4. P.4
Shanghai
JAUNTGLAMOROUS, GLITZY,
CONFIDENT AND
FLUSH WITH CASH,
SHANGHAI TODAY IS A FAR CRY
FROM ITS GREY, MAO-SUITED
DAYS JUST A FEW DECADES AGO.
A veteran food &
travel journalist of
more than 20 years,
Sim Ee Waun writes
food and travel
stories regionally.
She previously was
editor for various
food publications
and currently runs
Simply Fabulicious, a
quirky lifestyle e-zine
out of Singapore and
HongKong.
6. P.8
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No visit to Shanghai is complete
without a stop at Yuyuan
Gardens, formerly a residential
private garden and now, one
of the city’s most well known.
To get there, you first have to
weave through winding, noisy
Yuyuan Bazaar, a network of
shops clearly aimed at the
tourists, selling tea to herbs and
crafts.
At the Gardens, walk the famous
‘zig-zag’ bridge, with its series
of 90-degree turns designed to
ward off evil spirits and see the
hundreds of orange koi swim
in circles in the pond below.
Once inside, it feels like you’ve
stepped into a Chinese painting
with its rockeries, reflective
ponds, pagodas and willows.
It’s a peek into the leisurely
and gracious life of the rich in
times past. Tranquil corners
of greenery spring up next to
pretty pavilions and poetic
passageways offering plenty of
photo opportunities. Look up,
and even the eaves and corners
of the roofs are heavily carved
with decorations, statuettes of
animals, auspicious symbols and
famous historical figures.
LOCAL HAUNTS
If you’re after something that’s
off the tourist route, pop into the
Confucius Temple Book Market
(Gushu Shichang) on Sunday
mornings. Aptly held in the
grounds of a temple dedicated
to China’s greatest scholar, this
lively little bazaar is a buzzing
market of second hand and
vintage books! Poke around and
you are likely to come up with
some great finds – retro Chinese
comics the size of your palm
retelling ancient Chinese tales,
picture books on traditional
Chinese crafts, thread-bound
classics, and works of early 20th
century greats like Ba Jin, Lu
Xun and Bing Xin. The crowds
here are a book-loving lot, so
enjoy the good natured chatter
and bonhomie as enthusiastic
buyers and sellers recommend
books, admire your finds,
discuss different editions of
various books, and even point
you to the stall where you’ll find
what you are looking for.
While we’re on all things
bookish, a two-minute shuffle
up the road brings you to what
the locals call the ‘Stationery
Market’, a road of clustered with
stationery shops selling pretty
notebooks, novelty pens, pencil
cases, school bags, etc. This
is where you can stock up for
the kids, or amass an arsenal of
potential presents for kids, for
a song.
While Xintiandi is a tourist
magnet, Tianzifang is where
the young local crowd prefer
to gravitate. An edgy, funky
neighbourhood crammed
with tapas bars, cocktail
joints, Italian eateries, design-
forward shops and art galleries,
this meandering warren of
supremely narrow alleyways
was once factories in the 1950s.
Now the Soho of Shanghai,
it attracts a stylish crowd on
the ground level. But look up
and you’ll see laundry, shabby
electrical wires hanging from
the tenements just one storey
above. Definitely worth a linger
for the local colour while you
nurse an espresso.
Other areas for local colour
include the Qipu Road Clothing
Market, where cramped
wholesale shops and tailors
will happily measure you up
and tailor a suit, tuxe, qipao or
designer lookalikes in a couple
of days for a fraction of the price
you pay elsewhere.
address book:
Shanghai Shikumen
Open House Museum
Lane 181, Taicang Lu,
near Madang Lu
Yuyuan Garden
132 Anren Street
(in the center of
the Old City)
Confucius Temple
Book Market
(Gushu Shichang)
215 Wenmiao Lu
Tianzifang
Lane 210 Taikang Lu
Qipu Road
Clothing Market
168 Qipu Rd,
Hongkou district
P.9
SHANGHAI JAUNT
7. URBAN RESORT
BANYAN TREE
SHANGHAI ON
THE BUND OPENS
NEW
PERSPECTIVFROM CHINA’S OLDEST METROPOLIS
SHANGHAI,
FONDLY REFERRED
TO AS THE “PARIS
OF THE EAST” IS
WELL DESERVING
OF ITS MONIKER.
