A Geek in China Book Review

A Geek in China: Discovering the Land of Bullet Trains, Alibaba and Dim Sum

ISBN: 978-0-8048-4469-7
By Matthew Christensen
Tuttle Publishing, 2016
144 pp, paperback

Anybody hoping to attain geek status regarding China can start with this book, subtitled Discovering the Land of Bullet Trains, Alibaba and Dim Sum.
Like Tuttle's A Geek in Korea and A Geek in Japan books, this one is very attractively laid out, with high-quality pictures and multiple fonts, sizes, and colors to keep you entertained. The book covers a lot of ground, and readers can pick and choose what they want to read without having to dedicate a lot of time, as few of the sections are what anybody would call lengthy.

As compared with the A Geek in Korea and A Geek in Japan books, there is less emphasis on edgy/cool current pop culture, and more traditional lists of things to see and do.
A Geek in China is divided into six chapters, with the first three chapters covering China's history (excellent and surprisingly deep), culture and food (looks tasty) and character and society (from ancient religious values to modern-day cell phone culture).
The last three chapters cover modern and urban China (working in China, architecture, etc.), Chinese leisure time (sports, music, art, cinema, television) and, finally, where to go and what to do in China.
The last two mini-chapters are on visiting Taiwan and visiting Hong Kong. Perhaps if the book had listed Taiwan, the book could not have been sold in China.
Unsurprisingly, the book is very positive about China without getting into any controversy.
It briefly alludes to the so-called Confucius Institutes recently built on many university campuses around the world but fails to mention any criticism of them in the West. Also, the section on religions mentions Christianity, the Falun Gong movement, and Islam, but nothing about any persecution of these groups.
Overall, this is a good and interesting primer on China and its history and culture, but to get more in-depth you will need to complement this with other books.

Marshall Hughes

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It's All Chinese to Me Book Review

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It's All Chinese To Me: An Overview of Chinese Culture, Travel & Etiquette

It's All Chinese To Me: An Overview of Chinese Culture, Travel & Etiquette (Fully Revised and Expanded)

ISBN: 978-0-8048-4917-3
By Pierre Ostrowski and Gwen Penner
Tuttle Publishing, 2018
192 pp, paperback

It won't be all Chinese to you after you finish this quick, light-hearted "overview of culture and etiquette" about China.
Using cartoon drawings mixed with occasional very short chapters, authors Ostrowski and Penner touch on a number of subjects about China including history, politics and society, rituals and superstitions and doing business in China.
There are also lighter topics including do's and don'ts, culture shock, transportation and guanxi (loosely translated as connections) and mianzi (basically translated as saving face).
The book can be read in less than two hours because most of the pages consist of one or two one-panel cartoon-like drawings.

Scattered throughout the book are Chinese proverbs, usually well-matched with what each particular chapter is talking about. For example, on the page on gift-giving, the proverb included is, "A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers."
Readers familiar with Asian cultures will find it interesting how many Chinese things have similarities with other Asian cultures, particularly Japan; for example, how to pour drinks, avoiding the number 4, giving and receiving presents with two hands, slurping noodles, never leaving chopsticks in rice etc.
Perhaps the most thorough section, and that is a relative term, concerns the influences of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism on the country.
While the book is written to be fun and not to be an all-inclusive look at China's 1.4 billion people, there are more serious things discussed, albeit briefly. Readers will learn that:
# Fake drugs account for up to 25% of the total prescription drug market.
# Traditional Chinese medicines continue to lead to the barbaric treatment of many animals, most specifically bears but also including dogs, cats, rhinos, tigers, leopards, etc.
# Chinese media often refers to foreigners as foreign devils, barbarians, big noses, and red beards.
The book is by no means a deep analysis of China, but that's fine. It is amusing and breezy, and if that is what you are looking for then is a good book for you.

Marshall Hughes

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A Geek in China Book Review

JD Health Joins Subsidies Project for Impoverished Households

JD Health Joins Subsidies Project for Impoverished Households

JD Health together with the online platform of Social Participation in Poverty Alleviation and Development of China and 11 pharmaceutical companies, launched the "Healthy China, Medical Subsidy Project" on May 9th.

Targeted at government-designated poor households across the country, the project has provided by far the largest amount of subsidies and broadest coverage of any subsidy project for poor households in China. The project is expected to cover more than 30 million people in the next three to five years, with the goal of substantially reducing the burden of medical expenses and on illness-driven poverty (or return to poverty).

Under the plan, qualifying participants will each receive RMB 1000 to purchase drugs from a collated list. At present, the list already includes more than 350 drugs covering more than 100 diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cough and cold, and gastrointestinal diseases.

It will rapidly be expanded to include new special drugs and rare disease drugs. Signing up for the program is simple. After confirming personal identification, participants can enjoy the subsidy either online, through JD Health’s JD Pharmacy or offline at a designated pharmacy pre-screened by JD Health. In principle, there will be at least one designated drugstore in each town or village. The subsidy can be directly deducted when purchasing drugs in the catalog through the designated channels, and participants can enjoy subsidies covering up to 68% of the market price of each drug.

Lijun Xin, CEO of JD Health said, “Through this joint effort with the online platform of Social Participation in Poverty Alleviation and Development of China, JD Health has the ability, responsibility, and confidence to collaborate with partners across the health industry supply chain to enable poverty-stricken individuals to reduce their expenditure on medical treatment and medicine purchase as much as possible as well as have the access to more high-quality medicines and services.”

