The Flavors of China With East-West Chef Ming Tsai: Accommodations

The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street 

At The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street, is located at the center of one of the world’s most vibrant financial districts in downtown Beijing, China.  Located at the intersection of Taipingqiao and Jinchengfangdong, you'll be greeted by a striking, modern glass and chrome exterior, and an interior that's elegant, warm and comfortable.

Three exceptional restaurants serve Chinese, Italian and all-day dining favorites.  The Ritz-Carlton Spa & Salon offers a variety of beauty treatments and rejuvenating therapies.  An expansive health club with fitness center, heated indoor lap pool with Jacuzzi beds, steam and sauna rooms. 

The hotel also offers convenient access to world-class shopping, cultural opportunities and entertainment.

The Ritz-Carlton, Financial Street features luxurious Beijing hotel suites just steps from the finest businesses and attractions. Featuring distinctive amenities and impeccable service, these Beijing hotel rooms provide an unforgettable retreat.

• Deluxe Room accommodation is included at the price of $6950 per person, based on double occupancy. 

Measuring 535 square feet, the room is decorated in a contemporary Chinese motif with modern furnishings and comes with fully stocked refreshment bar, electronic room control touch panels, high-speed Internet access, and marble bathroom with separate bath and shower facilities.

• Upgrade to Executive Club Room for $165 per person, based on double occupancy.

Indulge in The Ritz-Carlton Club Level, a special floor which includes expansive accommodations, an elegant lounge with breathtaking views of the city skyline and the White Pagoda Temple, and dedicated concierge staff. The club lounge features five food and beverage presentations daily showcasing cuisines of the hotel.  The perfect place for morning coffee, a midday snack, or a glass of wine before dinner.

Highlights:
• 24 hours accessible lounge exclusive for club floor guests.
• Free pressing of one suit/dress upon arrival
• Continuous light food and beverage service all day long.
• Free-flowing soft drinks & alcohol around the clock.
• Free wireless Internet at the club lounge.
• Complimentary 4 p.m. late check-out upon request.
• Resourceful concierge available at your finger tips providing a one-stop service.

• Upgrade to Premier Suite for $390 per person, based on double occupancy.

In addition to Club Level hospitality, enjoy more spacious accommodations measuring 646 square feet with the added pleasure of a free-standing Aveo Villary & Boch bathtub.

• Upgrade to Executive Suite for $650 per person, based on double occupancy.

Average suite size is 1086 square feet with enhanced amenities and Club Level hospitality.

Amanfayun, Hangzhou 

Hidden in a picturesque valley, Amanfayun enjoys a serene setting surrounded by tea fields, natural forest, quaint villages and a pilgrimage circuit of five significant Buddhist temples. Designed in the spirit of a traditional Chinese village, the property comprises 47 dwellings, a number of which date back over 100 years.

This secluded retreat is only a 20-minute drive along bamboo and tree-lined avenues from the centre of the bustling city of Hangzhou. Once described by Marco Polo as “The city of heaven”, Hangzhou is still today regarded as the most beautiful city in China due to its tranquil West Lake, countless pagodas, historic temples, botanical gardens and vast wetland areas.

Due to the unique nature of the structures, no two rooms are identical. Without compromising the integrity of the dwellings, all accommodations enjoy the comforts of radiant underfloor heating, air conditioning and internet connectivity.

All furniture is freestanding and includes daybeds, sofas, dining suites and floor and desk lamps. Fine calligraphy art pieces decorate the walls and a sound system with iPod option is available in all rooms. Televisions are  available on request. Most accommodation units open to private or semi-private courtyards with informal outdoor dining and lounging areas.

• Village Room is included at the price of $6950 per person, based on double occupancy.

Village Rooms measure on average 66 square metres. Each has a king-sized bed, daybed, writing desk and bathroom with shower, toilet, twin vanities and dressing area.

• Upgrade to Village Suite for $280 per person, based on double occupancy.