With an illustrious colonial
past still evident in enclaves
of European edifices and a
luminous future built into the
superstructures of its cloud-
caressing skyscrapers, Shanghai
proffers an old-world charm and
modern exuberance. Increasingly
popular with dapper jet setters and
fashionistas au fait with emerging
labels, China’s financial capital is
also a must-visit on any business
itinerary.
ES
8. Contemporary in character,
Banyan Tree Shanghai On
The Bund is designed to bring
polished resort living to the
Chinese megapolis. Ever-
inviting and finely-calibrated to
accommodate leisure-seekers
and business travellers alike,
the Group’s first urban resort
outpost in China brings a
welcome breath of fresh air to
Shanghai’s hospitality arena.
Located on the Huangpu
riverbank in Shanghai’s historic
northern Bund area, Banyan
Tree Shanghai On The Bund
is an urban oasis in a dynamic
metropolis pulsing with
irrepressible energy. Situated
in the heart of the city, the
urban resort is easily accessible
from major transport hubs
of Shanghai Railway Station,
Hongqiao International Airport
and Pudong International
Airport. An integral part of
the Above The Bund Urban
Complex, Banyan Tree Shanghai
On The Bund commands
exceptional views of the
celebrated Bund promenade,
Huangpu River and the Lujiazui
financial district.
All 130 rooms and suites at
the urban resort are restful
sanctuaries, replete with large
windows bestowing scenic
river views and glittering
cityscapes. Room sizes start at
60 square metres, one of the
most generously scaled in a
space-scarce metropolis. Sleek
interiors feature a contemporary
aesthetic infused with modern
renditions of key Chinese décor
elements. Dark wood, light
floors, neutral fabrics and stylish
furnishings convey a minimal-
luxe ambience while intricate
wall carvings and Chinese
paintings lend a touch of cultural
sensibility.
Resort stay essentials such
as a large living area, deep-
soaking bathtub, deluxe rain
shower, mirror television,
six-pillow menu and Nespresso
machine are enhanced by
executive amenities such as an
Expediency Box where guests
can conveniently place shoes
for polishing, laundry and dry-
cleaning for swift pick-up and
delivery.
There are numerous different
room layouts to choose from.
Simply look out your Panorama
Riverside Retreat for phenomenal
Huangpu River vistas. Chic and
plush interiors inspire much
needed rest and relaxation - rare
commodities in hectic city life.
The Panorama Oasis with
Romantic Pool is also worthy
of special mention. Measuring
66 square metres, this retreat
for the senses features a
dipping pool set by tall windows
overlooking Pudong’s futuristic
skyline. A perfect refuge for
hectic business travellers
or a romantic hideaway for
vacationing couples, this room
type is located on the higher
floors.
The jewel in the crown, the
Banyan Suite, brings elegant
resort living to new heights.
This ultra-exclusive haven
spans two floors and features
one bedroom, living and dining
rooms, a private pool, timber
sundeck, loungers and an
outdoor garden and dining area.
An attentive Banyan Tree Host
is available around the clock to
offer customised services for
convenience and comfort.
P.13
NEW PERSPECTIVES FROM
CHINA'S OLDEST METROPOLIS
9. Guests with an appetite for fine
dining will discover culinary
gems at Banyan Tree Shanghai
On The Bund. Helmed by chef
Jose Fernando Corona Burch
of Banyan Tree Macau’s Belon
Oyster Bar fame, signature
restaurant Oceans impresses
with Chinese-inflected fare,
grills and exotic seafood
platters. Ming Yuan presents
a highly curated menu of
traditional regional delicacies,
whilst serving up inventive
dishes of authentic Cantonese
cuisine.
Stunning river views afforded
by the terrace of private rooms
elevate the dining experience.
Tai Hei, an upscale sushi and
sashimi counter, serves up
a mosaic of flavours along
with the freshest seasonal
ingredients. Savour afternoon
tea or sip a fine wine at the
Banyan Lounge. Let rooftop
bar STARS dazzle you with
atmospheric sunsets and
molecular cocktails.
Spanning three floors of the
resort, the award-winning
Banyan Tree Spa features 11
exquisitely appointed treatment
rooms as well as a beauty salon,
nail bar and the Banyan Tree
Gallery. Trained professional
therapists deliver body-to-soul
rejuvenating spa treatments.
Luxuriate in harmonising
remedies such as the Banyan
Hot Stones where heated
stones are soothingly massaged
over the body with Clarity Oil,
exerting warmth and pressure
on energy points for smoother
flow of “qi”.
