Beijing

Cathay Pacific's Private China Tours

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

There's a great option for traveling in China if you don't choose to be a groupie. Lots of people are used to traveling alone, but when it comes to China, they feel obliged to join a group. If you are a little intimidated by traveling in China on your own, Cathay Pacific's China Experience Tours could be the answer. Unlike many group tours, at each location you get to see the sites but a neat extra is that you will have special access to some sort of experience that's next to impossible to arrange on your own.

Tags: Beijing, china, China tours, china travel, Forbidden City, non-group travel, Xian

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Limousines and Supercars Debut at Beijing Motor Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The gulf between perception and reality is often enough to swallow entire countries whole. Take China, for example. The images many still conjure up in their heads when thinking about the Asian giant might come down to squalid shanty towns oppressed by communist overlords. But with the free market taking a greater hold with each passing day, the People's Republic is quickly emerging as a vital market for purveyors of luxury goods, including high-end automobiles. Sure, the average peasant may be able to afford little more than a rickety bicycle, but with the world's largest population numbering over a billion people, even the top fraction of the socio-economic strata can overshadow entire nations.

Against such a backdrop, it should come as no great surprise that the world's premium automakers scrambled to the Chinese capital this year with a wide array of exotic and luxury automobiles. In fact the cars making their world debuts at this year's Beijing Motor Show were enough on their own to outshine the last major international exposition in Manhattan. Follow the jump to see what all the fuss was about.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept to Debut in Beijing

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz made a big splash back in 2005 with the introduction of the CLS sedan, which was based on the midsize E-Class but sported much more attractive bodywork. The automaker is set to continue pushing those boundaries with the new CLS Shooting Break Concept, which is just now debuting at the Beijing Motor Show.

First things first: While the moniker is more often spelled 'shooting brake,' Mercedes tells us that the correct spelling is actually 'break,' as in breaking a horse that draws a carriage. Whatever. It's clear that the CLS Shooting Break will be compared to the BMW 5 Series GT, and we think the Benz has a much more distinctive and attractive appearance.

The base engine for the next CLS will likely be a turbocharged and direct injected 3.5-liter V6 engine that will offer a little over 300 horsepower. Optional will be a turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 that puts out around 435 horsepower and over 400 pound-feet of torque. Power will be sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Naturally, we can also expect an AMG version of the next CLS that should get the automaker's turbocharged and direct injected 5.5-liter V8 with up to 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. A sedan is sure to join the Shooting Break when the car finally makes it into production. Check out the high-res image gallery below and see the full press release after the break.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Tags: 2011 Mercedes-Benz, 2011 mercedes-benz cls, 2011Mercedes-benz, 2011Mercedes-benzCls, Beijing, beijing 2010, beijing motor show, Beijing2010, BeijingMotorShow, CLS, cls class, cls shooting brake, cls shooting break, ClsClass, ClsShootingBrake, ClsShootingBreak, mercedes, Mercedes Benz, mercedes-benz, Mercedes-Benz CLS, mercedes-benz cls-class, Mercedes-benzCls, Mercedes-benzCls-class, MercedesBenz, shooting brake, shooting break, ShootingBrake, ShootingBreak

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Volkswagen Releases New 2011 Phaeton

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Looking for a top-of-the-line luxury sedan? There's no shortage of options on the market these days. And a good portion of them come from the ever-expanding Volkswagen Group: the Audi A8 and Bentley Continental Flying Spur are solid choices, and there's more if you look even further up-market to the Bentley Mulsanne, the Porsche Panamera and the upcoming Bugatti Galibier. But if badge prestige isn't what you're looking for, the Volkswagen Phaeton could be your best choice.

Volkswagen has just unveiled the third rendition of its flagship sedan in Beijing – where sister-brand Audi released the new A8 L – and it comes packed with tech and choices for the discerning customer. It comes in long wheelbase or short, with four (adjustable) seats or five and with four engine options, ranging from a diesel V6 to a gasoline V12. Plus it packs all the latest technology you could expect from a major automaker, including Google Maps-enabled sat-nav, variable headlights, road sign recognition and a four-zone climate control system, all interconnected by two miles of wiring.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

Tags: beijing, beijing motor show, phaeton, volkswagen, volkswagen phaeton

Bentley Unveils Two Special Edition Continentals in Beijing

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

We've got good news and we've got bad news. The good news first, you say? Bentley has presented not one, but two new special editions of its popular Continental range. The bad news? You'll have to go to China to get them.

