MAGAZINE OF THE MARCO POLO CLUB Spin ... - Cathay Pacific

MAGAZINE OF THE MARCO POLO CLUB 

Spin doctors: the custom-bike-makers + Treasure hunt 

in London + 24 hours in Beijing + Antique-map experts 

show the way + Cathay Pacific’s new environment team 

QUARTER ONE 2009

04 MESSAGE FROM THE CLUB 

DEPARTMENTS 

06 EXPLORE HONG KONG 

Mozart, Mo Moza zart rt, mo movi movies vies es and aand 

nd mmem 

mementos emen ento tos 

2 THE CLUB 

contents 

22 

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 

Grace Poon Mun Wong Ella Young 

10 EXPLORE THE WORLD 

Perfumes, performances 

and pampered pets 

12 WHAT’S ON 

Rugby Sevens, fi lm festival 

and botanical art 

14 CHOICE 

Natural beauties: brown-chip 

design classics 

FEATURES 

16 EXPERT ADVICE 

Find your way around the world 

of antique maps 

22 BESPOKE 

A properly fi tted customised 

bike will take you a long way 

28 24 HOURS 

From hutongs to hip hang-outs, 

the once-forbidden city has it all 

The Club is published by Cathay Pacifi c Loyalty Programmes Ltd. (CPLP) Cathay Pacifi c – The Marco Polo Club, 

PO Box 1024, Tsuen Wan Post Offi ce, Hong Kong. Tel +852 2747 5500 Fax +852 2537 9900. No part of 

this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of CPLP Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Copyright 2009 by CPLP Ltd. Opinions in The Club are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by 

CPLP Ltd. Manuscripts, photographs, drawings and other materials will not be returned unless they 

are accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and appropriate international postal coupons. The Club 

cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. 

36 

36 TRAVEL 

London treasure hunt: unt: 

Follow the money in n the 

capital of capital 

ON THE WING 

44 INSIDE CX 

eStatements: the 

greener, cleaner 

way to go 

46 CLUB EVENTS 

The Marco Polo Club ub 

Golf Classic and 

Christmas drinks 

with the Chairman 

49 CX NEWS 

Mobile check-in, new w 

amenity kits, Asia Miles iles award 

ASIAN IN-FLIGHT MEDIA LIMITED 

Managing Director Peter Jeff ery +852 2850 4013 peterjeff ery@asianmedia.com 

Hong Kong, Advertisement Director (Cathay Pacifi c) Teresa Ngai +852 3106 8133 teresa@asianmedia.com 

ACP MAGAZINES ASIA LIMITED 

Unit 604-5, 6/F, 625 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong 

Tel +852 3921 7000 Fax +852 3921 7099 Email cathay@acpmagazines.com.hk 

Editor in Chief William Fraser • Chief Sub Editor Andy Gilbert • Sub Editors Ellen Wong, Gloria Chow, Kathy Wang, Yam Yim Lan, 

Kylie Wong, John Cramer • Designers Shaun Horrocks, Karen Chan, Gigi Lee • Photo Editor Elisa Fu • Production Manager Jimmy Tse 

• Assistant Production Manager Chris Wong • Chief Executive Offi cer Julie Sherborn • Publishing Manager Alky Cheung 

Printer: Paramount Printing Company Limited 

16 

28 

Photos. Crown: Tim Graham – Getty Getty Images; Images; Map: 

Courtesy of Altfi eld; Sculpture: : Michael Michael Reynolds Reynolds

MESSAGE FROM THE CLUB 


“e” is for enhancements 

Katie Rowen, Manager The Marco Polo Club 

In my previous “Message from the Club” I 

mentioned that we continue to be committed 

to improving our products and 

services at every opportunity. A journey 

of a thousand miles begins with a single step 

– or so the saying goes. In these high-tech times 

it is quite likely that first step will be online. I 

would like to share with you some recent 

enhancements that we have made to our online 

services so that your journey can get off to the 

best start possible. 

From 1 January we made “Priority Awards” 

available for instant online flights redemption. 

Redeemable for Economy Class seats on 

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair flights, the miles 

required to redeem a “Priority Award” are 

greater than for a normal Economy Class ticket, 

but then so is the priority of your confirmation. 

By redeeming a round-trip Priority Award or 

combining a one-way Priority Award with a 

Standard Award, you can enjoy added flexibility 

when arranging your next redemption flight 

– especially useful in peak travel periods. 

Once your journey is booked, check-in is the 

next step. Online check-in continues to increase 

in popularity but now, when you travel with us, 

you no longer need to print out your check-in 

confirmation – you can merely download it or 

email it to your mobile phone or PDA. 

At airports equipped with Self Check-In 

Kiosks, simply scan your barcode to retrieve 

your boarding pass or, alternatively, show your 

confirmation to our check-in staff to be issued 

with your boarding pass. 

We thought it would be even more convenient 

if you could print your own boarding pass 

before you come to the airport. Now you can. If 

you’re flying from Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, 

Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, San Francisco, Vancouver, 

Toronto, New York, Bahrain or Kuala 

Lumpur airports you can check-in online, choose 

your seat then print your boarding pass from any 

computer with a printer. If you don’t have checkin 

luggage you can go directly to your gate. If you 

do, just bring your bags to our Self Check-In Bag 

Drop Counter. I hope this helps to save you valuable 

time when travelling with us. 

We have also realised that it can sometimes 

be difficult to enjoy our online services when 

on the go – so we have just introduced a new 

mobile site for Dragonair and enhanced the 

Cathay Pacific one. 

Simply log on to m.dragonair.com or 

m.cathaypacific.com to check-in, check your 

mileage balance, access travel information, 

schedules, flight status and view important 

updates and special offers from your mobile 

phone or PDA. I hope these developments will 

enhance your journey with us. 

May I take this opportunity to wish you a 

happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Ox. 

Happy Chinese New Year. 

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

EXPLORE HONG KONG 

Mozart, movies and mementos 

TON UP FOR HONG KONG FILM 

Hong Kong cinema celebrates its 100th anniversary 

this year. The fi rst local movie was made in 

1909, a comic short Stealing a Roast Duck. In the 

post-war years, Mandarin-speaking fi lms thrived 

in Hong Kong before Cantonese-language cinema 

came to the fore in the 1970s and Hong Kong cinema 

Ticket to the Tai 

achieved international attention in the 1980s. Check out 

Ping Theatre 

the Hong Kong Film Archive to see some of city’s cinematic treasures. 

Hong Kong Film Archive, 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, +852 2739 2139 

www.fi lmarchive.gov.hk 

Bruce Lee takes on 

Chuck Norris in 

Way of the Dragon 

Michelia alba 


FRAGRANCE OF THE REGION 

The fragrant fl owers of Michelia alba, which belongs to the magnolia 

family and is also known as white orchid tree, are blooming now. 

Originally from Southeast Asia, this evergreen tree has thrived in Hong 

Kong and can reach up to nine metres tall. In the past, women decorated 

their hair with the fl owers and pinned them on their clothes and 

taxi drivers sometimes still use them to scent their cars. The fl owers 

are also used as essential oils for the cosmetics industry. You can pick 

up some from street peddlers who often sell them in small packets. 

Flamingo at 

Kadoorie Farm 

CONSERVATION THE KEY 

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic 

Garden played an important 

role in educating local farmers 

about diversity and improving 

their livelihood. The farm has 

shifted its focus to educate the 

public about environmental 

issues. Its programmes include 

nature appreciation, gardening 

and planting workshops and an 

organic farmers’ market. The 

fl ora and fauna conservation 

activities include protecting 

native orchids and rehabilitating 

birds of prey. 

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic 

Garden, Lam Kam Road, 

Tai Po, New Territories 

+852 2483 7200 

www.kfbg.org 

Photos. This page. Ticket: EyePress News/EyePress. Bruce Lee: AFP/Getty Images. Flamingo: Danny Tong. 

Opposite page: Orchestra: Courtesy of HKPO. Old HK: Popperfoto/Getty Images

String theory: Hong Kong 

Philharmonic Orchestra 

MOZART IN OUR CITY 

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra continues its hugely popular Mozart in the City series 

with a concert sponsored by Cathay Pacifi c Airways. The programme centrepiece is Sinfonia 

Concertante K.364, Mozart’s concerto for violin and viola. The performance, directed by 

concertmaster John Harding, also features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Bartók’s 

Divertimento and the Cantilena pacifi ca by contemporary Australian composer Richard Meale. 

Sinfonia Concertante, 10 and 11 April, Hong Kong City Hall, Central 

www.hkpo.com 

FACETS OF LOVE 

Jewellery has always been an expression of love and the 

dazzling exhibition Le Grand Frisson, mounted by renowned 

Parisian jeweller Chaumet, includes national treasures, given 

as a declarations of love between royals, as well as sentimental 

items ite 

from private collections. Many pieces incorporate coded 

messages. Le Grand Frisson, 31 March-30 April, 

Chaumet Boutique, St George’s Building, 

2 Ice House Street, Central 

www.chaumet.com 

Pendant given by Elizabeth I to her cousin 

Lord Hunsdon – cannon guard cupid (top) 

Diamond myrtle leaves, symbol of grace, 

love and virginity (far left) 

Ruby pendant created in the 1850s for 

Empress Eugènie (left) 

FABRIK OF SOCIETY 

Established by three private collectors in 2007, Fabrik Contemporary 

Art has brought the artworks of internationally known artists from 

around the world. It began with “guerilla exhibitions”, shows in temporary 

locations such as other private galleries and hotels, but it has 

now acquired its own gallery space. 

Made in Japan, 4-15 March: Neo-pop Japanese artists Takashi 

Murakami, Chiho Aoshima, Aya Takano and Araki Tamana. 

The Great British Show, 6-17 May: Damien Hirst, Chapman Brothers, 

Sam Taylor-Wood and 

Francis Bacon. 

Art work by Damien Hirst 

Hong Kong 

old transport 

Stanley 

Kwan’s The 

Dragon and 

the Crown 

Room 412, 4/F Yip Fung 

Building, 2-18 D’Aguilar 

Street, Central 

+852 2525 4911 

www.fabrik-gallery.com 

LOCAL COLOUR 

The Hong Kong branch of the Royal Asiatic 

Society regularly organises visits and 

lectures on cultural and historical topics. 

A lecture by Stanley Kwan on his recent 

book, The Dragon and the Crown: Hong 

Kong Memoirs, will be held on 6 March. 

Please visit the website for more events. 

www.royalasiaticsociety.org.hk 

THE CLUB 7

EXPLORE HONG KONG 

FESTIVAL OF ART 

Music, dance, theatre, opera. Contemporary and traditional. 