Since signing the cooperation agreement on e-commerce precision poverty alleviation strategy with the Poverty Alleviation Office of the State Council in January 2016, JD.com has maximized its advantages in the fields of supply chain, logistics, finance, technology and services to sell more than 3 million different kinds of commodities from poor areas across the country online, sales of which reached more than RMB 75 billion and enabled 900,000 government-designated poor households to increase their incomes accordingly.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Qatar Airways Announces Phased Rebuilding of Network to an Initial 52 Destinations by End of May and 80 in June

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the airline will begin a phased approach to expanding its network in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world.

Having maintained flights to at least 30 destinations where possible during this crisis and to most continents, helping to take over 1 million people home, the airline has been in a unique position to closely monitor global passenger flows and booking trends to confidently begin planning the gradual reintroduction of additional flights and destinations to its network. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Throughout this crisis our passengers have been at the centre of our focus. Our airline has implemented industry-leading hygiene practices and commercial policies enabling our passengers to book and travel with confidence.

We have maintained a flexible and agile network to help take over 1 million people home through our state of the art hub in Doha and to transport more than 100,000 tonnes of essential medical and aid supplies to where they are needed. “As we follow the indicators of the global travel market on a daily basis, we continue to focus on our mission - how we can enable mobility for our customers and provide them with seamless connectivity to their final destination. We have built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade and airports as a reliable partner during this crisis and we intend to continue delivering on this mission as we gradually expand our network.”

While the situation remains hugely dynamic, Qatar Airways has made a number of assumptions based on its unique perspective, having been one of the only carriers to operate globally in recent months. With entry restrictions constantly evolving, accurately predicting future travel is challenging. However, while the expectation is that short-haul travel will rebound first, business between large global cities will pick up more gradually and there will be a move towards visiting family and friends following months of lockdowns.

Qatar Airways will take full advantage of its diverse and efficient fleet with the right aircraft size to ensure the best fit for expected demand on each planned route. By the end of June, the aim is to have 80 destinations in the schedule including 23 in Europe, four in the Americas, 20 in Middle East/Africa and 33 in Asia-Pacific. Many cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies. The gradual expansion will focus initially on strengthening connections between the airline’s hub in Doha with the global hubs of its partner airlines around the world including London, Chicago, Dallas and Hong Kong along with reopening many major business and leisure destinations such as Madrid and Mumbai.

Currently, the airline continues to operate flights to more than 30 destinations around the world. By the end of May, the airline plans to grow its network back to over 50 destinations* resuming services to cities such as Manila, Amman, and Nairobi. A further number of destinations* are planned to be added by the end of June. For the latest information on where we are flying, please visit our COVID-19 travel alert. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite.

It is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted ‘Skytrax Airline of the Year’ title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times. Qatar Airways maintains the highest possible hygiene standards, which include the regular disinfection of aircraft, the use of cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and thermal screening of crew. In addition, Qatar Airways’ aircraft feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection. All the airline’s onboard linen and blankets are washed, dried and pressed at microbial lethal temperatures, while its headsets are removed of ear foams and rigorously sanitized after each flight.

These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves. Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC) was the first organisation in the world last year to achieve ISO22000:2018 certification from Bureau Veritas with UKAS accreditation, confirming its Food Safety Management System meets the highest standards. All meal service utensils and cutlery are washed with detergents and rinsed with demineralized freshwater at temperatures that kill pathogenic bacteria. All sanitized equipment is handled by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves, while cutlery is individually re-packed.

 Qatar Airways destinations operating by end of June* Africa Addis Ababa (ADD), Cape Town (CPT), Johannesburg (JNB), Lagos (LOS), Nairobi (NBO), Tunis (TUN) Americas Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Sao Paulo (GRU), Montreal (YUL) Asia-Pacific Guangzhou (CAN), Hong Kong (HKG), Seoul (ICN), Tokyo (NRT), Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Bangkok (BKK), Jakarta (CGK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Manila (MNL), Singapore (SIN), Ahmedabad (AMD), Amritsar (ATQ), Bangalore (BLR), Mumbai (BOM), Calicut (CCJ), Kolkata (CCU), Colombo (CMB), Kochi (COK), Dhaka (DAC), New Delhi (DEL), Goa (GOI), Hyderabad (HYD), Kathmandu (KTM), Chennai (MAA), Male (MLE), Trivandrum (TRV), Islamabad (ISB), Karachi (KHI), Lahore (LHE), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER), Sydney (SYD) Europe Athens (ATH), Budapest (BUD), Moscow (DME), Istanbul (IST), Amsterdam (AMS), Stockholm (ARN), Barcelona (BCN), Brussels (BRU), Paris (CDG), Copenhagen (CPH), Dublin (DUB), Edinburgh (EDI), Rome (FCO), Frankfurt (FRA), London (LHR), Madrid (MAD), Manchester (MAN), Munich (MUC), Milan (MXP), Oslo (OSL), Berlin (TXL), Vienna (VIE), Zurich (ZRH) Middle East Amman (AMM), Beirut (BEY), Baghdad (BGW), Basra (BSR), Erbil (EBL), Teheran (IKA), Sulaymaniyah (ISU), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Mashad (MHD), Najaf (NJF), Sohar (OHS), Salalah (SLL), Shiraz (SYZ).

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Join Black Sheep Restaurants' Premium Delivery Service

Join Black Sheep Restaurants' Premium Delivery Service

Black Sheep Restaurants understands first-hand how razor-thin margins are in the restaurant industry and how little profits there are for restaurants delivering through the big aggregators who refuse to lower their commissions while the industry continues to bleed.

In a show of solidarity, Black Sheep Restaurants is offering up to ten spots on its proprietary delivery system GO until the end of the summer. For the ten restaurants onboarded there will be no sign-up fees, no commission, all that will be asked is to cover GO’s delivery costs.