The long-winded Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed China takes "the world's fastest four-door saloon" and tones it down, apparently for local tastes, with a softer suspension and a quieter exhaust.

The Bentley Continental GT Design Series China, meanwhile, is based on the coupe and upgrades with a unique interior with three-tone leather, vibrant trim and exterior tint in such colors as Orange Flame and Magenta Metallic.

Both are earmarked and designed specifically for the Chinese market – which has grown tenfold since entering the market in 2002 to become Bentley's third largest – and are being unveiled this week at the Beijing Motor Show.

Gallery: Bentley Continental GT Design Series China

Gallery: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed China

Tags: beijing, beijing motor show, bentley, bentley continental, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, bentley continental flying spur speed china, bentley continental gt, Bentley Continental GT Design Series China, china

Audi Debuts Long-Wheelbase A8 Limousine in Beijing

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're looking for the lap of luxury without the extroverted opulence associated with a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, have a look at the new Audi A8 L. Set to be officially unveiled shortly at the Beijing Motor Show in China where long-wheelbase luxury limousines are in high demand, the A8 L sits at the very top of Audi's range as its new flagship saloon.

With an extra half-foot of length on its standard-wheelbase progenitor, the A8 L features a rear seating area fit for a king. A full-length center console separates the fully adjustable recliner seats – each has 25 adjustable motors – with lap trays, refrigerator, controls and more. There's a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, twin 10.2-inch LCD displays, and a front passenger seat that can fold up out of the way with a deployable footrest for the lucky passenger in the back.

Don't think that the Audi A8 L is only about the creature comforts, though. Power comes from a 6.3-liter W12 engine driving 500 horsepower to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission, rocketing this mobile palace to sixty in 4.9 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

Gallery: Audi A8 L

Tags: a8, a8 l, audi, audi a8, audi a8 l, beijing, beijing motor show, limousine, long wheelbase, long-wheelbase

Peng Wei Display Comes to Beijing Hotel

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Art

I love it when hotels get involved with the arts. The new art hotels opening in Australia excited me, and I had a blast exploring the art-themed properties in Orlando. The latest hotel to jump on this trend is The Opposite House, in Beijing. Through March, The Opposite House will be showing two painting installations by Peng Wei, an artist famous for the delicate ink color paintings she creates on silk and paper.

Her new series, Bodies, consists of female forms on rice paper. The pieces are lit from within, providing a soft glow and likely to mesmerize anyone who passes by them. Rock Garden, also on display, is a series of rocks painted on transparent pastels, coming together in a garden representing the scholarly tradition.

The tone of your stay is set when you cross into a hotel's lobby, and the commitment made by The Opposite House is sure to get your visit started in a manner that will be tough to top.

Tags: art, Beijing, china, hotel, hotels

North Korean Art Goes Commercial

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Jinghesheng Investment Company and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are now partners in the art market. The investment firm and the most isolated dictatorship in the world are working together to show and sell 90 paintings at art galleries in Beijing. The paintings – 60 of them oil and 30 in the traditional Korean ink style – will be rotated through the gallery and sold.

The unifying thread in this show is that all works are by artists in North Korea ... and have been approved by the DPRK's Ministry of Culture, according to exhibit director Li Xuemei. Because information doesn't flow easily across the border, the exact origins of the pieces and details of the artists are unknown, but Li says to CNN, "Ours are surely authentic artworks from DPRK."

There has been no shortage of interest in the display. Li's gallery, which is showing the works of 20 North Korean artists associated with Pyongyang museums and art institutions, sees up to 100 visitors a day on the weekends and 60 a day during the week.

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Tags: art exhibit, art exhibits, art galleries, Art Gallery, art show, ArtExhibit, ArtExhibits, ArtGalleries, ArtGallery, ArtShow, Beijing, china, dprk, north korea, NorthKorea

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Christie's Hong Kong: One Bidder, $146 Million In One Year

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

One bidder spent more than $146 million this year and dropped a boatload of cash at the Christie's Hong Kong art auction on Monday, pushing prices higher and smashing records. Wang Wei, with her husband, investor Liu Yiqian, ranks 176th among the wealthiest in China, with a net worth of $740 million ... and she wouldn't say how much she's spent on art this year.

