White Swan Hotel Explained

White Swan Hotel
Native Name:白天鹅宾馆 or 白天鵝賓館
Native Name Lang:zh
Map Type:China Guangdong
Coordinates:23.106°N 113.2425°W
Status:completed
Building Type:Skyscraper
Classification:Hotel
Location:Shamian Island
Address:1 Shamian South Street, Liwan District
Location City:Guangzhou, Guangdong
Location Country:China
Destruction Date:-->
Floor Count:33
Number Of Rooms:520
Number Of Restaurants:5
Number Of Bars:2
Facilities:Health club
Outdoor pool
Spa

The White Swan Hotel is a 28-story luxury hotel in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, located on Shamian Island, overlooking the Pearl River and facing the White Swan Pool. The hotel is reached by its own private causeway.

History

The hotel opened on February6, 1983. It was built by Hong Kong businessman Fok Ying-tung. Located on the Cantonese equivalent of Dejima of pearl-rich Nagasaki in Japan (Exit Island in Japanese), the Hotel`s surroundings are rich in history of the Merchant houses incorporated in the Nations of the "Great Powers" and Holland; often attributed to have been the greatest force of modernisation in East-Asia. The colonial-era buildings are within easy walking-distance, and are a quaint reminder of Guangzhou's historical multiculturalism.

The hotel was built by Fok Ying-tung on Shamian Island for political reasons, and the hotel soon after hosted Hu Yaobang, Zhao Ziyang and Deng Xiaoping.[1]

In the early 2000s, after 20 years of private operations, the hotel was handed out to the Chinese government. The hotel now belongs to The Ministry of Land and Resources of People's Republic of China.[1]

The hotel closed down for renovations during three years and reopened in July 2015,[2] on the 15th.

Description

The hotel has 520 rooms and suites. The White Swan's Jade River Restaurant, with its garden decor, is noted for its Cantonese cuisine, and has one Michelin star.[3]

Many American families who adopt children from China stay at the White Swan while in Guangzhou awaiting visa paperwork. A children's story book[4] is based on this.[5]

Famous guests

The Guangzhou White Swan Hotel has received over 40 heads of state and government, including :

Awards

External links

23.1057°N 113.2426°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Lau . Mimi. 26 July 2015. Thanks for the memories: landmark Guangzhou hotel attract nostalgic crowds . South China Morning Post. 27 July 2015 .
  2. Web site: Li. Wenfang. Zheng. Caixiong. Renowned hotel reopens. China Daily. 2016-05-21. 2020-11-22.
  3. Web site: Jade River – Guangzhou - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant . 2024-04-02 . MICHELIN Guide . en-US.
  4. News: The White Swan Express . 0618164537 . 2008-05-01. Okimoto . Jean Davies . Aoki . Elaine Mei . 2002 .
  5. News: The adoption prized The White Swan Hotel . 2008-05-01 . The New York Times . David . Barboza . 2003-03-31.
  6. Web site: Kim Apparently in China's South. The Washington Post.
  7. News: 1986年英国女王丽莎白二世莅临白天鹅宾馆 . 2009-12-08.
  8. News: 1985年7月1日白天鹅宾馆率先被世界一流酒店组织TheLeadingHotelsoftheWorld接纳为正式成员 . 2009-12-08.
  9. News: 中国最老牌酒店 . 2008-10-01.