Sunday, July 05, 2015

SUMMER SOJOURN IN CHENGDU WITH DORSETT GRAND & AIRASIA


Our maiden visit to Chengdu was an immersive experience courtesy of AirAsia X and Dorsett Grand Chengdu. The five days/four nights' sojourn began with us enjoying the peaceful quiet zone, one of the perks accorded under AAX Premium Flex.
Silence is golden at AAX Quiet Zone (photo courtest of Wilsurn Lim)
For the uninitiated, AAX flies seven times weekly from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu - the capital of Sichuan province.  Guests from Singapore can travel seamlessly all the way using the Fly-Thru service - a convenience which enables them to connect to flights via AirAsia’s multiple transit hubs; their baggage checked through to the final destination without  having to physically go through immigration. The Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu flight takes four hours and fifteen minutes, touching down at Shuangliu International Airport.
 

It also pays to pre-book your meal prior to boarding your flights. Besides rice meals, there are easy-to-eat options such as Stuffed Chicken with Cranberry Sauce or Onigiri (triangular Japanese rice balls) with Chicken Teriyaki & Egg-Sausage fillings.

Once touched down, it took another 30 minutes to reach Dorsett Grand Chengdu from the airport. The upscale 42-storey property belonging to Dorsett Hospitality International located in Chengdu’s Central Business District (CBD).

 
The marble-clad lobby with its soaring high ceiling left us awestruck and drove us into immediate photo-taking frenzy. Decor motifs inspired by lotus and gingko leaves are sprinkled throughout, evoking a sense of serenity in the lobby.
Our room is reflective of the 556 rooms and suites; comfortably furnished and outfitted with modern essentials: WiFi access, iPhone radio docking station, in-room coffee/tea and Chinese tea making facilities and other essential creature comforts. 
 
If you want greater luxury, Dorsett Grand's plush suites are spacious and tastefully furnished. Separate work, living, dining and sleeping areas bear understated elegant touches such as custom-designed chandeliers, wallpaper and luxe extras like massage room, jacuzzi and walk-in wardrobes.
For VIPs and travellers with deep pockets, the Chairman Suite with all the modern trappings of luxury should be up to discerning expectations.

Breakfast buffet is served daily at Yue Rong Café where hand-pulled noodles and dumplings are prepared fresh at the ‘live’ show kitchen. We were spoiled for choice with the wide range of local and international specialties jostling for attention.
 

Choice picks include 'dan dan mien' (noodles with spiced minced pork topping), boiled pork & vegetable dumplings, mixed beef offal, bacon and luncheon meat in zingy hot Sichuan chilli broth and noodles in a piquant chilli broth laden with chopped leek & spring onion.
 
Spacious with plenty of seating ensures ample privacy for business and leisure travellers. Besides breakfast buffet, a la carte and regular promotional menus give diners additional choice.
Corporate events can easily be organised at the Ballroom and function rooms. Exquisite Sichuan and regional Chinese specialities rule at the Fu Yue Xuan Chinese restaurant (full review to follow).
For reservations, call tel: +86 28 8332 8666. DORSETT GRAND CHENGDU, 168 Xi Yulong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan

COMING SOON: TOP SPOTS TO EAT, PLAY & SHOP IN CHENGDU

1 comment:

KY said...

That looks like a good trip! Whenever I think of Air Asia, Pak Nassir's nasi lemak come to mind.

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