SEEING RED!

I never saw so much of the color red as during this one entire week of Chinese New Year celebrations in mainland China. I wouldn't say red is exactly my favorite color, although, I realized that when it comes to fashion, I like it a lot. I used to have a favorite red dress I wore for years, I like red blouses and I'm still on the hunt for the perfect red shoe. Red is bright, bold and dynamic and is a great statement color for any occasion. Nobody can deny that.  

Here in China though, red takes on a whole new meaning and level of significance for the Chinese. Aside from being the official bridal color at weddings, the color is seen as enthusiastic, a symbol of good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality and long life. This is why during Chinese New Year, the whole of China splashes red around in full display. 

Chinese New Year decorations are a very important part of the New Year festivities and some of my favorites are the Money Tree, the red lanterns and the red envelopes or "hong bao". The Chinese Money Tree is believed to bring money and fortune to people and is a symbol of affluence, nobility and auspiciousness. The Chinese red lanterns symbolize wealth and if you hang them during Chinese New Year, a wedding or a party, it is said to bring money, luck and harmony. The tiny red envelopes called "hong bao" in Mandarin are traditionally filled with money and are typically only given to children or unmarried adults. This means that I received none of these! haha. :) No hong bao for me...

But I did get a chance to see an entire week of celebrations, festivities and the "hong bao" being used as decorations (usually hung on the Money Trees). Here are some pictures of Chinese New Year week.

ME POSING BY THE MONEY TREE AT HYATT REGENCY'S LOBBY
HANGZHOU, CHINA

RED LANTERNS AT HOWARD JOHNSON'S LOBBY
HEFEI, CHINA

HONG BAO HANGING ON A MONEY TREE

MONEY TREES AT HOWARD JOHNSON'S LOBBY
HEFEI, CHINA

HAPPY YEAR OF THE DRAGON TO YOU ALL!!

FIRING UP MY TASTE BUDS

The first time I tried Sichuan food (also called Szechuan cuisine), I actually spit it out (sorry to be gross!) as a reflex when some of the hot peppercorns slid down my throat. Marc wanted to die of embarrassment, while I just simply turned red with watery eyes and started coughing up a storm. I was definitely an amateur at trying the famous Sichuan peppercorn. We were in a small Sichuan restaurant back in Hangzhou in 2009 eating steamed fish soup with chili peppercorns. After that incident, I vowed never to try Sichuan food ever again. I thought, this is crazy spicy and it’s really not for me. 

As time passed however, Marc convinced me to give it another chance since he simply loves Sichuan food, and because of the fact that along with Cantonese, Shandong and Jiangsu cuisine, Sichuan cuisine is one of the best known and influential cuisines in China. So I gave it another go and what do you know? Lo and behold, I now actually find myself craving Sichuan food from time to time. After trying other dishes and opening my mind and taste buds to its fiery and bold flavors once again, I admit it won me over and I am now partially hooked. 

After all, I’ve always liked spicy dishes, as long as it doesn’t go to the extreme. I love Thai food and Indian food and I always put hot sauce on my pizza. I believe a little chili really gives food that extra kick. So I just had to learn which dishes to pick and when not to overdo the spice.

SICHUAN DRY-FRIED GREEN BEANS (YUMMY!)

I’ve also learned in trying different Sichuan dishes that the cuisine is not all about “hot and spicy” but that the cuisine is really all about emphasizing bold flavors through the use of garlic (yum!), chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorn, peanuts, sesame paste, broad bean chili paste, chili oil and ginger. Sichuan cuisine is actually composed of seven basic flavors: sour, pungent, hot, sweet, bitter, aromatic and salty.

DEEP FRIED FISH WITH CHILI AND PEPPERCORNS

For starters, the landscape of Sichuan province has a lot to do with the development of their cuisine. Sichuan province (also the home of the beloved pandas) is known as “heavenly country” to the Chinese due to the province’s abundance of food and natural resources. The people from this area believe in strong, good flavor and are fond of hot and spicy tastes. Usually most of the dishes are stir-fried, steamed and braised.

BRAISED POMFRET WITH PORK RELISH
AND SWEET & SPICY SAUCE

The most well-known dishes are the Kung Pao Chicken and Spicy Dan Dan Noodles. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has been declared by UNESCO as a city of Gastronomy in 2011 due to its award-winning Sichuan style of cooking.

STIR-FRIED KUNG PAO CHICKEN (MY FAVORITE!)
THIS IS JUST DELICIOUS!!

Are you ready for some spice? If so, here’s an easy Sichuan recipe that anyone can try at home anytime. 