Wang waved Paddle 960 aggressively on Monday, sometimes tossing bids up HK$1 million at a time to distance herself from competitors for particular pieces. A few times, she didn't bother lowering her paddle, instead just holding it up until her rivals quit.

At Sotheby's Hong Kong in October, Wang's husband shelled out $11 million for a Qing Dynasty imperial throne, complete with carved dragons, setting a record. And, this month, he payd $25 million for a Ming Dynasty scroll by Wu Bin at Beijing's Poly auction -- it was the most paid for a Chinese painting.

At Monday's Christie's sale, HK$126.7 million in art sold, and the house wouldn't reveal how much of it went to Wang. Speaking for herself, the collector reveals why she made the purchases she did. According to Bloomberg News: "I just bought those for fun."

[Photo courtesy of Christie's]

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Tags: art, art collecting, art collection, art collector, art market, ArtCollecting, ArtCollection, ArtCollector, artist, ArtMarket, artwork, Beijing, china, chinese art, Chinese artists, chinese arts, ChineseArt, ChineseArtists, ChineseArts, Christies, Hong Kong, HongKong, qing, qing dynasty, QingDynasty, sothebys

Imperial Axis, Beijing's Mysterious New Condo Project

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

As China booms, Beijing's real estate market has followed and high-end real estate development projects are emerging. Imperial Axis is a luxury project planned for the downtown area. Billed as a "royal dwelling place of the world," is located opposite the Bell and Drum Tower and overlooks the Jing Mountain. It is said to offer 360-degree views of the surrounding area. There will be just 30 units with top-level appliances and finishes. Not too much is known about the property but the units may command some of the top prices in Beijing and are designed to appeal to an international clientele.

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Tags: beijing, china, condo project, CondoProject, imperial axis, ImperialAxis, real estate, RealEstate

The 1980s Redux at LAN Club in Shanghai

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Photo of La Terrace at LAN Club Shanghai

Shanghai's Bund, which runs along the river and divides the city's former international section (with its old world architecture) from Pudong, with its intergalactic hyper-futuristic architecture, isn't a place for subtlety. This divide makes it a place for big statements, particularly of the fashionable variety, which is why this is where you find the city's big name restaurants (Jean Georges, M on the Bund), major international designers and so on. And it made it an entirely logical neighborhood for Chinese restaurateurs South Beauty Group to select for the Shanghai edition of the LAN Club, following on the 2006 success of its Beijing launch, which was designed by Phillipe Starck.

LAN Shanghai, designed by Patrick Gilles and Dorothee Boissier. opened in a historic building just off the Bund last summer, and it's not about subtlety, no, not even a little bit. Its four floors that put me in mind of the clubs that I used to encounter as a teenager in 1980s New York: an adult version of a theme park. There's a dance club, and several bars, and each floor is home to a different restaurants or, if you will, dining concepts, and they've changed a bit since opening. What was once a Chinese restaurant on the first floor has become O-Supper Club, which is doing a Chinese/Tapas fusion. (This sounds more interesting than it tastes); the French restaurant on the fourth floor had a new name, Papillion, named for the 400 butterfly specimens displayed on its walls. And that's not to forget a seafood restaurant, adorned with an aquarium of living jelly fish, an atrium-like space with a wall of plants, and a full floor of VIP private dining rooms, because in a crowded country, it's luxurious to go to a restaurant to be seen and then have total privacy.

One of these rooms, the Art and Banquet Hall, is meant to accommodate a group, and it is genuinely, no-gimmicks impressive: it was designed around the Liu Ziaodong painting, Migrants of the Three Gorges. It's some 30 feet in width, and was, for a time, the most costly work by a contemporary Chinese artist sold at auction. But favorite space was "La Terrace", the lounge on the roof, which opened this past July. It's view of Pudong and the Bund isn't unobstructed, but I rather liked the Shanghai peep show effect, which was enhanced by the pimp-my-ride lit tables.

