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Ooh LaLu! Taiwanese Luxury Opens its Doors

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You know when you walk into a really good eastern zen-styled spa frizzy and frayed from life outside, and then you walk out feeling the most relaxed you’ve felt in months? It is almost as if that massage or facial was actually given by a practicing reiki master, who activated your internal energy pathways and unlocked your higher spiritual self.

It’s a nice feeling and one that can also be felt when walking into and out of The LaLu in Nanjing. Soft lounge music plays throughout this symmetrically colossal place; while echoing down the corridors is only the pitter patter of staff feet, whom, we are told, adopt a “soft” approach to service. Water falls peacefully from fountains, while large windows surround the hotel that overlooks our beloved Yangtze river.

Head through the lobby of this hotel and your path leads straight to the main bar and café. To its left are housed 152 serene rooms; to its right, the enticing smell of Taiwanese fine dining. Soft lighting, mahogany wood and light music surround a central dining area designed in a traditional Chinese manner. Lazy Susan tables sit amongst circular entranced booths, while private rooms flank the hallway.

Accompanied by Marketing & Communications Manager Rachel Zong, The Nanjinger enjoyed the space and luxury that one of these private rooms offers. In true Chinese fashion, our cold dishes came out first, and thereafter appeared, one by one, top-of-the-range, traditionally-inspired, Taiwanese celebrity favourites such as Chiang Kai Shek’s favourite dish; fried duck with taro, and that of his wife, Song Meiling.

Mega star Fan Bingbing, who owns an apartment in The LaLu Qingdao, regularly visits the restaurant therein and says her favourite dish is the coconut and melon pudding, incidentally The Nanjinger’s favourite as well! Aside from celebrity flare, other outstanding dishes include succulent cod topped with crispy mince dried beans, beef with peppers and lobster with duck oil and local ingredients.

Executive Chef, Jacko Huang, popped in to say hello and educated us a little as to the food. The green vegetable in our scollop soup happened to be the root of a dandelion flower, sourced exclusively in Jiangsu, and the crab dish with curry sauce hailed originally from Taiwan before becoming a major hit in Malaysia. Jacko spoke with passion and pride when taking us through the menu, while he has spared no effort in sourcing only the freshest of ingredients for his guests. Take note, mainlanders; in Taiwan, he tells us, food must not be wasted.

The LaLu means Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan dialect, resonating tranquility. Rooms at The LaLu mirror its name. Swimming in the view of the Yangtze river, guests can gaze out over it from bathtubs and balconies. Not only is The LaLu a hotel, but it is also a commercial hub, offering office space and residential apartments to boot. Such tranquility does not come cheap; at around ¥2,800 per night for one of its standard rooms, it makes the hotel Nanjing’s most expensive.

If however, you have the cash to spare, are in need of a new dining venue or would like to visit The LaLu’s long awaited spa, which we are told will be opening soon, then look no further. Offering true Taiwanese class, tranquility and style, Nanjing welcomes The LaLu and all it has to offer.

The LaLu is located at 208 Yangtze River Avenue, Jianye District 南京市建邺区扬子江大道208号 Tel: 68889888

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