Widely acclaimed as THE new Hong Kong iconic building along the Tsim Sha Tsui Victoria Dockside, Rosewood Hong Kong boasts an impressive art collection around the hotel from Indian elephant by Bharti Kher to several butterfly-inspired pieces by Damien Hirst. More than 80% of the 413 keys pampered you with dramatic harbour view from rooms designed by Tony Chi. There are 8 dining concepts to choose from and make sure you book months ahead for Butterfly Room afternoon tea and refined Indian cuisine – Chaat. Manor Club located on 40th floor offer luxury pool table and games room for all day recreation. Premium beverages and delectable gourmet presentations are served from breakfast to afternoon tea and evening cocktails. Determine to raise the bar of Wellness Urban retreat, Asaya occupies 2 floors of spaces across 40,000 square feet. You will never be bored with 2 direct passage connected to K11 Musea known as the new cultural-retail destination. Bonding with your kids with complimentary activities here. K11 members will get to earn reward points by booking through us.
As one of the few appointed Rosewood Elite agents, Intriq Journey had curated additional benefits like US$ 100 hotel credit per stay & 1 category room upgrade notify within 24 hours from booking (subject to availability) and more for the following packages:
1. Rest and Reset (Fall Edition)
Luxury accommodations in your choice of room category, daily breakfast for two, Two complimentary HK$ 100 K11 MUSEA e-vouchers and an earning of 100 K Dollars per room per stay, choice of 1 dining option on the day of your arrival from below:
Prices per night: (surcharge HK$ 200 – 500 + 10% per night for certain nights)
Terms & Conditions
2. More Rosewood (with Manor Club Access)
Complimentary third night with every two consecutive paid nights. Book with us to get daily breakfast for 2, US$ 100 dining/wellness credit & following upgrade at time of booking.
+ Additional US$ 50 (for room or club room booked) or US$ 100 (for suite booking) credit for check in Sun-Fri before 21 Dec 2022
Prices per 3 nights from (already discounted rate):
Terms & Conditions:
3. Rosewood 8 Days Epicurean Journey (until 21 Dec 2022)
Prices per 7 nights from:
Terms & Conditions
4. Complimentary workshops for Rosewood Hotel Guests
Join the inclusive community of Asaya for a series of thoughtfully designed workshops dedicated to nurtured your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Some of the examples are Aroma Oil Blending, Cardio Ignite, 5 Senses Meditation, Expressive Arts and more. Our specialist will assist you with reservation of these once your room reservation is confirmed.
Call us now at 2885 2181 or WhatsApp or Email to pamper yourself or love ones in flagship Rosewood Hong Kong.
Four Seasons recently completed the second phase of its hotel transformation with the addition of two exciting F&B establishments. Joining the hotel’s collection of Michelin-starred dining destinations are ARGO and Gallery. The former is an innovative new cocktail bar at the helm of local award-winning mixologist Summer Lo and Lorenzo Antinori, Beverage Manager of the hotel and Beverage Ambassador of Four Seasons Asia Pacific, while the later offers comfort food with a local flair and becomes the first hotel in the city to collaborate with the specialty coffee brand from Tokyo Omotesando Koffee.
Apart from the dining outlets, the hotel has gone through a complete renovation of the guest rooms and suites to offer an unparallel intimate experience. The new design is refined to provide a sense of tranquility and calmness while embracing high-end technology, offering the required haven from the hustle and bustle of the city. Having the most Michelin stars under one roof in Hong Kong, you will be spoilt for choices when comes to satisfying your palate.
On the sustainability front, the hotel only uses biodegradable straws made of potato starch in all restaurants and banquet facilities. Beyond separating recycling, food and non-food waste, the Hotel donates excess food to the non-profit Foodlink to provide hot, wholesome meals to those in need, and returns excess food waste to the ecosystem through aquaculture feed. Going digital with brochures and providing guests digital access to thousands of publications through Press Reader are part of Four Seasons on going effort to reduce paper waste.