The only catch is that the restaurants need to be close to an existing Black Sheep Restaurants establishment in SoHo, Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai or up on The Peak. Co-founder of Black Sheep Restaurants Syed Asim Hussain comments; "We wish that we had the capacity to help more of our friends in the industry with delivery, but we also know the limitations of our own delivery ecosystem. However, what we lack in tech, we make up for in heart, and I hope this gesture will help see some of our comrades through this devastating time. And I hope that this inspires the aggregators to do the right thing by their clients, if we can do this at GO, they definitely can too."

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Now Extended: Black Series: Now or Never

Black Sheep Restaurants

Black Sheep Restaurants has extended its Black Series: Now or Never set menus running at over 20 venues for one week. On Saturday, 18 April, new availability and time slots from 20 April through 26 April will open to the public at all venues.

The teams have been overwhelmed by the support during Black Series: Now or Never, but with current restrictions keeping all restaurants at half capacity, the decision to extend gives more availability for guests who were not able to dine at the restaurant of their choice last week.

Seats are limited and restricted to groups of two to four pax, and menus will stay the same, all designed to be served at a rapid pace so guests wishing to be in and out in around an hour at the casual restaurants, or 90 minutes in the premium establishments, can easily be accommodated.

During this extended week of bookings, Black Sheep Restaurants will maintain its strictest health protocols.

Guests who dine at participating restaurants through the extension will be able to enter the lucky draw and will have the chance to win exclusive rewards. Rewards include a month of Monday dinners for two, a preview of Black Sheep Restaurants’ new establishment, Crown Super Deluxe, or dinner for two at Hotel Colombo, Le Garçon Saigon or Taqueria Super Macho. Ten winners will be announced on 1 May 2020.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

CELEBRATE EASTER AT BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANTS

CELEBRATE EASTER AT BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANTS

This Easter, Black Sheep Restaurants has a host of feasting options. And for those not going outside, all can be delivered within a 48 hour pre-order a minimum spend of $500 as the Lebanese do and indulge in a week-long Easter feast with family and friends.

Maison Libanaise, SoHo’s favourite Lebanese canteen, will be serving two traditional dishes in celebration of one of the region’s biggest holidays from 10 to 19 April. Feast on a hearty Lamb Ouzi ($288/serves two), slow-roasted lamb shoulder served with generous lashings of allspice, mint labné and rice ma’alouba.

Typically enjoyed on special occasions and festive times, Maamoul ($38/2PCS) - Lebanese semolina cookies with dates, rose water and pistachios - is a traditional dessert reflecting flavours that have formed part of the cuisine for centuries. Enjoy them both for $318.

Reservations with pre-orders are required to be made 24 hours in advance to ensure you can enjoy your Easter lamb. Lunch reservations and pre-orders can be made here Dinner reservations and pre-orders can be made here Find out more on our Happenings page maisonlibanaise.com.hk | Maison Libanaise | @maisonlibanaise 10 Shelley Street, SoHo, Hong Kong | 852 2111 2284

ARTEMIS & APOLLO Souvlaki Sundays | Easter Sunday April 12 

Following in the Greek tradition of roasting meats on the spit, or souvla, eating lamb on Easter goes back to ancient times for many nations.

This Easter Sunday, Wan Chai’s Athenian taverna for the people will host a special rendition of its convivial Souvlaki Sundays. Family-friendly and open to all, Artemis & Apollo invites you to gather round the table and feast on a menu fit for the Gods ($388 per person). Start with a selection of hot and cold mezze, followed by Spit-roasted Chicken or Lamb served with roasted village vegetables, the vibrant and crowd-pleasing Cypriot Salad and Patatakia - herb-tossed Greek fries. End your Easter Sunday with a little something sweet with an additional slice of Labneh Cheesecake, topped with juicy pomegranate rubies.

Reservations can be made here Find out more on our Happenings page Souvlaki Sundays takes place every Sunday from 12 - 9pm $388 per person 

Artemisandapollo.com | Artemis & Apollo | @artemisandapollohk 9-11 Moon Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong | 2818 8681 

ASSOCIAZIONE CHIANTI 9-13 April 

Easter in Tuscany is not a short celebration but rather, celebrated over five days. Wan Chai’s soulful Tuscan trattoria is honouring this tradition with a special Sella di Agnello available from 9-13 April. The roasted lamb saddle is seasoned with Dijon mustard, garlic, fennel pollen and rosemary salt & pepper before being filled with a robust spinach & ciabatta mix and rolled in true Florentine fashion with butcher twine. All are invited to join in this Easter feast with friends, family, wine, and joy. Pre-order your Sella di Agnello ($328 per person) by emailing reservations@associazionechianti.com.

Find out more on our Happenings page associazionechianti.com | Associazione Chianti |

No holiday is complete without cake, so this Easter, choose from the classic Carrot Cake ($388) with cream cheese frosting in a basket weave pattern topped with pastel meringues. Or go for an Easter twist on the traditional Triple Chocolate Cake ($588), with a holiday twist, decorated to resemble a nest and eggs. Cakes can be ordered online from Butter or via Black Sheep Restaurants’ premium delivery service, GO.

Easter cakes can be pre-ordered from 30 March with 48 hours advance notice required, available for delivery or pickup from 1 April - 12 April, with free delivery on Hong Kong Island.

Order online or via GO here.
Find out more on our Happenings page
Butterbutterbutter.com.hk | Butter | @buttercakeshophk
info@butterbutterbutter.com.hk |+852 2670 2670

BELON

Weekend Lunch

Go on a culinary journey with the neo-Parisian bistro’s weekend lunch. Spend Easter weekend sampling some of the Michelin-starred restaurant’s signature dishes with a six-course menu ($528 per person plus 10 per cent service charge), including the famous Homemade Naturally Leavened Bread with Salted Normandy Butter, baked in-house daily, and the ‘Saucisson De Bigorre’ to the showstopping Whole Roasted ‘Three Yellow’ Chicken with ‘Petit Pois À La Française’. End the affair with the remarkable Millefeuille - a can't-miss dish from the prestigious kitchen.

