Shangri-La's service makes days by the sea special

Poems by New China's founding father Mao Zedong describing Qinhuangdao are so well-known in China that, for decades, Chinese people, especially those in the north and northeast, dreamt of visiting the seaside region.

When I was young, I was quite envious of my schoolmates and their families who enjoyed their summer holidays there.

Visiting Qinhuangdao was a bonus for those who were designated as "model workers" in their factories or else worked in the top levels of government.

Qinhuangdao was known as a "back garden" for central government leaders as its clement weather boasts "no single chilly days in winter and no single hot day in summer".

Such childhood impressions made me curious about the renowned No 1 and No 2 outdoor bathing places and sandy beaches, which are for the exclusive use of government leaders. Taxis or cars that drive across the streets neighboring the resorts are stopped to have the drivers and passengers' ID cards checked for safety reasons.

A new hotel that opened its doors in May allows us to peel back the layers of mystery and gain an insight into the kind of service a government leader enjoys.

I was fortunate enough to stay at the Shangri-La Qinhuangdao, which overlooks this famous stretch of sea. Its illustrious neighbor, Golden Dream Bay, is the city's finest address and its most desirable residential area and entertainment zone.

I chatted with a senior citizen from Northeast China whose daughter had just held her wedding at the new hotel.

"Qinhuangdao is quite nostalgic for my generation," she said, adding "the hotel's five-star services made her feel special."

For a solo visitor like myself, I found it an ideal place to kick back and unwind.

On a sunny morning, I sat in the hotel's Horizon Club Lounge, sipping tea, enjoying the sea views. And on a rainy afternoon, I settled back in the comfort of my room to read, surrounded by delicate plum blossom artworks. For more active visitors, a 10,000-meter track provides an ideal place to walk, run or ride bikes.

The Shangri-La Qinhuangdao is also a food lover's paradise.

With picturesque seascapes it is no surprise fish and seafood dominate the menu.

Residents take pride in every aspect of the city's rich historical heritage. The history of the seaside resort goes back a lot further than my childhood. The city bears the name of the first Emperor of China, Qinshihuang: Qinhuangdao literally means Emperor Qin's island, so called because the nation's first emperor (259 BC-210BC) nominated officials to go there to seek immortals.

The locals have their own take on how to live a long and healthy live; they believe it's vital to eat local, seasonal food. "The eight big bowls" with meat, vegetables and bamboo shoots are a must-eat.

The guests attending the wedding I mentioned earlier said they had indulged in as many dishes as they could eat.

Northeast China's cuisine is not considered particularly dedicate. However, the hotel's press representative said Qinghuangdao is the best tourist destination for Northeast China visitors and the hotel's chefs try their best to cater for all tastes while cementing the Shangri-La's reputation for top-notch cuisine.

I strongly recommend visitors go to the contemporarily designed Qinxiangge Chinese restaurant - accented by dark ebony paneling and maroon upholstery - it specializes in a combination of traditional northeast and Cantonese dishes.

The hotel is a 15-minute drive to the train station, which connects travelers via high-speed trains to Tianjin and Beijing in less than two hours. Shanhaiguan Airport is 35 minutes away by car.

And as well as the beaches, next to the hotel are attractions such as the Olympic Center, National Forest Park and Xin'ao Marine World.

yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/11/2015 page10)