STIR-FRY KUNG PAO CHICKEN RECIPE 

(copied from chinesefood.about.com)

 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 7 to 8 ounces each

Marinade:

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Sauce:

2 tablespoons dark soy sauce

1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry

1 teaspoon sugar

Other:

8 small dried red chili peppers

2 cloves garlic

2 green onions (spring onions, scallions)

4 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed

1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn, optional

1/2 cup peanuts or cashews

few drops sesame oil, optional

Preparation:

1. Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes. Combine with the marinade ingredients, adding the cornstarch last. Marinate the chicken for 25 minutes.

2. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce and vegetables: In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. Set aside.

3. Cut the chilies in half so that they are approximately the same size as the chicken cubes. Remove the seeds. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Cut the green onion on the diagonal into thirds.

4. Heat the wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken. Stir-fry until it turns white and is 80 percent cooked. Remove from the wok.

5. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic (about 30 seconds). Add the chili peppers and the Sichuan peppercorn if using. Stir-fry briefly until they turn dark red.

6. Add the sauce to the wok. Bring to a boil. Add the chicken back into the pan. Stir in the peanuts and the green onion. Remove from the heat and stir in the sesame oil. Serve hot.

Enjoy!!

Some great Sichuan restaurants in China:

SOUTH BEAUTY RESTAURANTS (all around China)

www.southbeautygroup.com/en

SICHUAN CITIZEN

30 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Lu (French Concession)

Shanghai

Phone: (86 21) 5404 1235

MAURYA (Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine)

75 Mengzi Dong Lu, near Liyuan Lu (French Concession)

Shanghai

Phone: (86 21) 3307 0770

ARCHITECTURAL DELIGHTS

As an additional tourist reference to my post last week, if you ever do find yourself staying at the Hotel Indigo Shanghai anytime soon, consider yourself lucky and take the time to stroll down The Bund’s waterfront collection of 52 historical buildings, all built in the various architectural styles ranging from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Beau-Arts and Art Deco. Shanghai is one of the cities known to have the richest collections of Art Deco architectures in the world.

Definitely, Europe is home to much older, iconic buildings and structures. Nothing beats Europe’s historical beauty. But one thing unique about Shanghai is that for an Asian city, you can actually walk down this amazing boulevard of European-style buildings all perfectly maintained, restored and renovated to perfection. It is almost surreal. If you are a fan of architecture or just simply enchanted by anything old and historic (like me!), you will love learning some of these unique buildings’ interesting backgrounds. It makes the walk down The Bund a lot more special.

Since my last recent trip to Shanghai, I have become more and more obsessed with The Bund’s history and have started taking pictures of all the old buildings. I just find them simply beautiful. Unfortunately, I don’t have space here to post all 52 buildings, so I’ll just share a few of my favorites and of course, the most famous ones.

THE ASIA BUILDING

The Asia Building or the McBain/Asiatic Petroleum Building is located at No.1 on The Bund. It is a six-storey structure built in 1916 for the Royal Dutch Shell’s Asiatic Petroleum division. It also later housed the Shanghai Metallurgical Designing & Research Institute.

THE SHANGHAI CLUB 

The Shanghai Club is located at No.2 on The Bund and is a three-storey Baroque Revival style building, which was the former British Men’s Club, the most exclusive club in Shanghai during the 1920s-1930s heydays. The original red-brick structure was built in 1861, and former United States President Ulysses S. Grant was once hosted there on his visit to Shanghai in 1879. Later on, the building was rebuilt in 1910 with reinforced concrete to its present day Baroque Revival design. Today it is the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Shanghai. 

THE UNION BUILDING

The Union Building is one of my favorites because of how it has transformed into a modern day luxury shopping center/ restaurant and bar complex. It is located at No. 3 on The Bund and is now simply called “Three on The Bund.”

The six-storey building was built in 1916 by P&T Architects and Surveyors (Palmer & Turner) and the very first building in Shanghai to use a steel structure. It is designed in Neo-Renaissance style with some Baroque style details. The rooftop has an iconic domed corner pavilion which is now a part of a restaurant’s private terrace. Restaurants located here are Jean Georges, Nougatine, Whampoa Club, New Heights, House of Wine and The Cupola. For beauty and wellness, there is the Evian Spa and for shopping, the Giorgio Armani Flagship Store.

Website: www.threeonthebund.com

THE CHINA MERCHANTS BANK BUILDING

The China Merchants Bank Building located on No.6 on The Bund stops you in your tracks when you first see it. It is a full-on Gothic style beauty. It was built in 1897 and now houses the Shiatzy Chen Flagship Store. Shiatzy Chen is a Taiwanese luxury goods fashion house often described as “the Chanel of Taiwan” focusing on neo-Chinese chic design.

