Obama served up world-class luxuries during first visit

Barack Obama, the first African-American president in US history, was treated to a diverse blend of culture in his first trip to China after taking office in 2009.

Caterers for the global icon said the president had sat on a $10,000 sofa made from African mohair, practiced his basketball skills in the hotel gym and ate dim sum at a glorious Turkish dining table.

Yngvar Stray, who recently took over as general manager at the St. Regis Hotel in the heart of the capital's embassy area, said the hotel was a perfect choice for the West Wing.