Western and Eastern. The Hong Kong Arts Festival 

returns in February with a wide array of programmes, 

featuring 37 performing groups – 29 from overseas and 

eight from Hong Kong. This is a rare chance for 

classical music- lovers 

classical music- lovers by Austro-Germa 

Latvian 

National 

Opera’s 

Alcina 


to enjoy performances by some of the world’s leading 

orchestras: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 

Britain’s Northern Sinfonia (considered Europe’s 

best chamber orchestra), the Amsterdam Baroque 

Orchestra and the acclaimed Deutsches Symphonie- 

Orchester Berlin, performing large-symphonic works 

by Austro-German masters. 

A startling line- line-up of jazz and world music is also on 

offer: Chick Corea and John McLaughlin share the stage 

again four decades decade after playing in Miles Davis’s band. 

An outstanding 

array of contemporary dance is in store 

as as well. Award-win Award-winning French actress Juliette Binoche 

and British star dan dancer-choreographer Akram Khan 

co-create, perform 

and direct In-I, exploring the universal 

topic topic of love and lo loving. Hong Kong Ballet’s All Bach is 

four numbers of si sizzling modern ballet based on the 

music of Johann Sebastian S Bach. 

The Latvian Nat National Opera stages two performances: 

Alcina, a baroque opera o to commemorate its composer 

Handel’s 250th anniversary, an and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, 

a 20th-century Russian Rus masterpiece by Shostakovich. 

London’s Lyric Hammersmith H 

and Iceland’s Vesturport 

Theatre bring their thei eerie production of Kafka’s 

Metamorphosis, which wh has enjoyed rave sold-out 

performances in Britain, B Iceland and South Korea. 

There are are also 

choices for the family. The English 

National Ballet Balle re-enacts Lewis Carroll’s classical 

surreal wo world with Alice in Wonderland. 

And th the four-man group Karbido makes 

music sshowing 

that a table is not only a piece 

of furniture furni but also can be an amazing 

woode wooden instrument that can produce a 

symph symphony of sounds drawing from African 

rhythm rhythms, Mongolian song and, yes, even 

Jimi HHendrix. 

Hong Hon Kong Arts Festival 

6 Fe February-8 March 

www.hk.artsfestival.org 

ww 

Karbido plays The Table 

English National Ballet’s 

Alice in Wonderland 

The Amsterdam 

Baroque Orchestra 

Photos. Ballet: Bill Cooper. The Table: L. Gawronski. Orchestra: Marco Borggreve

EXPLORE EXPLO EXPLORE R E THE WORLD 

Perfumes, performances & pets 

Old spice: Antique 

perfume flacon 

from Grasse 

museum 


PERFECT SCENTS 

Grasse is the centre of perfume-making 

in France, where the fi nest jasmines and 

roses are grown, and home to a museum 

dedicated to perfume. Following four 

years of renovation, the International 

Museum of Perfumery (Musée International 

de la Parfumerie) has re-opened 

in this picturesque Provence town. The 

display area has doubled and it has a beautiful 

new glass gallery and terrace gardens 

of botanicals used in fragrances. One 

centrepiece of the museum’s 50,000-piece 

collection is Marie-Antoinette’s 80-kilogram 

travel vanity case equipped with the many 

items necessary for the young queen’s 

elaborate beauty regime. 

www.museesdegrasse.com 

Lap dog 

of luxury 

CAPITAL IDEAS 

Previously the site of the American embassy 

to the Qing Dynasty in the early 20th century, 

the 15,000-square-metre Legation Quarter 

in Beijing has been refurbished and redeveloped 

into a top dining, shopping and art 

venue. This is also where Michelin two-star 

chef Daniel Boulud opened his fi rst restaurant 

in Asia. The menu of Maison Boulud 

Beijing refl ects the chef’s French roots, with 

meats imported from suppliers worldwide 

but seasonal vegetables, herbs and mushrooms 

sourced locally. 

www.legationquarter.com 

www.danielnyc.com 

NEW LEASH OF LIFE 

Since 1892, French luggage-maker Goyard has fashioned harnesses, 

kennels and booties for “dogs, cats and monkeys” and has recently 

reconnected with its past. Just opposite the fl agship store, Goyard’s 

new Parisian boutique is devoted to “pets and picnics”. Shoppers can 

fi nd a 24-piece picnic trunk alongside a diamanté dog collar called 

Diane (named after one of the Goyard family’s hounds), a pet-carrying 

bag and travelling water or food bowls in a hard case. 

www.goyard.fr 

The Bar at Maison 

Boulud Beijing

Barrier reef photo: Michael Coyne – Axiom RM/Getty Images 

ASLEEP ON THE REEF 

The magic of the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t stop when 

the sun goes down. Yet, due to its World Heritage 

listing, there is little opportunity for anyone to spend a 

night on the world’s greatest coral reef. Luckily, there is 

Reefsleep, part of Reefworld, a purpose-built pontoon 

moored at Hardy Reef. By day, it’s a launch pad for 

BENCHMARK FOR A HOT SEAT 

Brahms sat on it to play his piano and Lenin perched on it writing his 

political manifestos. Millions of us are likely to spend hours on it drinking 

and chatting in cafés. Thonet No. 14 – named after its inventor, 

German-born cabinetmaker Michael Thonet – is believed to be the 

fi rst mass-produced chair and some 50 million had been sold by 1930. 

The bentwood chair was a favourite of Le Courbusier and remains a 

chair of choice for architects and interior designers. 

Celebrating the chair’s 150th anniversary this 

year, Thonet GmbH in Germany is collaborating 

with Japanese retailer Muji and 

contemporary designers to develop new 

interpretations of the classical model. The 

new collection will debut this spring. 

www.thonet.de 

guided reef expeditions. But by night, it becomes a 

unique accommodation for six guests: a room for two 

with king-sized bed and a shared room with two sets 

of bunk beds. 

www.fantasea.com.au/Reefworld/ReefSleep. 

aspx 

Thonet No. 14 

(unassembled, 

below left) 

reserves a 

seat in history 

Sleep on the reef 

Nice and easy: 

Michael Feinstein 

Caption 

caption 

caption 

caption 

BEST SHOWS IN TOWN 

Nothing is more quintessentially New York 

than watching a top-notch performer in an 

intimate setting in a famous cabaret room. 

Here are three legendary Manhattan rooms 

where you can get close to cool: 

Located on the ground fl oor of the Carlyle 

Hotel, Café Carlyle regularly stages jazz 

vocalist Steve Tyrell and German chanteuse 

Ute Lemper. On Mondays, fi lm-maker 

Woody Allen plays the clarinet with the 

Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band. 

www.thecarlyle.com/entertainment.cfm 

Feinstein’s on Park Avenue is a sophisticated 

cabaret club that mixes old-school 

cool and hipster appeal. The star is the great 

interpreter of the American song, Grammy 

nominee Michael Feinstein. 

www.feinsteinsattheregency.com 

The Oak Room Supper Club, opened in 

1939, has been a launching pad for many 

stars, including Harry Connick Jr, Diana Krall 

and others. It is now home to entertainers 

such as jazz vocalist Paula West and cabaret 

performer Andrea Marcovicci. 

www.algonquinhotel.com 


WHAT’S ON 

Rugby Sevens, fi lm festival and botanical art 

Japanese 

plum 

FEBRUARY/MARCH – JAPAN 

UME MATSURI (PLUM BLOSSOM 

FESTIVALS) 

Plum blossoms are among the first flowers 

to bloom in Japan and herald the start of 

spring. In February and March plum blossom 

(ume) festivals are held in parks, shrines and 

temples. The festival in Kairaku-en Garden in 

the town of Mito, an hour from Tokyo, is held 

between 20 February and 31 March. 

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/ 

japanesefestivals/a/umematsuri.htm 

Once Upon A 

Time in China, The 

Magic Flute and 

Moomins 

UNTIL 13 APRIL – LONDON 

ANDREA PALLADIO: HIS LIFE AND LEGACY 

The Royal Academy of Arts in London celebrates the 

quincentenary of Italian architect Andrea Palladio with an 

exhibition of his original drawings, paintings and 

models. Hugely influential in Western architecture, 

Palladio (1508-1580) crafted a 

new architectural design derived 

from classical sources yet moulded 

it to meet the needs and aesthetics 

of his age. His designs of 

town palaces and country villas 

influenced generations of European 

and American architects. 

www.royalacademy.org.uk 

Model of Villa Capra, 

known as Villa Rotunda 

22 MARCH-13 APRIL – HONG KONG 

THE 33RD HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 

The Hong Kong International Film Festival not only screens exciting 

new films, but hosts special focus programmes. This year the focus 

is on Italian and Finnish cinema and the final part of the Ingmar 

Bergman retrospective which began last year. The festival also pays 

tribute to Film Workshop, a movie company founded by director 

Tsui Hark and producer Nansun Shi that has produced classics 

such as A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story and 

Once Upon a Time in China. 

www.hkiff .org.hk 

23-27 MARCH – CALIFORNIA 

GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE 

From its beginning as a meeting of 27 game designers in a 

Californian living room, the Game Developers Conference 

in San Francisco has become the world’s biggest event for 

game industry professionals and insiders. More than 

18,000 participants exchange 

ideas and network. 

www.gdconf.com 

Bestseller World of Warcraft 

Photos. Plum : Getty Images. Palladio: Alberto Carolo. Warcraft: Vaughn Youtz-ZUMA/Corbis. Tiger Woods: Timothy A Clary/AFP-Getty Images. Rugby Gallo Images/Getty Images. 

Botanica: Courtesy of Friends of the Botanic Gardens.

27-29 MARCH 

HONG KONG 

CATHAY PACIFIC/CREDIT SUISSE 

HONG KONG SEVENS 

The Hong Kong Sevens means party time. For three days, 

spectators from all corners of the globe will pack the 40,000seat 

Hong Kong Stadium. Outrageous costumes, make-up in 

national colours and a determination to party hard during 

and after the games, are hallmarks of the Sevens. A total of 

24 rugby teams, including 

defending champions New 

Zealand, will compete for 

the title. 

www.hksevens.com 

APRIL – UNITED STATES & CHINA 

THE US MASTERS/VOLVO CHINA OPEN 

Many golf enthusiasts will argue that Georgia, USA, is the centre of their 

world. The Masters, held annually in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the four 

major championships. This year’s tournament, held from 9-12 April, will 

parade big stars such as Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Greg Norman. A 

few f days later, 16-19 April, Beijing will host the Volvo China Open, a men’s 

golf g tournament co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour. 

Asian and European players will compete for USD2.2 million in 

prize money, one of the biggest prize pools in Asia. 