Village Suites measure on average 88 square metres. These are furnished in a similar way to the Village Rooms, however some have separate bedrooms and others have twin writing desks or daybeds.

• Upgrade to Deluxe Village Suite for $840 per person, based on double occupancy.

Deluxe Village Suites measure on average 135 square metres. Around half of these suites feature a duplex configuration with the bedroom and bathroom located above the living room. Seven of the Deluxe Village Suites enjoy their own private double massage treatment rooms, most with additional shower facilities.

• Upgrade to Village Villa for $1,260 per person, based on double occupancy.

There are four Village Villas - Camphor, Magnolia, Bamboo and Tea. Each measures on average 204 square metres and features a duplex configuration with private double massage treatment rooms.

• Upgrade to Amanfayun Villa for $2,240 per person, based on double occupancy. 

The Amanfayun Villa comprises two king-sized bedrooms. Each has an en suite bathroom and the master bedroom has a private sitting area. The residence is spread over two levels, measures 290 square metres, and includes an enclosed courtyard and an intimate reading area. Also included is an expansive lounge with a dining area and twin daybeds, as well as a private massage room.

The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai

Stroll down the famous Nanjing Xi Lu, past the magnificent Bund buildings and restored architectural icons, to a place where the traditions of the past intersect with the ultra-modern.

Experience The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai – an unforgettable luxury hotel where you’ll find yourself surrounded by a city rich in history and cosmopolitan delights.

After a day spent sightseeing, guests can indulge in a soothing spa treatment, enjoy an exceptional meal at one of the six on-site restaurants or simply take in the skyline views from their luxurious accommodations.

With a contemporary décor enriched by touches of Asian influences reflecting Shanghai’s modernity and historical bearings, The Portman Ritz-Carlton hotel rooms and suites in Shanghai are a cornerstone of luxury and comfort.

• Deluxe Room accommodation is included at the price of $6950 per person, based on double occupancy. 

Measuring 409 square feet and tastefully appointed with contemporary Chinese décor, furnishings and artwork, Deluxe Rooms are equipped with separate bath and shower facilities, 32-inc LCD television with DVD player, alarm clock with built-in CD player and high speed Internet access.

• Upgrade to Club Guestroom for $95 per person, based on double occupancy.

Club Guestrooms are 409 square feet and provides guests with 24-hour access to The Ritz-Carlton Club, a bespoke experience in a boutique setting. 

The Ritz-Carlton Club Level features luxuriously appointed rooms and suites.  Additional personal care toiletries, larger guest rooms and suites, and one complimentary suit pressing upon arrival are some of the benefits available at The Club.

Highlights:
• 24 hours accessible lounge exclusive for club floor guests.
• Free pressing service for one suit upon arrival.
• Continuous light food and beverage service all day long: breakfast, mid-day snack, high tea, cocktails & canapes, cordials & chocolate and overnight food presentation.
•  Complimentary tea/coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, juice and sparkling water available throughout the day
• Free 24-hour business centre services ( e.g. Photocopying, fax, printing, internet on the computers available in the club)
• Private check-in from 05:30 in the morning till 01:00 mid-night
• Late check out till 14:00
• Personalized concierge services: ticketing, shipping/ parcels, tour/ restaurant recommendation & reservations
• Onward flight reconfirmation upon request
• Free local calling from the room
• One hour complimentary usage of club meeting room per room, per stay (can be combinable with other rooms). All facilities available (LCD projector, wireless internet, coffee machine

• Upgrade to Club Studio for $190 per person, based on double occupancy.

In addition to Club Level hospitality, enjoy more spacious accommodations measuring 484 square feet with the added pleasure of a sitting area comprised of a sofa or two chairs.

• Upgrade to Executive Suite for $375 per person, based on double occupancy.

Executive Suites measure 840 square feet and feature a king bedroom and parlor room with separate bathroom, enhanced amenities and Club Level hospitality.