As a Preferred Partner of Four Seasons, Intriq Journey can top up Preferred Partner amenities same as Room Rate on Four Seasons brand websites.
1. Room Rate
Book through Intriq Journey the following room only rate in order to combine with Preferred Partner special amenities including upgrade to selected category either at time of booking or at time of check in subject to availability.
➡️ Renovated Deluxe Peak View Room (45 sqm) from HK$ 2,900 + 10% (upgrade to renovated Deluxe Harbour View room)
➡️ Renovated Superior Harbour View Room (39 sqm) from HK$ 3,050 + 10%
➡️ Renovated Superior Harbour View Suite (68 sqm) from HK$ 5,800 + 10% (upgrade to renovated Premier Harbour View Suite)
➡️ Renovated Premier Harbour View Suite (91 sqm) from HK$ 6,600 + 10%
2. Preferred Partner Suite Indulgence
Until 31 Dec 2022, book 3 days in advance for newly renovated Superior Harbour view suite (68 sqm) and above to enjoy 20% off Room Rate (from HK$ 4,480 + 10%), combinable with Preferred Partner amenities.
Call us now at 2885 2181 or WhatsApp or Email to enjoy attractive prices and benefits.
There’s room for you at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, the highest hotel in the world with the most refined atmospheres. Occupying the uppermost floors of the 1,588-foot International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, the hotel boasts beguiling views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. Enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop Ozone bar followed by Italian specialties at Michelin-starred Tosca or Cantonese favorites at two-Michelin-starred Tin Lung Heen. The Ritz-Carlton Spa takes wellness to new heights; feel the sensation of swimming in the infinity-edge pool overlooking the harbor.
The Ritz-Carlton Club Level offers an elevated experience reserved for guests staying in Club Level rooms and suites. Among the additional amenities is access to the Club Lounge, a dedicated space offering a library, meeting room, complimentary culinary presentations and personalized business services.
Tips from us: Explore the hotel’s upcoming events here to augment your staycation experience. Children 12 years and below enjoy free breakfast & complimentary extra bed for all room / suite category. The hotel is also pet-friendly, enquire with us for more info. Take a live view from Ritz Carlton Hong Kong here.
As a Virtuoso member, Intriq Journey can enhance your stay with following benefits (when you book flexible rate on www.marriott.com) from now until 31 Aug 2022
1. Upgrade confirmed upon Booking
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the following benefits from HK$ 2,700 + 10%
2. Extra hotel credits
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy extra credit with 2-night stay including Virtuoso special amenities from HK$ 5,400 + 10%:
3. Complimentary 3rd night from Deluxe Victoria Harbour room to Suite
Wants to enjoy the stunning Victoria Harbour view longer? Or indulge longer in 73 sqm suite that comes with Ritz Carlton Club access? We can top it up with Virtuoso special amenities:
Benefits & Conditions
Insider Tip
Call us now at 2885 2181 or WhatsApp or Email to enjoy the fabulous view of Hong Kong skyline.
Refurbishment plan continues during pandemic times for 30-years old Island Shangri-La. 2021 marks a new era with new Horizon Club floor rooms & Cityview Suite. Modern conveniences blend with Asian aesthetics, with key features including elegant day beds, a multi-functional in-room pantry and a versatile desk table. The new rooms in this stellar property have been enhanced with luxurious touches in every corner, complete with personalized services and experiences.
As one of the few appointed The Luxury Circle agents, Intriq Journey guarantees you Harbour View Club Room by just paying for peak view club room (confirm within 24 hours upon booking, excluding suites). We also throw in daily breakfast for 2 persons (choice of in-room dining or restaurant) and US$ 100 hotel credit per stay for you to spend on dining or spa.
Bookings made through us can accrue Golden Circle points as well as Singapore Airline Krisflyer miles.