Tiger Woods lines up 

at the US Masters 

2008 champions 

New Zealand 

tackled by Wales 

www.masters.com 

www.volvochinaopen.com 

17-26 APRIL – SYDNEY 

21 APRIL-15 JUNE 

HONG KONG 

LE FRENCH MAY 

Every year, Le French May brings 

French films, operas, music, dance 

and culture to Hong Kong. Organised 

by the Consulate General of 

France and the Alliance Française, it 

has grown to be the largest French 

arts festival in the Asia-Pacific 

region. Since its inception in 1993, 

Le French May has presented more 

than 350 events. 

www.frenchmay.com 

BOTANICA 2009: FROM THE DESERT TO THE SEA 

Sydney’s lush l Royal Botanic Gardens is the perfect p 

venue to showcase Botanica, otanica, an annual exhibi- 

tion dedicated dedic to artworks works of plants by Australia’s 

leading leading botanical b artists. sts. This 

year’s the theme, From the e Desert to 

the Sea, ce celebrates the e diversity 

of plant life lif and habi- 

tats in Aus Australia while 

focusing on o the pressing ing 

issues of drought, d water ter 

conservation conservat and climate mate 

change. EEntry 

is free and nd 

proceeds from the artrt- work sa sales support the 

Botanic Botani Gardens Trust. rust. 

www.rbgsyd.nsw. 

www 

w. 

gov.au 

Protea sp dried seedhead 

by Elaine Musgrave 


CHOICE CH O I CE 

NATURAL 

BEAUTIES 

Designers are using wood 

in innovative ways to create 

everything from lighting 

to tableware. 


HANG THE EXPENSE 

Inject a dose of dynamism to your dining room with Luzifer’s 

new Onion lamp, an organically-inspired sculptural suspension 

bulb made out of layers of oak veneer strips. 

www.lzf-lamps.com 

CAPITAL IDEA 

Muji’s London-in-a-bag includes a wooden 

London Eye, Big Ben, BT Tower, a couple of 

skyscrapers and several cute-looking vehicles. 

Irresistible to adults and children. 

www.muji.com 

MEMORY GRAIN 

Add an idiosyncratic touch to 

your laptop with this memory 

stick handmade from pieces 

of wood selected for their 

natural beauty. 

www.oooms.nl

ONE FOR 

THE DOGS 

THE X FACTOR 

Designed in 1958 using clean geometric 

lines, the X-frame table is a fi ne example of 

the work of Artek, the Finnish brand 

renowned for its durability and strong 

design. Choose from solid elm or oak or 

laminated birch and cherry woods. 

www.artek.fi 

This stylish dog bowl combines a 

square wooden frame with a 

stainless-steel, dishwasher-safe 

bowl inside. 

www.mungoandmaud.com 

CLASSIC CHARM 

Designed in 1946 and a classic in chair design, 

Eames’ moulded plywood lounge and dining 

chairs use thin sheets of lightweight veneer 

expertly sculpted to fi t the human body. 

www.hermanmiller.com 

HEAR THE WORLD 

With built-in connection to the world wide web, 

Tivoli Audio’s Networks radio lets you tune in to 

any station in the world, near or far, mainstream 

or niche, in any language and in real time. It also 

comes in a choice of beautiful hardwood cabinets 

including cherry and walnut. 

www.tivoliaudio.com 

THE TH THE CL CLUB CL CLUB UB 15

EXPERT ADVICE 

16 THE CLUB

Jonathan Wattis 

provides direction 

for map collectors 

Photos: Alan Hindle 

Chart 

toppers 

Hong Kong’s unique geographical 

position and colourful history make 

it a rich source for antique maps 

KAREN PITTAR AND TARA JENKINS 

The four walls of Philip Dove’s office, high above Hong 

Kong’s Victoria Harbour, offer an intriguing insight into the 

story of his life. You can explore his university town of 

Exeter in Britain, track his gap year travels through Africa 

and follow his international career stints in the United 

States, Europe and Asia. But there isn’t a photo or souvenir in sight. 

Instead, the walls are lined with the most beautiful and detailed 

antique maps. Dove’s lasting passion for such items is one he’s 

quietly cultivated over the past two decades and was sparked by 

a chance graduation gift. 

“Since then, I’ve made a point of collecting maps from places 

that hold an emotional signifi cance for me,” Dove says. “My latest 

purchase has been a stunning map of Asia that dates from the 

mid 18th century. Of course, Hong Kong doesn’t feature.” 


EXPERT ADVICE 

Amanda Clark: plotting 

a course for collectors 

(above) 

Asia by Blaeu, circa 

1655 (middle) 

Chinae by Ortelius, 

circa 1612 edition (right) 


Dove didn’t have far to go to source his latest acquisition. He 

bought the detailed map from one of Hong Kong’s specialist 

antique map traders. Jonathan Wattis of Wattis Fine Art and 

Amanda Clark of Altfi eld, both based in the city’s Central district, 

are two of the city’s leading experts. They sell maps by some 

of the earliest and most accomplished cartographers to clients 

around the world. Some of their finest are by map-makers 

including Abraham Ortelius, who compiled the fi rst world atlas 

in 1570, Alexander Dalrymple and Sebastian Münster. 

According to Wattis, the antique-map market is growing all 

the time and Clark agrees there is a fi nite number of early maps 

that has survived the ravages of time and a growing number 

of people interested in them. “Antique maps are fabulous 

historical documents,” Clark says. “You can own a Dutch map of 

Asia that was made in the late 1500s that must have been used 

and looked at by a Dutch merchant gentleman in Amsterdam. 

They survived in portfolios and libraries of the well off , so that 

500 years later you have a beautiful, often very decorative and 

colourful work of art that started life as a practical tool.” 

When you’re dealing with a delicate and precious piece of 

history, it’s important to know what you are doing. So what do 

the experts recommend? Firstly, all agree it’s a good idea to read 

up on the subject and there are some excellent books on the 

market (see the box on page 20). 

Wattis says it’s also important to buy from collectors or at 

auction. “Go to an antique-map dealer who knows his subject 

and is prepared to share. If you fi nd a cheaper map on the Internet, 

there’s probably something wrong with it or it’s damaged. 

Photos: Amanda Clark: Alan Hindle. Asia and Chinae maps courtesy of Altfield. 

Right: Kingdom of China courtesy of Jonathan Wattis

You have to be very careful. With a dealer, if there’s something 

wrong, he’ll generally take it back.” 

Clark says it’s vital to properly assess the condition of the map. 

“Is the paper still strong, not brittle, and is the ink still fresh and 

clear, not faded? Also is it an early print so that the image is crisp 

and not blurred, as it may be from a late pressing when the 

copper plate was worn down. Some collectors only like the 

black-and-white ink prints, with no colour added. Some like 

them with original thick watercolour added at the time of 

ANTIQUE MAPS ARE 

FABULOUS HISTORICAL 

DOCUMENTS 

ANTIQUE MAPS OF HONG KONG AND ASIA 

Altfield’s A Amanda Clark says Hong Kong is a natural choice for an antique-map dealership 

because b of its history as a trading port at a time when maps and sea charts were working 

tools. t “In many ways the harbour and our history of shipping and trading is still at our 

heart,” h she says. “Our unique location as a gateway to China, positioning in Asia and 

colonial c past makes the history of the area particularly interesting.” 

She explains that the dawn of the Western age of exploration, with historic 

circumnavigations c 

by voyagers such as Magellan, Diaz and Drake, led to the first attempts 

at a mapping Asia. “This was a region hitherto known only through exotic tales of a few 

merchants m and seafarers, and information from Jesuit missionaries in India and China.” 

Wattis says German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1448-1552) is a good starting 

point p for collecting maps of Asia. Münster’s maps were published in a number of editions, 

Wattis W says, and from time to time single-page hand-printed ones become available. 

“There is a very rare China map by de Jode [below] printed circa 1590,” he adds. ”Only 

one o known edition was printed and only a couple of hundred maps printed so it 

commands c 

a very high price.” 

Wattis explains that in the second half of the 18th century better and more accurate 

maps m began to be produced, such as those by Alexander Dalrymple. Very few 

Dalrymple D originals have survived. “There is also a rare and important map of the 

Hong H Kong area (circa 1866) which I got a copy of last year, produced by a priest called 

Monsignor Volonteri. It shows Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, Lantau up to 

Guangzhou in both English and Chinese characters.” 

Clark says her favourite map of the region gion is Ortelius’ Chinae, Chinae, e 

the first map of China to appear in a Western tern Atlas 

(Theatrum Orbis Terrarum). “It is 

shown in an unusual orientation of 

east/west rather than north/south and 

was compiled using information from 

the Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Luiz 

Jorge de Barbuda. It is embellished with 

decorative details such as Chinese 

tented pavilions, ships, elephants and 

whales, and has elaborate cartouches as 

well. It’s simply wonderful.” 

The Kingdom of China by 

Cornelis de Jode, 1593 


EXPERT ADVICE 

A good magnifying 

glass is essential to 

see the fine detail 


printing; this can add a lot of glorious strong colour and really 

make the item wonderfully decorative. Many early maps were 

coloured later – in the 1800s or 1900s – in much paler watercolour 

paints that are less strident and certainly acceptable, but 

the earlier the painting the better.” Clark recommends that antique 

maps be kept out of destructive direct sunlight and humidity kept 

at at a low level, as damp is a natural enemy of paper. 

So now you know how and what to buy, but how much 

would you expect to pay for an antique map? Obviously this 

depends on the age, the cartographer, and the quality. quality “Ortelius “ 

is a good starting point,” says Wattis. “His maps m are more readily 

available, as his book went to 48 

editions. His fi rst atlas map of 

China in 1584 sells fo for around HKD56,000, assuming it is a strong 

impression impressio and in good condition.” 

Clark agrees, but says it’s also possible to buy a decorative 

map from French cartographer Nicolas Bellin (c1745) for about 

USD500-USD600 or a simple map of China dating from 1850 

might be as little as USD50-USD60. “Values do continue to go 

up but, as in many of the collectable-art categories, one should 

really buy because you are going to enjoy living with a wonderful 

piece of history, rather than as a pure investment.” 