The Health Club offers a state-
of-the-art gym and yoga studio
for your workout pleasure.
Skimming the invigorating
waters of the indoor pool or
unwinding in the relaxation
pools is also an ideal option for
exercise-focused guests.
Meetings, conferences or
training sessions. Grand
banquets, swanky soirees or
elegant receptions. With four
function rooms accommodating
10 to 90 guests and a Summit
Room that can host 65 to
130 guests, the resort is an
exceptional venue for events,
whether for business or
pleasure.
Negotiate the city in the resort’s
shiny London cab. Ascend the
vertigo-inducing Shanghai
World Financial Centre for a
panoramic view of the city
skyline. Descend on the glitzy
malls on Nanjing Lu for a spot of
shopping. March to the People’s
Square to view artifacts,
calligraphy, jade, ceramics and
art at the Shanghai Museum,
Shanghai Art Museum and
Museum of Contemporary Art.
Bite into a tasty dumping at
Yang’s Fry Dumplings, a revered
Shanghai institution. Admire the
vestiges of Shanghai’s colonial
yesteryear with a stroll down the
Bund and its spectacular display
of Art Deco buildings. Shanghai
is a mecca for urban explorers
eager to traverse its grand leafy
avenues, quaint alleyways,
bustling streets and marbled
lobbies of towering skyscrapers.
Charismatic Shanghai is
best enjoyed at the Banyan
Tree Shanghai On The Bund,
where noisy city sounds
are transformed into gentle
whispers and elegance reigns
with warm Asian hospitality.
CHARISMATIC
SHANGHAIIS BEST ENJOYED AT THE BANYAN
TREE SHANGHAI ON THE BUND,
WHERE NOISY CITY SOUNDS ARE
TRANSFORMED INTO GENTLE
WHISPERS AND ELEGANCE REIGNS
WITH WARM ASIAN HOSPITALITY.
P.15
NEW PERSPECTIVES FROM
CHINA'S OLDEST METROPOLIS
10. banyan tree spa
Shanghai
On The Bund
welcomes you
with a contemporary aesthetic
paired with modern chinese design
essentials and an expertly curated
spa menu that epitomises
the award-winning spa’s
'high-touch, low-tech' approach,
banyan tree spa shanghai on the
bund is perfect for spa aficionados
and urbanites seeking respite
from hectic city life.
Spread over 1,300 square
metres on three floors of
Banyan Tree Shanghai On The
Bund, this sanctuary for the
senses is located in the heart of
Shanghai’s historic Bund district.
The award-winning spa features
11 luxuriously appointed
treatment rooms that include
two Imperial Rooms, four
Double Deluxe Rooms and five
Single Rooms, named after the
twenty-four Chinese solar terms
of great significance. A beauty
salon, nail bar and Banyan Tree
Gallery are also available for an
all-encompassing pampering
experience.
Endorsing traditional Chinese
healing philosophies such as the
Five Elements, the harmonious
balance of Yin and Yang elements
and Qi life force energy, the Spa
embraces these core concepts
of physical and spiritual health
in its décor and spa therapies.
Each treatment room is
accoutered with Five Elements
features such as crystal blue
lighting for the Water Element
and classic matte gold furnishings
for the Gold Element. The Five
Elements are also integrated
into splendid spa treatments
– Gold for Purifying, Wood for
Renewal, Water for Relaxing,
Fire for Revitalising and Earth for
Balance. Only premium Chinese
herbs, botanicals, oils and
various ingredients are utilised
in all spa rituals. Spa guests can
look forward to an impressive
array of treatments featuring
time-honoured Chinese
wellness enhancers such as
Pearl, Chrysanthemum, Ginseng
and Pu’er tea.
P.16
BANYAN TREE SPA SHANGHAI
ON THE BUND WELCOMES YOU
A 150-minute signature
package – Banyan Hot Stones is
a harmonising treatment where
heated stones are soothingly
massaged over the body along
with the use of warm Clarity Oil
to exert warmth and pressure
on meridian points for smoother
flow of “qi” and discharge of
toxins. It concludes with a Rose
Body Scrub, Chrysanthemum
Body Conditioner and Rose
Bath to leave the skin soft and
nourished.
