View over Hong Kong and Victoria Harbor If you are joining or ending a luxury cruise in China this winter or next – be it in Hong Kong, Tianjin or another port – then why not consider customizing a private pre or post cruise tour.  Many cruises start and end in Hong Kong, so you are spoiled for choice for things to do prior to or after your cruise.  » Read more »

Exterior view of The Temple House Last week Guy and I were lucky enough to be invited by The Temple House Hotel to visit the vibrant city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province and gateway to Western China. Most people think of pandas when they think of Chengdu and indeed, this is the home of the adorable Giant Panda. With the opening of The Temple House,  » Read more »

Dim sum – typical Cantonese regional cuisine 1. Diversity: There are 8, some argue 9, distinct regional cuisines in China. These have been grouped into 4 schools of cooking, each with very distinct flavors, use of ingredients and style of cooking. They can be categorized in the following way: North – this is the cuisine of Beijing, Inner Mongolia and imperial Shandong which features heavy use of leeks and onions and includes stewing and roasting techniques (think Peking roast duck).   » Read more »

(Above photo: Ganden Monastery near Lhasa)   Summer is fast disappearing and it’s time to think ahead and make your travel plans to see you through the winter. A more unusual winter vacation to tell your friends and family about back home is a trip to Lhasa to experience the Tibetan Lunar New Year celebrations, known in Tibetan as Losar (lo means ‘year’ and sar means ‘new’).  » Read more »

When Rubin moved to China, in 1994, he was surprised to find a dearth of resources for discerning travelers in a country so rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. He and his wife and partner, Nancy Kim, set out to change that, and they now lead China’s most sophisticated luxury tour operator. To keep up with the country’s rapid transformation, Rubin is constantly inspecting new hotels—Chengdu has recently seen the arrival of the Ritz-Carlton,  » Read more »