Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/873989
DREAMSCAPES FALL 2017 16 with a real sense of place. In Hong Kong, I stayed at The Upper House where natural materials used in the 117 studios and suites provide a zen serenity. The views over Vic- toria Harbour are spectacular. My base in Beijing was The Opposite House in the heart of the trendy Sanlitun District. This elegant 99-room boutique hotel mixes dramatic contemporary style with Chinese tradi- tional designs creating soaring spaces within a striking green cube exterior. The Temple House in Chengdu was my personal favourite. A beautifully restored traditional Qing dynasty courtyard leads to a very con- temporary hotel. This 100-studio hotel has landscaped hills, a subterranean pool, a sumptuous spa and a teahouse inspired by a traditional Chinese apothecary. In short: the perfect combination of traditional and modern chic. Both hotels feature sophisti- cated restaurants that reflect the Chinese regional cuisine that is so much a part of the travel experience in China. Peking duck in Beijing and Sichuan hot pot in Sichuan simply do not get any better. BEIJING AND THE GREAT WALL Twenty-one million people call Beijing home and it seems all of them have taken to its streets. It's traffic mayhem! So it's a relief as well as a thrill to stand in the middle of Tiananmen Square. It's the world's largest ABOVE: Giant panda in Chengdu. Chris Robinson RIGHT: Chi Lin Nunnery in Hong Kong. Chris Robinson OPPOSITE TOP: Mask at Wangfujing Market in Beijing. Chris Robinson OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The Pier, one of five Cathay Pacific lounges at Hong Kong International Airport. Cathay Pacific