Special Arrangement due to Hotel Renovation
From 15 August – 31 October, the hotel will not be taking any bookings from Sunday night to Thursday night and will continue to accept weekend bookings, for stays on Friday and/or Saturday nights. All restaurants and bars, as well as other hotel facilities are unaffected and remain fully operational. The Horizon Club lounge will be temporarily relocated to the Business Centre on Level 7 from 1st September 2021 and will operate between 13:00 hours and 21:00 hours daily serving afternoon light refreshments and cocktail. All guests with Club access will still enjoy the full range of privileges at this new venue.
1. The Luxury Circle nightly rate (free cancellation until 24 hours before arrival)
2. The Island Staycation package (daily breakfast for 2, HK$ 1,000 credit, upgrade on arrival)
Horizon Club Lounge
All club room & suite guests will enjoy the convenient use of a private lounge, where facilities will include the following:
Call us now at 2885 2181 or WhatsApp or Email to try out the new Horizon Club room or Suites at attractive prices and benefits.
To help our guest in different corners of the world, we have put together exclusive Hyatt Privé offers below with the best value with benefits below. Check out this space from time to time for latest offers.
Hyatt Privé Benefits & Conditions
1. Park Hyatt Bangkok Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from THB 17,000 + taxes & fees for 3 nights
2. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from USD 2,100 + taxes & fees for 3 nights
3. Hyatt Regency Tokyo Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from JPY 42,000 + taxes & fees for 3 nights
4. Park Hyatt Hamburg Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from € 478 for 3 nights
5. Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from € 340 + taxes & fees for 3 nights
6. Park Hyatt Paris – Vendome Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from € 1,500 for 3 nights
7. Park Hyatt Washington D.C. Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from US$ 778 + City Tax for 3 nights
8. Andaz 5th Avenue New York Stay 3 pay 2
Book through Intriq Journey to enjoy the mentioned benefits from US$ 950 + Taxes & Fees for 3 nights
Wish to book any of the above offers? Or would like to explore other Hyatt properties worldwide? Call us now at 2885 2181 or WhatsApp or Email to enquire.
Framed by historic bridges, waterways and quaint houses, the historical water villages of China strewn across the Yangtze river tributaries has mesmerized world travellers across centuries and earned itself a distinction as the “Venice of the East”.
Not sure which water village sojourn is best for you? Here are some of our favourite picks to inspire you!
Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao
Best for: Lux Manor Living
Location: Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China
Delicately restored from a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty courthouse to recreate the wealthy mansion lifestyle of the past, each villa comes with a courtyard, a private garden and butler service. Accessibly hidden in Qingpu district just 1 hour away from Shanghai’s Pudong skyline, this is by far one of the most accessible water towns escapes for modern urban travellers.
Price: Starting from ~USD 670 per night
Alila Wuzhen
Best for: Elegant Zen Refresh of an Icon
Location: Wuzhen, Zhejiang, China
As China’s largest and most picturesque water town, Wuzhen’s timeless romance is best experienced through overnight stays at Alila’s understatedly elegant and spacious rooms. Watch as the crowd of day-trippers turn into a brightly lit maze of quiet alleyways. Dubbed “Home of the Silk”, Wuzhen preserves much of its ancient traditions such as indigo fabric dyeing, wood carving, Huagu Opera and shadow plays.
Price: Starting from ~USD 630 per night
Ahn Luh Lanting
Best for: A Poetic Step into Old China
Location: Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
Home of the famous philosopher and writer Lu Xun, Shaoxing is a cultured man’s gondola experience as you sail on a traditional wupeng across iconic attractions described in his literature. Finally, retreat into your private traditional China-inspired villa at the embrace of Kuaiji Mountain area, painstakingly constructed from original Hui pieces from Ming and Qing dynasties.
Price: Starting from ~USD 510 per night
Qiushuli Blossom Hill
Best for: Off-the-Beaten Chic Sojourn
Location: Nanxun, Zhejiang, China
Dubbed the “Hidden Book Town”, the less known Nanxun has preserved much of its original architecture and heritage as Jiangnan’s wealthiest water town. Top it off with a stay at the former ancient garden villa of Liu Geng Gan, Nanxun’s richest person. The villa has been stylishly restored by French designer, Thomas Dariel into a heavenly abode.