The menu at BELON is constantly changing and based on seasonal ingredients.

Saturday & Sunday, from 12-2:30pm 

Bookings can be made here or via info@belonsoho.com

Find out more on our Happenings page

BUENOS AIRES POLO CLUB

The Polo Brunch | Easter Sunday April 12

Join the handsome Argentinian steakhouse for Easter Sunday, with a full spread of Buenos Aires Polo Club’s lavish feast: The Polo Brunch (starting from $398 per person plus 10 percent service charge).

Explore the assortment of seafood, Iberian cured meats and decadent cheeses in The Bar before moving onto mains, found in the impressive Lounge, housing the egg station and the opulent meat-carving stations with Prime Rib.

However you choose to start your feast, make sure to visit the Club Room for a generous selection of freshly-baked cakes and pastries. Curate your Easter Sunday brunch experience as you move through Buenos Aires Polo Club, sipping on free-flow drinks or signature cocktails to be ordered a la carte.

The Polo Brunch takes place Sundays, from 11am - 3pm

Reservations can be made here Find out more on our Happenings page bapoloclub.com | BuenosAiresPoloClub | @buenosairespoloclub

7th Floor LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong | 2321 8681 

Niche, thought-provoking and story-driven, Black Sheep Restaurants is a Hong Kong-based hospitality group founded in 2012 by Syed Asim Hussain and Christopher Mark. Together they share decades of experience in hospitality and business development, along with a zest for travel and discovering dining subcultures.

Black Sheep Restaurants curates distinct dining experiences that tell a story about a particular time, place, culture or cuisine while celebrating the bounty of premium ingredients available both locally and from abroad.

Always pushing boundaries, the group continues to expand rapidly within Hong Kong and beyond. In December 2018, Syed Asim Hussain became the world’s youngest restaurateur to hold two Michelin stars when BELON and New Punjab Club were honoured with one Michelin star each.

Both restaurants retained their Michelin stars in the 2019 announcement. New Punjab Club is the world’s only Punjabi restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Zuma Makes the Ultimate Destination for Spring and Easter

Zuma Makes the Ultimate Destination for Spring and Easter

Famed for contemporary twists on classic Japanese izakaya, Zuma Hong Kong continues to be the perfect place to relax throughout the Easter long weekend. Alongside the legendary brunch feast and free-flow bubbly, the restaurant is offering Easter Daikoku Tasting Menu (HKD 1,180 per person) with a range of scrumptious new dishes to indulge your taste buds.

To welcome the arrival of Spring, Zuma is introducing two new dishes specially created for the occasion. The Easter Daikoku Tasting menu will feature Turbot tartare with white ponzu, shiso leaves, avocado and wasabi to enhance the pristine nature of Japanese ingredients while Dry-aged beef gyoza with black truffle sauce to spin the premium grass-fed beef with an exquisite contrast in texture and punchy flavours.

As the city’s most popular brunch destination, Zuma promises a fun-filled feasting with an irresistible Easter-themed dessert platter including the signature Molten chocolate cake and Japanese strawberry shortcake, while enjoying the free flow selection of Champagne, wine and beer. The celebrated Easter Baikingu Brunch will be served from Good Friday right up until Easter Monday.

Although the extraordinary cherry blossoms scene lasts for just one fleeting week, Zuma’s imaginative bar team takes inspiration from the sakura blossoms and Easter to devise a series of creative cocktails for a limited period from 6th April to 26th April2020. They include the beautifully crafted Hanami Sour (HKD 120), a delicate aperitif inspired by the pastel pink blush of cherry blossoms with its reviving mix of umeshu, apricot, yuzu and sakura, and the Sakura Collins (HKD 120), a refreshing blend of gin and maraschino with flavours of sakura and citrus, topped with a fascinating aromatic smoke bubble. Nekohi Negroni (HKD 140), where a classic negroni is revamped with Nikka Japanese whiskey and vermouth-infused coffee alongside a sweet note of chocolate, as an ideal pick-me-up for the festival.

 Zuma is thrilled to participate in the citywide #UnitedWeDine campaign and offer diners an exclusive mouthwatering menu, featuring 12 signature dishes and foodie favourites priced at HKD 580 from now through 30th April 2020. The safety and well-being of guests and staffs are of Zuma’s utmost priority.

While the COVID-19 situation is still developing around the world, Zuma is operating to the highest levels of health and safety vigilance, closely monitoring updates in real-time and working in accordance with local and international authority advisories and protocols.

Zuma intensifies precautionary health measures at its property, including increased cleaning of all areas within the restaurant, performing twice daily staff body temperature checks, all members of staff handling food and drinks wear face masks, wash and sanitize their hands regularly. Guests body temperature is checked upon entering the venue, air purifiers have also been placed throughout the restaurant and hand sanitizer is available for guests to use upon their arrival at reception.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

卡塔爾航空每日執飛逾150班航班以協助更多乘客回家

卡塔爾航空每日執飛逾150班航班以協助更多乘客回家 並修訂「讓旅行更安心」安排及航班受阻政策 讓乘客更靈活退改機票 香港，2020年3月25日 - 我們深明，全球眾多人士都在這艱難時刻用盡一切辦法回家。卡塔爾航空每日仍執飛逾150班航班，盡可能協助更多乘客返國與家人團聚。 截至3月24日，我們的航班飛往全球70多個城市。