WATTIS FINE ART 

2/F, 20 HHollywood 

Road, Central, Hong Kong 

+852 252 2524 5302 

www.wattis.com.hk 

www.wat 

ALTFIELD 

248-249 Princ Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, 

Hong Kong, + +852 2537 6370 

www.altfield.com.hk 

www.altfield.c 

BRIAN SEED FINE 

ART 

+852 2981 3777 

www.brianseed.com 

www.brianseed.co 

WHERE TO BUY 

THE HONG KONG UNIV UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE 

AND TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY LIB 

The library has an important imp collection of antique 

maps maps of China, +852 2358 23 6772 

http://library 

http://library.ust.hk/info/exhibit/maps-9706/ 

map map-gallery1.html 

FURTHER READING 

Sintra Tsang from the Hong Kong University of 

Science and Technology Library recommends 

the following: Collecting Antique Maps: An 

Introduction to the History of Cartography 

by Jonathan Potter; Mapping the World: An 

Illustrated History of Cartography by Ralph E 

Ehrenberg; and Mapping the World: Maps and 

their History by Nathaniel Harris. 

Map: Insulae Indiae Orientalis courtesy of Altfield

BESPOKE 


BY BRANDON KIRK 

Spin 

doctors 

One size doesn’t fi t all – welcome to the world of 

customised bicycles

Philip Sung building 

a fully custom Seven 

mountain bike 

Photo: Alan Hindle Store manager 

In the world of cycling, bike-makers have long favoured a onesize-fits-all 

approach. Like the Model T Ford that came in any 

colour as long as it was black, it is much cheaper to produce bikes 

in standardised sizes and finish. For most people, buying a bike 

off the shelf is just fine – a few adjustments to parts here and there, 

and a small, medium or large frame will fit just about everyone. But 

as with a piece of clothing there are some people who want, or 

perhaps need, a more tailored fit, whether for an uncommon body 

type or simply for the pleasure of having a bike that is perfectly suited 

to the rider. Welcome to the world of custom bicycles. 

Custom-bike buyers range from endurance riders and weekend 

mountain bikers to triathletes, and cycling enthusiasts have come 

to appreciate the enhanced fi t these bikes off er. Elissa Whittington, 

a Hong Kong myotherapist who used to work as a bike-fi t specialist 

in Australia, says getting the right fi t is the most important thing 

when buying a bike as it improves safety, prevents injury and 

enhances comfort. “If you’re able to keep control of the bike, you’re 

safer,” she says. 

A custom bicycle is not just an original mix of stock components 

but one based on a frame that is built to the exact specifi cations of 

the rider. The length of the tubing that goes into the frame and the 

angles at which they are joined are made to order. These specifi cations 

are based on a number of variables, including the customer’s 

body measurements. American custom builder Seven Cycles, for 

example, has a “custom-kit” questionnaire that asks about riding 

style, existing bike and other details and, like many other designers, 

will interview customers over the phone to get a better idea 

of what they need. 

Although more expensive than a standard-size frame, a custommeasured 

bike could save you thousands of dollars over many years 

of trial-and-error buying. 

Hong Kong-based recruitment specialist Mark Keith, a long-time 


BESPOKE 


Schematic of 

a bike frame 

showing the 

complexity 

of measuring 

required for 

custom bikes 

mountain-bike enthusiast with a large stable of bikes, knows this all 

too well. He’s owned three bikes that were unsuited to his riding; 

he felt they were too unstable because their forks were set at too 

steep an angle. Keith is now ordering a custom Litespeed trail bike 

and will ensure that it has a slacker head angle than normal. “Those 

cross-country bikes are really built for riding over golf courses,” he 

laments, adding that his version of a lightweight bike will have to 

allow him “to be able to take it down steps and throw it around in 

the rough stuff ”. 

Other riders, particularly those who spend many long hours in 

the saddle, fi nd that a perfect fi t is crucial to relieve numbness and 

chronic pains that would otherwise plague an endurance rider. 

Custom paint job 

Pain in the hands, back and shoulders may be relieved by getting 

fitted and measured for just the right frame. Lee Sheung-lum, 

owner of the Flying Ball bicycle shop in Hong Kong, is a custombike 

buyer who has enjoyed much more pleasant journeys 

aboard a custom frame. 

His previous bike was “too sensitive, not stable downhill” and after 

talking to the designers, they decided his new Carbon VII road bike 

HE WAS ONE OF ONLY FIVE RIDERS WHO FINISHED: 

"I AM SURE THE BIKE HELPED A LOT," HE SAID

Photo: Left: Brandon Kirk. Right above: Alan Hindle X 2. 

Boutique company 

Hope produces 

high-end components 

such as this disc brake 

needed a shorter top tube and longer chainstays, which resulted in 

a more comfortable reach and greater stability. “After a 50-kilometre 

ride, I feel fresh,” he says, recalling a recent ride at Qinghai Lake in 

Mainland China where he was one of only fi ve riders from a fi eld of 

17 who fi nished. “I’m sure the bike helped a lot,” he says. 

Experienced riders say the key to choosing the ideal bike is to ride 

as many as possible before settling on a type of frame. They suggest 

that riders swap bikes with friends of a similar size and riding style to 

experience other tube lengths and angles. Riders should compare 

these to their own bike and note aspects such as handling, comfort 

and how easy it is to climb hills. They advise riders to swap parts such 

as stems, seatposts and handlebars on their current bike and vary seat 

angle and fore-and-aft position, bar height and anything else that 

can be adjusted to fi nd out what works best. 

Bob Smith, President of the Hong Kong Mountain Bike Association, 

did plenty of research before spending a substantial amount 

on his ultimate bike, though his bike-buying trip took an unexpected 

turn. While visiting his family in Phoenix, Arizona, he went 

to a shop to pick up a warranty replacement frame for his Niner 

hardtail and planned to also buy a Niner RIP bike, when a fullsuspension 

model by Ventana with 29-inch wheels caught his eye. 

After spending more than an hour speaking to the president of the 

company over the phone, Smith decided on the El Ray model, got 

fi tted at the shop and soon after returned to Hong Kong with what 

he says is by far the best bike he’s ever owned. 

A tall rider at 186 centimetres, Smith prefers the larger wheels 

for their ability to hold momentum and clear obstacles easily. “I 

just ride everything,” he says. Not long before buying the Ventana, 

he had parted with a non-custom 26-inch-wheeled titanium Titus 

Racer-X, which he felt did not handle very well for him, especially 

when climbing. “I just didn’t ever like the bike,” he says. “It just 

wasn’t a good fi t.” 

Once you’ve decided what kind of bike you’re looking for, you’re 

ready to do some shopping. Many builders off er custom versions 

of their standard frames as well as start-from-scratch orders with a 

price to match. Custom builders in the United 

States, such as Seven and Serotta, typically 

charge upwards of HKD20,000 for a frame. 

But there are less expensive options. 

China-based frame-makers such as XACD and 

Hi-light take custom orders for titanium frames. 

Simon Lau’s Victory Cycling Workshop in North Point, 

Hong Kong, works with a factory in Mainland China to 

create custom-sized steel and aluminum frames with a 

starting price of about HKD6,000. “The main reason [people 

order custom frames here] is they can’t fi nd a suitable size,” 

he says. Lau sells about 20 custom frames a year, and many of 

his happy customers have won regional competitions – their 

trophies adorn the walls of his small shop. 

Another good rule of thumb when purchasing 

a high-end bicycle, custom or not, 

is to buy it for the type of riding you do the 

most now. Philip Heung, a Hong Kongbased 

bike distributor, recently bought a 

custom-sized Bike Friday folding bike for his 

trip to Taiwan. “Basically I want a bike to travel 

Choose a wheel 

specific for the job 

Ibis Tranny 

carbon-fibre 

mountain bike

BESPOKE 


WEBSITES 

www.sevencycles.com 

www.ventanausa.com 

www.titusti.com 

www.serotta.com 

www.ti-bicycle.com 

www.xacd.com.cn 

Seven Carbon 

VII road bike 

www.victorycycling.net 

www.fl yingball.com 

with,” he says. Heung says that being honest with yourself about 

how and where you ride is critical. 

“In many cases people would like to think that they would use 

the bike for [a certain purpose], but many times end up riding it 

just a few times because the bike is not sized or designed for what 

they really do with it.” 

In a sense, buying a custom bike is like choosing a spouse – you 

want to be sure you’ve got the right one before you make a commitment. 

Like dating, you want to determine as much as you can 

about yourself fi rst – your tastes, passions, quirks and personal style, 

before looking for a match. When you fi nd the right bike for you, 

the marriage can be similarly rewarding. 

KEEP THE RIGHT FRAME IN MIND 

Without getting too deep 

into metallurgical science, 

there are a few factors to 

keep in mind when choosing 

a frame material. Important 

considerations for a frame, 

other than ride quality, are 

durability, corrosion resistance, 

weldability (important 

for touring) and fatigue life. 

Steel is susceptible to rust 

but can be easily welded 

back together if you have 

an accident when you’re 

trekking across continents 

where bike shops are few 

and far between. Aluminum 

resists corrosion but has a 

shorter fatigue life and is 

usually painted or anodized 

(coated with a protective 

layer). Carbon-fibre frames 

come in many qualities and 

varieties, so it is best to stick 

to well-established designers 

with a lot of experience (and 

a solid warranty policy). 

Titanium is by far the 

most popular choice for 

custom frames as it is the 

most scratch-resistant, has 

an excellent fatigue life and, 

depending on the alloy mixture, 

is also very corrosion 

resistant. Riders say it has 

a smooth feel compared 

to aluminum frames and 

surface scratches are easily 

brushed out. It is also the 

most expensive. 

Philip Sung, who works 

at Hong Kong’s Flying Ball 

bicycle shop, says that for 

many customers, once you 

choose titanium you never 

go back. 

“Most people [who order 

custom] buy a titanium bike, 

and it will be the last bike they 

ever buy,” he says. Flying Ball 

does measuring services for 

both Seven Cycles and Titus, 

using specialised equipment. 

The US-based frame builders 

will then interview customers 

to get exact specifi cations. 

Jonathan Speelman, who 

bought a Seven mountain 

bike hardtail from Flying Ball, 

believes titanium was worth 

the investment as it will last 

a lifetime. “It has a longevity 

that is appealing,” he says. 

But he warns that with 

such an expensive material, 

“getting the fit right is 

critical as you age because 

your back, legs and arms will 

complain if the fi t is out after 

a long ride”. 

Photo: Brandon Kirk

24 HOURS 

24 hours in 

Beijing 

BY DAVID EIMER 


The imposing 

Tiananmen 

Gate of the 

Forbidden 

City 

Photos. Gate: OTHK. Artwork: Natalie Behring 

Shopping or snowboarding? High rise or hutongs? Fine dining or the Forbidden City? 

Whatever your passion, China’s ever-changing capital city will keep you occupied at 

any time of the day or night 

Midday Beijing is beguiling because of the 

way the ultra-modern rubs up against the 

historic – the traditional grandeur of the Forbidden 

City and the avant-garde splendour of 

Rem Koolhaas’ gravity-defying CCTV Tower are 

just a few kilometres apart. The staging of the 

Olympic Games last year accelerated the transformation 

of the Chinese capital from grim 

shrine to Stalinist architecture to vibrant world 

city, but Beijing is still a work in progress. Every 

visit yields something different to see or do. 

