Shangri-La in Harbin serves up special dishes to satisfy local tastes
In bid to innovate guest experiences in the wake of the current situation regarding international travel, a pair of luxury hotels in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province have come up with a unique and authentic approach by recreating the local street food vendor experience.
Shangri-La Hotel, Harbin and Songbei Shangri-La, Harbin are offering beer, barbecue and stirfried dishes, just like those popular with locals out on the street on warm summer nights. Known as dapaidang in Mandarin Chinese, street food vendors are popular among many in China and almost a cultural institution — the sight of many relaxing at these outdoor vendors enjoying a beer and eating the local food is common across the country.
According to Wang Taisheng, general manager of the two hotels, authentic experiences are core to delivering to the demands of Chinese customers. The hotels have also opened their own cinema rooms recently.
Though Harbin is perhaps best known for winter tourism and its annual international ice and snow festival, summer tourism is growing in popularity.
“Activities held by the two hotels last year were widely appreciated by our guests,” Wang said. “Our competitive prices are obviously a great benefit. This year, we will continue the pattern and keep providing new dishes and experiences.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the luxury hotel market inevitably encountered a slowdown last year. By offering customized dishes for families, the two Shangri-La hotels in Harbin embraced a large number of new customers.
A new menu item introduced at the time, pork knuckle — a local specialty in Harbin, has proved a winner among guests.
Moving along the new menu,
Songbei Shangri-La, Harbin is serving a veritable platter of lamb dishes from nose to tail.
“Although our business is highend oriented, Shangri-La’s philosophy is centered on hospitality,” Wang said. “According to the local consumption level and habits, we must meet their needs so as to provide experiences customized to them.”
With the rapid response and effective measures rolled out by the Chinese government to fight the pandemic, the revenues of the two Shangri-La hotels are recovering.
“I believe that with the recovery of the domestic economy, we will usher in a new high in business revenue this year,” Wang said.
Opened in 1999, ShangriLa Hotel Harbin was the first fivestar hotel in the city. Located nearby the Youyi Road business district, it is convenient for guests to visit the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Stalin Park and other scenic spots.
The hotel is about five minutes drive from the Central Pedestrian Street, a century-old street with European-style architecture, and 15 minutes’ drive from the Sun Island, a 5A-rated scenic spot, the highest rating level for tourist attractions in China.
Songbei Shangri-La, Harbin is located on the northern bank of the Songhua River. More than 90 percent of its rooms have river views, allowing guests to enjoy the sunrise and sunset on the river. It is five minutes’ drive from Harbin Ice and Snow World Fair, a renowned winter tourism destination.