Yes, snow in Beijing

Maybe for many, snow is nothing to write about.
But in Beijing, today on 1 November I woke up in disbelief. I hard heard rain in the night and we were happy to have stayed home, instead of heading to Suzie Wong for the Halloween bash. Instead we had 2 hours massage at home – I occasionally dozed off but managed to review 4 Chinese lessons anyway. I call this maximum efficiency: having a rest, enjoying a good traditional massage and learning Chinese.
So, I wake up and it’s all white. According to the Chinese calendar it’s “September” (whatever that means). Early for snow. Outside around 2C and inside, well, no heating, as the CCP orders heating as from 15 November.


See here real exceptional pics – for Beijing at least. All from our headquarters in Julong Garden. As we had a rather mild automn, most of the leaves are still on the trees…

The “Changping” Cute Sisters

Couldn’t resist to post a better quality pic of the sisters (22 & 20 years). Apparently they did not join the catwalk but they were welcoming guests. They were very friendly, looked good in real but also turned out to be photogenic.

Lucky me for once (for 1 minute only)

Lucky me for once (for 1 minute only)


Sorry guys that I’m in the middle. And no, I don’t have their name.

Hot Spring Leisure City, earlier visit

As promised, pics from an earlier visit on 27 May, together with my good friends, the ambassadors of Albania and Congo (Brazzaville). See previous entry for some of the background of the resort.


The whole area is vast, see the scale model. Total investment is said to be RMB 3 billion. Two thousand guest rooms, 50 meeting rooms, thermal hot spring from a well 3000 m deep.
The Wenyu River is at the north and the resort has 7 Km of water channels. Plenty of hotels indeed, the Lakeside Hotel (see pic in the lobby) is still under renovation.
If you want to know more, well, go and have a visit.
The Hongfu Group also has a website: http://www.hongfujituan.com, but as usual over here, poorly done, no English and the usual Christmas tree decorations instead. Chinese companies have a long way to go to become international. And how to deal with a foreign audience.

Visit to Pangu 7 Star Hotel Beijing

On Friday evening 26 December we were invited by Ms. Janice Tan of the Hotel to have a VIP tour. She had attended the recent Rotary lunch and graciously invited us. Along came Rtn. Don and his wife, Ming Wong of United Family Hospital, Raymond & Julia of the Canada China Business Council, Terence of Vestas and Paolo Alberto Volpe (Vision / Techimp).
The Hotel is located on Beichen Xi Lu, right in front of the Watercube, with a gorgeous view on the Olympic Green.
We met at Karma Lounge, Lobby Floor and then had the welcome cocktail at Happiness Lounge, 21st Floor.
We visited several suites before enjoying a “Culinary Journey”:
– Japanese Appetizer at Kaden Minokichi – 21st Floor
– Chinese Light Main Course at Pangu Wenqi Restaurant – 5th Floor
– Western Light Main Course at Auspicious Garden – 2nd Floor
– Dessert at French Dining Room – 21st Floor
– After Dinner Drinks – Coffee/Tea at Happiness Lounge – 21st Floor
To commute between the different locations we all rode in the “subway car” (!).
The evening ended with an impromptu singing performance by Paolo and two of his musical stars. We all went home stuffed and happy (and impressed, by the hotel and by Paolo).


See some of the pictures taken, including of the “Dragon Wall” (outside)

15 Nov 08 – The highest Beijing bar

Our good friend Ken (UNICEF) is heading back to the Big Apple and gave a memorable farewell party at the recently opened Park Hyatt Hotel, on Jianguomenwai across from China World. As for now, the highest bar in town, in a glass pyramid at the very top floor (66th plus staircase), in the honeycomb part at the top (the tallest building at the right). The Beijing Yintai Center has 3 buildings and the Hyatt is located in the tallest one, 249.9 meter high. Soon World Trade Center 3 (on the left in the picture) will beat the record.

a view from Jianguomenwai bridge, looking towards WTC 1, 2 and 3, China World and Yintai

Great night view, great company. But the interior decoration of the hotel is weird, dark, somber, black. Like walking in a catacomb. So dark that poor old Gilbert first walked (unsuccessfully) through a glass door and later stepped in a water pool around the lobby. I ended up with blood running from my nose and soaked shoes. I guess I will not be the last to step in the water as you can’t see it well. Maybe I could sue the hotel. Instead I found it too hilarious, like in a Mr. Bean movie.