From the airport, head to one of the new 

boutique hotels, such as The Opposite House 

in swinging Sanlitun. A quick shower and it’s 

time for lunch. Tucked away in a hutong – one 

of the ancient alleys that criss-cross the heart of 

Beijing – close to the Forbidden City is Domus, 

the ideal lunch spot. The stunning setting in a 

courtyard house, or siheyuan, is matched by 

the contemporary European cuisine. Dine on 

American oysters or wagyu beef burgers in the 

less formal bistro upstairs, or try the downstairs 

restaurant with its six-course tasting menu and 

Minotti contemporary Italian furniture. 

2pm Whatever the season, Beijing offers 

plenty of opportunities for outdoor types, or 

anyone looking to burn calories. In the summer, 

the golf courses on the city’s outskirts are 

packed, testimony to the rise of the mainland 

middle class. If you know a member then take 

the chance to play a round at the exclusive Jack 

Nicklaus-designed Pine Valley Golf Club. Otherwise, 

the Beijing International Golf Club has 

views of the surrounding forested hills. 

Beijing’s winter is bitter but that means plenty 

of snow at the nearby ski resorts. Just 90 

minutes from the centre of Beijing is Nanshan, 

where 12 trails await skiers and an Austriandesigned 

snowboard park draws China’s top 

snowboarders. Or do as the locals do and head 

to scenic Houhai. The lake freezes by the end 

of December and becomes an open-air sports 

centre with ice-skating and the occasional icehockey 

game. 

For those who prefer culture, a pilgrimage to 

the Dashanzi art precinct in Chaoyang District 

is a must. The 798 Space is in a former factory 

complex that is the spiritual home of China’s contemporary 

art scene and is packed with galleries 

and hip cafés. Visit the Long March Space, where 

the walls are daubed with Cultural Revolution-era 

slogans, and Red Gate, a branch of China’s fi rst 

modern-art gallery. 

The Opposite House 

in Sanlitun 

Classical Girl by Zheng 

Xuewu, Red Gate Gallery 


24 HOURS 


Enjoy an upgrade and 

other privileges at 

Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing 

Conveniently located close to Beijing’s financial and 

technology districts, the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing, is 

one of the city’s signature landmarks. And the 

historic Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo and the trendy 

Houhai Lake area are just a few of the attractions 

you’ll enjoy exploring. 

From 16 February to 15 May 2009, book a Deluxe 

Room at the Best Available Rate for two or more 

consecutive nights and receive: 

• A room upgrade to Horizon Club Deluxe Room 

with breakfast 

• Full access to the luxurious Valley Wing Lounge 

• A bottle of imported wine on arrival. 

For reservations, please quote your membership 

number and rate code CXMARCO. 

Telephone: +852 2331 6688 

Fax +852 2331 6699 

Website: www.shangri-la.com 

Terms and conditions 

• Rates are subject to a 15% 

service charge. 

P A R T N E R O F F E R 

Shopping is another option. The funky 

boutiques lining 800-year-old hutong Nanluoguxiang 

are good places to fi nd quirky gifts. 

Grifted has everything from irreverent postcards 

to socialist dolls, including Mao Zedong 

and Karl Marx, all made by local craftsmen and 

women. Near the Temple of the Sun, Shard Box 

Store sells charming boxes made out of the 

fragments of porcelain vessels smashed during 

the Cultural Revolution, as well as jewellery 

sourced from Mongolia and Tibet. 

6pm Prepare for your night out with a 

relaxing massage or pamper yourself in a spa. 

Massage places are on almost every street in 

Beijing, but those in the know swear by Bodhi. 

The soothing setting eases tension straight 

away and that’s before the skilled masseurs get 

to work on those knotted muscles. For facials 

and aromatherapy, nothing beats the Peninsula 

Hotel Spa. Try the jet-lag eliminator or, if 

de-stressing is essential, indulge in the half-day 

Spa Journey. 

THE SOOTHING SETTING EASES TENSION EVEN 

BEFORE THE SKILLED MASSEURS GET TO WORK 

Photo. Warriors: Adrian Bradshaw/epa/Corbis

Photos. Gifted: Natalie Behring. Skiers: Greg Baker – AP Photo 

Grifted is great 

for quirky gifts 

(above) 

Warrior-inspired: 

Sculptures by 

Marian Heyerdahl in 

798 Art Space (left) 

Alternatively, take a trip to the fantasyland 

that is the Grand Hyatt Pool. With palm trees, 

lush plants and tribal statues, this vast swimming 

pool feels like it should be deep in the 

South American jungle. Don’t bother doing 

laps. Instead, just fl oat on your back and gaze up 

at the ceiling, lit to resemble a canopy of stars. 

8pm Spectacular views of the adjacent Forbidden 

City, the surrounding hutong and the 

lights of Tiananmen Square make Yin the 

rooftop bar of choice in Beijing and the ideal 

place for a pre-dinner cocktail. Sip an Emperor 

Mojito or try one of the drinks mixed with 

huangjiu, a sweet yellow liquor. Note that it is 

only open during warmer months. From there, 

it’s a short hop to the Legation Quarter, the 

latest addition to Beijing’s fine-dining scene. 

During the late Qing Dynasty, the area was 

home to embassies. Now, the neo-classical 

buildings house top-notch eateries, while the 

lawn has been the stage for fashion shows by 

the likes of Versace. The pick of the restaurants 

is Maison Boulud, chef Daniel Boulud’s Beijing 

fl agship. (See Explore The World, page 10.) 

If you’ve ever wanted to eat like an emperor, 

then Yu Shan Tang in the Han’s Royal Garden 

hotel off ers a rare dining experience. One of 

the few restaurants to serve genuine Imperial 

cuisine, the private dining rooms feature intricately 

painted ceiling panels, hanging lanterns 

and rosewood wall panels. The menus are customised 

for each diner, the fl avours are sublime 

and the signature dishes come carved in the 

shape of dragons. 

Skiing at 

Nanshan, 

east of 

Beijing 

Enjoy a suite experience when you 

stay at The St. Regis Beijing 

Stay at The St. Regis and make your next visit to Beijing 

truly memorable. Book and stay between 16 February 

and 15 May 2009 and you’ll enjoy a room upgrade to a 

Statesman Suite at the time of reservation. 

Special rates start at RMB2,380 per room per night, 

for a minimum stay of two consecutive nights. 

Package includes: 

• One-way, gate-to-gate airport limousine service 

(choice of arrival or departure) 

• Daily buffet breakfast at the Garden Court 

• In-room Internet access 

• Late check-out at 4pm (subject to availability on 

the day of departure). 

For reservations, please book and quote the promotion 

code MARCOQ1. Please contact the hotel directly for 

any airport transportation arrangement prior to arrival. 

Telephone: +86 10 6460 6688, ext2321 

Email: reservation.beijing@stregis.com 


• Cancellation charges apply. 

• Rate quoted is subject to 15% 

service charge. 

• Not applicable for group bookings. 



24 HOURS 

Edible art: 

Imperial 

eggplant with 

seafood at 

Yu Shan Tang 


11pm New bars and clubs 

open on an almost daily basis 

in Beijing. The Philippe Starckdesigned 

LAN Club is the 

most opulent place in town. 

IIgnore 

the incongruous location 

in a 

shopping mall and instead 

enjoy the 

eye-popping interior. Paintings 

hang from the ceiling, giant mirrors loom everywhere 

and the VIP dining rooms resemble 

Mongolian Yurts. DJs, a long wine list and 

potent cocktails complete the recipe for a 

memorable night. 

More laidback is Casa Habana where you 

can sink into deep, comfy armchairs while 

enjoying the extensive selection of Cuban 

cigars. Whisky connoisseurs can head to 

Ichikura, a Japanese-run bar that is one of 

Beijing’s best-kept secrets. It has 160 whiskies 

available including rare single malts, the service 

is impeccable and the drinks come with 

perfectly shaped spheres of ice. 

Jazz lovers should visit the East Shore Live 

Jazz Café, where some of the capital’s best 

musicians jam until late from Thursday to Sunday 

in a relaxed atmosphere. Club Yugong 

Yishan showcases local bands in a Qing 

Dynasty-era building. 

For clubbing, the sleek i-Ultra Lounge is 

the place of the moment. International DJs 

and cunning mood-lighting make this the 

perfect spot to crack a bottle of Cristal or sip 

a signature lychee martini while watching 

Beijing’s beautiful people in action. 


Yu Shan Tang 

Enjoy a 20% discount with Avis in Beijing 

Visit Beijing’s famous landmarks across the city’s 

18 districts or discover the surrounding countryside 

at your own pace. Between 16 February and 15 May 

2009, members of The Marco Polo Club renting a car 

for three or more days will enjoy a 20 percent 

discount at participating Avis locations. 

Please book by email at booking@avischina.com, 

quoting your membership number and the 

appropriate Avis Worldwide Discount number at 

right. Please present your membership card at the 

rental counter. 

• AWD K305400 (Green) 

• AWD K305500 (Silver) 

• AWD K305600 (Gold) 

• AWD K305700 (Diamond) 

Terms and Conditions 

• Offer is valid for compact cars and above. 

• Offer is not valid on Avis-contracted tour operators or 

travel-industry rates. 

• Standard Avis terms and conditions apply.

2am Bars and clubs are supposed to shut at 

2am but some stay open until the sun is almost 

up. Punk in the basement of The Opposite 

House is a good place to keep the party going. 

For food in the early hours, Hua Jia Yi Yuan 

serves dishes from all over China 24/7 in a converted 

courtyard house with a glass roof so 

you can see the stars while eating. 