我們持續檢討營運，找出航空運輸需求較高的地區，力求增加航班或使用較大機種接載乘客。航空業現正面臨各種挑戰，我們感謝全球各地的機場以及有關當局和員工，全力協助我們接載乘客安全回家。 卡塔爾航空亦已對「讓旅行更安心」安排及航班受阻政策作出修訂，藉此為乘客帶來更多方便。

乘客可選擇將完全未使用的機票兌換為同等價值的旅遊憑證於日後使用，並會額外獲得等同原先票價10%的旅遊憑證價值。乘客亦可選擇以訂票時所用的付款方式收取退款，有關行政手續最多需時30天。由於卡塔爾航空現在處理大量工作，為節省乘客的等候時間，我們建議換取可於日後使用的旅遊憑證。 全球各地政府陸續施加限制，我們須在熱線中心暫停營運的情況下處理大量查詢。我們衷心感謝乘客在此期間的理解和忍耐。 – 完 – 關於卡塔爾航空 卡塔爾航空是卡塔爾國家航空公司，現已成立20周年，擁有一支由超過250架飛機組成的現代化機隊。 卡塔爾航空秉承「與你同飛翔」的理念，將乘客送往世界170多個商務及休閒目的地。

卡塔爾航空發展迅速，還將在2020年增加一系列新航點，包括大阪（日本），聖托裡尼（希臘），杜布羅夫尼克（克羅地亞），阿拉木圖和努爾蘇丹（哈薩克斯坦），阿克拉（加納），宿霧（菲律賓），里昂（法國），特拉布宗（土耳其）， 暹粒（柬埔寨）和羅安達（安哥拉）。 卡塔爾航空是一家屢獲殊榮的航空公司，在2019年世界航空大獎評選中，獲國際航空運輸評級機構Skytrax評為「年度最佳航空公司」。在此次Skytrax的評選中，卡塔爾航空還憑藉其專利產品Qsuite空中套房贏得了「全球最佳商務艙」和「全球最佳商務艙座椅」獎項 。此外，卡塔爾航空還獲頒「中東最佳航空公司」稱號。

卡塔爾航空是史上首家五次獲得「年度最佳航空公司」這一航空界最高榮譽的航空公司。 不僅是業界首個擁有雙人床配置的商務艙座椅，Qsuite作為卡塔爾航空專利產品，配有可調節的隱藏面板，這一創新之舉亦讓乘客隨時升起與毗鄰座位隔絕的面板，營造私人專屬空間。

 卡塔爾航空是全球航空聯盟「寰宇一家」（oneworld）的成員，也是海灣地區第一家加入全球航空聯盟的航空公司。卡塔爾航空的旅客可享受「寰宇一家」（oneworld）遍及全球160多個國家、近1,000個目的地、每日14,250次出港的航班優勢。 卡塔爾航空公司採用先進的互動機載娛樂系統Oryx One，內置的電影、電視節目、音樂及遊戲數量多達4,000個。搭乘卡塔爾航空公司B787、B777、A350、A380、A319及部分A320、A330客機，旅客可使用機上的Wi-Fi及GSM服務，與全球各地的親朋好友保持聯繫。 卡塔爾航空是多項國際及地方體育賽事贊助商，致力於豐富全球社區。作為國際足球協會（FIFA）的官方合作夥伴，卡塔爾航空贊助了一系列頂級賽事，其中包括2022世界盃。卡塔爾航空重視體育賽事中的凝聚精神，這與卡塔爾航空的品牌理念「與你同飛翔」（Going Places Together）緊密切合。

 卡塔爾航空貨運公司是全球領先的國際貨運航空公司，通過多哈航空樞紐為全球60多個獨家貨運目的地提供服務，並借助其250多架飛機腹艙為160多個重要的商務和休閒目的地提供貨運服務。卡塔爾航空貨運公司的機隊現包括兩架波音747-8貨機、19架波音777貨機和五架空中巴士A330貨機。 如需其他資料，請瀏覽卡塔爾航空官方網站：www.qatarairways.com/hk

© Beijing-Visitor.com

BELON EARNS ITS SPOT IN THE TOP 5, PLACING FOURTH IN ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2020

BELON EARNS ITS SPOT IN THE TOP 5, PLACING FOURTH IN ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2020

SoHo’s neo-Parisian bistro continues its climb, breaking into the star-studded Top 5 lineup and jumping 11 spots from last year to place fourth in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020. The award, voted for by highly regarded chefs, food writers and globetrotting gourmets from around the region, was announced via a virtual ceremony held in consideration of the global battle against COVID-19.

This recognition follows the team retaining their one Michelin star in the 2020 Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau announced this past December. Securing a spot in the Top 5 represents another milestone for Chef Daniel Calvert.

This British native honed his craft spending a decade in some of the world’s best kitchens, including Shane Osborn’s two-starred Pied à Terre, Thomas Keller’s three-starred Per Se and three-starred Epicure in Paris.

He has consistently delighted Hong Kong's diners with his thoughtful yet unfussy renditions of classic French dishes, and he continues to lead his team with the passion and perseverance that define his craft.

The panel identified Calvert’s signature dishes including, Hokkaido Scallop with Shio Kombu and Pomelo and Croque Madame as showcasing his dedication to pared-back techniques and local influence. “We are immeasurably grateful for the continued recognition of our hard work and commitment to the highest standards in terms of our ingredients, service and technique,” explains Calvert.

"We are proud to be amongst such an illustrious group and to be awarded a higher placing, an acknowledgement of our commitment to continual improvement.”

BELON is part of Hong Kong-based restaurant group, Black Sheep Restaurants, co-founded by Christopher Mark who comments; “In the current climate, when so many of us are struggling for survival, these awards are an acknowledgement of the incredible work the team has done over the last 12 months.