The Flavors of China With East-West Chef Ming Tsai: Itinerary

Day One – Saturday, September 10, 2011
Arrival

Upon arrival at Beijing International Airport, you will be met at the gate by airport VIP staff who will lead you through immigration, baggage claim and customs.  Your China Host will then meet you after you have claimed your luggage and passed through customs. 

Optional Diplomatic Arrival – You will be met off the jet bridge. No need to wait in line for Customs and Immigration, and no need to walk through the car park. Your car will be waiting for you at the airport exit.

Upon transferring to the hotel, you will have the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Overnight The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
 

Day Two – Sunday, September 11, 2011
Touring in Beijing (B, L, D)

Chairman Mao’s personal chef, who prepared the meals for the visiting Viscount Montgomery, the Dalai Lama and the last Emperor of China amongst other dignitaries, was bequeathed an aristocratic courtyard home across the street from Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese leadership, one of the most exclusive addresses in Beijing.  These days, this chef’s grandson, himself also a Master Chef, prepares behind-the-scenes ministerial level meetings in this exclusive conclave.  Chef Ming Tsai and Chef Liu Jian will collaborate on an elegant meal of the most authentic, classic Chinese flavors.

In the afternoon you will start your exploration of Beijing.  Whether by force of irony or expediency, China’s government has been located in the same area continuously for over six hundred years.   You will walk back in time; strolling across Tian’anmen Square, one of the largest squares of the modern era, you will pass the Monument to the People’s Heroes -- dedicated to the ravages of the hundred year long Opium War -- and finally enter the ancient epicenter of Imperial Power, the Forbidden City. 

Dinner tonight will be hotpot, a staple of Chinese cuisine, most popular when the weather outside is chilly.  All ingredients from vegetables to meats to seafood to dumplings are brought to the table uncooked together with a cauldron of boiling soups.  You cook the food yourself and then a variety of dipping sauces are provided. Think of it as Chinese fondue! 

Overnight The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Day Three – Monday, September 12, 2011
Great Wall Excursion (B, L, D)

Today, you will visit the Great Wall of China.  Built to protect China from the incursions of predatory nomads, the utility and meaning of this fortification has been contested for centuries.  The unprecedented scale and unexpected charm of the Great Wall may inspire you.  The section that we most highly recommend is the further away, about 2 hours drive, but is generally considered one of the most beautiful sections of the Great Wall. 

Once there, you will be treated to a private banquet on the Wall itself (weather permitting).  After lunch you will be given some time for a stroll along this most magnificent of sites.

Back in town, you will have some time to rest before heading out for dinner to a restaurant serving what we believe is the capital’s best Peking Duck.  Very few restaurants still use the traditional wood oven and even fewer bother using wood from a fruit tree.  The effort is worth it as the Peking duck is heavenly, as is all the other food at this Beijing legend.  The restaurant has a lively atmosphere with show kitchens throughout allowing you to admire the chefs throwing noodles, making dumplings and creating delicious dishes over fire blazing woks.

Overnight The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Day Four – Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Beijing to Hangzhou (B, L, D)

This morning we will visit the Temple of Heaven -- a Confucianist complex spanning 670 acres -- created for the exclusive use of the Emperor as a place to mediate affairs between God and man. Morning is a wonderful time to visit the Temple as you will see local Beijingers out doing their morning exercises. 

Lunch will be at one of the capital’s most stunning restaurants, serving fusion cuisine that is more Chinese than Western.  All dishes contain or are infused with tea and include such items as succulent lamb with Wulong tea or a crisp pear and walnut starter with green tea pesto.  Décor also plays an important role in this restaurant and no two dishes are presented the same way.

A flight will then take us to Hangzhou, the city which Marco Polo described as the “most enchanting on earth”.  You will be transferred to the Aman Fayun located within the sacred temple district in the Hangzhou hills.  This is a truly unique getaway, allowing you to experience Chinese village life, albeit in Aman style. 

