New Star Alliance Lounge At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3, China

Star Alliance has unveiled its lounge at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), located in the newly opened Terminal 3. The opening builds on the success of the Alliance’s first lounge in Asia in 2024, also in Guangzhou, and reflects the continued evolution of its presence in one of the region’s growing international gateways.

The opening ceremony took place at the new lounge in Terminal 3 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and was presided over by Ambar Franco, Vice President - Customer Experience at Star Alliance and Qi Yaoming, Deputy General Manager of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, alongside representatives from member airlines, airport partners, and media guests.

Ambar Franco, Vice President - Customer Experience at Star Alliance said, “Lounges are a critical part of the customer experience for Star Alliance member airline passengers, supporting our vision for more seamless and effortless journeys. As Guangzhou continues to grow as an important international gateway in China, this new space reflects the evolution of our lounge offering. It is bigger and better, and will deliver enhanced comfort and functionality for Star Alliance member airline customers.”

The lounge spans approximately 1,400 square metres with seating for around 245 guests and features a 700-square-metre outdoor garden, a distinctive open-air space that remains rare in airport environments, offering passengers a serene setting to relax and unwind before their journey. Open 24 hours a day, it is designed to support the needs of international travellers across varying flight schedules, providing a calm and comfortable space to rest or work before their journeys. The Star Alliance Guangzhou lounge will welcome First and Business class passengers, and Star Alliance Gold status customers travelling on member airline flights, irrespective of the cabin class, departing from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3.

There are 10 Star Alliance member airlines operating from Guangzhou, including Air China, ANA, Asiana Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, THAI, and Turkish Airlines, with a total of 1,500 weekly departures to 52 destinations across 10 countries.

Designed in close collaboration with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the lounge reflects elements of Lingnan culture and Guangzhou’s natural landscape, creating a strong sense of place throughout. At its centre is a sculptural installation inspired by the kapok flower, the city’s emblem, reinterpreted through contemporary design. A dedicated tea experience further anchors the space in local tradition, with tea artists guiding guests through the craft and cultural significance of tea.

Operated by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Business Travel Service Co. Ltd, the Star Alliance lounge is set to play a key role in enhancing the travel experience for international passengers, strengthening the strategic collaboration between the two partners.

“Going forward, we will continue to strengthen strategic coordination with Star Alliance and major airlines, carrying out deeper cooperation in route network expansion, transfer facilitation, and smart travel, to jointly build a better international aviation ecosystem,” said Qi Yaoming, Deputy General Manager of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

The lounge offers a variety of spaces designed around different travel needs, including rest areas, sleep pods, private rooms, reading spaces, and dedicated work zones. The dining programme, developed in partnership with the five-star chef team of Pullman Hotel, features a selection of Chinese and Western dishes focused on freshness and balance, complemented by a range of amenities designed to enhance comfort and convenience throughout the journey.

Lounge operations have now fully transitioned from Terminal 1 to the new lounge in Terminal 3.

Star Alliance unites 26 of the world’s leading airlines, providing travellers with seamless access to over 1,150 airports across 190 countries - covering 90% of the world. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.

Shanghai Launches "Spring Festival Gift Packs" With Discounts And Cultural Experiences For The Chinese Lunar New Year

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Shanghai is rolling out a series of "Spring Festival Gift Packs" designed to make it easier and more enjoyable for residents and visitors to experience the city during the holiday period. The initiative, led by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, features discounted tickets, themed activities, and cultural offerings across 60 popular city attractions.

The gift packs are part of Shanghai's broader push to boost festive tourism and encourage people to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in the city. By combining discounted admission, zodiac-themed promotions, and integrated tour packages, the program seeks to provide a wide range of affordable options tailored to different visitor groups.

Highlights of the Spring Festival Gift Packs include:

Attraction Discounts : Participating scenic spots are offering tickets at up to 50% off, along with special promotions based on the Chinese zodiac and combo passes, making sightseeing more affordable for families, tourists, and locals alike.

Cultural & Festive Activities : The discounts are complemented by a rich lineup of supporting events, including intangible cultural heritage performances, interactive pet-themed activities for the Chinese Lunar New Year, traditional market fairs, and bazaars featuring China-chic trends -- all crafted to enhance the festive atmosphere.

Integrated Experience Packages : Many venues are bundling accommodation with entry tickets or themed tours, creating convenient and cost-effective ways to explore Shanghai during the holiday period.

Themed Tourism Products : Travel agencies and hotels have curated itineraries with a "Spring Festival vibe" and activities for "Spring Celebration" that cover family-friendly, cultural, and rural leisure experiences, providing multiple options for holiday outings.

The gift packs initiative aligns with the ongoing "Discover Shanghai" Tourism Guide Super Competition, which has inspired practical and innovative tour recommendations now being developed into actual tourism products. The competition's winning guides are expected to be widely used by visitors during the Spring Festival.