Gallery: LAN Club Shanghai

Tags: beijing, china, club, entertainment-awards, phillipe starck, PhillipeStarck, shanghai

Sotheby's Charges for Coffee at Hong Kong Auction

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

You know it's rough out there when Sotheby's makes you pay for coffee. At its five-day Hong Kong auction, the house was able to move only $89 million in antiques (HK$691 million), paintings and gems – less than half the take for the same event in 2008. With bidders forced to HK$20 (which looks more menacing than the U.S. equivalent, $2.50), one can only hope that Sotheby's was able to make up the difference.

This is a far cry from the $227 million that sold a year ago.

Sensitive to the global financial crisis, Sotheby's planned ahead, offering fewer expensive lots, which tend to get a bit more bidder action when financial markets are struggling. A larger number of wine lots showed up, as the liquid flows more easily than canvas. All of the bottles moved at the first Sotheby's Hong Kong wine auction.

Despite the downturn in art prices, some feel that now is a good time to invest in the oldest of old media. Ian Kai, an art dealer based in Beijing, remarked for Bloomberg, "Governments are printing so much money now. Fine artworks might be a better way to store value than currency."

The highest-priced piece at the auction was "Fishing Harvest" by Lin Fengmian, which fetched a hair over $2 million. Most paintings sold for prices well below those of comparable works at last year's auctions. Heading into the Hong Kong auction, Sotheby's cut presale estimates by an average of 20 percent and expanded its offering to include video installations and other non-painting works.

And that could be the enduring benefit of this marketplace.

"We are now seeing conceptual art at Hong Kong auctions, which is fantastic," said Sandra Walters, a Hong Kong-based collector who runs a namesake art-consulting company.

A broader perspective will lead to future returns for artists, collectors and auction houses.

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Tags: art auction, art auctions, ArtAuction, ArtAuctions, auction, auction-house, auctionhouse, auctions, beijing, china, financial, financial crisis, FinancialCrisis, financials, hong kong, hong kong filmart, HongKong, HongKongFilmart, recession, sotheby, sothebys, sothebys international realty, wine, wine auction, WineAuction

Blancpain Donates A Watch To The Forbidden City

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The Carousel Volant by Blancpain has become the first wristwatch displayed in the Forbidden City. The timepiece was first displayed in the Palace Museum in Beijing's Forbidden City during a unique donation ceremony. The Palace Museum has a Watch and Clock Hall that has a collection of over 1,000 mechanical timepieces from the 18th and 19th Century but this is the first modern timepiece in the collection.

The watch which is called the Blancpain Qiankun Carousel, is done in 18K gold and the half-worked opaline dial shows the Yin and Yang symbol.The 43.5 mm case has a special design on the back with the words "The Palace Museum" and "Piece Unique." Under the sapphire crystal you can see the oscillating weight which was specifically designed for this piece. The Carousel is similar to a tourbillon and completes a full rotation in 60 seconds. Close up pics of the watch front and back showing the intricate detail are in the gallery below.

Gallery: Blancpain in the Forbidden City

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Tags: beijing, blancpain, forbidden city, watch

Versace Plans First Runway Show in China

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Events

On November 13, Versace will present its Spring/Summer 2009 collections at Beijing's Legation Center, a newly developed luxe corner of the city and the location for the venerable design house's first show in China. The event will benefit the Jet Li One Foundation, which in coordination with the Red Cross focuses on earthquake relief efforts for children in the Sichuan province.

Donatella, at right, the brand's Chief Designer, will be on hand to celebrate the event.

[via Vogue UK]

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Tags: beijing, china, donatella versace, DonatellaVersace, fashion, versace

Lenovo Olympic Flash Drives

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The Olympics is always a big deal and this year the event seems more spectacular than ever, and as always there is no shortage of Olympic-themed goodies and gadgets. One group of such gadgets would be these limited edition USB flash drives created by the Chinese company Lenovo. Ranging in price from $199-$980 there's one set that's made of some of the same material as the Olympic torch, one set shaped like medallions on a chain, one set that features a Chinese mascot, and one sleek silver set that comes in a special mahogany box. And of course all the sets also feature the official logo of the Beijing Olympics.

If you're interested in getting one of these themed drives you better hurry because they're selling out quick -- the "medallion" ones are already gone.

Gallery: Lenovo's Beijing Olympic-themed USB Flash Drives