In the face of these uncontrollable circumstances, we will continue to pursue and maintain the highest standards of hospitality possible.” For those not going out at the moment but who still want to experience BELON, the restaurant is offering a limited delivery service available by emailing delivery@blacksheeprestaurants.com.

41 Elgin Street, SoHo, Hong Kong | 852 2152 2872 
Dinner: Wednesday - Sunday, 6 - 11pm Lunch: Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 2:30pm belonsoho.com | @belonhk

© Beijing-Visitor.com

BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANTS INTRODUCES: A FEAST FOR OUR FAMILY FROM BELON ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE TEAM MEMBERS

BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANTS INTRODUCES: A FEAST FOR OUR FAMILY FROM BELON ALL PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE TEAM MEMBERS

As the industry continues to be bombarded by the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, Black Sheep Restaurants is devastated to announce unpaid leave for its team for the first time in its eight-year legacy. This is something that the founders have desperately tried to avoid as they understand how marginally many in the industry live and the severe implications that any loss of income represents.

However, the group did receive some good news this week in the form of its Neo-Parisian bistro BELON placing fourth on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, a huge achievement for the small SoHo venue, and they wanted to see how they could turn this good news into good fortune to those who need it most within the wider team.

Although traditionally an unlucky number in this part of the world, the founders and Chef Daniel felt that placing fourth after four years of hard work has been a rare win in an otherwise dismal year. Embracing this, Chef Daniel Calvert curated A Feast for Our Family ($2500, serves two), which includes his signature Whole Roasted 'Three Yellow' Chicken with “Petits Pois à la Française”, Homemade Naturally Leavened Bread, two Mille-feuilles and his recommended perfect pairing, a bottle of Olivier Merlin Macon La Roche Vineuse 2016.

A Feast for Our Family will be available for delivery on Saturday 4 April, both lunch and dinner. In an effort to support the most vulnerable team members, such as dishwashers and back waiters, all proceeds from A Feast for Our Family will go directly to those who need it most. “In an industry where many have no financial buffer, we are painfully aware of the implications of laying people off right now.

We are still doing everything we can to avoid redundancies and ensure our 1,000+ community retains some income,” states co-founder Syed Asim Hussain. “Unfortunately, the global hospitality community has never seen anything like what is occurring now. Sadly some unpaid leave for our people is now unavoidable, but if you are able to be generous at this time and would like to support the hundreds of dedicated and hardworking dishwashers and back waiters that form the backbone of our community, it would mean a lot to us, to them and their families.” Orders can be placed now until 2 April by emailing delivery@blacksheeprestaurants.com.

© Beijing-Visitor.com

#TELLUSHK

#TELLUSHK

Did you almost forget what made us laugh & what we liked to do in normal days? Share one thing you love to do, a book you like to read, an online class to take, a YouTube channel you love the most etc. Let’s stay productive and rise by lifting each other, during #WFH.

We will upload a #StrongerTogether❤ list after gathering your thoughts. #SocialDistancing Copy and paste this. Tag 7 smiley faces to bring on the positive energy in the city!

Tag @TELLUSHK - get a chance to win a customized Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012 x

#TELLUSHK at your door. #Challenge

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Nature Discovery Park presents Kids and Family-friendly Workshops - Hong Kong

Nature Discovery Park

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Hong Kong schools remain closed until after Easter. Parents have been making huge efforts to ensure the learning progress as well as physical and mental wellbeing of their children will not be affected. Nature Discovery Park - Hong Kong’s first urban biodiversity museum and sustainability-themed education park - is offering a series of nature- and wellness-inspired kids and family-friendly workshops, nurturing the little one's imagination by taking them on an environmental journey while adults can find moments of mindfulness at the urban oasis.

Nature Discovery Park aims to drive action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by raising public awareness of Hong Kong’s ecological importance and cultural heritage and to inspire a sustainable lifestyle for all. With a series of interactive and educational workshop such as “Kids’ Nature Art Jam”, “Get in Touch with Jelly Fish”, “Nature Discovery Tour” and “Urban Agriculture with Coffee Ground Composting”, the Park provides a sustainable and fun platform for youngsters to get closer to various plants and marine species, enabling them to take inspiration from the surrounding greenery and bring out their creative potential.

 To incubate next-gen changemakers, Nature Discovery Park is collaborating with 10-year-old eco-warrior, Lance Lau, on making earth-loving natural cleaners. Through “Homemade Eco-Enzyme Workshop” and “DIY Soap Base Making Workshop”, Lance will set the perfect example for families on adopting eco-friendly everyday habits by sharing his unerring commitment and determination to climate activism. Workshop proceeds, after deducting costs, will be donated to The Jane Goodall Institute (Hong Kong) to support environmental education and conservation efforts.

Later this year, Nature Discovery Park will be launching the “Little Nature Ambassador” Green Certificate programme in partnership with The Jane Goodall Institute (Hong Kong) – founded by United Nations Peace Ambassador, Dr. Jane Goodall – to deepen children’s understanding on the importance of local ecological and cultural heritage and to nurture a new generation of sustainability changemakers.

The coronavirus has been top of every parent’s mind and Nature Discovery Park is taking extra measures to ensure the health and safety of the community, staff and visitors. Each activity will be run in small group of 10 children per session (20 persons per session inclusive of parents). Visitors will be required to take a temperature check and sanitise their hands before admission and all guests must wear masks. Children will be given a hygiene session to learn the proper way to wash their hands during the workshop.

