Ken Spence Photograph: Hot Air Balloons over Bagan, Myanmar Asiaancient + modern P RODUCED BY P R O M O T I O N S traveller | promotion Asiaancient + modern China Immerse yourself in the buzzing and vibrant founder and CEO of Affordable Art it housed the Shanghai Club, an China, who gives expert insights exclusive retreat for British gentry. cities of Beijing and Shanghai on Chinese art, along with the history of this Bauhaus-style, former munitions factory complex. Private rban China is where the studio visits can also be arranged. Shanghai’s architectural heritage past, present and future includes a fine portfolio of Art Deco intersect as this vast buildings, from the brooding Park nation hurtles towards Hotel (parkhotelshanghai.cn) to the Uglobal superpower status. A younger city, whose founding pencil-slim Bank of China. Shanghai The contrasting historical and principal was commerce rather than will host the 2015 World Congress contemporary narratives of Beijing imperial decree, Shanghai has a on Art Deco, and Patrick Cranley, and Shanghai – China's two primary penchant for showiness, apparent founder of Historic Shanghai cities – is where the real fun begins. in its angular skytowers and glitzy (facebook.com/historic.shanghai), will boutiques. Stylish stays include be your Art Deco guide. Architect the slick, state-of-the-art Banyan Spencer Dodington of Luxury Tree Shanghai on the Bund Concierge (luxuryconciergechina. Beijing’s imperial legacy is (banyantree.com) with spectacular com) offers expert walks, through old underscored by the Forbidden views, and the neo-classical Waldorf Shanghai’s neighbourhoods and its City and Temple of Heaven, while Astoria Shanghai on the Bund futuristic constructs, as well as private Maoism’s imprint hangs over (waldorfastoria.com) – which recalls shopping trips for design pieces from Tiananmen Square. Luxury living is Shanghai’s 1930s golden age when the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ heyday. a coveted concept for today’s Beijing hipsters, though, and the hotel scene traditions endure in the shadows Clockwise from exemplifies this. Kengo Kuma's The of modern skyscrapers. Explore top: suite at Aman at Summer Opposite House (theoppositehouse.com) the hutongs around the Drum Palace; Panorama fuses minimalism with contemporary Tower and Houhai Lakes with Bund Retreat at Chinese art, and Aman at Summer Beijing Sideways (beijingsideways. 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From here, HeliServices (heliservices. com.hk) will whisk you through the skies in a twin-engine Eurocopter AS355N Squirrel. The dizzying andscaped around the flight intro showcases Victoria splendid Victoria Harbour Harbour and the waterfront skyline, and referred to as Asia’s Hong Kong’s eclectic hotel scene before heading across the bays and World City, Hong Kong lives highlights this double-edged beaches of the outlying islands or Lup to its prize billing. While personality. Designer minimalism over the east coast farmlands of the much of its colonial architecture and high-rise harbour views define New Territories – and even to the on the time-honoured preparations has been razed and replaced with The Upper House (upperhouse. border with mainland China. and cultural importance of soaring monuments to constructive com) in Central. 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Street commanding views of the 508-metre of the Landis Wulai (wulai. markets in the capital, Taipei, high Taipei 101 (taipei-101.com) landishotelsresorts.com) and feast on a abound with indigenous delicacies, – the world’s third-tallest building banquet of Taiwanese dishes. such as steamed dumplings, oyster – best enjoyed from the 10th-floor omelette and soupy beef noodles. heated swimming pool and Culture buffs should make for the Tai Chi Garden. National Palace Museum (npm. As an alternative option, Cam gov.tw), which houses the world's McLean, Director of In Motion largest collection of Chinese art Asia, suggests jumping aboard treasures. Nationalist leader Chiang Described by 16th-century an ultra-modern high-speed train Kai-shek shipped most of the Portuguese voyagers as Ilha Formosa – which travels at up to 300kph priceless paintings, furnishings, (beautiful island), Taiwan's outdoor – from Taipei, where you should ceramics and jade sculptures from discovery is its greatest asset. make the scenic 220km journey to China to Taiwan in 1948, as he fled Locally based adventure specialists Nantou gateway and the sublime Mao’s Communist revolution. In Motion Asia (inmotionasia.com) Sun Moon Lake. Located in the whisks active travellers in comfort heart of Taiwan, the island's largest to Yangmingshan National Park, freshwater body boasts calm, 10km south of Taipei, to hike and emerald-green waters framed by Stay overnight at the 162-room cycle among majestic mountains, towering mountains. Stay in a highly amba Taipei Ximending (amba- dormant volcanoes and bamboo contemporary courtyard villa at hotels.com/en/home), a design hotel forests. Blissed out from the scenic The Lalu (thelalu.com.au), with created by a collective of Taiwanese splendor, you’ll move on to Wulai, panoramic views of the lake, and architects, artists and music stylists. home to the Atayal Aboriginal tribe. visit ancient temples and aboriginal Ximending is a buzzing district with Lying in a hot spring valley, Wulai villages dotted among the hills, a flourishing design and lifestyle offers a wealth of thrilling adventure before savouring dinner and wine on scene, and curbside restaurants, sports. Leap off a cliff into churning a sunset cruise under a full moon. Main image: the rooftop pool at W Taipei Taiwan This 'Ilha Formosa' – beautiful island – is rich in culture and exotic, indigenous food TRAVELLER | PROMOTION Asiaancient + modern he complexity of Japanese Clockwise from top: Japanese cuisine culture and history is hard at the Ryokan Collection; the pool and Deluxe Suite living room both at The to define by simply visiting Peninsula Tokoyo; Ryokan Collection its major tourist attractions. T The mazy pathway to understanding modern Japan is best approached through its intriguingly nuanced art, architecture and world class cuisine. Boasting a fine modern art collection, The Peninsula Tokyo (peninsula.com/Tokyo) also offers a private Art of Hospitality experience. A chauffeured Rolls Royce ride to Kyu Asakura House in Shibuya is followed by a guided tour of this historic mansion. Built in 1919 in traditional Japanese style, the house and