9am Breakfast or brunch at Panino Teca is a 

fine way to start the day. If the coffee and 

aroma of freshly baked bread doesn’t pry open 

your eyelids, then the light streaming through 

the floor-to-ceiling windows will. Try the substantial 

ciabatta sandwiches. At The Bookworm, 

browse the selection of China-related 

novels and non-fiction over coffee and cakes. 

i-Ultra Lounge 

info 

The Opposite House and Punk 

The Village, Building 1, 11 Sanlitun Road 

+86 10 6417 6688 

www.theoppositehouse.com 

Domus 

115 Nanchizi Dajie, +86 10 8511 8015 

Pine Valley Golf Club 

Pine Valley Resort, Nankou Town, 

Changping District, +86 10 8979 6868 

www.pinevalley.com.cn 

Beijing International Golf Club 

Northwest of Ming Tombs Reservoir, 

Changping District, +86 10 6076 2288 

Nanshan Ski Village 

Shengshuitou Village, Henanzhai Town, 

Miyun County, +86 10 8909 1909 

www.nanshanski.com 

Houhai 

Opposite north gate of Beihai Park, 

Dianmenwai Dajie 

798 Art District 

2 and 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu 

www.798space.com 

Long March Space (closed Mondays) 

4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 

+86 10 5978 9768 

www.longmarchspace.com 

Red Gate Gallery (closed Mondays) 

2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 

+86 10 6525 1005, www.redgategallery.com 

Grifted 

32 Nanluoguxiang, +86 10 6406 2716 

www.grifted.com.cn 

Nanluoguxiang 

Off Gulou Dongdajie 

Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat 

17 Gongrentiyuchang Beilu 

+86 10 6417 9595 

Shard Box Store 

1 Ritan Beilu, +86 10 8561 3712 

Peninsula Hotel Spa 

8 Jinyu Hutong, +86 10 8516 2888 

www.peninsula.com 

Grand Hyatt Beijing 

1 East Changan Avenue, +86 10 8518 1234 

www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com 

Yin 

33 Qihelou Lu, The Emperor hotel 

+86 10 6526 5566, www.theemperor.com.cn 

Legation Quarter 

23 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District 

+86 10 6522 4848, www.legationquarter.com 

Maison Boulud 

23 Qianmen Dongdajie, +86 10 6559 9200 

www.danielnyc.com 

Yu Shan Tang 

Han’s Royal Garden, 20 Qinlao Hutong 

(off Nanluoguxiang), +86 10 8402 5588 

Lan Club 

4/F Twin Towers, 12B Jianguomenwai Dajie 

+86 10 5109 6012, www.lan-global.com 

Casa Habana 

Jinglun Hotel, 3 Jianguomenwai Dajie 

+86 10 6595 0888 

Ichikura 

36 Dongsanhuan Beilu (on right side of 

Chaoyang Theatre), +86 134 3652 1171 

or +86 10 6507 1107 

East Shore Jazz Cafe 

2/F, 2 Qianhai Nanyan Lu, +86 10 8403 2131 

Club Yugong Yishan 

3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, +86 10 6404 2711 

www.yugongyishan.com 

i-Ultra Lounge 

Block 8, Apartment 8 Complex, 

Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu 

+86 10 6508 8585, www.block8.cn 

Hua Jia Yi Yuan 

235 Dongzhimennei Dajie, +86 10 6405 1908 

Panino Teca 

The Village, S2-11 Building 2, 19 Sanlitun Lu 

+86 10 6416 1416 

The Bookworm 

Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Lu 

+86 10 6586 9507 

www.beijingbookworm.com 


24 HOURS 



Explore China’s capital with 

Dragonair Holidays 

Book between 16 February and 22 April 2009 and 

travel before 29 April 2009 for a memorable 

indulgence at The Summer Palace in Beijing. And for 

the perfect start and finish to your trip, members of 

The Marco Polo Club will enjoy private round-trip 

limousine transfers in Hong Kong to and from 

Hong Kong International Airport. The 3 Day/2 Night 

The Aman at Summer Palace Beijing package from 

HKD5,699 per person includes: 

• Round-trip Economy Class flight between 

Hong Kong and Beijing on Dragonair or on 

codeshare flights operated by Cathay Pacific Airways 

• Two nights’ hotel accommodation 

• 500 Asia Miles 

• Travel insurance. 

For reservations 

Telephone: +852 2747 4336 

Website: www.cxholidays.com 


• Price quoted is per person, based on two adults sharing one room, and 

checking in and travelling together throughout the entire journey. 

• Offer is only valid for packages booked and paid for between 16 February 

and 22 April 2009. 

• Cathay Holidays Limited and Asia Miles terms and conditions apply. 

N.B. Dragonair Holidays is now 

managed and marketed by 

Cathay Holidays Limited. 

TIPS FROM A 

LOCAL INSIDER 

Arnold Cheng 

Cathay Pacific 

Manager Marketing & Sales China 

I like to have lunch or coffee in the newly 

opened Park Hyatt Hotel (http://beijing.park. 

hyatt.com). It’s the tallest hotel in Beijing and 

you can enjoy a perfect panoramic view of the 

city. When I have visitors in town, they always 

want to see two of the most impressive Olympic 

sites – the Beijing National Stadium 

(Bird’s Nest), where most of the action took 

place, and the Water Cube, where the swimming 

events were held. 

Sanlitun Village (www.thevillage.com.cn) is 

another example of innovative architecture and 

it is home to many luxury brand stores. The village 

houses a multiplex cinema and excellent restaurants 

as well as a boutique hotel – The Opposite 

House (www.theoppositehouse.com). 

Centro (+86 10 6561 8833) in the Kerry Centre 

Hotel is a popular jazz bar. And another 

favourite is Yin (+86 10 6526 5566) at the top 

of The Emperor hotel. It’s a great spot on 

warm breezy summer nights and you can 

look out on to the Forbidden City. 

Beijing duck is a must-try dish when you’re in 

the city. My favourite restaurants are Duck de 

Chine (+86 10 6501 8881) at 1949 The Hidden 

City (+86 10 6501 1949, www.elite-concepts.com) 

and Made in China (+86 10 8518 1234). For 

something less conventional try the vegetarian 

Pure Lotus (+86 10 8703 6668) where the mock 

meat sausages taste better than the real ones. A 

popular cheap local snack is yoghurt Beijing-style 

in small porcelain pots for just RMB2 (HKD2.27). 

For shopping, my two favourite malls are 

Solana and The Place. And I also like to wander 

around the markets. The Silk Market is 

always good fun and Yaxiu Market is worth 

checking out too. 

To relax, I go for a massage at Long Island 

Massage (+86 10 5130 9718). The masseurs are 

well-trained and some also provide acupuncture. 

Traditional Chinese massage can 

improve your health and immune system and 

can help with back and muscle problems. 

At weekends, it’s fun to take a stroll around 

the 798 Art District (www.798art.org). There 

are scores of galleries that change their exhibitions 

regularly. And there’s no shortage of 

cafés where you can get freshly brewed coffee. 

I also enjoy taking a stroll through the 

hutongs. It’s like taking a step back in time.

TRAVEL 

Follow the 

money: The 

Royal Exchange 

and the Bank of 

England 


London 

Treasure hunt in 

BY PHOEBE A GREENWOOD 

The streets of England’s cash-strapped metropolis might 

not appear to be paved with gold just now, but there’s 

plenty of money around if you know where to look 

Corporate might: 

Lloyd’s of London 

Photos. Main: Scott E Barbour – The Image Bank/Getty Images. Lloyd's: Robin MacDougall/Getty Images. British Museum: Allan Baxter – Photographer's Choice/Getty Images 

Coin collector: 

the British Museum 


TRAVEL 


Enjoy a room upgrade at 

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 

London 

For Diamond, Gold and Silver members only. 

Relax and unwind in one of London’s most 

renowned hotels – Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. 

With its convenient location near the Royal Park and 

the chic shops of Knightsbridge, you’ll find it easy to 

explore some of London’s most popular attractions. 

And from 16 February to 15 May 2009, you’ll enjoy 

an upgrade to the next room category – plus 

Double Asia Miles! 

For reservations, please quote the booking code 

Marco Polo and present your membership card 

when checking in. 

Telephone: +44 0 20 7235 2000 

Email: molon-reservations@mohg.com 


• Room upgrade is 

subject to availability at 

the time of reservation. 


The crowds on Oxford Street are thinning, 

belts are tightening on Savile 

Row and the City’s champagne fl utes 

are dry. London led the economic charge and 

fl ourished in the booming ’90s but now Britain 

is plunging faster than the United States, Japan, 

Germany, France and Italy. 

So with the great lions on the Bank of 

England’s doors ruefully licking their paws 

and Park Lane’s billionaires packing up and 

wriggling free of tightening tax laws, what 

wealth remains? Serious money is still to be 

found in London and we show you where 

you can see it, even if you can’t touch it. 

The Bank of England on Threadneedle 

Street is home to the nation’s gold bullion. 

The bank, the financial heart of the 

city since it moved there in 1734, keeps 

about 300 tonnes of the yellow metal on 

behalf of the British Treasury. Before former 

Chancellor Gordon Brown’s controversial 

gold sales, conducted in a series of 

auctions between 1999 and 2002, it was 

about 700 tonnes. The bank usually isn’t open 

to the public, but 30-minute guided tours are 

available on 28 June as part of the annual – 

City of London Festival. At other times try 

the Bank of England Museum, which tells the Barbour E 

institution’s story from its establishment in 

Scott 

1694 to its role today (www.bankofengland. 

co.uk/education/museum). 

London’s the place to go for silver service 

Intersection: 

too – after all, the currency isn’t called sterling 

for nothing. Apart from New York, London Photos. 

The Image Bank/Getty Images

Photos. Gold: Alamy/ArgusPhoto. Gherkin: Getty Images 

holds more precious metal than any other 

city and has the world’s largest silver hoard. 

JP Morgan keeps 155 million ounces of silver 

for Barclays to support its electronically 

traded silver shares. If you’re on the hunt for 

London’s hidden wealth, the Silver Vaults on 

Chancery Lane, Holborn, are a good place to 

begin (www.thesilvervaults.com). 

The vaults fi rst opened in 1876, off ering 

secure rooms for the city’s fat cats and aristocrats 

to keep their valuables safe. Gradually 

the vaults were taken over by silver dealers 

The golden mile: 

Intersection of 

Oxford Street 

and Regent 

Street (above) 

Ingots in the 

gold vault of 

The Bank of 

England, the 

Old Lady of 

Threadneedle 

Street (above left) 

London’s mercantile wealth is 

reflected in the architecture of its 

great businesses 

THE GHERKIN 

30 St Mary Axe, City of London 

Also known as the Swiss Re Tower, 

Norman Foster’s 180-metre, 40-floor 

skyscraper dominates the City’s skyline. 

Completed in December 2003, 

its construction symbolised the might 

of the City that seemed at the time 

only to be growing and began its own 

boom in high-rise construction. It can 

be seen from 30 kilometres away. 

LLOYD’S BUILDING 

1 Lime Street, City of London 

Designed by architect Richard Rogers, 

the Lloyd’s Building (www.lloyds.com) 

is home to insurance institution 

Lloyd’s of London. The construction 

echoes Paris’ Pompidou Centre with 

staircases, water pipes and electric 

cables on the outside. The building 

uses 12 glass lifts, which were the first 

of their kind in the country. y 

C O R P O R A T E A R C H I T E C T U R E 

The Gherkin 

(far right) adds 

piquancy to 

London’s skyline 

CANARY WHARF 

Isle of Dogs, London 

The site of Canary Wharf has been a 

mercantile hub since the 10th century, 

flourishing as the Port of London from 

the 1500s. The docklands area was 

reclaimed from the shipping industry 

in the 1980s with the construction of 

Canary Wharf commencing in 1988. 