 Besides, K11 MUSEA maintains indoor air quality at standards comparable to hospitals' through MERV 14 filters whilst their outdoor air ventilation system exceeds ASHRAE international standards by 30% to effectively reduce indoor pollutants with its UV-LED. Each activity and workshop is available for registration on K11 MUSEA’s official website (https://www.k11musea.com/happenings).

For further information, please inquire at 6398-9372 or email to naturediscoverypark@k11.com. Nature Discovery Park: Address: 8/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11:00am to 6pm Entrance Fee: HK$60 per person; Free of charge for age 2 or below

 Nature Discovery Park Kids & Family Activities: “Nature Discovery Tour” Date: Monday to Sunday Time: 11:00am to 12:30pm; 2:30pm to 4:00pm; 4:30pm to 6:00pm Fee: Adult - HK$200 each; Children & student - HK$100 each (*Includes the entrance fee for Nature Discovery Park) Details: Adult: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/nature-discovery-tour-adult-1/ Children & student: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/nature-discovery-tour-child-student-1/

 “Kids’ Nature Art Jam” Date: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Time: Tuesday and Thursday: 3:00pm to 4:30pm Saturday and Sunday: 11:00am to 12:30pm; 2:30pm to 4:00pm; 4:30pm to 6:00pm Fee: HK$150 for one child and one guardian, art supplies included Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/kids-nature-art-jam/

*Private sessions available for group of 6 guests (adults and children included), HK$750 per group. Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/kids-nature-art-jam-private-tour/

 “Homemade Eco-enzyme Workshop” Date: 15 & 25 March and 1 April, 2020 Time: 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Fee: HK$200 (for one child and one guardian) Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/homemade-eco-enzyme-workshop/ “Green Parenting - DIY Soap Base Making Workshop” Date: 16, 23 and 30 March, 2020 Time: 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Fee: HK$200 (for one child and one guardian) Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/green-parenting-diy-soap-base-making-workshop/

*Participants can choose to bring their toy and insert into their own handmade soap (1 or 2 toys with the size less than 2.5cm); Participants need to bring their own containers to take away their own handmade soap

 “Get in Touch with Jelly Fish” Experience Date: 21 March, 2020 (Saturday) Time: 2:30pm to 5:00pm Fee: HK$450 per person, all learning materials included Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/get-in-touch-with-jelly-fish/

 “Urban Agriculture with Coffee Ground Composting” Date: 11 April, 2020 (Saturday) Time: 2:30pm to 5:00pm Fee: HK$460 per person, tools & equipment included Details: https://www.k11musea.com/happenings/urban-agriculture-with-coffee-ground-composting/

© Beijing-Visitor.com

新聞稿:港威酒店 Three on Canton呈獻 滋補養顏盛「燕」自助晚餐

Three on Canton

中國香港特別行政區，2020年3月5日 —  由即日起至4月30日，Three on Canton 於自助晚餐時段推出一系列以燕窩、花膠及桃膠炮製的前菜、熱湯、主菜及甜品，讓賓客品嚐一頓豐富的滋補養顏盛宴。

矜貴美食之旅由各式主題前菜開始，包括桃膠中東米沙律、四川麻辣花膠青瓜沙律、燕窩啫喱糖及燕窩鵪鶉蛋蛋撻等，叫人垂涎欲滴。另有數款滋補湯水，如清燉花膠湯、燕窩海鮮羹及粟米魚肚羹等，讓賓客暖胃保健。不可錯過大廚創意之作 — 燕窩鵪鶉蛋蛋撻，大廚先將鵪鶉蛋以溫泉蛋的方法烹調，並將西班牙辣肉腸於撻皮內。鹹香四溢的辣肉腸配軟潤的流心鵪鶉蛋，味道匹配，再品嚐淡香的燕窩，矜貴美味。

大廚嚴選優質的燕窩、花膠和桃膠，精心炮製多款矜貴的熱葷，包括燕窩焗雜菜雀巢、黃金脆炸花膠、慢煮豬腩配桃膠及紅酒燴牛肋骨配桃膠等。特別推介慢煮豬腩配桃膠，大廚以秘製醬汁醃製豬腩，材料包括麵豉、糖、薑、辣椒、青蔥及芫茜；再將豬腩肉慢煮8小時至肉質軟腍，及後將之煎香至金黃脆皮即可食用。花膠是營養價值高的食物，具豐富的蛋白質及骨膠原，有助減慢皮膚老化。酒店中菜廚師先將花膠浸泡並用上湯、金華火腿、薑、蔥將之燴至軟身，再以蛋黃漿將其炸至金黃香脆，這道黃金脆炸花膠滋味可口，絕對令人回味無窮。

   

   

除了以上的主打菜色外，Three on Canton更提供各式自助餐必吃之選，包括即開生蠔、冷盤海鮮、松露芝士噴泉、香煎鵝肝多士、日式刺身壽司及冷麵、正宗印度咖哩、中式美饌包括招牌菜 — 即切片皮鴨及即煮粉麵等。千萬別錯過餅廚巧手炮製的一系列精緻的主題甜品，包括桃膠芒果奶凍、北海道3.6牛乳燕窩布甸 及桃膠麵包布甸配雲呢拿醬等，讓嗜甜的賓客可大快朵頤。

Three on Canton / Be on Canton

地址 : 中國香港特別行政區九龍尖沙咀廣東道13號海港城港威酒店 3 樓

訂座電話 : +852 2113 7828

WhatsApp 即時訂座: +852 5217 6428

自助餐價目* (每位港幣)	成人	小童
自助晚餐 晚上6:30 – 10:00 星期一至四 星期五至日、公眾假期及前夕	$658 $688	$398 $428

* 以上價目須另收加一服務費

* 自助餐美食將輪流供應

關於港威酒店

EXPLORE DISCOVER EXPERIENCE (用心探索 無限發現 非凡體驗)

