White Swan Hotel
The White Swan Hotel (simplified Chinese: 白天鹅宾馆; traditional Chinese: 白天鵝賓館; pinyin: báitiān'é bīnguǎn; Jyutping: baak6 tin1 ngo4 ban1 gun2) 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 635 metres (2,083 ft) causeway.
| White Swan Hotel | |
|---|---|
白天鹅宾馆 or 白天鵝賓館 | |
.jpg.webp) Shamian Island, White Swan Hotel | |
  Hotels location within Guangdong Province | |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Skyscraper |
| Classification | Hotel |
| Location | Shamian Island |
| Address | 1 Shamian South Street, Liwan District |
| Town or city | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| Country | China |
| Coordinates | 23°6′21.5″N 113°14′33.1″E |
| Completed | 1983 |
| Opened | February 6, 1983 |
| Renovated | 2015 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 328.08 feet (100.00 m) |
| Roof | 328.08 feet (100.00 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 33 |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 520 |
| Number of restaurants | 5 |
| Number of bars | 2 |
| Facilities | Health club Outdoor pool Spa |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
The hotel opened on February 6, 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 Guangzou`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.
Many American families who adopt children from China stay at the White Swan while in Guangzhou awaiting visa paperwork. A children's story book[3] is based on this.[4]
Famous guests
The Guangzhou White Swan Hotel has received over 40 heads of state and government, including :
- Dear Leader Kim Jong Il[5]
- Queen Elizabeth II[6]
- President George W. Bush[1]
- Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Awards
References
- Lau, Mimi (26 July 2015). "Thanks for the memories: landmark Guangzhou hotel attract nostalgic crowds". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- Li, Wenfang; Zheng, Caixiong (2016-05-21). "Renowned hotel reopens". China Daily. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- "The White Swan Express". Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- Barboza, David (2003-03-31). "The adoption prized The White Swan Hotel". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- "Kim Apparently in China's South".
- "1986年英国女王丽莎白二世莅临白天鹅宾馆". Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- "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". Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- "中国最老牌酒店". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