It compromises 37 hectares, with 14.1 

million square feet of office and retail 

space, providing an alternative economic 

centre to the City. It holds 

three of Britain’s tallest buildings 

(www.canarywharf.com). 

THE DEPARTMENT STORES 

Harrods in Knightsbridge 

(www.harrods.com) opened in 

1834. Its closest competitor is 

near neighbour Harvey Nichols 

(www.harveynichols.com). 

Selfridges store is on Oxford Street 

(www.selfridges.co.uk). Also check 

out the Tudor-style Liberty & Co. 

building on Regent Street, opened 

in 1875 to sell crafts from Asia 

(www.liberty.co.uk). 


TRAVEL 

You can find 

all kinds of 

silverware in 

the London 

Silver Vaults 


who used the storerooms to keep their stock 

secure. Over the past 50 years, the vaults 

have been operating as a one-stop shop for 

anything silver. They claim to hold the largest 

retail collection of fi ne antique silver in 

the world, selling anything from teaspoons 

to sculpture. 

And while Antwerp may claim the 

world’s diamond capital title, London 

can rival its sparkle as the traditional 

home of De Beers. The world’s leader 

in diamond trading, De Beers holds 

40 per cent of the market share of 

the precious stones. Until last year, 

De Beers said it held “a few weeks” 

supply at its central sorting offi ce at 

19 Charterhouse Street in Clerkenwell 

before moving the offi ce to Botswana. 

The neighbourhood is still home to 

Hatton Garden where diamond traders 

keep a sizeable hoard of the gems (www. 

hatton-garden.net/jewellers.html). You 

can still view a dazzling selection at the 

De Beers fl agship store on Old Bond Street 

(www.debeers.com). 

Just a rock throw from De Beers is New 

Bond Street – a who’s who of quintessentially 

British luxury retail heavyweights 

KENSINGTON PALACE 

GARDENS IS BRITAIN’S 

MOST EXPENSIVE 

RESIDENTIAL STREET 

including Burberry, Sotheby’s, Mulberry and 

Smythson. This is the most expensive retail 

strip in the country where shop floors are 

secured for about GBP400 (about HKD4,700) a 

square foot. Luxury jewellers such as Wempe, 

Boodles, Asprey and Graff, dominate the 

more expensive southern end of the street. 

Most of London’s department stores

Photo. Graff: Ian Waldie/Getty Images 

Bond stores: Graff 

is one of the many 

high-end jewellers in 

New Bond Street 

Flight of fancy: Boodles’ 

Dragonfly Green necklace 

has mint-green 

tourmalines and diamond 

and tsavorite dragonflies 

evolved from drapers’ stores 

and perhaps the most luxurious is 

Harrods in Knightsbridge (www.harrods.com). 

Who can still aff ord to shop here? Only a 

GBP10-taxi GBP10-taxi ride from Bond Street, running 

alongside Hyde Park is Ken Kensington i Palace 

Gardens, Garde long known as “Billionaires’ Row” 

– Britain’s most expensive residential street. 

Once home to the infamous “London Cage”, 

a torture centre used by MI9 during World 

War II, most of the 21 buildings on this street 

now operate as embassies. In June last year, 

however, Indian-born steel magnate Lakshmi 

Mittal bought No. 18-19 for GBP70 million. It is 

Mittal’s third house on the street. A drive along 

this tree-lined avenue is likely to turn even the 

most well-heeled visitor one shade greener. 

But while the most valuable addresses 

may be west, the hunt for London’s tangible 

wealth, its coins, cash and jewels, will take 

you east, towards the City. In former tumultuous 

times, London’s elite didn’t bother 

with banks. Since 1303, however precarious 

their own safety, the crowned heads of England 

knew their vast wealth was safe from 


Visit London in grand style with 

Cathay Pacifi c Holidays 

There’s no better time to spoil yourself with a 

luxurious stay, your very own personal-styling 

consultation, fine dining and more. Book and pay 

between 16 February and 23 April 2009, to travel 

from now to 30 April, and enjoy a package price 

starting from HKD28,920 per person. Members of 

The Marco Polo Club will also enjoy a special offer of 

one round-trip Airport Express ticket per person. 

The 4 day/3 night The Ritz London package includes: 

• Round-trip Economy Class flight between 

Hong Kong and London on Cathay Pacific Airways 

• Three consecutive nights’ hotel accommodation 

with daily breakfast 

• A personal-styling consultation 

• Up to six hours of personal shopping service in 

central London 

• One four-course dinner in The Ritz Restaurant 

• 2,000 Asia Miles 

• Travel insurance. 

For reservations 

Telephone: +852 2747 4388 

Website: www.cxholidays.com 


• Price quoted is per person, based on 

two adults sharing one room and 

checking in and travelling together 

throughout the entire journey. 

• Cathay Holidays Limited and 

Asia Miles terms and conditions apply. 


TRAVEL 


Crowning glories: The 

Crown jewels in the 

Tower of London 


Safe keeper: 

Yeoman Warders 

guard the Tower 

plebeian fingers in the Tower of London 

(www.hrp.org.uk/towerofl ondon). 

The Crown Jewels now displayed in the 

Jewel House at the Tower are impossible 

to value. Collected over the centuries from 

Saxon and Medieval ages, they include 

national treasures such as the regalia worn 

by the monarch in cornonations: the orbs 

and sceptre, coronets and rings. Much of the 

earlier regalia was melted down by Cromwellera 

Parliamentarians. Today, the Tower still 

safeguards these treasures, even from hedge- 

fund managers and the Chancellor. 

Despite the amount of money currently 

pouring out of the city’s coffers, and the 

plummeting value of the stuff that remains, 

there is still a fair amount of wealth fl owing 

back into London from visitors’ wallets. 

In March 2008, a survey by UBS found London 

to be the most expensive city in the 

world. It has offi cially the most expensive 

Explore Britain’s rich history with SIXT rent a car 

From 16 February to 15 May 2009, experience Britain 

from behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf for the 

exclusive rate of GBP39 a day – and earn 1,000 

Bonus Asia Miles. Members of The Marco Polo Club 

also enjoy: 

• An all-inclusive rental price that includes VAT 

• Unlimited mileage 

• Universal third-party, liability damage and 

theft insurance 

• Road taxes 

• Airport fee. 

To take advantage of this offer, please quote the 

booking code 9982220 when making a reservation 

with SIXT rent a car. 

Telephone: +86 10 59001115 (China) 

+49 0 1805 23 2222 (Rest of the world) 

Website: www.sixtcn.com (China) 

www.sixt.com (Rest of the world) 


• Offer is only valid with 

SIXT rent a car in the UK.

Photos. Crown jewels: Tim Graham – Getty Images. Yoeman: Richard Nowitz – National Geographic/Getty Images. 

Pub: Alamy/ArgusPhoto. Statue: Alamy/ArgusPhoto 

transport system – a 43-second subway fare 

from Leicester Square to Covent Garden 

costs GBP4 – and the Zagat guide names 

it as the most expensive city for dining out, 

with an average meal costing GBP39. 

Those of us not nestled comfortably in 

Billionaires’ Row can only marvel at the many 

cultural and architectural monuments to the 

resilient capital’s industry, mercantile success 

and wealth – and hope we don’t lose too 

much of our own in the process. 

Dining well in 

London may 

stretch the 

budget, but 

there is no 

shortage 

of choice 

BRITISH MUSEUM 

www.britishmuseum.org 

Coins have formed a major part 

of the British Museum’s collection 

since the 18th century. The department 

of coins and medals boasts 

one of the world’s finest collections 

of money-related paraphernalia and 

holds almost one million objects. 

MUSEUM OF LONDON 

DOCKLANDS 

www.museumindocklands.org.uk 

The museum, a transformed 200year-old 

warehouse, details the 

history of London as a port from 

Roman times until the birth of 

Canary Wharf. “London, Sugar 

and Slavery” is the country’s 

only permanent exhibition 

examining the historical 

involvement of the capital in 

the trans-Atlantic slave trade. 

BRAMAH MUSEUM OF 

TEA AND COFFEE 

www.teaandcoff eemuseum.co.uk 

This is the first museum dedicated 

to the 400-year history 

of the coffee and tea trades 

through a largely British perspective. 

It’s located near London 

Bridge, where for hundreds 

M U S E U M S A N D M O N E Y 

Many of London’s museums reflect the source of the capital’s capital 

of years, teas from India, Africa 

and Asia have been offloaded, 

sorted and sold on the banks of 

the River Thames. 

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM 

www.nmm.ac.uk 

This is three separate sites, the Royal 

Observatory, the Queen’s House and 

the Maritime Galleries 

in Greenwich that 

together look at the 

significance of the 

maritime industry and 

the stars (necessary 

for navigation) on 

the growth 

and wealth of 

London and 

its residents. 

Statue of Captain 

James Cook at 

Museum of 

London 

Docklands, 

Canary Wharf 


INSIDE CX 

Fly greener: 

Cathay Pacific’s 

fleet of newer 

aircraft reduces 

the airline’s 

environmental 

impact 


Team Green 

Your Marco Polo Club statements are now delivered online – another 

Cathay Pacifi c initiative to improve service and also help the environment 

BY MATHEW SCOTT 

Click, and you get your monthly Marco Polo Club statement. 

Click, and you save a lot of paper. The electronic delivery of 

Marco Polo Club information provides all your points and 

transaction records and enables you to manage your miles (see the 

box opposite). But this more efficient service is just one element of 

Cathay Pacific’s wide-ranging environmental strategy. 

Undoubtedly, addressing global climate change is now one 

of the most pressing issues facing our world. As an environm environmen- 

tally and socially responsible business, Cathay PPacifi 

c 

recognizes the urgency and importan importance of 

climate change and the need to pla play its 

part in fi nding solutions to the prob problem. 

But tackling our environmental impact im 

is nothing new for Cathay Pac Pacifi c. It 

has been working in this 

area 

since the 1990s when it was one of the fi rst airlines to report on its 

environmental performance, as it has done each year since 1998. 

What has changed is the priority accorded to environment within 

the company. 