Industry observers note that Shanghai continues to strengthen its appeal as a winter destination by combining affordability with cultural depth. The Spring Festival Gift Packs not only make travel more economical but also immerse visitors in the local customs and vibrant spirit of Shanghai during the most important traditional holiday in China.

The offers will be available throughout the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday period, with detailed information accessible through official tourism platforms such as "Hu Xiaoyou" and Trip.com. Through this Spring Festival Gift Packs Initiative, Shanghai demonstrates its commitment to creating a welcoming, dynamic, and visitor-friendly holiday environment, inviting everyone to enjoy a memorable and affordable Chinese Lunar New Year in the city.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism

“Taste Hong Kong,” A Chef-Curated Gourmet Guide To The City’s True Culinary Soul

More than 50 master chefs handpick 250 restaurants to showcase the authentic flavours of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods.

Hong Kong’s longstanding reputation as one of the world’s great food cities has been built on contrast — a destination where humble street stalls sit comfortably alongside polished Michelin-starred dining rooms, and where “Great Taste” can be found everywhere in Hong Kong. This season, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) celebrates the city’s rich culinary culture with the launch of Taste Hong Kong, a new gourmet guide developed in collaboration with the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) that invites visitors to experience the city through the eyes — and appetites — of its master chefs.

Taste Hong Kong is a chef-curated culinary guide to the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. More than 50 master chefs — all graduates of CCI’s prestigious Master Chef Course in Chinese Cuisine — have collectively handpicked 250 restaurants throughout Hong Kong, shining a spotlight on the places they return to time and again. The guide offers a comprehensive and refined overview of the city’s culinary landscape, highlighting a rich tapestry of Chinese cuisines alongside an array of international flavours, from traditional noodle shops and classic dessert parlours to family run local gems, artisanal cafés, upscale hotel restaurants, and Michelin-starred fine dining destinations. Going beyond conventional rankings and accolades, the guide provides an authoritative, insider perspective on the city’s most authentic and distinctive gastronomic experiences.

At the heart of Taste Hong Kong are the chefs themselves. As the creative minds behind some of Hong Kong’s most celebrated dining rooms, they bring a rare perspective on what defines a great meal — and what makes a restaurant endure. Among them are acclaimed figures such as Adam Wong and Lee Man-sing, who have each contributed personal recommendations that reflect both their culinary roots and their deep connection to Hong Kong’s dining culture.

“When I think about Hong Kong food, I think about the neighbourhood places I always go back to — dai pai dongs, cha chaan tengs and small restaurants that define the city’s everyday dining culture. These spots reflect how locals really eat and the city’s culinary soul. I am excited to be part of this guide because it gives visitors a genuine way to experience Hong Kong through the food and neighbourhoods that locals know and love,” says Adam Wong, a 3-star Michelin Executive Chef at the Forum Restaurant.

“I have always believed that some of Hong Kong’s best food is found in the simplest settings, whether it’s a comforting bowl of noodles or hot pot shared with friends. The restaurants highlighted in Taste Hong Kong are places with history, consistency and heart. They show why Hong Kong is one of the world’s most exciting cities to eat in,” says Lee Man-sing, Executive Chef of Mott 32 Group.

Designed for both visitors and locals, Taste Hong Kong organises its 250 restaurant picks by neighbourhood. With various neighbourhoods represented, travellers are encouraged to venture beyond well-trodden dining districts and experience the distinctive character of each area. From sizzling woks in bustling street kitchens to quiet neighbourhood favourites passed down through generations, the chefs’ selections offer visitors and locals a deeper insight into Hong Kong’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant diversity, guiding them to the true “Great Taste” of the city.

The guide is supported by a rich suite of digital content, including neighbourhood videos and curated maps, hosted on the campaign’s dedicated website. A downloadable digital edition of the Taste Hong Kong guide will also be available, serving as an easy-to-use companion for planning meals and neighbourhood discovery. QR codes will be displayed at various MTR stations, bus shelters and visitor signage across neighbourhoods. HKTB will also broadcast the “Taste Hong Kong” promotional video at major tourist hotspots, and prominent shopping malls and hotels across the city, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a global gourmet capital where exceptional food can be found everywhere — often in the most unexpected places.

To discover the full Taste of Hong Kong guide and begin your culinary adventure, visit tastehk.discoverhongkong.com. Download the digital guide, watch the neighbourhood videos and join the conversation using #TasteHongKong to discover the authentic flavours that define Hong Kong, one neighbourhood at a time.

