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Luxury hotel takes you into shikumen life
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IF you are attracted to the shikumen (stone-gate) buildings in Shanghai and want to experience a luxurious life and style typical of the southern reaches of the Yangtze River that dates back centuries, the Chaptel Hangzhou, which is the only member of Relais & Chateaux in Zhejiang Province, might be a good option.
Today as the hotel marks its one-year anniversary, the hotel management team looks forward to welcoming you at the hotel for a luxurious dream back to the 1930s.
Just a two-minute walk from the iconic West Lake, the original houses of the hotel featuring high brick walls and stone arch entrances were first built in the 1930s by Zhang Yichun, director of the Zhejiang-Anhui highway construction bureau of the Republic of China (1912-1949).
In the 1940s, Kim Gu (1876-1949), one of the founders of the Republic of Korea, moved in from his Shanghai hideout during the occupation of Korea by Japan and set up the provisional Korean government there. He stayed five years.
After 1949, the shikumen building complex served as a dormitory for municipal officials until the Chaptel Hangzhou project began in 2010. The halls of the building have also been converted into a memorial museum to commemorate Kim. It’s now part of Chaptel and open free to the public.
Restored by the professional architectural team BHD, which also designed for Amanresorts Group Asia, the facades of Chaptel Hangzhou have retained their serene and unassuming qualities, which match well with the lake and the faraway mountains. They appear in different shades, as in a traditional Chinese ink-wash painting.
Presently there are 17 luxurious suites at the Chaptel. Most suites are two floors and are spatially as originally constructed, while the rooms were renovated for better functionality. The ceiling is high and rooms are spacious.
Every item in the 90-square-meter-plus suite is well designed and well placed to re-create the atmosphere and style of the 1930s, a period when newly introduced Western culture and art clashed with traditional Chinese values. This left behind East-meets-West architecture like the stone-gate house and Chinese examples of Art Deco style.
Straight lines, symmetrical patterns, a palette of various loud and contrasting colors — all such typical Art Deco motifs are seen on the boxes, lamps, carpets, closets and other items in the room. Copper, common in furniture and interiors of the period, is blended into details of the interior design, from the light switches to the wash basin shelf.
The tall, wooden gable roof was once converted to a flat roof when the houses served as government dorms, but now the original roof has been rebuilt and antique-style fans hang from above the large wooden beds.
Every carpet, candleholder and fruit plate found within the hotel is hand-made — while lamps, shutters and glass craftworks have been custom tailored to perfection. On the walls of the hotel rooms hang the original works of celebrated Chinese engraving artist Lu Fang, whose series of wood block prints named after the Chaptel best illustrate the unique beauty of West Lake.
Since its opening on September 3, 2013, the Chaptel has resolved to deliver something that matches the 5C standards of Relais Chateaux, namely courtesy, charm, character, calm and cuisine.
All suites have private balconies for guests to soak in the sights and sounds of bustling urban life, juxtaposed against a splendid view of West Lake. Quaint patios dotting its rustic courtyards and black wrought iron balusters lend the complex an air of nostalgia. From its prime location, guests can easily access the Hangzhou Railway Station and attractions such as Wulin Square and Lingyin Temple, which are just a short walk or drive away.
You may start your mornings with a Western and Chinese breakfast served at Le Lotus restaurant, or boat on West Lake to watch the beautiful view while enjoying your breakfast or British afternoon tea.
Short excursions provided by the hotel for a temple tour, trekking experience or artistic exploration are also recommended. From making transport arrangements to serving as reliable private guides, all is at your call.
A customers first service at the hotel will make your stay in Hangzhou a truly unforgettable experience. Welcoming fruit, complimentary drinks at the mini-bar of the house, deluxe green/black tea kit, free Wi-Fi service and local call services: You name it and you can be sure the Chaptel Hangzhou’s staff will attend to your every need and make you feel at home.
A member of Relais & Chateau in Zhejiang Province, the Chaptel is a fine and glorious product of a restored historic site that has been through 80 years of architectural transformation and facelifts. The hotel is also actively preparing for the phase II development. A spa treatment, a multi-function conference hall, more guest houses and more tailor-made services will soon be on the menu.
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