Inspired by the traditional
Chinese health concept of
Yin and Yang, the 120-minute
Chinese Traditions features a
selection of classic Chinese
therapies. Yin For Her – Sweet
Serenade will impart a top-to-toe
glow with its proprietary blend
of Soya Mint Body Scrub that
deep cleanses and moisturises
while the Oriental Massage
and Oriental Head Massage
segment of the experience
improves blood circulation.
Yang For Him – Renewed Vigour
comprises a Tropical Lush Body
Scrub that exfoliates dead skin,
an Herbal Mud Body Wrap
to moisturise and ends with
a choice of Body Massages
to alleviate muscle aches and
pains.
A signature Banyan Tree Spa
innovation, the Yin Rainmist and
Yang Rainmist experiences are
unique syntheses of Rain Shower,
Steam Bath and invigorating
body treatments. The Yin
Rainmist is a combination of
cold therapies that awaken the
senses with the application of
Longjing Tea Cold Body Scrub
and Ice Compression. The
natural warming ingredients
in the Creamy Spice Body
Conditioner and Warm Herbal
Pouch are harnessed in the
Yang Rainmist to uplift the
senses and nourish skin.
Spa enthusiasts seeking an
all-embracing, body to soul
renewal, can indulge in Banyan
Day, a full day of sublime beauty
and wellness. Luxurious spa
treatments including a body
scrub, bath, massage, facial,
hand and foot therapies.
Enhancing the wellness aspect
of your spa day, a sumptuous
lunch of healthful Chinese,
Japanese or Western spa cuisine
completes the experience.
The Banyan Tree Spa Shanghai
On The Bund is open to guests
and visitors daily from 10am to
11pm.
enhancing the wellness aspect of
your spa day, a sumptuous lunch of
healthful chinese, japanese or western
spa cuisine completes the experience.
11. Some hotels are about location,
while others are about heritage.
We are about you.
12. SPRINGTIME
ala CHINOIS!
With this issue of the magazine
being focused on our new urban
resort Banyan Tree Shanghai On
The Bund, we thought it would
be a good time to share some of
our resorts’ Chinese delectables
with you for when you next plan
to stay with Banyan Tree!
First up, from our spanking
new and elegant yet stylish and
avant garde Chinese restaurant
in Banyan Tree Shanghai On
The Bund, Ming Yuan – comes
precious and healthy ingredients
to present a collection of
authentic Cantonese cuisine,
innovative Chinese delicacies
and global specialties. The
dining experience always goes
beyond one’s expectation of
traditional Chinese cuisine as the
chefs create innovative dishes
with bravado and aplomb,
combining ingredients of
Chinese and Western cuisines!
WHAT A WONDROUS TIME IS
SPRING WHEN THE FRESH NEW
COLOURS OF MOTHER NATURE
BEGIN TO SOFTLY KISS THE
TREES AND BRANCHES AFTER
A LONG, COLD WINTER!
To whet your appetite, we are
proud to present the Chinese
Appetiser Combination (
), that consists of the
following:
Chilled Cordyceps Sinensis with
Wild Mushroom with Bai Ling
Mushroom, Simiji Mushroom
Da Lian Abalone on Ice with
Shallot, Lemon and Wasabi
Dressing
Chinese Yam with Shrimp on Ice
EXOTIC HOLIDAY
EATS & TREATS
P.20
At our other urban resort and
oasis across in Macau, Banyan
Tree Macau serves up a tasty
morsel in the form of the
caramelised kurobuta
pork belly which consists
of Pork Belly, Chickpeas Puree,
Garlic Coconut Emulsion,
Coconut Foam, Caramelized
Carrot, Garnish…all to be
enjoyed in the comfort and
style of our elegant signature
restaurant Belon, known for its
tantalising signature dishes!
Belon offers seafood and grills
and boasts an extensive wine
selection and three private
dining areas for you and your
guests.
At the newly-opened Banyan
Tree and Angsana L ng Cô in
Central Vietnam, tuck into our
chef’s seafood fried rice
at Rice Bowl! This is a turmeric-
infused seafood fried rice with
garlic-ginger crusted egg and
served with a tomato cucumber
relish.
Located on the Central Coast of
Vietnam, the popularity of rice
and seafood in local cuisine is
second to none! A tribute to the
cultivation of rice, an integral
part of Vietnamese culture and
identity, Rice Bowl restaurant
serves up local rice dishes and
the most quintessentially dish in
Asian cuisine, seafood fried rice.