Price: Starting from ~USD 100 per night
Here is a simple quick reference to everything you need to know about the travel bubble.
We are always in search of great staycation deals, especially when there is an upcoming celebration, birthday or even for some ‘home away from home’ time! However, the burning question remains as “How do we make sure that the deal we are looking at comes with the best value?”
Take a look at 3 reasons why preferred partners should be your go-to option when planning a staycation.
Debunking the “It’s More Expensive” Stereotype!
Direct bookings with online travel agencies typically come with a ‘what you see is what you get’ deal. This is one aspect where preferred partners yield as a better option because you receive a better value for the similar if not the same deal you would get from direct booking.
Take our Spa-Date at Andaz Singapore Staycation deal, where you will be able to bag a “Stay for 3 nights, pay for 2” value. This deal not only comes with daily complimentary breakfast for two but also with US$100 credit for spa or F&B during your stay. To top it off, it comes with a room upgrade too.
Additionally, if you are an avid traveller who enjoys collecting loyalty points, did you know that you can double the points you collect? Here’s how!
When you make a booking through preferred partners, your booking transactions are charged directly by the hotel. This allows you to reap the benefits of our value-priced package while being able to build up your hotel loyalty points. To double that perk, you would also be collecting your credit card points if that is your mode of payment. Now here’s an attractive advantage that sets booking from preferred partners apart from online travel agencies.
All You Have To Do is Check-In!
Choosing a staycation or getaway can be complicated, so leave the planning to us. As preferred partners, we are your personal planner to handle the nuts and bolts of planning your staycation for you. All you have to do is to have your bags packed and ready to check-into your staycation!
Preferred partners also shed light on the different options available that best suits your travel intentions. Whether you are having a family bonding time or a couple’s getaway, our expertise and vast knowledge in the industry positions us as the best planners to better guide you with your travel plans.
Moreover, we are also your representative. We do the groundwork to make things happen for you, from dedicating long hours in communicating your preferences and requests to the hotel management to overseeing that they are all met. This saves you the hassle of liaising with the hotel directly, which can sometimes be rather time-consuming.
Who Doesn’t Love VIP Treatment!
Booking through preferred partners indefinitely flags your booking with a VIP status – yes, you are more than just a booking number to the hotel. This ushers personalised care by hotel staff and even managers with a string of delightful surprises made available for you.
These VIP perks come with customising welcome amenities to your liking. Suppose your room comes with a minibar, we can have it stocked with snacks and drinks of your choice. We can personalise room decoration before your arrival, should the nature of your stay be for a celebration. These little surprises and arrangements go a long way in creating a memorable stay for our guests.
Add a touch of sophistication to your stay, with these value-added experiences and more. Leave the planning of your next staycation in the hands of a preferred partner today!
Who are Preferred Partners?
With over 1000 travel agents in Singapore catering to our travelling desires with promotional deals and getaway packages, there are a little over 6 agencies that are among the Preferred Partners pool. They have an established relationship with a circle of premium and luxury hotels in Singapore. These hotels include the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Grand Hyatt, Capella, and more. It is through them that you get to enjoy extravagant values and experiences through prestigious staycation packages.
With talks of travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong underway, we are excited to share with you our recommendation on where to eat and play in our little red dot.
STAY
Four Seasons Singapore
Deluxe Room: Stay 3 Pay 2 > From HK$5100 for 3 nights stay inclusive of tax
+ Daily full breakfast for two guests per room
+ US$100 equivalent F&B credit to be utilized during stay
+ Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
+ Free cancellation 2 days before arrival
Raffles Hotel
Studio Suite: Stay 3 Pay 2 > From HK$11,150 for 3 nights stay inclusive of tax.
+ Complimentary breakfast in Tiffin Room for two guests per room
+ US$100 equivalent F&B/spa/boutique credit per stay
+ Complimentary Singapore Sling on arrival
+ Upgrade to next category, subject to availability
+ Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Ritz Carlton
Club Deluxe Marina Room: From HK$11,150 for 3 nights stay inclusive of tax. Valid for stays through 24 Dec 2020.
