hong Kong Jockey Club's racers at Beijing Jockey Club's race track. Price: RMB 980 Shanghai April 15: The Byron Berline Band 2005 Shanghai Concert, starring three time US national fiddle champion, Byrone Berline at the Shanghai Center Theater. Price: RMB 60, 120, 180, 240. April 26- 27: Latin Jazz Queen, Laura Fygi's Shanghai Nights at Shanghai's Concert Hall. Price: RMB 180, 280, 380, 520, 680, 1280. April 27: Ballet, Romeo and Juliet, a ballet by Ballet Prelojocaj, France at Shanghai Majestic Theater. Price: RMB 80, 180, 280, 380, 500. May 4 – 9: The Stolen Show, a series of contemporary dances performed by Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal at the Shanghai Center Theater. Price: RMB 100, 180, 280, 380, 480. May 5 – 7: Opera, La Vie Parisienne, an opera by Opera Comique Theatre Musical Populaire at the Lyric Theater of the Shanghai Grand Theater. Price: RMB 100, 200, 380, 500, 680, 880. |
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China's contemporary art scene has been hot for some time now with major collections in Hong Kong and Basel receiving world plaudits. As a result, international dealers are snapping up works as they appear at top galleries in Beijing and Shanghai. Recently, we conducted an interview with one of China's most successful artists, Zheng Zai Dong, at his Shanghai studio (Translated from Chinese). Imperial Tours (IT): Your recent series depicts various landscapes. Which mountain ranges do you paint and why? Zheng Zai Dong (ZZD): Chinese landscape painting asks an artist to add an element of his individuality to the depiction of a landscape. For this reason, since ancient times Chinese artists have favored less celebrated mountain ranges. For example, I would not paint a landscape of Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) because each view is so celebrated in its own right that it would be impossible for me to paint my own interpretation. Usually, you find that famous ancient artists have chosen to paint unprepossessing landscapes in order to give themselves the freedom to express their own vision. IT: You have painted this stunning series of West Lake paintings. (Click here to view these.) Why have you never painted the scenery around Guilin? ZZD: Guilin was considered a barbarian area until the Ming dynasty. Prior to that time, Chinese artists did not consider painting it. It was only in the Ming dynasty that Chinese painters began to depict it. And so although I have done a series of small sketches, I have never been inspired to give it the same attention as Hangzhou's West Lake. IT: Many of your paintings refer to Buddhist themes and stories? Are you a Buddhist? ZZD: I am not a Buddhist. I use famous Buddhist themes and stories in my paintings, but it is usually to play with them or to satirize them. IT: Tibet has some stunning scenery. It is also a fashionable destination for Chinese artists. Why have you not painted any Tibetan subjects? ZZD: Chinese and Tibetan painting styles are very different. I have traveled to Tibet and find it very beautiful, but it hasn't inspired me to paint it. IT: Where would you like your next trip to be? ZZD: Li Bai, the 8th century poet, is celebrated for the poems he wrote during his travels from the city of Nanjing south west into Anhui province. You can still follow the trail of his poems. No one else follows this route, so this would make the trip even better. |
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Discovery – Braille Without Borders Meeting Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg, founders of "Braille Without Borders", is an amazing voyage into fearlessness, resolve and compassion. Their no-nonsense approach to helping the blind people of Tibet has earned them the respect of the many organizations that originally said this could not be done. Sabriye, who became blind as a young adult, invented a Braille script for the Tibetan language as part of her studies at Bonn University, Germany. When she arrived in Tibet a few years later, she was as surprised by the high incidence of blindness as by how poorly-equipped local institutions were to deal with this enduring problem. For example, Sabriye tells a story of visiting a family's home to find their blind daughter tied to a bed! Sabriye and Paul were determined to help, and the local government recognizing the woeful plight of Tibetan blind people swiftly welcomed their brave efforts to establish educational and rehabilitation programs. "Braille Without Borders" is characterized by pragmatism. For example, by working with a Tibetan scholar, Sabriye further developed her syllable-based Braille script for Tibet's community of the blind. As soon as Paul transferred this into a software program, Sabriye implemented it at the Preparatory School for the Blind that they have set up in Lhasa. Apart from teaching Tibetan blind children and adults vocational skills (from handicrafts to music to agriculture to information technology) that will increase their status within their local communities, the educational programs they have created at their school and farm instill vital confidence and hope in young people who would otherwise find themselves in a forbidding situation. That Sabriye has achieved so much that various countries' aid agencies are asking for her assistance is inspirational for her young students. Similarly, Paul's compassion and engineering skills have helped implement a dream dedicated to marvelously revolutionizing the lives of so many blind persons. To find out more about Braille Without Borders, please visit their web site by clicking here. To listen to an interview of Sabriye on NPR, please click here. During our visits to Lhasa, Imperial Tours takes guests to visit the Preparatory School for the Blind and to meet Sabriye and Paul, when their schedules permit. (Please note that whenever Imperial Tours visits a charity, we make a donation on behalf of our clients so that guests do not feel as though they are being asked for money.) If you would like to make a financial contribution to Braille Without Borders, you will find banking information on their website. |
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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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