The Ritz-Carlton Harbin has opened in northeast China.
The hotel is in one of Harbin’s tallest buildings, the 300-metre high R&F Center tower designed by Leo A Daly, a mixed residential and retail development close to the Songhua River. The interiors of the hotel including the 54th floor Sky Lobby, the rooms, the function rooms and the spa have been designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) with AB Concept designing the dining outlets and bars.
The design takes its cue from Harbin’s location in China’s Heilongjiang province with its convergence of Chinese-Russian influences and winter leisure visitors including the ice sculptures that are created during its annual festival from January until late February.
The 368 rooms, including 31 suites, have blue-and-white floral motif art walls inspired by traditional Russian lace crafts while the arrival area ‘welcomes guests with elements that showcase colourful Russian influences fused with local Harbin culture’. A feature wall depicts the nearby Changbai Mountains as well as the Heilongjiang River.
The hotel has four restaurants: Manor 54 offers local and international all-day dining; King Wong Heen is a fine-dining Cantonese restaurant; the Lobby Lounge serves afternoon tea and on the 56th floor, the Flair bar has cocktails along with Asian-inspired tapas. In addition, the 57th floor has a Speakeasy Bar, with subdued lighting and two hand-woven tapestries pay tribute to Harbin’s Middle East Railway, as well as the city’s century-old history as a gateway between East and West.
The spa has six treatment rooms, as well as steam rooms, saunas, a heated indoor swimming pool and a fitness centre with the Technogym equipment.
The hotel has 3,500m2 of event space, including a Grand Ballroom equipped with three build-in LED screens, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows for picturesque river views. On the 56th floor, the hotel’s Sky Gallery has four multi-functional meeting rooms for private events.
“We are thrilled to debut The Ritz-Carlton brand in Northeast China and celebrate another milestone as we continue to expand our luxury portfolio into new markets across the country with our Destination + Brand growth strategy,” said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. “As domestic travel continues to pick up momentum, we are excited to bring the legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton to China’s emerging leisure destinations.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Harbin is located only 3.2 kilometres from the transport hub of Harbin Railway Station.