The unparalleled views of the Marina Bay skyline are yours to admire when you reserve a Club level stay. Enjoy Club privileges such as limousine drop-off service within the vicinity and five daily culinary presentations.
+ US$100 F&B credit per stay
+ 1 day free cancellation prior to arrival.
EAT
For a real Singapore street food experience, we would always recommend Chinatown Complex Food Centre located at Block 335, Smith Street. This is Singapore largest hawker centre with over 260 food stalls. Being soaked to the skin while dining is part of the real hawker deal! Another unmissable local food experience will be Amoy Street Food Centre. Be sure to keep a lookout for the stalls that were awarded 2019 Hawker Michelin Bib Gourmand awards.
If you wish to avoid the heat and want to experience the quintessential Singaporean dishes in a comfortable setting, we will recommend Labyrinth, a one-star Michelin modern Singapore restaurant.
If you have tried Singapore hawker fare, zoom in to Peranakan cuisine (Strait Chinese Nonya), a culture only found in Nanyang (Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and Indonesia). Located in the precinct of greenery Dempsey, Candlenut is the first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant for a modern take on the cuisine. Be sure to try their “Amakase” menu.
Another notable Peranakan restaurant worth trying out is Violet Oon’s Kitchen (we recommend their flagship outlet at Ion or the outlet at National Gallery). If your time is limited, there is also one outlet at Jewel Changi Airport.
One cannot leave Singapore without feasting on crabs, be it chilli, black pepper, salted egg or cream sauce and these two are our top favourites.
Mellben Seafood, located at 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, St 22, #01-1222, is primarily well known for their magnificent crab bee hoon.
Eng Seng First Grade Seafood Restaurant, located at 247 Joo Chiat Place, is well known for their Black Pepper Crab which will leave you craving for more. I can only say plan on arriving early as the crabs are always sold out by 6:30-7pm.
Finally, if you have tried most of the above and looking forward to something off the beaten path, you may want to experience dining on a Kelong at Smith Marine. A kelong is an offshore platform built predominantly with wood, which can be found in the waters off Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia. Only a handful remain in Singapore due to rapid urbanisation.
If you are keen, note that a minimum of 3 days advance booking is required. The restaurant used to function as a kelong for fishing before evolving into a restaurant in 2015. While you will be able to dine on an array of seafood, the star attraction here is the ‘sure-catch’ pond. Reel in your own lunch or dinner and enjoy the fruits of your labours.
PLAY
Go on a Vespa sidecar tour in Singapore, riding through the historical parts of the city. Start the day early with a Kayak Fishing tour, paddling through the waters while reeling in your catch before spending some time relaxing by the beach in Sentosa.
For your cultural fix, visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre to learn about Singapore’s unique Five Foot Way (五脚基) buildings which you will see in so many parts of Central Singapore. Stroll along the Helix Bridge and admire its double-helix DNA design, and watch an outdoor light and water show at Marina Bay Sands and the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay. To cap your evening, you’ll head up to the 57th floor of the CÉ LA VI, located on top of Marina Bay Sands for drinks.
Or visit Joo Chiat and Katong area for a walking tour to learn more about the Peranakan influence in Singapore with its colourful rows of heritage shophouses and drop by Rumah Bebe to pick up some trinkets or two.
If you still have time for another round of drinks, visit Atlas Bar, a gorgeous gilded tower housing what may be the world’s most extensive collection of gin.
Contrasting the hustle and bustle of city life, here, you can slow down, calm your mind, and rejuvenate your senses in a refreshing way.
“In early August, I took a trip to Yunnan after Beijing was reclassified as a COVID-19 low-risk zone. I left the city to give myself a break, both physically and emotionally. I have been to Yunnan several times, and this time I chose its southern region to experience the local “wild and luxury tent” and “boutique home stay” that I had longed to try. On top of that, I wanted to avoid the peak tourism season to appreciate the World Heritage Yuanyang Rice Terraces and the historically appealing Jianshui Ancient Town.”
