BACKGROUND

comparatively unobstrusive. The Ritz-Carlton is on the 23rd through 41st floors of the R&F Center.You enter through a ground floor lobby and take the elevator to the reception floor. Marble and glass and good art abound. The ambience is understated and pleasantly tasteful.

In the Qingyang District, near the soccer stadium and not far from the city’s best shopping. It’s within walking distance of Tianfu Square, the prime public gathering place. Chengdu residents are relaxed, and approachable – at least in comparison to the inhabitants of Beijing. Chengdu is to Beijing as Munich is to Berlin. Still, Chengdu somewhat shares with the Chinese capital smudgy skies – a condition all but endemic to many Chinese cities. The Ritz-Carlton is a 30-minute taxi ride from the airport.