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board

2025 Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance To Illuminate Hong Kong With Ancient Rituals And Modern Spectacles

Get ready to be dazzled as one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular cultural traditions returns this Mid-Autumn Festival! The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, proudly inscribed on China’s Third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, will set the Tai Hang neighbourhood aglow from 5-7 October. The magnificent 67-meter-long dragon, adorned with over 12,000 incense sticks and guided by around 300 passionate performers, winds through Wun Sha Street and Tung Lo Wan Road, delivering a breathtaking fusion of heritage and good fortune.

This year promises even more unforgettable experiences, featuring a stunning inflatable moon, decorative streetscapes, and a variety of captivating cultural performances. Don’t miss the interactive photo opportunities that will make your visit truly magical!

A Living National Intangible Cultural Heritage with 146 Years of History

First performed in 1880 after appearing in a village elder’s dream, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s cultural tapestry. Constructed over one month from pearl straw, rattan branches and hemp rope, and with a head weighing nearly 50 kilograms, the dragon spans 32 segments and becomes a captivating display of smoke and motion in full flight. Recognised on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the ritual embodies a communal wish for blessings, health and peace.

A Spectacular Prelude at Victoria Park

Starting from 30 Sep, visitors can immerse themselves in the event at Victoria Park. They can learn about the culture through history wall displays and photo spots showcasing the mini fire dragon’s head, pearl, and drum. Two days before the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, on 3 and 4 October, there will be small LED dragon performance by young generations at night to keep the traditions alive.

Keeping the traditions alive with Modern Spectacles

New Instagram-worthy installations elevate the festive atmosphere, featuring a three-meter-wide glowing inflatable moon atop the Chinese Recreation Club, symbolizing reunion for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Fire Dragon Path, adjacent to the event, will also be decorated with traditional motifs, infusing a contemporary flair into the celebration. During the Fire Dragon Dance, it will also feature exciting interim performances like small LED Dragon Dance and martial arts performances which further energise the atmosphere, bringing the culture to new generation.

Visit Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre for a Deeper Cultural Connection

For a deeper cultural experience, visit the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre at 12 School Street, housed in a Grade 3 Historic Building. The centre offers a captivating look into the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, featuring engaging exhibitions and artifacts that highlight its significance to the Hakka community. Guests can also enjoy delicious Hakka cuisine at the on-site restaurant while uncovering the enchanting story of the Fire Dragon and Hakka heritage.

Event info

Date: 5 – 7 October 2025

Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

*On Mid-Autumn (6 October), the event will be extended to 11:30pm

Location: Wun Sha Street and Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang

More information:

Discover Hong Kong

https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/culture/tai-hang-s-fire-dragon-dance.html

Beijing To Offer Olympic Tickets To ‘Selected’ Spectators

BEIJING (AP) — Only “selected” spectators will be permitted at next month’s Beijing Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Monday.

Beijing had already announced that no fans from outside the country would be permitted at the events, and had not offered tickets to the general public.

Monday’s announcement posted on the organizing committee’s website confirmed expectations that the Winter Games would have few onlookers at the venues, under even more strict conditions than imposed during last year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

China has largely avoided major virus outbreaks with a regimen of lockdowns, mass testing for COVID-19 and travel restrictions, although it continues to fight surges in several cities, including the port of Tianjin, about an hour from Beijing. The capital itself confirmed over the weekend that a 26-year-old woman had contracted the omicron variant of the virus and has tested more than 13,000 people in search of cases of cross transmission.

In its statement, the organizing committee said its measures were intended to “create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games.”

“Given the difficult and complicated work of controlling the epidemic, and to protect the health and safety of those involved with the Games, the original plan of offering tickets to the general public has been altered toward spectators from selected groups,” the statement said.

Amid Virus Fears, China Urges Workers To Skip Holiday Travel

BEIJING (AP) — China is encouraging tens of millions of migrant workers not to travel home during next February’s Lunar New Year holiday to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, disrupting its most important time for family gatherings.

The measure from the National Health Commission is not a direct travel ban but is still extraordinary because the traditional holiday is the only time of the year when many workers have the opportunity to travel home to see their families.

The commission said it is encouraging provincial governments to persuade workers to follow the suggestion while taking into account their personal wishes. It also said workers who stay behind should receive overtime pay for the work they do and be offered other opportunities to take vacation.

China has all but eradicated local transmission of the coronavirus, but authorities remain on high alert over a possible resurgence. Already, schools are scheduled to begin the Lunar New Year vacation a week early and tourists have been told not to visit Beijing, the capital, during the holiday.

The coronavirus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and China’s failure to enforce a lockdown in time for this year’s Lunar New Year travel rush is blamed for helping spread the virus around the country, presaging the pandemic that has sickened more than 82 million people and killed more than 1.7 million. China has recorded 4,634 deaths among 87,027 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a figure considered likely far lower than the actual number.

“Local governments should step up publicity efforts to encourage enterprises and institutions to ... guide workers to vacation at their place of work to the extent possible,” the commission said in a notice on its website.