By Stella Fan, Founder of Intriq Journey
Rice Terrace
I left Kunming for Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, passing through Yuxi, Yuanjiang and the Tropic of Cancer on my way to arrive at Samaba Terrace (撒玛坝梯田).
Samaba Terrace is the single largest rice terrace in the world and is also the first World Cultural Heritage site centered around farming culture in China. With an altitude between 600m and 1,880m and an annual average temperature of 20.9 ℃, it feels very much like a comfortable natural greenhouse.
Around 2,000 years ago during the Sui and Tang dynasties, a group of Di-qiang people migrated southward from the plateau area, crossing the Red River and arrived at the foot of Ailao Mountain. Upon settling there, their way of life changed from nomadic lifestyle to farming. During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, many Han people migrated from the north to the Red River Basin due to war, the expansion of wasteland areas and other causes. With this migration came the rapid expansion of the terrace. Now, the terrace covers a total area of one million mu (~ 165,000 acres) in Yuanyang, Honghe, Luchun and Jinping counties.
Impressive rice terraces stretch as far as the eye can see. During sunrise and sunset, the terraces shimmer with beauty as if they were colour palettes overturned by God. Their appearances also change with the seasons. After irrigation in the winter, the terraces often reflect different colours based on the time of the day.
Glamping
In the 170-year-old ancient Hani village ruins, a modern Chinese hotel group with a yearning for nature — Vinetree — designed and constructed 17 independent courtyard tents with a private bath and 5 public spaces, resulting in the Vinetree Honghegu Tented Resort where I spent 2 nights.
The resort is constructed within an abandoned Stone Stockade which blend perfectly into a village layout. The resort is arranged in the form of a terrace and each of the 17 independent tent is built apart, creating a unique and private space, facing the Samaba Terrace and the mountain forming the backdrop.
Tent
Detachable and removable tents are the best structures for “ecological tourism” as it can protect the original features of an area without damaging it.
The whole “tent room” is built with a steel structure and in 3 layers with zipper. Through the gauze curtain of the tent, I could see the greenery and my private bath under the trees.
There is also a public infinity pool, with a water depth of 1.4 m, designed in the shape of a terrace ridge and naturally integrated into the whole terrace environment. It is one of the most popular places for children.
Delicious food
The hotel offers a fully inclusive package. Meals are specially prepared by the hotel using locally sourced ingredients, fresh from farm to table. Be prepared to enjoy some local specialties such as Hani dipping chicken, delicious dried beef known as Ganba, edible wild herbs, fish caught from the terrace, and red rice.
Some nights, the hotel will arrange a BBQ campfire party and it is a great social opportunity to get to know other travellers. No one thought it was crazy “to spend so much money to stay in a tent located on a remote mountain”.
Hike
Around the campsite there are many places that make for excellent hiking. These little-known places are still full of pure simplicity. They highlight the ancient horse caravans trade, history of Tusi in Yunnan and the essence of Hani farming culture.
Friends
The resort employs 23 native Hani, including a few who are not fluent in Mandarin. Unassuming, industrious, and approachable, they are our special stewards. With these experts by your side, you will have the opportunity to try your hand at cooking glutinous rice cake, catching fish in the fields, learning embroidery or walking to Meidong Village, which belongs to the Hani Ethnic Group. They can also teach you all about Hani attire and cultural dances.
Although they may not be five-star hotel trained, you can sense their sincerity in wanting to showcase their home and culture to visitors. Working in the resort allow the young Hani people to maintain close family ties while staying connected with the outside world.
“Vinetree ideology is closely aligned with Intriq Journey. This is a world-class tourism village revival model and a prime example of sustainable ecological tourism in China. It balances accessibility and distance from the world, luxury and nature, development and inheritance. It is completely on par with tentage accommodation in other countries.”
