THE venerable Swire name is once again making an impact on the China scene. Nearly 150 years after John Swire opened up new trading frontiers (as Butterfield and Swire, they switched to a Hong Kong base soon after proclamation of the People's Republic) the company has chosen Beijing as launch pad for their latest venture - Swire Hotels.
Their quaintly named property, The Opposite House, is in Sanlitun, hub of the Beijing night scene and an area well endowed with wining, dining outlets.
Swire Hotels has been a long time coming and would seem to be a logical extension of their airlines Cathay Pacific and Dragonair which shift millions of people, on business and pleasure, around the world every year.
With cutting edge design by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, groundbreaking restaurants and bars conceived by celebrated chef restaurateur David Laris and a fresh, innovative approach to service, the 99-room intriguing Opposite House is part of The Village, Swire Properties' vibrant new open-plan shopping, dining and entertainment destination within a destination.
The hotel's 99 guest studios, including nine spacious suites, are amongst the largest in Beijing. More than half of all the rooms are over 70 sqm and all are strikingly simple with natural wooden floors and subtle touches of Chinese décor. Room rates start from about A$500 a night, single, including a la carte breakfast.
You can take it, the old Swire motto, Esse Quam Vider, “to be, and not to seem to be” will apply here.
The Opposite House marketing partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, will quickly put it on the global travel map.
If you're going soon, ask your travel agent about The Opposite House or contact direct via www.theoppositehouse.com.
Also stay tuned for a new 117-room luxury hotel in Pacific Place, Hong Kong, next year; a 100-roomer in Guangzhou; and a 345-room lifestyle business hotel on their home turf, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong.
In the UK Swire is developing some luxury boutique hotels in regional English towns and cities also for a 2009 launch.
Hidden opposition
Thank God for the name change
THE new Swire property at Sanlitun has big opposition from a place with the intriguing name of 1949 The Hidden City.
Intriguing or not, it's a great leap forward from what it was before it was transformed - Beijing Machinery and Electric Institute, a factory and research facility of the fledgling People's Republic.
1949 The Hidden City is a multi-restaurant and bar destination, nestling among city skyscrapers in a 4000 square meter neo-industrial walled city within a city.
Its indoor and outdoor restaurants, bars, a café, beer garden, a private members' club and a contemporary art gallery all add to the drawing power of Beijing's Sanlitun precinct, starting its day late mornings and lurching towards a fast-paced evening scene.
Look out for the very un-People's Republic Bollinger Bar.
Things looking up for Cathay
DESPITE a general fuel-price inspired malaise sweeping the aviation industry, and a reduction in flights on the North American route, Cathay Pacific is actually increasing flights between Hong Kong and Sydney (and other major Oz cities) to match consistently high demand.
From October 26 there will be four flights a day from Sydney.
Cathay CEO Tony Tyler calls it “maximising earnings”. The airline is also switching to larger-capacity aircraft to UK and Europe.
All you need to know about NZ
LESS than five percent of New Zealand's population is human; the rest are animals - one of the highest animals to humans ratios in the world. (Okay, already, enough is enough!)
And their largest city, Auckland, has more boats per head of population than any other city in the world, earning it the nickname City of Sails.
The Shakeys also have the world's only mainland breeding colony of albatross - at Taiaroa Head on the tip of the Otago Peninsula.
Appetite whetted with all that information, let's get serious:
Dunedin's Chinese Garden is now open to the public with a tearoom offering authentic ceremonies, and guided tours by appointment.
It was all a gift from Dunedin's sister city Shanghai where the hand-crafted buildings were prefabricated and shipped south to form one of just three authentic villages outside China.
Look it up at www.dunedinchinesegarden.com
Virtual Bungy
Next time you're across the ditch, head for Canyon Swing, a thrill which starts from a platform 109m above the Shotover River.
It's similar to bungy - you actually do a 60m freefall - but you do it in a body-mounted safety harness instead of being attached at the feet. After the freefall, you swing pendulum like through the air for 200m before being brought back to the top.
If you'd rather do it sitting down, you can launch in a plastic chair or wear a rubbish bin on your head. Bin on your head? Don’t ask!
Look up www.canyonswing.co.nz
Hot tub in the cold
OPENED in June this year, Winter Park & Alpine Springs, at Tekapo, has an international-size skating rink for hockey, curling or even skating.
Glacial spring water is heated to fill three public hot pools and there are views over the Two Thumb Range and Lake Tekapo as you enjoy body and beauty treatments, sauna and steam rooms, year round.
Call in at www.winterpark.co.nz
MASH magic
OPERATOR called Adventure Aviation offers a variety of flying experiences, including unique scenic flights in a M*A*S*H chopper flying out to their purpose-built M*A*S*H camp.
They also do spectacular tours of volcanic White Island (in association with Volcanic Air Safaris).
Visitors can experience the thrill of taking the controls of an aeroplane, helicopter or gyrocopter, flying back in time in a classic warplane or more sedate tours of military and classic civilian aircraft collections. Makes a change from the endless parade of living antique cars.
Visit www.adventureaviation.co.nz
Experience this
WHO'D have thought it: cellar door and tasting tours “over there”.
Vintner's Choice, Martinborough, does it well with guests tasting six local wines while watching a 45-minute film taking a scenic journey into the Wairarapa valley.
It includes interviews with prominent estate owners and winemakers, and cues the audience to taste each wine.
Keep an eye on www.vintnerschoice.co.nz | 