The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival as it is called in China, is traditionally a time when families gather for meals and to visit temple fairs and watch firework displays. For tens of millions of migrant workers, it means traveling long distances by train, plane and bus to their rural hometowns, turning it into what is known as the world’s greatest annual human migration.

Millions of middle class Chinese also use the occasion to take vacations at home and abroad. Over the roughly six-week travel period, Chinese can take upward of 3 billion trips.

Along with discouraging travel, Chinese authorities are also carrying out a campaign to vaccinate 50 million people before the Lunar New Year holiday.

Travelore News: CDC To Screen At Three US Airports For Signs Of New Virus From China

(CNN)More than 100 staffers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being deployed to three US airports to check passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, for fever and other symptoms of a mysterious new virus that's killed two and infected dozens in China, the CDC announced Friday.

A second person has died from a new SARS-like virus in China

It's a highly unusual step. The last time the CDC did routine passenger health screening was during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, according to Dr. Martin Cetron, director of the CDC's division of global migration and quarantine.

"I've been here since 1996, and that's the only other time we've ever done this -- for Ebola," Cetron said.

The screenings at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport will start tonight, and screenings at San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport will begin Saturday. The CDC will look for symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing and check temperatures of each passenger with an infrared thermometer.

The CDC took these steps after travelers from Wuhan recently arrived in Thailand and Japan infected with the new virus. There have been two cases in Thailand and one in Japan.

"Considering global travel patterns, additional cases in other countries are likely," the World Health Organization stated in a press release Thursday.

Last year, more than 60,000 passengers flew into the United States from Wuhan, a city 700 miles south of Beijing. The vast majority flew into the three airports where the checks will take place, according to the CDC.

January is the peak travel season from China to the United States because of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Cetron said.

Cetron described the airport screenings as part of a set "proactive preparedness precautions."

"We believe the current risk to this virus is low," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said at a press conference on Friday. "For families sitting around the dinner table tonight, this is not something they need to worry about."

At this point, it appears most people caught the virus directly from animals, and the infection does not spread very easily from person to person.

The risk of a global pandemic is growing -- and the world isn't ready, experts say

"This is not a time for people to freak out and be overly concerned," Cetron said. "This is a time for vigilance and awareness."

He added that much more common illnesses, such as the flu, are "much bigger threats" to Americans than the new virus from China.

"I'm fully aware that the unknown is more of a source of anxiety than that which is already defined," he said. "But we should not freak out."

What we know about the new virus

So far, two people in China have died from this new virus, officially called the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Some 45 people in China have become infected. Some have developed pneumonia.

Coronaviruses, such as SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, are common in many species of animals, including camels and bats. Sometimes -- but rarely -- they evolve and infect humans as well.

China's new SARS-like virus has spread to Japan, but we still know very little about it

Chinese health authorities have reported that most of the patients in Wuhan had visited a large seafood and animal market. However, some patients in the outbreak reportedly had not been to animal markets, which suggests that "some limited person-to-person spread may be occurring," according to the CDC.

At least for now, that spread appears to be quite limited. Cetron said it's "reassuring" that Chinese authorities report that no health care workers who've cared for the patients have become infected, and that some 700 other contacts of patients have also not become ill.

"This isn't anywhere near in the same category as measles or flu," Cetron said. Those two infections spread easily from person to person.

SARS Fast Facts

To learn more about this new virus, health authorities are taking a close look at SARS.

In 2003, SARS spread to more than two dozen countries in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Worldwide, more than 8,000 people became sick and 774 died. In the United States, there were 29 SARS cases and no deaths, according to the CDC.

SARS did spread person to person through close contact such as kissing, sharing utensils or talking to someone within 3 feet.

Cetron emphasized that this new virus may be different from its cousin and behave in unexpected ways.

"We have to have humility and appreciate that it may be different. We can't just assume that what we know from previous viruses will always apply," he said.

New screening procedures

Cetron said he expects that "the vast majority" of passengers arriving from Wuhan will be healthy. CDC will give them information in English and Mandarin about what symptoms to look for over the next two weeks.

After further investigation, travelers that are symptomatic will be sent to local hospitals that work with the CDC.

Cetron said the symptoms of the new virus are so common that he expects the screenings will catch many more people with the flu or other winter viruses than with the new coronavirus.

If it turns out someone does have the new virus, they'll be isolated in the hospital.

He added that while there are still many questions about this new virus -- its incubation period, for example, or how easily it spreads from person to person -- the progress on it in such a short time has been impressive, including a sequencing of the virus' genome.

"It's quite remarkable to me that from a cluster of pneumonia detected just a little over a month ago in Wuhan, China, we have fully sequenced the virus and have some diagnostic capability to test for it," he said.

By Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent

Updated 2:24 PM ET, Fri January 17, 2020