Website: www.shiatzychen.com

GREAT NORTHERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY BUILDING

This Great Northern Telegraph Building was built in 1906 in the late French Renaissance style. It is located on No.7 on The Bund and was designed by Atkinson and Dallas and now houses the Bangkok Bank and the Consulate of Thailand. 

THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK BUILDING

The old HSBC building is one of the most famous buildings on The Bund. It is a six-storey Neo-Classical building designed by British architecture firm, Palmer & Turner Architects and Surveryors, and was the headquarters of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1923 – 1955. It is located at No.12 on The Bund and now houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. It first started construction in 1921 and completed in 1923. The interior of the HSBC building is also known for its beautiful mosaic-tiled ceilings.  

A mosaic ceiling inside the HSBC building

SHANGHAI CUSTOMS HOUSE

The Customs House building is also one of the most famous buildings on The Bund. This eight-storey building was built in 1927, and to this day, it is still the Customs House. Along with the HSBC building, it is one of the most recognizable buildings on The Bund and in Shanghai. The exterior of the building can be described as a Greek-revival Neo-Classicist design. Its iconic feature is the clock tower which was built according to the designs of Big Ben in London. It remains the largest clock in Asia.

THE PEACE HOTEL 

Last but not the least is The Peace Hotel. The Peace Hotel is divided into two buildings, the South building and the North building. The North Building, No.20 on The Bund, is also called the Sassoon House. It was built by Sir Victor Sassoon of the famous Sassoon family, a real estate businessman in the early 20^th century. It originally housed the Cathay Hotel, but in 2007, it has undergone extensive renovation and as of 2010, it is now the luxurious Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai.

Website: http://www.fairmont.com/peacehotel

The Peace Hotel South Building, now The Swatch Art Peace Hotel

The South building or No.19 on The Bund was once called the Palace Hotel and built in 1908. Today it has been transformed into the Swatch Art Peace Hotel. The exterior showcases a Renaissance style structure and the interiors consist of mostly jewelry and watch shops along with a boutique hotel, a Swatch showroom and huge store, and various restaurants.

Website: http://www.swatch-art-peace-hotel.com/

BOUTIQUE CHIC BY THE HUANGPU

Over the New Year holidays, Marc and I took the train to Shanghai to spend a relaxing three days overlooking the Huangpu River. This, in my opinion, is one of the best sights to see in China. On one side of the river lies The Bund, a boulevard of beautiful old buildings from the 19^th to early 20^th century, and on the opposite side lays Pudong, the new area of Shanghai with all the modern skyscrapers looming in the horizon. It is a mix of old and new facing each other with the river flowing in between them. To completely take in this incredible view, we decided to try the Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, InterContinental Hotel Group’s chain of boutique hotels and also known as “the industry’s first branded boutique hotel experience.”

Hotel Indigo's Lobby Waiting Area

What an experience it was! Upon entering the hotel lobby, you are greeted with a variety of eclectic artwork and design. Just like the river view, the hotel interior is a fusion of new and old. Amidst the dark marble floors, you can find a re-painted old rickshaw and bicycle next to a painting of the historic Yu gardens and futuristic chairs and installations in the waiting area. The reception desk is a raw steel ellipse structure and the whole lobby is beautifully lit with LED lighting.

Hotel Indigo's Reception Desk & Lobby

The rooms are the most charming part of the hotel, where once again, modern and ancient design styles come together. The guestroom walls are decorated with the hotel’s signature murals, custom-made silk print wallpapers depicting old Shanghai houses. The lamps, rugs and pillows are colorful and playful and bring an edgy modern contrast to the antiques.

Each guestroom is decorated with beautiful lamps and murals of old Shanghai.

The guestroom work desk and chair

The room's awesome mini-bar or "giant bar"?

The bathroom rain shower, blue tiles, and Ba Yan Ka La organic
amenities were great!

Breakfast was just amazing. Quay restaurant café on the 6^th floor serves a buffet breakfast of mostly organic fare and some of the freshest fruits, salads, bread, coffee and juices I have ever seen. As soon as I saw the abundance of smoked salmon and parma ham in one corner, I was lost in a breakfast trance you could not get me out of. Hotel Indigo’s breakfast buffet also includes one order from the a la carte “hot” menu. Marc and I both ordered the Eggs Benedict. It was just too good to resist.