Overnight Amanfayun Resort

Day Five – Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Touring in Hangzhou (B, L, D)

Your tour of Hangzhou begins with a drive through the tea plantations where China’s most famous green tea is cultivated.  Afterwards, you will descend down into the historic section of the city where you will be taken to a local tea house.  There, you will be the guests of honor at a private tea ceremony and tea tasting.

We will then drive to a restaurant famous for its simple but refined cuisine.  Each morning, the best ingredients are collected from the most reliable local suppliers, according to each product’s seasonality.  Today’s lunch of local delicacies will be a unique experience, fruit of the joint creative energy and experience of one of Hangzhou’s premier restaurants and Chef Ming Tsai.

Hangzhou’s wealth and splendor flabbergasted the urbane Marco Polo in his visit to China.  Gold-plated floor tiles and color-dyed pets supported the claim that: “In heaven there is paradise, on earth there is Hangzhou and Suzhou.”  After lunch you will enjoy a private boat tour of the extensive West Lake, encompassing its pagodas, causeways and landscaped islands. 

Dinner tonight will be a much more local experience as you venture into town to one of its most popular restaurants.  Here, you will enjoy some of Hangzhou’s seafood delicacies. 

Overnight Amanfayun
 

Day Six – Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hangzhou to Shanghai (B, L, D)
 

After breakfast, we will take a ten minute stroll to one of China’s most famous temples, Lingyin Temple.  Outside this temple, carved into the “Cliff That Flew From Afar,” are over three hundred beautiful Buddhist sculptures carved between the tenth and fourteenth centuries. 

Afterwards, we will drive to Shanghai (approx. 3 hours).  Shanghai will take your breath away.  Since the early 80’s this city has been growing like no other, the Pudong waterfront becoming as emblematic of economic prowess as that of Manhattan or Hong Kong. 

Lunch today will feature the famous Shanghainese Xiaolongbao, a delicious dumpling filled with pork and crab roe. 

Your tour of Shanghai begins with a lecture/tour on colonial architecture in Shanghai given by a member of the Shanghai Historical Society.  This tour will take you into some of the most important buildings along the Bund and French Concessions including the former Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. 

For dinner, we will head to one of the best Chinese restaurants in town, located inside the Peninsula Hotel.  Executive Chef Tang Chi Keung is one of the first Chinese chefs to be awarded a Michelin star.  The food is classic Cantonese and ingredients are key as the delicate flavors allow no room for anything but the freshest of ingredients. 

Overnight The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai

Day Seven – Friday, September 16, 2011
Touring in Shanghai (B, L, D)

This morning take in the interesting characters and local flavor of one of Shanghai’s premier wet markets. These markets are a one-stop shop, with vendors selling farm-fresh vegetables, live fish, ready-made dumplings and live chickens.  Your chef guide will share insight while selecting ingredients for tonight's farewell dinner. 

Afterwards, you will visit the Shanghai Museum, one of the most modern in the country.  Arranged by category rather than according to a chronology, its collection introduces and elucidates the gamut of Chinese arts from ceramics to jade and ivory carvings to paintings. 

Lunch will be a simple Shanghainese meal in one of the liveliest shopping districts in Shanghai. 

En route to lunch, we will travel along sycamore-lined boulevards into the heart of the French Concession.  This section of the “Paris of the Orient” now hosts many arts-based businesses and art galleries that we can visit if you so desire.  The afternoon will be spent discovering some of Shanghai’s great shopping treasures.  This might include a contemporary ceramics shop, the studio of a woman who designs cashmere handbags for Harrods or a fantastic Tibetan carpet shop. 

For your final evening, you will be the guests of honor where our host chef and Chef Ming Tsai have created some culinary masterpieces from the items chosen at the morning’s market visit. 

Overnight The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai

Day Eight – Saturday, September 17, 2011
Departures (B)

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your international flight.