Savour the seafood fried
rice prepared by our skillful
Executive Chef highlighting the
flavours of the region including
the succulence of seafood from
the East Sea, freshness of local
vegetables with a hint subtle
garlic flavour, too good to miss!
14. WEDDINGS
MADE IN
Heaven
on Earth
SAY I DO ON A MAJESTIC
CLIFF TOP, EXCHANGE
YOUR VOWS ON AN
IMMACULATE BEACH OF
GOLDEN SAND OR WED
UNDERWATER WITH
A BRIDAL PARTY OF
COLOURFUL FISHES AND
ANCIENT TURTLES.
GRAND WEDDINGS
FILLED WITH STYLE AND
GLAMOUR OR INTIMATE
MOONLIT NUPTIALS.
HOLY MATRIMONIES
PRESIDED OVER BY
PRIESTS OR EXOTIC
LOCAL CEREMONIES
BLESSED BY GURUS.
A destination wedding at a Banyan
Tree property is a romantic
celebration of a lifetime. Whether you
choose a traditional or whimsical
theme, creative Banyan Tree wedding
specialists are poised to choreograph
every detail, from décor, photography
to seat arrangements and finely
curated menus. All you need do is
walk down the aisle to embark on
your journey to marital bliss.
P.24
WEDDINGS MADE IN
HEAVEN ON EARTH
banyan tree samui
LASTING
MEMORIES
OF PARADISE
With sweeping views of
stunning Lamai Bay and cool
sapphire waters of the Gulf
of Thailand, the all-pool villa
Banyan Tree Samui presents
an exceptional setting for
a memorable destination
wedding. The groom is the star
in an elegant Thai ceremony
with a customary long-drum
procession held in his honour.
A classic service adorned with
fragrant flowers and ordained
by a priest is also an option
for couples tying the knot
the traditional way. Package
inclusions comprise thoughtful
accompaniments such as a
wedding cake, photo album on
CD-ROM and a sublime spa
session for two!
banyan tree phuket
WEDDED BLISS
Endless stretches of soft white
sand beaches. Sparkling azure
waters of the vast Andaman
Sea. Sunny days followed by
sultry nights. The conditions
are perfect for an exquisite
destination wedding at Banyan
Tree Phuket. Commit to your
life together on the beach
to the soothing soundtrack
of ocean waves. Host your
nuptials at the Banyan Tree Spa
Sanctuary and be swept away
by romantic venues and alluring
atmospheres. Solemnise your
marriage in a Thai or Western-
style ceremony under a flowered
arch in a charming garden or
in the privacy of your own villa.
Afterwards, make a wish and
send a Krathong soaring into
the night sky. A lifetime of bliss
begins at Banyan Tree Phuket.
15. WEDDINGS MADE IN
HEAVEN ON EARTH
P.26
banyan tree bintan
ISLAND
ROMANCE
Enveloped in serenity and
fringed by tropical palms,
Banyan Tree Bintan provides
a postcard perfect location for
your nuptials. Celebrate the
joyous occasion on the beach
in view of the boundless South
China Sea or in the verdant
garden of your private villa
accompanied by birdsong. With
a myriad selection of wedding
sequences to choose from and
ever-attentive resort hosts,
your special day will truly be
a celebration of love.
banyan tree ungasan
UNION OF
A LIFETIME
Complete your union to the
tune of Balinese Bamboo Rindik
music with Balinese blessing
rites held poolside. Perform
unifying symbolic acts of rice
offerings and water purification
during an intimate Javanese
ceremony. A union of a lifetime
can be forged in your luxuriously
appointed private villa, outdoors
by the magnificent resort pool
or on the Ju-Ma-Na Bar terrace
against the stunning horizon
of the Indian Ocean, atop the
towering cliffs of Ungasan.
Exuding exclusivity and
refinement with a touch of the
exotic, Banyan Tree Ungasan is
the destination wedding venue
for couples with eclectic tastes.
angsana balaclava mauritius
ETERNALLY
YOURS
Tucked away in scenic Baie
aux Tortues, or Turtle Bay
on the northwest coast of
vibrant Mauritius, Angsana
Balaclava Mauritius is a haven
for romance and passion.
With beaches of sparkling
sand and lush surroundings,
this contemporary resort
promises once-in-a-lifetime
experiences. Your dream
tropical wedding can be held
poolside or officiated on the
beach with a breathtaking
sunset at dusk. Champagne
toasts and dancing into the
night with friends and family
complete the celebrations.