Stand at the Feet of History: Meet Me at the King Tree 與千年香樟樹王結緣：穿越時空的上海養雲安縵酒店體驗

I held my daughter’s hands as she steadily walked a wooden spoon of water to the foot of the King Camphor Tree. “King Tree,” she delightfully whispered as she poured the well water as an offering, with reverence and childlike wonder. The camphor tree stood in the heart of the central courtyard, the largest and most majestic of the ten thousand trees at Amanyangyun, with a weight of 80 tonnes and a trunk so thick, its circumference would take at least a dozen people to join hands in a circle to offer a full embrace. The King Tree has borne witness to time well before ours; estimated to be at least 1000 years old, it was alive when the Ming and Qing emperors ruled, and lived through regimes and changes that we can only read about in history books.

Design DialogueFête ChinoiseSeptember 4, 2025design annual, Heritage, heritage, Architecture, Hotel, Luxury Hotel, product designComment

Chris Ong: A Keeper of Living Heritage 古宅古物故人情

The light in Seven Terraces filters gently through antique shutters, casting patterns on blackwood furniture polished to a soft gleam. Porcelain kamchengs sit proudly on sideboards, their intricate designs hinting at stories of a bygone era. For Chris Ong, this isn’t just a hotel—it’s a living archive of Peranakan culture, a legacy he fears could fade without care. “Heritage isn’t just about things,” he says, his voice steady but reflective. “It’s about stories, traditions, people—that’s what keeps it alive.”

Design DialogueFête ChinoiseAugust 14, 2025design annual, malaysia, Collections, Heritage, heritageComment

Art, Antiques & Assets: Preserve Wealth and Heritage by Safeguarding Your Collections 藝術品、古董與資產：藏品保障財富安穩延續

Whether it's an inherited piece of jewellery, a treasured painting, or a newly acquired antique, each collection speaks to an experience, a story, and a connection to our heritage, culture, and personal histories. While insurance is a familiar concept, its importance in safeguarding high-value items and ensuring their legacy can continue, is often overlooked.

Ads, Art and Fashion, History & Architecture, Objects of DesireFête ChinoiseSeptember 6, 2024Ads, Heritage, heritageComment

An Icon Revisited: The Blue Mansion 世界文化遺產:住進南洋首富的「藍屋」

If you had to name one of the most memorable scenes from the 2018 rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, the fervent mahjong game between Eleanor Young and Rachel Chu (played by Michelle Yeoh and Constance Wu respectively), would be at the top of many people's lists. What looks like a beautiful mahjong club set in a traditional Chinese courtyard was, in actuality, the majestic UNESCO heritage site-turned-boutique hotel Cheong Fatt Tze, located in Penang, Malaysia.