Hong Kong

The bar, considered among the top 50 in the world has now reopened after enhancements to the outdoor deck area and the addition of new soft furnishings. From the spacious deck, 300 feet above the sea, one can enjoy the utterly breathtaking views of Hong Kong.

he only temple in Hong Kong that offers facilities for Taoist wedding services, the Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong. Known for its fortune-tellers, visitors flock here year round so that the soothsayers that reside in the temple can inform them as to their future.

The hotel driver is waiting for me at the entrance door of the Upper House , also belonging to the Swire group. As I enter the car I notice two small bottles of water with a black tag welcoming me aboard and letting me know about the free Wi-Fi service in the car. I am already happy.

he big bustling café at the hotel EAST, has extended its international favourites to the neighbourhood of Island East with its newly launched takeaway counter – Feastaway (Good food to go).

The Feastaway counter is a new alternative for lunch on the go with great value, following the philosophy of Feast – ‘simple things, done well’. The lunch takeaway includes an array of salads, a wide sandwich selection, plus a daily curry and pasta choices.

Recipient of 1-Michelin star in the prestigious 2010 & 2011 Michelin Guide (Hong Kong & Macau), .Yan Toh Heen at InterContinental Hong Kong has garnered internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s finest Chinese restaurants over its twenty-five year history.

Yan Toh Heen is renowned for its exquisite Cantonese cuisine by Executive Chef Lau Yiu Fai, elegant understated ambiance with signature hand-carved jade place-settings, and its beautiful harbour views, thanks to its location at edge of Victoria Harbour overlooking Hong Kong Island.

The Menu
The restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner, features an extensive a la carte menu, plus set lunch and dinner menus and special menus showcasing seasonal Cantonese specialties. At lunchtime, guests can enjoy an extensive selection of traditional and innovative dim sum. The a la carte menus also showcase a selection of “ihealth” dishes, which are healthy variations of authentic Cantonese delicacies.

What makes the cuisine of Yan Toh Heen so outstanding? As per Chef Lau Yiu Fai, “It is the combination of refined Chinese cooking methods using the best ingredients from all over the world and the finest quality fresh seasonal produce, with a creative modern presentation.”

The Chef
Yan Toh Heen Chef Lau Yiu Fai, who has been working in the hotel’s Chinese kitchen for over twenty-three years and who has been at the helm of Yan Toh Heen’s kitchen for the past ten years, showcases signature dishes — ranging from the restaurant’s classic Deep-fried Pear & Scallop to his award-winning Lung Kong Chicken and Sautéed Wagyu Beef, Mushroom and Shishito Pepper served on a sizzling Iron Plate, which was awarded the “Best of the Best” culinary award at the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s competition honouring the best Chinese cuisine in Hong Kong. Yan Toh Heen’s Peking Duck is also highly acclaimed.

The Design
The name “Yan Toh Heen” was chosen with particular attention to the restaurant’s harbourside location. The first two characters represent an appreciation of the enjoyable view, while the third character, “Heen”, has a number of meanings including “an elegant dining establishment”. It can also signify “happy, laughing, pleasant” as well as “porch, balcony and pavilion”.

The logo of Yan Toh Heen, two fish bound together by ribbons, dates back to seventh century China and has been interpreted to mean “an augury of good fortune”. This insignia appears on restaurant decorations and exquisite jade carved table settings and is also embroidered in silk on the Swiss Linen napkins.

Table-settings are the focal point of the restaurant with presentation plates, matching napkin rings, curved spoons and carved fish (used as a chopstick “rest”) all handcrafted in green jade, a symbol of excellence and purity to the Chinese.

Yan Toh Heen features a warm and elegant décor with golden honey tones, chosen to complement the delicate green of the jade table settings. The rich hues, unusually understated for a traditional Chinese restaurant, create an ambiance of tranquility.

The restaurant also showcases several priceless Chinese antiques. At the entrance to the restaurant is a 17th century Zi Tan table contrasted by a stunning contemporary floral arrangement. Eighteenth century antique Chinese tapestries from the hotel’s original art collection, restored and beautifully reframed, adore the walls, while wrap-around windows showcase panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. Yan Toh Heen also has its own wine cellar within the restaurant.

have been handed two keys of the largest Presidential Suite in Hong Kong at 7000 sq. feet and one of the largest Asian ‘City’ Presidential Suites. It is also one of the 10 “most expensive hotel rooms in the world” as rated by Forbes in April 2006 . To make a long story short, I am going to point you below a few interesting facts just in case you decide to book it for your next trip.

One of Hong Kong’s greatest charms is its unending contrast between the old and the new, and the best way to truly experience this dichotomous culture is to explore the city on foot. This three-hour walk takes you into the heart of the downtown, where historic buildings share space with ultra-modern office buildings, and into the back streets of the old city that was then known as Victoria when modern Hong Kong began in 1841.

Most traditional medicine stores cater solely to the practice of Chinese herbal medicine, with some cures dating back 2,000 years. The medicinal stock, however, includes much more than roots and plants. Take a look inside one of Hong Kong’s many medicinal shops and you’ll find a bewildering array of jars and drawers containing everything from ginseng and deer’s horn to fossilized bones , animal teeth dried sea horse, lizard urchin, starfish or even fish stomach are excellent remedies from sickness, promoting good digestion, and burst your immune system,

If you need to buy a coral dragon at a price of 4.200.000 dollars Hong Kong is the place to shop. And if you are also looking for a a nice Crystal Kwn Yin specifically at the Chinese Arts and Crafts store you will pay 8, 600,00 us dollars. But not everything is that high priced of course. Bring back in your suitcase maginificent silk fabric, cloisonné cups and even cute folk dolls of excellent quality for just a few box.

The Chinese character for jade is a combination of the words for beauty and purity, but there’s far more behind the Chinese obsession with this stone than looks. Jade has been long associated with long life and good health in Chinese culture, making it a prized material for good-luck charms. Few Hong Kong newborns will be left to start life without a jade bracelet from grandma, and people of all ages receive new amulets each year based on their zodiac signs and computations of the ancient Chinese almanac.

And , in Hong kong this morning starting by the Lexus RX450H hybrid car equipped with complimentary WiFi on board upon arrival at the luxury Upeer House boutique hotel in Pacific Place I feel totally like a Bond Girl away from home!

I am now welcomed by a paperless ’arrival experience’ for my check in by the very pretty Pubic Relation Manager Michelle Lau who holding a last version iPad® containing my full information and preferences invites me for a drink in ac harming outdoor secret garden on Level 6 called ” The Loan Bar ” to enjoy a garden snacks in lush green surroundings, for a relaxing respite under Hong Kong skyline.