If you have the privilege to stay at the Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai overlooking the magnificent Bund you will quite appreciate at a few steps close the millenary art of keeping healthy through the world’s oldest soft style martial art known as Tai chi ch’uan. It’s very important though to wake up very early in the morning to practice your Chi correctly.
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Cities
The spirit of nature and the martial arts have been linked since the ancient times. Wind, earth, water and fire have been fused into the philosophy of the masters for centuries. Use this connection as the power of nature to gain courage, confidence and valuable skills since martial arts are a spiritual journey more than a physical one. Karate Kid, is this week movie!
In Chinese tradition, the place of honor is always at the water’s edge. Inspired by the wisdom of Chinese practices for health and well-being, water’s edge at Park Hyatt Shanghai honors life in harmony with the quite strength and fluid nature of water.
Nestled in the heart of Shanghai old city preparing for the Lantern festival, Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying.
This place is truly an oasis of peace , beauty and serenity.
By the time he was 25, Philippe had already visited over 100 countries, travel has become part of his DNA. Today his company Kiwi Collection resorts and spas recommends over 2,350 hotels in 133 countries which are removed if falling below his team’s strict standards and only included based on a visit. Today I’ve had the pleasure of an informal chat with him.
In Shanghai , the most modern city in China where food chains are moving up with flash buildings and stunning skylines, the concept is quite the same. If you turn the corner you can still find pockets that seem cut from distant centuries.
It’s in a single street named Dongtai Lu , around Dongtai Road, just south of Hua Hai Zhonglu, near Hua Hai Park that outdoor vendors line several streets on the outskirts of the Old Town
Like every room in the hotel, mine features views over the Huangpu river and Pudong and apparently I will be spending time in one of the largest suite sof the city measuring 130 sqm . Tallest building and largest suite are overwhelming for a simple traveler like me who is just looking for some comfort and warm hospitality. The tall doors are opened to a 3,1 meter ceiling height, and the room at first site looks pretty spacious to me.
One day Japanese real estate real mogul Minoru Mori was looking at the sky from his renowned Roppongi Hills complex over a cup of green tea. Among the crowded stars he reached out for God with the following plea: ” Dear God, now that I have recently built the in the city of Shanghai, the SWFC , world’s tallest building with the help of by Petersen Fox design team , I would like now with your permission to create the world’s best hotel; what would be your grace’s auspicious suggestions?”
After an unformal l chat sipping my warm tea and experiences different ESPA essential oils scents, Sandy suggests that I experiment a combination of a 90 minutes ancient and modern Chinese treatment called Jade QiYun paired with an ESPA detoxifying Body Oil massage whose ingredients, 100% natural. A total pre-2012 bliss!
Tonight we have a reservation at the Ritz- Carlton Pudong , high quality-Cantonese restaurant , Jin Xuang , apparently among the best in Shanghai.
In this spectacular location with high ‘vaulted ‘ceilings and a mezzanine level masterly designed by Steve Leung from Hong Kong, the very best cuisine is proudly showcased as a discerned choice for social and business dinners alike.
I have decided to meet with chef Lok and top executive chef, French Thierry Marais early this afternoon for few questions before I enjoy this overwhelming experience at 8.
We stop at the 51st level. The Ritz Carlton suite opens it’s door to my tired soul. Bright light coming for the windows strike my eyes while I am literally blown up in awe by the 410 square meters and 5.8 ceiling height ceilings. William smiles, looking proudly almost happier than me. Renowened world designer Richard Farnell was very successful in blending sleek elegance with 1930 glamour Shanghai Art Deco
My love affair with China started about 30 years ago well before the movies, Indohine and L’Amant mirrors of a romantic aesthetics and elegant exoticism my soul was compelled to absorb.
Although both took place in Vietnam, my Eastern reverie called upon daring to explore a distant cultural myth , one I instinctively knew somehow, would decline to be slowly extinguished in time.
20 hours later , in 1980, I land in Peking in the midst, of Mao Tse-tung Cultural Revolution at a time where the now deceased leader decides to open China frontiers for tourists from around the world , like me.