Blossoms. The Tower. Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan

Transcription

1 Blossoms by The Tower R Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan

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3 shangri-la hotel, wuhan

4 THERE S NO GREATER ACT OF HOSPITALITY THAN TO EMBRACE A STR ANGER AS ONE S OWN.

5 the invigorating scent of spring lingered in the morning air as I hastened my steps into Wuhan University. Just like the friendly concierge had promised, an infinite sea of cottony white and pink bloomed ahead, waiting to embrace me in its exquisite fragility. Enchanted, I strolled under the delicately translucent canopy of cherry blossoms, knowing that their beauty would fade in days. As more visitors flowed into the famed university grounds, I whispered farewell to the sakuras and left with a fallen bloom of the lightest pink pressed into the pages of my journal. Gleaming with thousands of yellow glazed tiles, the upturned eaves of the tower resembled a siege of yellow cranes ready to take flight. My mind recalled the poems I had recited as a child, penned by famous Tang dynasty poets who saw fit to immortalise the Yellow Crane Tower. Dusk fell quickly while I admired the magnificence of the Yangtze River and contemplated the ancient battles fought during the reign of the Three Kingdoms. Pulling on my cardigan, I heeded the chilly night wind s call to return to the warmth of the hotel. 1

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7 the winding yangtze river followed me back to the hotel in the form of a spectacular mural behind the reception desk. Seeing how transfixed I was by the artist s masterful strokes, the receptionist smiled and described how the river flowing through the gorges had brought life to the riverside city of Wuhan, nourishing it into the cultural centre of central China. Resting my back among the plush depths of the lobby lounge chair, I allowed my senses to unwind. All the day s worries and anxiety dissolved almost instantly into the expanse of the airy lobby. Relaxed, my eyes wandered into the lush gardens through the full height glass windows. The natural light pouring in felt comforting and lifted my spirits. The speciality Chinese tea menu carved on bamboo was as intriguing as its offering of 17 unique brews. Each, as explained by the friendly waitress, came with its own preparation ceremony and chinaware designed to accentuate the tea s distinctive colour, aroma and taste. Since it was summer, I decided on a refreshing Qi Men Red Tea served on ice to quell the heat. It proved to be the perfect accompaniment to my idyllic afternoon. 5

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9 true to its legendary fame, the suckling pig was roasted to a golden crisp, glistening invitingly under the crystal chandelier at Shang Palace. Barely containing his pride, the waiter informed us that the dish s popularity was a result of the chef s insistence on using only the finest ingredients and a secret spice mix. We were eager to partake of his creation. Savouring a luscious morsel, the intense explosion of flavours paired with the meat s rich tenderness left me wanting more. It was a sentiment shared by all at the table. As if he had heard our thoughts, the same waiter returned with an entourage bearing more of the chef s signature dishes. Raising our glasses, we toasted to a night of gastronomic revelry. The irresistibly spicy aroma of the homemade beef stew gave only the slightest hint to its exceptional taste. Slow braised in a claypot with chilli pepper and Wuhan noodles, the beef cubes were so meltingly delicious that I must have finished the entire dish by myself. When the chef appeared personally to ask if we had enjoyed his feast, I stood up to thank him for giving us a wonderful night of camaraderie, conversation and of course, culinary perfection. 9

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13 settling into my favourite nook at the Horizon Club Lounge, I gathered my thoughts before the next meeting. Once again without prompting, the attentive concierge brought me my regular order of coffee with two cubes of sugar. I smiled and thanked her for her thoughtful gesture. With minutes to spare, I paused to enjoy the breathtaking city view that I had grown especially fond of over the days past. The velvety comforts of my generously sized suite provided much needed sanctuary after a day of endless business discussions. To my delight, the room attendant had promptly changed my pillows to the much firmer ones I had requested just earlier in the day. Ensconced in the heavenly softness of the bed, I drifted easily into a state of half consciousness. Soon, I was transported into the painted golden mural hanging above my bed, weaving bouquets of cherry blossoms to decorate the Yellow Crane Tower by the Yangtze River. 17

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19 Shangri-La Hotel, Wuhan 700 Jian She Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan , China Tel: (86 27) Fax: (86 27) Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd. Published in Hong Kong Printed and bound in China. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. SLWU0612

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21 There, to his joy and surprise, he found a friendly and prosperous population who made haste to display what I have always regarded as our oldest tradition that of hospitality to strangers. Lost Horizon, James Hilton It was through this 1933 classic that we found our name. And it was this novel that inspired our heartfelt hospitality. Every hotel around the world has its own story to tell and, in keeping with how it began, each captures its account in a little book. Collect as many books as you can from over 70 hotels and resorts around the world.