While eating breakfast, the view was just breathtaking. From every corner of the glass-paned restaurant, you can see the entire view of the Huangpu River, The Bund and Pudong. It was relaxing and wonderful. Even after being to Shanghai several times now, the city still never fails to surprise me with its beauty and splendor. There is always something new to see and discover as it keeps changing everyday. Hotel Indigo was certainly an awesome surprise. 

Eggs Benedict with newly beaten Hollandaise sauce. Yum!

Marc's Coffee Latte

The view of The Bund on the left and Huangpu River on the right

Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund

No. 585 Zhong Shan Dong Er Road, Shanghai 200010

China – P.R.C.

Tel: (86) 21 – 33029999

Fax: (86) 21 – 63365337

Website: www.shanghai.hotelindigo.com

             Or click link below:

            http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/shanghai/shgnb/hoteldetail

THE BATTLE OF THE HERBS: Innovative Chinese Beauty Brands

Recently, I found myself in desperate need of two things: hand cream and moisturizing cream for the face. I reminded myself I just bought new stock a few weeks ago, but I just seem to be running out faster than usual nowadays. Here in Hefei, the winter air is dry and bitterly cold. My skin has been suffering, feeling itchy, scaly and uncomfortable most of the time. So, as I squeezed out the last drop of hand cream and facial moisturizer a few days ago, I let out a silent scream and ran to the mall dragging Marc with me! For the first time, Marc endured shopping with me because he was frantic with the idea of not having any lotions as well. He has been using them in this crazy winter climate even more than me!

I'm ready for some skincare shopping!

Over the years of trying lotions and moisturizing products, I’ve found that herbal, organic and natural skincare really works for me, and so I went straight to two of China’s most popular herbal skincare brands: Herborist and Inoherb.

HERBORIST

The Chinese Beauty Remedy

I first encountered Herborist when I was living in Nanjing in 2009, after entering a store at a mall. After trying their shampoos, hand creams and body lotions, I was hooked. At that time, I didn’t even realize that it was one of China’s most popular luxury beauty brands and voted Shanghai’s most famous local skincare brand in 2005. I just thought their brand concept was very interesting, the store looked great, the ingredients they used in their products were all natural (which I love!) and their products really worked for my skin. Nowadays, Herborist has expanded globally and is slowly emerging into the international market. Herborist has now established a joint venture with Sephora Cosmetics and is the first Chinese brand carried by Sephora in all its overseas markets. 

Herborist is available internationally in all SEPHORA stores in the following countries: France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Monaco. 

International website: http://www.herborist-international.com/brand/herborist 

Chinese website: http://www.herborist.com.cn/ 

Herborist prides itself in the strength of their products which “integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine into the latest fruits of modern biotechnology.” Here in China, Herborist is considered a luxury brand and is targeted towards the high-end Chinese market. Not all products are pricey though. Their basic care series, regular hand creams, shampoos, and conditioners start at about US$6 each. But their special range of moisturizing, revitalizing and firming creams start at about US$40 each, with the new T’ai Chi moisturizing range being the most expensive. 

Herborist today has at least 1,000 stores all around China. The brand also opened a Herborist Spa in Shanghai in 2002, which offers unique treatments to complement their products.

Herborist store at Wanda Plaza Pedestrian Walk
Hefei, China

Herborist Moisturizing Shampoo (US$6) &
Herborist Multi-Function Hand Care Cream (US$6)

INOHERB

Affordable Herbal

The concept of Inoherb is “affordable herbal”, meaning good skincare doesn’t have to be expensive just because it is herb-based and infused with natural ingredients. Inoherb is found in most drugstores in China and considered a mass-market beauty brand, but it differentiates itself from other drugstore brands by their high-quality natural skin care products. The brand believes that the natural magic of herbs can be used by everyone to improve their skin in a safe and effective way and markets all its products as approachable and affordable. 

Inoherb Octuple Hydra Cream (US$6)
Inoherb Nourishing and Firming Eye Cream (US$8)

Inoherb has maintained a long-time cooperation with Shanghai Medical University School of Medicine in creating their herbal skin research center. By studying ancient Chinese beauty secrets and ten years of research on herbal skin care benefits, modern technology fused the way for the company to develop a series of effective and safe herbal skin care products. 

Inoherb has a wide range of products. Whitening, anti-wrinkle/ nourishing & firming, anti-acne/ oil-control, exfoliating/ deep cleansing, aqua hydra moisturizing, revitalizing, and olive oil body care are just some of the brand’s basic skincare lines. Natural ingredients used in their products consist of witch hazel, pomegranate, cactus, lotus seed, and Rhodiola. 

