Blend of modern and traditional

Park Hyatt Guangzhou evokes the feeling of an elegant private residence, Lindsay Andrews reports.

The appeal of Guangzhou is its blend of modernity and tradition. Imbued with history and culture, it is a vibrant city that is constantly evolving.

The latest addition to this alluring mix of the old and new comes in the form of Park Hyatt Guangzhou, which held its opening ceremony on Dec 30.

"We are excited to be introducing the Park Hyatt blend of dignified service, artfully curated details and enriching experiences to the city," said Anthony Gain, the hotel's general manager.

Located in the heart of Zhujiang New Town, the city's central business district by the Pearl River, Park Hyatt Guangzhou spans the uppermost floors of R&F Yingkai Square, a striking 286-meter-tall skyscraper designed by award-winning American architectural firm Goettsch Partners.

"Our owner, R&F Properties, understands the Park Hyatt brand well and has provided us with great support to ensure the Park Hyatt vision comes to life here in Guangzhou," Gain said.

Providing breathtaking 360-degree views of Guangzhou's skyline - take them in over a drink at Roof Bar, one of the highest bars in China - Park Hyatt Guangzhou has been conceived to evoke a welcoming private residence, combining the sophistication and personalized luxury of the Park Hyatt brand with the rich Lingnan culture and heritage of the region.

"Park Hyatt Guangzhou has a distinctive residential feel thanks to its locally-influenced artwork and design," Gain said.

The interiors of Park Hyatt Guangzhou were conceived by the Japanese design firm Super Potato, and incorporate traditional Lingnan-style architectural features characteristic of the region, including ornamental latticework, intricate carved-wood panels, decorative lintels and brickwork.

As with all Park Hyatt hotels, art is an intrinsic part of Park Hyatt Guangzhou, and sculptor Tadashi Kawamata was commissioned to create a series of unique art pieces for the hotel's public spaces. Working with reclaimed wood, Kawamata created unusual structures that were inspired by his conception of the building "as an auspicious dragon soaring skywards."

Park Hyatt Guangzhou offers 208 guestrooms, including 36 luxury suites, all with a modern Asian feel and with all the amenities needed to stay connected. The spa-inspired bathrooms feature a rain shower, soaking tub and handmade bathroom amenities by New York brand Le Labo.

The hotel's own skillful crafters are dedicated to culinary delights, which are characterized by "knowledge, creativity, hard work and respect for ingredients", according to Marco Ullrich, the hotel's executive chef.

The hotel's signature restaurant Yue Jing Xuan specializes in regional Guangdong cuisine, and embraces a dining-in-the-kitchen concept with vast show kitchens.

The Dining Room and Living Room, as their names suggest, encapsulate the hotel's underlying residential feel. The dining Room is a contemporary all-day dining space that features an -la-carte dinner menu specializing in southern Italian cuisine. The living Room offers casual all-day dining and afternoon teas in a space designed to evoke the reception area of an elegant Chinese mansion.

Those who over-indulge can work off the calories in the 25-meter infinity pool and 24-hour gym or, if all that effort seems a little too much, can relax at the hotel's spa, where the treatment menu draws on traditional Chinese medicine methods and the best of modern holistic and wellness practices.

Park Hyatt Guangzhou also boasts 1,300 square meters of residential-style event space and an experienced team of event professionals to ensure every occasion surpasses expectations.

Contact the writer at lindsayandrews@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/30/2016 page10)