Beijing

Cheers to seafood

Champagne brunch at Garden Court Restaurant, St. Regis offers guests free flow of chilled Veuve Clicquot champagne. Highlights of the food are fresh French Oyster, Boston lobster, fresh crab, and salmon. There are also more than 20 kinds of pastries, and signature dishes. Norwegian band The Back Yard Band duo with singer Sarah Fullerton performs live on every Sunday morning in the restaurant. 11:30 am-3 pm. 010-6460-6688.

Michelin-star experience

Celebrate Christmas Eve with your loved ones at Scarlett and enjoy a sumptuous five-course dinner by Michelin star experienced chef Emmanuel Zhao, at only 298 yuan net per person. In addition to the most traditional Pat en Croute, he has reinvented unique dishes that deliver the most perfect taste, whether you demand classic or contemporary creativity. Start with seared foie gras, indulge in roasted snow fish, ox-tail parmentier with fresh truffles, and wrap up the meal sweetly with log cake. 010-6552-2880.

Aussie-style Christmas

Crowne Plaza Beijing Park View Wuzhou will prepare an Australian Lady Pop-Star Show on Christmas Eve, along with a seafood buffet and grand lucky draw prizes. Guests stand a chance to win complimentary cruise tickets and whole-year hotel buffet dinner, worth from 1,288-2,888 yuan per person. Add only 500 yuan and you will get one complimentary night stay at superior room, which includes breakfast for two persons. Offer is valid until Feb 28 2013. 010- 8498-2288 Ext 7204.

Year-end party

Organize your year-end party with a lavish buffet and various selections at Aroma, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing. The buffet offers international gourmet experiences featuring Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Southern Asian and Western dishes from an open kitchen setting, complemented by exciting desserts. 288 yuan per person including soft drinks, beer and wine. Minimum 20 people. Valid from Dec 1-Jan 31. 010-5908-8161.

Nutritious Soups

There is nothing more lovely this winter than drinking a bowl of delicately brewed nutritious Chinese soup, prepared with the finest ingredients. The Oriental restaurant of Traders Hotel, Beijing presents a soup promotion from Dec 15-Jan 31, 2013. Among the soups guests can choose from are double-boiled duck with mushroom and fish maw, oxtail soup, and fish head with herbs. 010-6505-2277 Ext 34.

Shanghai

Dreamy wedding show

The Westin Bund Center Shanghai is preparing a giant wedding show on Dec 22 in diamond ballroom. The holy and romantic western style wedding ceremony, dreamy and engaging wedding decoration in distinctive ways, and even the special wedding servers will provide the bride and groom with professional suggestions and ideas to make a memorable wedding ceremony. 021-6335-1888 Ext 7513.

First ice rink in hotel

Kerry Hotel Pudong Shanghai is launching a new "Kerry Ice" on the forecourt of Kerry Parkside on Dec 8, which proclaims the first hotel in Shanghai to open an outdoor ice rink. The 200-square-meter ice rink made from synthetic material creates a skating experience nearly 90 percent similar to ice. Food and beverages is also available on-site by the culinary team of the hotel. 021-6169-8858.

Three kilometer run

To celebrate the successful cooperative program upon "gear lending" between the Westin Hotels and Resorts and New Balance, the Westin Nanjing kicks off the 3 kilometer-run activity on Nov 17. More than 60 employees of the Westin Nanjing and 48 Miss Tourism Queens from different 54 countries, and guests participated in the program to promote healthy lifestyle in travel. 025-8556-8888.

Golden countdown

789 Nanjing Lu Bar of Le Royal Meridien Shanghai will hold a super-powered party to welcome the New Year on Dec 31 from 9 pm to 2 am, where various roles can be played such as a movie hero, and villain. To match the atmosphere and theme of the party, mixed drinks are available that symbolizes the super power. The attractive vast panorama could be enjoyed from the 65th and 66th floor of the hotel and indulge into this engaging fantasies. 021-3318-9999 Ext 56500.

Chuan Spa

The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai is introducing Chuan Spa from 31 December 2012 with the bases of traditional Chinese medicine, which brings the new refreshed experiences of intensive care for the skin and complete relaxing. The totally peaceful environment is elaborately prepared with the Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. Go through the arch and follow the Chinese garden characteristic path, the following stages will help to create the new energies. 021-2330-2288.

(China Daily 12/15/2012 page13)