Website: www.inoherb.com

Nourishing Eye Cream and Octuple Hydra Cream in close-up view
The Octuple Hydra Cream feels great on my skin, and is supposed to hold eight times
the amount of water in the skin.

Here in China, facial masks are so popular and everywhere!
Even I have gotten in on the craze! They feel great and refreshing !
Inoherb Revitalizing Moisturizing Mask 3 pcs. (US$8)

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TREE!

Christmas in China is relatively young and new. As a largely non-religious society, China views this special and spiritual holiday in the West as more of a universal celebration of festivity and joy. It is more a time to have fun more than anything. Christmas entered mainstream Chinese society already in the 1990s and most of the people who enjoy celebrating it are the young generation who see it as a social event, a time of gathering and partying with friends, showcasing dances and songs and most of all, displaying the best Christmas decorations out there.

Getting all decked out in lavish and colorful Christmas décor is the way to go and the shopping malls all over China showcase their trademark Christmas Trees every year to join in the festive spirit and welcome shoppers this holiday season.

Here are a few of the Christmas Trees this season that made me smile!

A beautiful Christmas Tree in Huahai Road
Shanghai, China

Christmas Tree in front of Wanda Plaza Mall
Hefei, China

At night, all the lights sparkle on the Christmas Tree at Wanda Plaza Mall
Hefei, China

A giant, red Christmas chandelier in the shape of a Christmas Tree hangs inside Wanda Plaza Mall.
Hefei, China

My friend Elin in front of Aqua City Mall's Christmas Tree with white snowballs
December 12, 2011
Nanjing, China

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!!

THE MAGIC OF XI HU

Hailed as one of the top tourist spots in China, (西湖) Xīhú (pronounced shee-hoo), also known in English as West Lake, has been immortalized and praised for centuries by countless poets and artists. It is located in the city of Hangzhou (pronounced hang-joe), the capital of Zhejiang province and once the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty from 1127-1276. Imagine, at that time, Hangzhou was said to have already as much as 1 million people! That would make it the largest city in the world back then. But most of all, it was known for its natural landscapes, incredible beauty and its famous West Lake. Since June 2011, the West Lake Cultural Landscape has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Marco Polo, the great Venetian traveler was the first Westerner to ever visit Hangzhou at the end of the 13^th century. He marveled at the city’s beauty and described it immensely in his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, a Description of the World. He describes Hangzhou as “the City of Heaven, beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world.”

A Pavilion on Hangzhou's West Lake

Of the city’s West Lake, Marco Polo wrote:

“On one side it skirts the city… and commands a distant view of all its grandeur and loveliness, its temples, monasteries, and gardens with their towering trees, running down to the water’s edge. On the lake itself is the endless procession of barges thronged with pleasure-seekers… their minds and thoughts are intent upon nothing but bodily pleasures and the delights of society.”

West Lake Sunset, Hangzhou
These 2 photos were taken by my father-in-law back in 2009.

Among the West Lake’s many attractions are Leifeng Pagoda, the Mid-Lake Pavilion, Su Causeway, and Baochu Pagoda. Just walking around its circumference (which takes about 2-3 hours leisurely) will enable you to see the lake's best sights while also admiring the many hotels, restaurants, and cafes that surround the area. 

IMPRESSION WEST LAKE SHOW

One thing you can't miss while visiting Hangzhou is the Impression West Lake show held every night with the West Lake as its magnificent backdrop. It is directed by celebrated Chinese director, Zhang Yimou (the man behind the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies). I went to see it back in October 2009 when Marc and I were still living in the city. 

One of the amazing light spectacles at the IMPRESSION WEST LAKE show

It was a spectacle like nothing I've ever seen before. Filled with colorful lights, moving music, dance choreography and amazing theatrics, Impression West Lake tells the story of the legend of the lake based on an old Hangzhou tale. Based on a poignant love story, the show was breathtaking and I would not hesitate to see it a second time. So, definitely, this is something not to be missed. The show is performed nightly except during the winter months. Try to come in spring, summer, or early autumn. Your hotel in Hangzhou can help you book tickets to the show.

Impression West Lake Show Website: 

http://www.hzyxxh.com/en/

GETTING TO HANGZHOU

Hangzhou is easy to get to being one of the cities conveniently located close to Shanghai. Taking the CRH high-speed G Train from Shanghai to Hangzhou takes only 50 minutes non-stop (US$12). Hangzhou is usually a top weekend escape for expatriates living in Shanghai and a rising tourist city for travelers around the world.