Tag Archives: China Travel

Shanghai favourite gets refurbishment

Trips to China are often associated with fantastic natural landscapes such as those seen in the Hainan province, or impressive feats of human perseverance like the Great Wall of China, but the country is becoming a byword for luxury.

As many economies in Europe falter, China has made huge commercial improvements during the past decade or so and now its cities have some of the best amenities and infrastructure on the planet.

The latest world-class site to open its doors to the country’s growing amount of overseas visitors is the Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel.

Situated in the lavish business district of the city, the accommodation has been a favourite of executives for over two decades and the hotel has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment so it now offers tourists even more facilities.

“I would call this hotel almost like an institution, since the hotel has been well-regarded in the city for more than 20 years. This is a big plus for its property,” said Juergen Sterkau, general manager of the building.

Rooms now feature many high-tech gadgets including a plug-in iPod connection, which will enable guests to use the speakers in the room to play their own music.

Downstairs, the hotel has been improved by the addition of new banquet facilities and an extra ballroom.

Mr Sterkau said the philosophy to a good stay was simple.

“Take good care of your associates. They will take good care of the customers and the customers will return again and again,” he explained.

Those on a trip to China who decide to use the Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel as their base will be perfectly situated to enjoy a wide range of attractions.

Most stays in the city involve a trip to see the Bund. The area is a famous waterfront and has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. Buildings exhibiting Gothic, Baroque, Classicism and Renaissance architecture can all be found on the banks for the Huangpu River.

Spring festival ‘brings out Chinese hospitality’

Now could be the ideal time to book a China tour.

The country is currently celebrating the Spring Festival after it ushered in the Year of the Dragon on Chinese New Year, which this time fell on January 23rd.

China has many stunning and unique attractions such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall that will be unforgettable at any time of the year, but the People’s Daily Online is reporting that those tourists who are currently in the country are having the time of their lives.

Authorities in China are keen to put on a show for travellers during the festival and, as a result, the ancient cultural traditions of the Chinese people come to the fore.

Pazhani Raja, a student from India who experienced the Lunar New Year celebrations, said he was so impressed by the spirit of the natives that he had to honour the Spring Festival.

He commented: “The dinner on New Year’s Eve is so sumptuous that I had been waiting for the treat all year.”

“The essence of the dinner gathering is reunion, which is deep in the Chinese culture. After working hard for a year, the family dinner makes everyone feel soulful happiness.”

People’s Daily Online reports that the Chinese hospitality is not the only joy to be seen at this time of year.

The news agency said that visitors were flocking to the Ice Festival in Harbin, the Bund in Shanghai, the panda-breeding base in Sichuan and many other often overlooked villages in the country in search of the perfect new year memories.

China is so vast it offers something for everyone. The country’s meteorological authority said that the south of the country will continue to see snow, while the northern provinces will experience warm sunny weather for the next week.