By Stella Fan, Founder of Intriq Journey
Lively Hani Mushroom House
Continuing my journey, I left Vinetree Honghegu Tented Resort and drove to Azheke Village (阿者科哈尼村) of the Hani Ethnic Group in Yuangyang for a night. With an altitude of 1,880m and 200-year history, the Azheke Village is part of the third group of traditional villages to be recognized nationally. This remote village has not been excessively commercialised, so not many visitors go there.
Hani people believe that “people’s lifeblood is the land, the lifeblood of the land is water, and the lifeblood of water is the forest and trees”. Villages of the Hani Ethnic Group is tightly integrated with forests, terraces, and bodies of water, forming a complete ecosystem.
There are still more than 60 Hani “mushroom” houses in this village. Due to the uniqueness of their structure, the mushroom houses are neither cold in winter nor hot in summer. A mushroom house is three-storied: The ground floor is used to keep horses and cows and store grain carriers, plow harrows and other agricultural tools; the top floor is used to store cereals, firewood and others; and the middle floor is a living space available for cooking, resting, and receiving visitors.
In the village, chickens and ducks roam freely. Villagers carry baskets with vegetables, work the land, take care of children, and cook. Children can be found climbing trees and playing in the field. Under the trees are green paddy fields. The whole village is a lively organism.
You can enjoy coffee in a cafe set up in a mushroom house, but outside, it is still the rooster’s domain.
If Vinetree Honghegu Tented Resort is positioned as a boutique hotel, then Orieco Club Mulaya Hotel, about a 3-hour drive from the valley, is a typical B&B hotel that I spent a night in order to visit the Azheke Village. The hotel is in the heart of the Hani Terrace Cultural Heritage site.
Living in History
I drove for around 3 hours from Orieco Club Mulaya Hotel to Jianshui Ancient Town (建水古城) in the north. This town forms an equilateral triangle with the Red River Valley and Yuanyang.
Jianshui Ancient Town, founded in the Tang Dynasty, is in southern Yunnan and borders Vietnam and Laos. It has a history of more than 1,200 years and was an important transportation hub in the Ming Dynasty. Presently, there are still more than 100 buildings and dwellings with characteristics that can be traced back to the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Zhaoyang Tower (朝阳楼) resembles Tian An Men in Beijing and this is where elderly men walk their birds in the morning.
The Shuanglong Bridge (双龙桥) with 17 arches and a tower is a great dating spot for young people.
Ancient dwellings in Tuanshan Village (团山村) have been passed down for over 30 generations and it is where the Zhang family clan members still go about in their daily lives. The scarred stone well in the village continue to provide drinking water for the residents for hundreds of years.
One can also find an examination hall that was built in the late Qing Dynasty, the French-style Xianghuiqiao Meter-gauge Station, the Garden of the Zhu family, which took more than 30 years to construct, a photo of Auguste Francois, Consul General of France in Yunnan… All these transport us into the turbulent world in southwestern China during the late 1800s and the early 1900s.
Tingziyun Hotel (听紫云), my lodging in Jianshui, is a mansion belonging to Huang Jin of the Qing Dynasty. In this bustling town, the typical Southern-style quadrangle courtyard stands quietly and aloof from worldly strife. Pomegranate, bananas, lotus, and bamboo adorn the ancient courtyard. People living here can feel the change of four seasons without even stepping out.
The interior features traditional Chinese furniture and decorations, which is both modern and comfortable. The courtyard is full of ancient elements that can calm your mind at once.
Lin Di, designer for Tingziyun, said that they individually marked, cleaned and put back the original bricks and tiles in the ancient dwelling to retain the original architectural style and recreate its original appearance as much as possible. Such intense attention to detail is present throughout the three-year reconstruction process. Lin Di said that the biggest thing he did for Tingziyun was “doing nothing”. I agree.
If you are interested to find out more about the itinerary Stella went on, please click here: 7 Days Yunnan Glamping & Rice Terraces Panorama
Call us at (852) 2885 2181 or email us at enquiry@intriqjourney-dev.harnods-server.com to discuss with our travel expert to plan your trip to Yunnan.