Annike Sorenstam

The Taihu Golf Cup & Ladies Golf Open 2008 will be held from October 30 to November 2 at the Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club. This match has been approved by the Golf Association, the Ladies European golf tour and the Ladies Asia golf Tour.

It is a professional event sponsored by the China Golf Association and run jointly by the Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club and Hongkong Futong Co.Ltd

Annika Sorenstam will be playing in this her final season.

Zhang Xiaoning, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the China golf Association said that this event will bring more golf to Shuzou.

Suzhou Taihu International golf club

Raevadee T. Suwan, the Chairman of ladies Asia Golf tour said this event is a big news. It will encourage more amateurs to become professional players.

Annika Sorenstam, on her final year of competition golf, said, ‘China represents the future for golf and I feel I should be there at this time in my career. The Ladies European Tour gave me my start in pro golf and so I want to be part of this historic moment together with my fellow European players.’

This will be a major event. There will be 132 players in all. Some coming from  overseas, some local.  They will compete for $300,000.

Conrad Shanghai

Internationally renowned architecture firm Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, of New York, has designed a striking modern building that will become the new gateway to Xintiandi, Shanghai’s entertainment hub.

The 24-storey tower curves gently to create an elegant profile with the building distinguished by its window wall patterns in Chinese granite, based on traditional Chinese latticework from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD).  The result is very contemporary but unmistakably Chinese.

Paul Katz, Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates said ‘Our aim for the Conrad Shanghai was to design a property which advanced the city’s new role as a global hub of commerce and culture, while echoing the vibrancy and prosperity of the Han Dynasty’.

Conrad Shanghai interior

‘We also wanted to ensure that the hotel related well to the largely low-rise architecture of the surrounding Xintiandi area.  Xintiandi is a stunning example of restored traditional Chinese architecture and we wanted the Conrad Shanghai to honor this masterpiece of architectural expression.

‘We therefore used grey granite which mirrors the renovated grey brick townhouses with carved stone gates that are a feature of Xintiandi. At street level, many of the hotel’s restaurants and cafes will face onto a central plaza, replicating the outdoor café culture of the neighborhood.’

A total of 2,900 windows were individually handcrafted.

The Conrad Shanghai’s interiors will be contemporary but draw on the materials and patterns that were a feature of the Han Dynasty.

Peter Remedios, President and Managing Principal at Remedios Siembieda, said, ‘The challenge of the designer is to go beyond the obvious reproductions of a particular style. For the Conrad Shanghai, we used a sophisticated and modern interpretation of the Han Dynasty to evoke the look and charisma of that style.’

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers has appointed Philip Zhao as their new Director of Sales & Marketing.

He has in-depth knowledge of the China market with over eight years experience in some of China’s most competitive markets.

Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers is the award winning 5-star international hotel in ancient Suzhou.

This city recalls the splendor of China’s past with its traditional hump-back bridges, waterways and gardens, all enclosed within a city wall.

Sheraton Suzhou pool

With 386 rooms and suites, the hotel also has comprehensive meeting facilities — which makes it a MICE hotel —  a business center as well as fully-equipped health & fitness center.

More hotel information can be viewed at:
Sheraton

Its roots can be traced back to antiquity with much of the foundation of the cuisine told in myths and legends. Evolving from a cuisine which was highly influenced by Chinese culture with Buddhism and Confucianism, the cuisine eventually came into its own by differentiating itself in a number of ways.

The Korean royal court cuisine once brought all of the unique regional specialties together for the royal family. Meals taken both by the royal family and Korean citizens have been regulated by etiquette unique to Korea.

The cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice.

Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan. Kimchi, a fermented, spicy vegetable dish is usually served at every meal. Korean cuisine usually involves seasoning with sesame oil, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, and gochujang (red chili paste). It is a cuisine much sought after by connoisseurs.

From August 22 to 31 the Sheraton Suzhou Garden Brasserie will be a Korean restaurant offering a selection of Bibimbap, Kimchi, Bulgogi, Grilled galbi, Haemultang.

Priced at RMB198 (plus a 15% surcharge) per person it allows a taste of Korea in China in what will be for the time the most unique restaurant in the Suzhou city.

If you stay for two nights or more breakfast is free and there is also late check-out available until 3pm (subject to availability).

The price of a Superior Room starts from RMB1100 +15% for weekends and RMB1200 +15% for weekdays.

This ‘Sneak Away’ Package is valid until September 14, 2008.

The 500-room luxury property in the heart of Jinbao Street was given the title by Hotels magazine China, the organizers of the award, for its staff professionalism, strong guest return ratio, convenient location, sound maintenance and design appeal.

The Regent Beijing has won several other similar awards including Condé Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice Awards 2007 and the Travel + Leisure 100 Best China Hotels Awards, just barely six months after its official opening in April last year.

In addition, it was awarded ‘The World’s Best Places To Stay’ title by Condé Nast Traveler in January 2008.
Source: eTravel Blackboard

The hotel’s interior design was devised by Remedios, who has won accolades for his work on Grand Hyatt Tokyo, among other hotel projects.

This is the first international hotel in Guangzhou to feature a ’sky lobby’ located 22 floors up; like many other areas in the hotel, it offers expansive views across the Pearl River and Tianhe CBD.

The lobby area is inspired by South China. Remedios said, ‘I wanted the feeling to be as if you were walking into a traditional Chinese village at dusk — so lighting glows. There is a sense of bringing the outside indoors with the bamboo, and a dramatic use of materials with the rocks and glass. This all creates a metaphysical sense of welcome.’

On the third floor, the hotel’s three interconnecting sections of the Grand Ballroom can be augmented by fully enclosed VIP and bridal rooms.

Six function rooms have been given a residential feel, and a boardroom and the Business Center are also on the same level.

The constitution and the office of the President closely follow the United States presidential system of government.

The Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel is a de luxe boutique hotel situated within 7 hectares of historic gardens in the heart of the consular district.

In our picture Ma Kejun (right), general manager of Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel Shanghai, greets the President of Mexico.

The hotel has a special Summer Weekend package for RMB708.

This includes:
1. One night in a Hill-view standard room
2. Welcome fruit basket on arrival
3. 2 Breakfasts or lunch buffets
4. Free use of sauna, gymnasium and in-door swimming pool at the WTC Hotel Club.
5. 20% discount at tennis court, squash and snooker at the WTC Hotel Club.
6.Free high speed Internet connection.

This promotion is running now and will continue until September 15, 2008.
For on-line booking click HERE.

The buffet includes a sushi and sashimi bar, an assortment of salads, hot and cold starters (mezze), wood-fired pizzas, tandoori, fresh seafood and traditional Swiss specialties such as veal Zurichoise, cheese fondue and a selection of cheeses and various cold cuts.

For sweets there is and ice-cream teppanyaki station or indulge in chocolate-dipped fresh fruits. Desserts also include traditional Swiss tarts, cakes and other tempting mini dish pastries.

Swissôtel Grand Shanghai is located 5 minutes away from Jing An Temple and its subway station and City Square Mall is a 15 minute stroll from the hotel.