Departure gate

Your passport to the latest destinations and airline promotions

Michael Graves in Singapore

The latest attraction in the casino resorts of Singapore is not at the tables. It's a hotel that is a living tribute to Michael Graves, one of America's greatest contemporary architects and one of The New York Five. Hotel Michael is a gem of a boutique hotel, showcasing the elegant distinctive lines that the architect is best-known for. Graves not only designed many landmarks worldwide, he also became a household name for his range of household products for Target stores in the US. But in Singapore, Hotel Michael is more like an art gallery. Murals adorn the walls and even the bathrooms are covered with flower-motif mosaics and an unusual blue mosaic circular shower. To book, go to www.rwsentosa.com.

A $500 million development in the Maldives is set to make the world's biggest water hazard a reality. Specialists Dutch Docklands are to build a floating golf course on islands linked together by underwater tunnels. The proposed site is just a five-minute speedboat ride from Maldives' capital Male, and will offer 27 holes of golf, sited on three interlinked islands.

The development offers a potential long-term solution to the threat of climate change in the area.

Culture vultures and art

Art fairs and auctions are usually seen as playgrounds for high-flying insiders, like dealers and collectors. What most travelers don't know is that they are often also open to the public.

From May 26 to 30, art lovers can catch the double-whammy of the spring auction previews from Christie's auction house and the Hong Kong International Art Fair, both at the Convention and Exhibition Center connected to the Grand Hyatt (Harbour Road, Wan Chai).

This season, Christie's will offer artifacts from Imperial China; historic paintings, ceramics and calligraphy; and modern and contemporary Asian art. There is also its famed jewelry sale.

Meanwhile, the art fair features mostly contemporary work, a younger crowd and a more casual feel - as well as a cafe and champagne bar.

Do you have a head for heights? The Capilano Cliffwalk will make you think again.

Opening on June 2, the Cliffwalk is a 230-meter bridge suspended 70 meters over the rushing Capilano River, with some sections projecting 9 meters out from a mossy, fern-covered granite cliff. As you tentatively make your way along the 50-cm-wide bridge between the treetops, slender sidings of stainless-steel mesh leave you feeling awfully exposed and may make you hang on just a little tighter to anything you're carrying, as do the bobbing and swaying of the bridge itself. Then come two glass-bottomed decks - the second of which is not for the timid, being cantilevered into midair.

Connecticut looks to China

The US state of Connecticut is courting Chinese tour directors in hopes of attracting growing numbers from China. During a visit the past week by a group of Chinese tour operators, representatives of the US Department of Commerce pushed the attractions of southeastern Connecticut, a region that's home to the Mystic seaport, Mystic Aquarium, two Native American-run gambling casinos and several vineyards.

Tourism from China to the US is relatively small. Chinese tourists ranked number 9 in visitor spending with $3.5 billion in 2009, but numbers are rising quickly, according to the Commerce Department.

Solar plane on debut flight

A Swiss solar-powered plane took off Friday on its first international flight. The Solar Impulse team behind the project plans to fly the experimental aircraft to Belgium and France. The single-seater prototype took off from Payerne airfield in Switzerland early Friday morning. The plane, with the wingspan of a Boeing 777, made its 2009 maiden flight in Switzerland and further tests have all taken place there.

Airline news and deals:

Children's Day specials: To celebrate Children's Day, China Eastern Airlines will give discounts on children's tickets on flights departing from Yunnan. The discounts are available from June 1 to 20. Adults accompanying the child will also share the benefit, getting discounts up to 100 yuan.

Guilin route extended: China Southern Airlines has decided to continue the Guilin-Wuhan-Taiyuan route from June 1 through Oct 29. There will be five flights weekly.

China Daily - Agencies

(China Daily 05/22/2011 page16)