Foshan might not be top of the agenda for holidaymakers to visit, but - thanks to its solid reputation for furniture production - it has become an important business destination for domestic and international travellers alike, which has in turn, prompted a wave of global hotel brands to set up shop.
Of course, the usual suspects are on the hit list, but it’s the Swissôtel that has emerged as the forerunner, not only for being one of the first brands to land in the city, but it has smartly installed itself in the top 15 floors of the landmark International Plaza, the tallest building in Foshan.
Not straying from the brand’s MO, the property is centrally located, not far from the city’s financial district, while the interiors are typically sharp, with an easy, contemporary aesthetic. And while Foshan might not measure up to sprawling cities like Shanghai in size, its population of over seven million - more than some European countries - is certainly indicative of its expanse, which can be best viewed from the hotel’s watering hole - the highest in the city - Bar 51.
After indulging at the spa, meander over to one of the hotel’s four restaurants for a bite to eat, before settling down for a postprandial cocktail to enjoy the sparkling nighttime views.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
1 Chengmen Tou West Road
-
What is the future for design in Africa? Designer Hicham Lahlou shares possibilities for the continent at largeThe Moroccan designer celebrates 30 years of his practice. Here he speaks from his studio in Rabat about his own career and the creative possibilities for design in Morocco and the rest of Africa
-
Philadelphia’s 'Grande Dame' reopens with a dazzling French twistThe Bellevue Hotel has been restored to its former glory through a stylish renovation by design studio Ward + Gray
-
Louis Vuitton’s duo of Osaka exhibitions celebrate the house’s deep-rooted relationship with JapanUnfolding in Osaka this summer, ‘Visionary Journeys’ is a transporting trip into the house’s history, while ‘Yayoi Kusama – Infinity’ promises an immersion into the works of the Japanese artist, who is a longstanding Louis Vuitton collaborator
-
Discover a futuristic bar in Shanghai with mad-scientist energyPenicillin opens in Shanghai with a clinical steel and concrete design by LC Studio alongside its trailblazing, sustainable cocktails
-
A colossal ‘ship’ in Shanghai honours Louis Vuitton’s travel legacyLouis Vuitton’s The Louis is an OMA-designed hub combining retail, culture and dining in the heart of Nanjing West Road
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the worldCelebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
Prada and Wong Kar-wai dream up a cinematic restaurant in ShanghaiPrada partners with Wong Kar-wai to bring Mi Shang Rong Zhai to life, a dining experience influenced by the arthouse director’s seminal oeuvre
-
Enjoy heritage views and contemporary brews at a new Beijing caféJM Café, White Pagoda Temple by B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio nods to the history of the Xicheng District while injecting a shot of vitality
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy designThere’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
China’s Alila Shanghai hotel is a stylish hub of idle tranquillityAlila Shanghai, the brand's first urban resort in Greater China, is a serene bolthole amidst the pulse of the Jing'an district
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this yearFrom the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
