Enduring Grace, Regent’s Delight — Back to the Mountain City, Just for You!

We aren’t growing older year by year — we’re renewing ourselves day by day.

Change is always good.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to Chongqing. It’s beautiful, it’s vast, it’s endlessly interesting. But this time I didn’t come for the southern landscapes or the mist over the lofty mountains, nor to wander through the concrete and steel forests lining the riverbanks. This time I came for it — a legendary hotel brand, a luxurious private sanctuary with only eight properties in the world: Regent Chongqing.

This was a journey of inspiration, perfectly timed with Regent’s full brand elevation. The bold creativity of the past shaped a generation’s luxury icon; now it sets sail again, opening a new chapter. What you see is pure luxury. What unfolds before us isn’t simply a refreshed logo, but a sweeping, glorious return. The unforgettable three-day, two-night stay begins with this REGENT room key, its background illustration drawn from a local Chongqing legend — the Green Lion and White Elephant guarding the great river.

Chongqing’s night is a view you mustn’t miss.

I made my way straight to the Two Rivers Bar on the 7th floor of the Regent, and thought: Hello, Chongqing!

Qiansimen Bridge, Hongya Cave at night —

In this moment, a 20°C breeze, 360° views.

Across the water, the skyscrapers of Yuzhong District rise straight up, reflecting the mountain city’s dazzling, colorful splendor.

Tonight, on the banks of the Jialing River, I meet a flickering phantasmagoria of light…

The Two Rivers Bar is a social media sensation; it’s been called the Hermès of Chongqing night views.

People show up in their finest outfits, check in, snap photos, and flood their feeds.

They watch the Yuzhong Peninsula shimmer while surrounded by beauties and fine wine,

and pull the mountain city’s brilliant, day-like night into their arms.

A specially crafted whisky, deep conversations and laughter to the heart’s content,

a breeze carrying blues tunes to my ears, thousands of faces, soft lights glowing —

It’s a full sensory feast of sight, sound and taste.

I can’t help but sigh: beyond all the bustle, this is life…

Day has faded; night has fallen.

O time that rushes on, rushes on,

please pause here for a while.

The way station in my heart is ablaze with light.

And I seem to be… tipsy.

Back to my room, a river-view guestroom facing the Jialing.

Before the night grows late, a warm light waits for me.

Feel the luxury of new Chinese-style decorations in a Regent guestroom —

it carries the cultural memory of the mountain city like a piece of art.

The design is predominantly Chinese, with antique wooden screens as the visual centrepiece, treated with a modern touch in shape and proportion. The designer used dark gold crackle lacquer, red distressed lacquer, gold bricks and other distinctive Chinese handcrafted materials to highlight an understated, mysterious Eastern allure. The carpet features ethnic minority motifs faithfully reproducing traditional hand-knotting techniques, a memorable stroke of genius.

A thoughtful wireless phone charger sits right in the middle of the bedside table.

Pick up and put down your phone to charge — no more tangled cords.

The TV and minibar are cleverly concealed, so modern tech never feels out of place. I especially love the lighting design. Recessed light sources are subtly arranged in the ceiling, screens, bedhead and other details, striving to create a comfortable, natural feel. You’re embraced in a warm, profound atmosphere that lets your mind truly relax.

Speaking of ultimate relaxation, nothing beats a leisurely soak. The bathtub is placed by the window. Dim the lights, soak while watching the city lights flicker outside, connect your Bluetooth speaker and put on slow-tempo music. I can’t think of a more perfect setup.

Even more magical is that you don’t have to lift a finger to prepare the bath. Just call the Regent butler service, and a flower petal bath, lemon sea salt or bubble bath will all be ready before you return to the room. All you have to do is indulge.

Effortless, comfortable, harmonious —

thoughtful service carries luxury without a word,

letting you enjoy a warm, relaxed welcome.

The night grows deep, goodnight…

“Dreaming of tomorrow is a joy, but tomorrow’s joys are different. Fortunately, reality is not the same as our dreams; precisely because of that difference, things have value.”

| André Gide

A new day begins, and the style seems a blend of untraditional and time-honored luxury.

Regent Chongqing’s National Treasure Afternoon Tea —

timed with the 600th anniversary of the Palace Museum, paying tribute to the mountain city that once sheltered millions of national treasures.

A nine-compartment lacquer box, a curio cabinet,

unroll the scroll of China’s thousands of years of history in these exquisite pastries straight to the heart.

It’s food that reveals heaven and earth. Stone lions, imperial jade seals, ruyi sceptres,

all kinds of auspicious and joyful motifs carefully sculpted

into elegant, delicious pastries — great creativity, delicate thought.

In a wonderful blend of history and modernity, Regent Chongqing joins hands with the Executive Chef of Regent Beijing to present this National Treasure afternoon tea feast, drawing on flavors from three regions.