散發著型格藝術氣息的港威酒店地理位置優越，位於名店林立的廣東道及海防道交界，除了連接全港最大規模的購物及商業中心－海港城，提供令人難忘的購物體驗。距離主要交通樞紐包括巴士總站、天星碼頭及港鐵站(尖沙咀站A出口)亦只是數步之遙，締造舒適又別緻的住宿享受。

於2012年12月完成所有裝修工程的港威酒店，蛻變成為一間俱備生活品味及型格的商務酒店，400間客房均揉合著雅緻和時尚於一身，為賓客提供舒適悠閒的住宿體驗及貼心的設備，每間客房均配備免費Wi-Fi無線上網服務及Nespresso 咖啡機。賓客可免費享用房間內的迷你酒吧服務，酒店會每天補充一次，為賓客省卻張羅繁瑣的時間，更能享受生活。貴賓樓層的賓客更可享受各式尊貴服務，包括每天免費供應的早餐、午後小吃和黃昏雞尾酒及管家服務。

位於港威酒店3樓全層的 Three on Canton 是一家集高級時尚餐廳、型格酒吧及酒廊、私人宴會廳於一身的概念餐廳，是美酒佳餚融會時尚生活的多元結晶。賓客更可置身於充滿時代感及寧靜的露天雅座－Be on Canton，享受彷如渡假般的寫意時光，漫味繁華都市的悠閒一面。

港威酒店乃九龍倉酒店旗下酒店，為九龍倉集團有限公司的全資附屬機構。九龍倉集團紮根香港，是一間顯赫的香港上巿公司，核心投資項目包括地產投資、通訊及貨櫃碼頭運作。九龍倉酒店於香港另設馬哥孛羅香港酒店及太子酒店，集團同時於中國、菲律賓發展及管理酒店業務。

關於「全球酒店聯盟」

全球酒店聯盟（GHA）是現今全球規模最大的獨立酒店品牌聯盟組織，旗下品牌逾30個，覆蓋位處 78 個國家的550多家高檔豪華酒店。通過共用的技術平台，GHA 為旗下酒店提高收益，節省成本。GHA屢獲殊榮的「探索之旅」忠誠計劃（DISCOVERY），為1 千 5 百萬會員提供多家品牌酒店的優惠計劃，讓他們無論身在何處都可以融入當地文化。詳情請見globalhotelalliance.com。

© Beijing-Visitor.com

Award-winning YUÈ Presents 50% Off Dim Sums 25% Off a la Carte Menus and Strengthened Precautionary Measures

Award-winning YUÈ Presents 50% Off Dim Sums

As most offices have re-opened, many are trying to re-establish some normalcy to their daily routine including dining while out for work. For great value choices, Michelin-recommended Chinese restaurant YUÈ at City Garden Hotel introduces a first time half price on all dim sums, attractive discounts on business lunch and classic dinner sets, as well as 25% off a la carte and beverage items between now and 30 April. With extra caution on top of mind recently, the hotel and restaurant have also escalated hygiene standards and practices to ensure guests a pleasant and safe dining experience. Lunch Promotions Diners can now enjoy 50% discount on a bountiful selection of dim sum and snacks during lunch period from now to April 30 (Appendix 1) at YUÈ. Traditional dim sums handcrafted by award-winning Executive Chinese Chef Lai Ching Shing are available from HK$27 only.

Individually served platters with an assortment of dim sums, Chinese barbecues and snacks are also available from the attractive price of HK$58 per person. For those who are back into business entertainment or simply craving for a decadent lunch, Chef Lai has curated a six-course business lunch menu (Appendix 2) featuring barbecued meat platter, premium double-boiled sea whelk soup with Chinese herbs and silky fowl, steamed giant garoupa fillet with egg white and Hua Diao wine, sizzling pan-fried chicken with cognac in clay pot, fried rice with conpoy and egg white and Cantonese dessert at a special price of HK$268 only per person.

The menu is available from March 9 with each plate served individually with no minimum order, serving even single diners. A comforting dim sum set lunch menu (Appendix 3) is another delicious option at YUÈ now at the favourable price of HK$188 per person. The menu has even been elevated from a 4-course to 6-course experience with an extra nourishing soup and noodles in addition to the time honoured dim sum platter, signature main dish and dessert. For further surprise, the main course is upgraded to premium seafood on rotation such as baked prawn with premium soy sauce.

Dinner Promotions The elaborate selection of award winning and famous dishes on the a la carte menu and beverages are now available at 25% discount daily at lunch and dinner to satisfy every occasion and preference. During dinner, guests can also choose the upgraded version of the Classic Dinner Set (Appendix 4) at 20% discount (HK$308 per person, original price at HK$388 per person) as a tasting menu of distinct Cantonese flavours.

Precautionary Measures to Ensure the Wellbeing of Guests To provide guests a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience, the following stringent measures have been implemented at the hotel on top of its regular sanitising practices:

- To ensure food hygiene, all dishes and set menu portions will be plated and served individually
- To maintain a spacious dining environment, tables are arranged at further distances and bigger table tops will be installed
- For guests who wish to dine in a private space, VIP rooms will be arranged on a first book first served basis without minimum charge
- Alcohol based disinfectant wipes will be provided to all guests
- All tableware and cutleries are cleaned and sanitised before service, and will only be placed when guests are seated
- Increased number of servers to present dishes individually to avoid contact with sharing chopsticks
- All lunch sets are available without minimum patron requirement for those who wish to avoid meal gatherings. For necessary social and business meals, all portions will be served individually l There will only be one seating per dining period. All dining tables, chairs, tableware, cutleries, menus and carpets will be fully sanitised before serving the next round of guests.

© Beijing-Visitor.com