Most people probably don’t know Foshan and those two do probably think it’s one big industrial city near Guangzhou in the Guangdong provice. It’s located in the middle of the Pearl River Delta. It is mainly industrial, but it also has several places of interest of which the Nanfeng Kiln is of particular interest. Ceramics were the region’s most important product for a long time. Foshan is also the perfect base to explore the Kaiping area with its multistory fortified houses of overseas Chinese who returned to China early 20th century. More on that later in another day trip story. Now I’ll show you what you can do in Foshan if you have a day before or after a business trip or if add it for some reason in your China itinerary. Nanfeng Kiln Foshan Nanfeng Kiln is the oldest kiln of China and dates to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th century). It’s located in Shiwan Town which was famous for its ceramics already from the Tang (7th-10th century) and … [Read more...] about CHINA – Foshan isn’t just an industrial city: there is culture too!
Culture
Culture and Cuisine with Taschen and Manicomio at Duke of York Square
May 3, 2016 Duke of York Square is one of my favourite areas of London: it’s a little hidden oasis in Chelsea where you can shop, drink and enjoy a little culture. A couple of weeks ago some of my favourite bloggers and myself were invited to enjoy an evening of culture and cuisine with Taschen and Manicomio. We started our evening with a couple of aperatifs in the Taschen shop and downstairs gallery where we were told about the history of the brand and some of the amazing books that they’ve published. In fact, one of my favourite gifts that I received for Christmas last year was the gorgeous 36 Hours in Europe travel guide which was actually published by Tashchen! It’s one of the most glorious book stores I’ve been to in a long time; somewhere that you can find the most incredible books that are almost like pieces of art in themselves. My favourite of the evening was probably this book about the Queen, which has a Vivian Westwood cover! A particularly … [Read more...] about Culture and Cuisine with Taschen and Manicomio at Duke of York Square
Coffee Culture and Cocktails at Hotel Imperial Vienna
Many people travelling to Vienna will be keen to experience the Viennese Coffeehouse Culture and the Hotel Imperial Vienna is the perfect place to do it.Café Imperial Vienna (also known as Café Imperial Wien) is one of the oldest coffeehouses in the Vienna. It was a favoured haunt for composers such Anton Bruckner and his rival Johannes Brahms, renowned novelists, philosophers and even Sigmund Freud found inspiration here. Many visited the café so frequently that they used the address for correspondence instead of their home. As we were keen to try a few of the Viennese specialities, our waiter suggested a few half portions. And now the bit we’d really been looking forward to: dessert. We were planning to come back for coffee and cake so we bypassed these choices on the menu and opted for one of the ice cream creations. The alternative to Cafe Imperial Vienna is restaurant OPUS, still a fairly new addition to the hotel. Finally I want to tell you about … [Read more...] about Coffee Culture and Cocktails at Hotel Imperial Vienna
Perfect pairings: coast and culture in Southeast Asia
Exploring ancient temples, bouncing along in the back of a tuk tuk, eating street food to the scent of exhaust fumes – Southeast Asia can be a hotbed of thrilling new experiences and eye-popping discovery. But let’s be honest, sometimes all that adventure can be downright exhausting. No one wants to spend all their time expanding their cultural horizons, after all… Here’s our tip: nothing gets you temple-hopping with gusto like the prospect of a few days of coconut-sipping on a sandy beach (perhaps punctuating your lounger time with the occasional Thai massage). With that in mind, here’s a handful of two-part trips that let you soak up some culture and then turn your attention to the serious business of basking in sunshine. Bangkok & Koh Samui The lovably chaotic Thai capital is the perennial entrée to Southeast Asia, where days can be spent touring temples, eating curry and sweating profusely. Luckily, an air-conditioned villa awaits at The Siam … [Read more...] about Perfect pairings: coast and culture in Southeast Asia
The Height of Luxury & Culture – The Conservatorium Hotel
Andrew Forbes. ‘Museumplein’ or the museum quarter is one of the most iconic parts of Amsterdam. Here one finds world-class galleries including the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk Museum. Other nearby attractions include the city’s historic Royal concert hall, Concertgebouw. This quarter is undoubtedly the cultural hub of Amsterdam. Conservatorium Hotel Amongst theses great cultural institutions is one of the city’s most beautiful landmark buildings, the Conservatorium Hotel. This remarkable property brings its renowned Art Nouveau interiors alive with elegant contemporary design and furnishings. Italian architect Piero Lissoni is the talent and vision behind the building’s transformation and new life as an elite hotel. His signature style of modernist and contemporary chic is found throughout the property. It is an exceptional hotel, home to the smart city cocktail place, Tunes Bar with its designer Lissoni transparent bar… … [Read more...] about The Height of Luxury & Culture – The Conservatorium Hotel