The afternoon tea is so grand

that you have to treat this time with care.

Order a bottle of wine, or steep a pot of tea; you must be with friends —

chatting, laughing, even sitting face-to-face scrolling your phones,

and sometimes looking up at the traffic flowing outside the window.

You just want to let time slip away, unremembered…

Landscapes at every step; culture in every corner.

With only eight Regent hotels in the world, I still want to share this one in Chongqing with you, because every Regent has its own theme and distinct personality, and every detail is worth savoring.

Regent Chongqing invited world-renowned interior design firm LTW Designworks to shape the space. The layout adopts the Chinese architectural concept of courtyards unfolding layer by layer, creating an inviting sense of depth, blending Chongqing’s famous mountains, city and rivers into every space. Woven throughout are cultural and artistic elements like roof tiles, Xia cloth, camellias, the old arsenal, chili peppers. Artists from around the world use rustic materials to quiet the noise and exquisite artworks to interpret the mountain city, so that guests can quietly and comfortably experience the cultural memories hidden in the city.

Did the little lion statues wearing masks at the hotel entrance make you smile?

Stepping inside, you’re greeted by an almost two-storey-tall ceramic art wall called “Mountain City Image,” co-created by designer Cai Wenqing and Jingdezhen ceramic artists. The symmetrical composition evokes a stable presence and a sense of balance; lattice and screen elements run throughout, expressing Regent’s brand identity in contemporary China.

Pass through the automatic wooden entrance doors into the lobby,

where lattice-like layered screens elegantly separate the various functional areas.

The screens are inlaid with camellia patterns in gold-outlined cloisonné,

seamlessly incorporating Chongqing’s city flower.

Next to the concierge desk, gold and white ceramic tiles form rolling mountains.

The reception counter is paved with gold bricks and dotted with square gold totems,

using modern craftsmanship to present a low-key sense of tradition and luxury.

A vast serenity surrounds me.

Or perhaps let my wandering heart settle down

and accept the earth’s blessings.

Speaking of blessings, my stomach is hungry.

Regent has always been celebrated for its rich and diverse dining experiences, never stopping its exploration of culinary culture. Carefully selected local ingredients and cooking techniques, the chef’s exquisite skills, combined with music, scent and ambience, together create an immersive dining experience that offers an artistic enjoyment beyond the food itself.

Robin’s Steakhouse, as the signature Western restaurant of Regent Chongqing,

is a must-visit high-end dining spot in the city.

I’m not showing the photos in order of courses

because the Beef Wellington is just too tempting.

Salads and desserts at Robin’s are buffet-style,

so you have plenty of choices to mix and match — very thoughtful.

A variety of freshly baked breads paired with butter served on pebbles,

and a fine bottle of Bordeaux dry red —

this marks the beginning of a sumptuous dinner…

Pan-seared silver cod and M8 Wagyu were ordered à la carte to sample, each dish exquisitely presented.

The chef meticulously presented us the Beef Wellington.

Cutting it open, the foie gras and marbled beef were perfectly roasted, juices flowing;

the tiger-striped pastry crackled with a crisp sound, filling the air with irresistible aromas.

Sip it slowly with the full-bodied bouquet of the Bordeaux dry red.

After the meal, desserts are also buffet-style,

a real favorite for those with a sweet tooth.

Outside the window, the evening lights come on, the night grows misty, and with a gentle tipsiness from the wine, it’s the perfect moment.

Shall we take a walk outside? Get closer, step right into Chongqing’s night.

Chongqing’s magic is all in the night.

On this corner of the city where mountains and rivers meet and two rivers converge,

Yuzhong Peninsula stands as the pinnacle of China’s spectacular nightscapes.

The intertwining of Qiansimen Bridge and Hongya Cave brims with punk energy,

the unforgettable street-market buzz carrying tags of authentic local life,

seamlessly blending literary flair with down-to-earth atmosphere,

letting you blissfully enjoy the feeling of being lost in a concrete jungle.

Hongya Cave at night is magnificently beautiful. Standing on Qiansimen Bridge to take a panorama,

the scene instantly pulls you into the bathhouse from Miyazaki’s Spirited Away —

slip inside and look for Chihiro.

Stroll from the Regent to Qiansimen Bridge,

then wander back to the hotel with the crisp night breeze.

For a chance encounter with Chongqing, this moment is enough.

Because I still want to return to the Two Rivers Bar,

have another drink, feel the breeze again.

We’re all far too busy,

and those moments that let us escape stress are all the more precious.

Seas turn to mulberry fields, the river flows east; time seems endless, yet youth never lasts.

Serenity, inspiration, luxury.

A stunning blend of tranquil vision, fresh imagination and stately opulence —

Regent gave me all of this, and Chongqing made the journey completely worthwhile.