Recognising the growing importance of the environment and 

climate change within the aviation industry, 2008 saw the establishment 

of a new Environmental Affairs Department with a dedicated 

team of specialists, under the leadership of Dominic Purvis, who will 

be known to many of you from his previous role as General Manager, 

Cathay Pacific Loyalty Programmes Ltd. Dominic says: “Having now 

established the nerve centre to co-ordinate our policies and 

programmes means that we can influence what the company 

does at the strategic level going forward. We’ve already spent 

time identifying where and how changes can be made and set 

an agenda for action. The task now is to deliver. Clearly, there is so 

much we could do, but ultimately we need to find practical ways 

to reduce our fuel burn and hence our emissions.” 

He goes on: “we’re constantly looking for ways that we can 

reduce our environment and climate-change impact, both 

on the ground and in the air. As well as looking at what we 

do at our offices, international airports and in flight, we’re also 

working with the aerospace manufacturers to develop new, 

more environmentally efficient aircraft technologies for the

Photo: Philipp Engelhorn 

future and with regulators to deliver further improvements to 

air transport routes.” 

Complementing Dominic’s 20 years’ Cathay Pacific experience, 

the team has been strengthened by the appointment of two 

environmental specialists from London. Mark Watson, as Manager, 

Environmental Affairs, joined Cathay Pacific after working on 

sustainable aviation issues as Head of Corporate Environmental 

Affairs at the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), while 

Environmental Manager Janice Lao had previously worked as an 

environmental consultant and carbon project developer. Within 

his broad role, Mark focuses on initiatives to drive the emissions 

reduction strategy developed by the International Air Transport 

Association (IATA) in 2007, whose ‘four pillar’ strategy comprising 

technology, operations, infrastructure and economic measures is 

at the heart of the industry’s vision for a carbon-free future. “IATA 

has challenged the entire aviation sector to build and operate a 

commercial airliner that produces no net carbon emissions within 

50 years from 2007. Clearly this is a major ask for manufacturers and 

airlines alike,” observes Mark. 

Having recently joined the 140 global companies signing the 

Poznan Communiqué calling for urgent action to tackle climate 

change, Cathay Pacific is now actively considering how a global 

framework to deal with aviation’s emissions might look and how it 

could operate beyond 2012, the second commitment period of the 

existing Kyoto Protocol that will be renegotiated later this year. 

Since January, all members of The Marco Polo Club now 

receive monthly Member’s emails called an “Account Summary”, 

replacing the monthly statement sent by post. 

The Account Summary updates you on your account 

balance, the latest news and offers, and includes a 

private hyperlink to a full monthly statement online. 

The new online system allows you to manage your 

account faster and easier and: 

• See how many miles you have and when they expire 

Y O U R N E W O N L I N E A C C O U N T S U M M A R Y 

For Janice, the task of implementing Cathay Pacific’s environmental 

strategy presents some unique challenges. “We need aviation,’’ says 

Janice. “We know that in order to see our friends and family, to visit 

different places. People’s perception of the aviation industry is that it is 

not sustainable. Our challenge therefore is to show that it is possible, 

that it can be sustainable.” 

• Check your transaction records for the past 24 months 

• Get your monthly statements for past 12 months 

• Manage your miles – you can renew, transfer, donate or 

claim missing miles right away from your keyboard 

• Update your contact information and personal details 

• Change the members in your redemption group 

To ensure that you receive your “Account Summary”, 

please update your email address by logging on to your 

Marco Polo Club account at www.cathaypacifi c.com 

Recycle that: 

Dominic Purvis, 

Cathay Pacific 

General Manager 

Environmental 

Affairs 


CLUB EVENTS 

Golfi ng in 

paradise 

The annual Marco Polo Club Golf Classic this year was played 

in fabulous Bali conditions 

Perfect Bali weather, two championship 

courses in a tropical 

garden paradise and a splendid 

royal banquet – The Marco Polo Club 

Golf Classic 2008 certainly lived up to 

its usual high standards. 

Some 60 members and guests from 

around the world came together for the 

three-day event that kicked off on 14 

November last year with a golf clinic at 

the Nirwana Bali Golf Club. The prestigious 

club on Bali’s southwest coast has 

an 18-hole course that weaves through 

rice terraces and palm trees and overlooks 

the Indian Ocean. And because 


this was as much a social weekend as a 

sporting one, the clinic was followed by 

cocktails at Le Meridien Nirwana. 

Day two and golfers teed off in round 

one of the tournament at the Bali Golf 

and Country Club. It was an exciting 

morning’s play on the course which 

was designed by Nelson & Wright and 

voted one Asia’s top five courses by 

Fortune magazine. 

The second round on 16 November 

was played in excellent conditions at 

the Nirwana Bali Golf Club, whose 6,775yard 

course was designed by golfing 

great Greg Norman. 

Players had the afternoon to relax 

before the prize presentation ceremony. 

The main trophies went to: 

• Sunil Gidumal, Male Best Gross 

• Angie Tsai, Female Best Gross 

• Kurt Louie, Best Individual Stapleford 

The closing gala dinner at the Hotel 

Tugu Bali was a feast fi t for a king. Guests 

were issued with specially produced 

sarongs to dress for a Balinese royal dining 

experience. Dramatically costumed 

waiters bearing candle-lit litters of food 

served the entrée courses, and the lobby 

was transformed into a stage for the 

fi ery traditional Kecak dance. 

Looking forward to another perfect 

day of golf (above) 

Angie Tsai, trophy winner (top)

A superb setting for 

a round of golf (left) 

The royal buffet 

(bottom left) 

Trophy winners flank 

James Barrington, 

Director Sales 

and Marketing, 

Cathay Pacific Airways 

(sixth from left, below) 


CLUB EVENTS 

Christmas cheer 

From left to right: Oliver Stratton, Paul Loo (General 

Manager, Cathay Pacific Loyalty Programmes Ltd. 

“CPLP”), Katie Rowen (Manager The Marco Polo Club, 

CPLP), Ada Tsang (Assistant Manager The Marco Polo Club, 

CPLP) and Whye Chuen Lai 

John Harrison, Nick Rhodes (Director Flight Operations, CPA), 

David Yem and James Barrington (Director Sales 

and Marketing, CPA) 

48 THE E CLUB 

Chen Chia Chiang enjoying a buffet of delicacies 

Cheng Hoi Chuen, Christopher Pratt (Chairman, Cathay Pacific Airways “CPA”) 

and Anthony Conway 

John Joh Slosar (Chief Operating Officer, CPA) and Yoon Soon Kok 

Chairman of Cathay Pacifi c Airways Christopher Pratt hosted a pre-Christmas drinks 

reception on 16 December 2008, enjoyed by members of The Marco Polo Club from 

around the world and executives from Cathay Pacifi c and Dragonair 

Richard Ellert, Jacques Paul Boissier, Cassam Gooljarry, 

Charlie Stewart-Cox (General Manager Inflight 

Services, CPA) and Fraser Hickox 

Bernard Siu Yu Fung, Marcel Robert Fenez, 

Christopher Pratt, Francesca Pratt and Anthony Langridge 

Won Sik Kwon, Steve Ushiyama, Takeshi Okamura 

and Katie Rowen

CHECK-IN ON THE MOVE WITH MOBILE SERVICE 

FROM CATHAY PACIFIC AND DRAGONAIR 

Checking in for Cathay Pacifi c 

and Dragonair fl ights is now 

even more convenient with our 

new Mobile Check-In service. 

By accessing the mobile sites 

with a web-enabled mobile 

phone, passengers with 

eTickets issued by Cathay Pacifi c 

or Dragonair can check in 

anytime, anywhere for themselves 

and their companions and require 

no additional application downloads. 

In order to enjoy this service, 

simply visit m.cathaypacifi c.com 

or m.dragonair.com and click 

“Check in”. Select your seat from a seat 

map and receive a confi rmation barcode 

by SMS or email. Then, at the airport, you 

PAMPER YOURSELF WITH OUR AMENITY KITS 

Cathay Pacific provides a range of 

amenity kits specially designed for 

its First and Business Class passengers. 

The First Class amenity kit for 

men comes with a new stylish bag 

designed by Bally and packed with 

skincare products by Acca Kappa. 

For ladies, the new exclusive designs 

by Ipa-Nima will be introduced ed 

in two phases. These elegant t 

pouches are fi lled with a 

collection of skin and bodycare 

products from Aesop. 

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts • Park Hyatt Hotels • 

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The Business Class amenity kit with 

exclusive designs by agnès b. features 

new skin-care selections from Murad 

and Dermalogica and will continue to 

be off ered in Business Class cabins. 

These new kits will be progressively 

introduced in 2009. 

First Cla Class kits 

Check-in 

made easy 

can scan the mobile barcode at our 

Self Check-In Kiosks (where available) 

and print your own boarding pass. 

For more details about the service, 

please visit www.cathaypacifi c.com or 

www.dragonair.com. 

ASIA MILES WINS AN 

AWARD FOR SERVICE 

AND INNOVATION 

Asia Miles, Asia’s leading travel rewards 

programme, has been recognised for 

its contributions to the Hong Kong 

community and economy. 

Asia Miles won a Supreme Service 

Award, aat 

a ceremony hosted 

by Capital Capi CEO magazine, 

for its excellent ex customer 

service aand 

strategy of 

product produc innovation. 

Club partners : For rexclusiveClubpartners’ exclusive Club partners’ offers, offersplease pleasevisitthemem 

visit the member’s area of www.cathaypacific.com 

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts • 

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oneworld ENJOYS 

10TH ANNIVERSARY 

CX NEWS 

The oneworld® airline alliance is 10 

years old this year. Cathay Pacifi c Chief 

Executive Tony Tyler outlines its importance 

to the airline and the industry. 

“A lot has happened since 

Cathay Pacific became one of the founder 

members of oneworld in 1999. Our airline 

has grown significantly over the past 

decade, as has oneworld, and being part 

of the leading quality alliance has played 

an important role in enabling us to offer a 

better product to our customers. Being a 

oneworld member has helped us extend 

our markets, introduce innovative new 

products and realise various synergies 

from being in partnership with some of 

the world’s finest airlines. 

“Looking ahead, our relationship with 

oneworld will continue to be an integral 

part of our strategy for future growth 

and development in the next 10 years 

and beyond, for both Cathay Pacifi c and 

our sister airline Dragonair.” 

– Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler 

The Hilton Family • Hilton® • Conrad® Hotels & Resorts • 

Doubletree® • Embassy Suites Hotels® • Hilton Garden Inn® 

The Peninsula Hotels 

Avis 

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SIXT rent a car 

For all partner offers, prices quoted are subject to change without prior notice. Peak season surcharges apply. Advance reservation is required and rooms are subject to availability. 

Blackout dates apply. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or membership benefit.

MAGAZINE OF THE MARCO POLO CLUB Spin ... - Cathay Pacific

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