St. Regis on the river

There are many elegant hotels in Tianjin, but only one has the advantage of a patio right on the banks of the Haihe River. Xu Lin visits the St. Regis and experiences life on the right bank.

More and more Beijing residents are fleeing the capital's smoggy streets for the more relaxed lifestyle in Tianjin where more and more international hotels are taking advantage of the weekly migrations to create a cornucopia of luxury living and food and beverage choices.

It is the perfect getaway, just a half-hour away by the high-speed trains that leave Beijing South station every 10 minutes. On the other end of the line, a different world awaits those looking for a retreat.