Shanghai Dining Experience in the Heart of Beijing

Gracefully restored St Josephs Cathedral, north of Wangfujing's pedestrianised shopping street, is a landmark in the city. Its tranquil square has become a place for relaxation and reflection. Overlooking this historical location, and only 10 minutes walk from the Forbidden City, is the Tianlun Dynasty Hotel.

An obvious choice for visitors looking for a luxurious central location, its spaciousness, décor and comfortable atmosphere instill an impression that considerable effort and thought have gone into the design. That feeling carries right through into its range of first-class culinary experiences. The Tianlun offers discerning diners everything from the finest Cantonese dishes in its lavish Royal Restaurant to authentic European, particularly French cuisine, in the graceful Courtyard.

Increasingly popular is the Shanghai-style Seasons. Through the use of dark red wood blended with light table- and wall-coverings, its charming environment recreates the feeling of tantalizing beauty found in the Water Regions. Its three private dining rooms with Ming-style furnishings also encapsulate that areas unique miniature garden style. Spring blossom or green shoots of bamboo emerge from delicate stone formations and reach up to intricately carved wooden columns. Cutlery with the feeling of gold and exquisitely decorated crockery rests on tables illuminated by lighting suggesting 1920s' Shanghai.

Seasons' cuisine has been carefully refined from earlier rich Shanghai styles. Through subtle use of the finest soy sauces, the dishes are stronger in taste while darker in colour. To achieve regional perfection and authenticity, seafood of outstanding quality and the freshest of vegetables specially prepared in the rich areas of abundance south of the Yangtze River are brought north to the Tianlun. The master chef applies his skills to transform these ingredients into specialities combining excellence in taste and delicacy in feeling.

The extensive menu is a pleasure for gourmets to read. Exotic specialities include shark's fin, lobster and braised edible bird's nest soup. There is naturally a strong emphasis on seafood such as Mandarin fish prepared Shanghai style, either steamed, dry fried or sweet and sour. Grass carp fish, delicately braised, is served with sweet, dark sauce and green onions. Steamed shrimps are stirred with green kidney beans, cucumbers, mushrooms and red peppers. Mouthwatering soups include one subtle, fresh-tasting blend of yellow croaker fish, eggs, mushrooms, asparagus and carrots. Delicious saut vegetable dishes combine mushrooms with chestnuts and crisp green choy sum. Specialities such as Treasure Rolls are preserved bean curd sticks covered with a deep-fried batter while finely chopped green vegetables inside doufu pockets resemble Japanese sushi.

Seasons is well known for its innovative promotions. Throughout this month there will be the opportunity for regular diners and new guests to indulge in nostalgic reminiscences of Old Shanghai. Waitresses will wear elegant silk costumes brought specially from Suzhou. Adverts featuring beautiful 'Shanghai Girls' from the '20s and 30s' will be on display to a background of music and well-known songs evoking that swinging period. Unique fare prepared specially for the promotion, will include shrimp in dried tangerine peel, crab meat and fish bean curd, dried bamboo shoots cooked with yellow croaker and many more dishes.

After dinner guests can relax in the stunning third-floor garden atrium plaza, reputedly the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. There they can reflect on their culinary journey back to old Shanghai－ a living memory here in downtown Beijing.

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Tianlun Dynasty Hotel, tel: +86 010 6513-8888