To celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, our residents in Shanghai were invited to step back in time to the era of Old Shanghai, where indulgence and opulence was the highlight of that era.

On 28 September, dressed in traditional outfits and cheongsams, our guests mingled with fellow residents from various properties in Shanghai. In line with the evening's theme of Old Shanghai, the crowd was kept entertained with a string of programmes from a Chinese traditional song and dance act to the beguiling tricks of a nifty magician. One of the highlights for the evening turned out to be the "almost" professional performance by the Shanghai Residence Managers and sales team as they belted out classic Chinese tunes of the 1970s. Many took a shot at the lantern riddles and walked away with the evening's prizes.

The residents were kept in merriment as they tried their hand at making their very own mooncakes under the instructions of an experienced chef. This was again another successful celebration organised by Ascott International for residents to foster relationships in this auspicious festival of harvest and reunion.

Dry skin remains as the foe of many women during the harsh Beijing winter. To help the fair ladies of Link Club Beijing combat the harsh winter conditions this year, a Beauty & Wellness Workshop was organised exclusively for them on 25 October.

Our partners for the workshop, Oriental Taipan Massage & Spa, provided indispensable practical beauty and wellness tips to our members. By introducing the benefits of natural skin therapy using homemade facial mask made from natural ingredients, concocting natural beauty remedies from home has never been easier.

Knowing how the stresses of work life tend to take its toll on the modern working woman, the professional beauty consultant also customised workplace massage techniques for those present. This delighted the attendees who found the advice invaluable in relieving muscle strains, abdominal bloats as well as other common ailments often encountered as a result of spending long hours in the office. Towards the end of the workshop, many of the ladies unanimously agreed that it was a valuable session that would go a long way to help them improve their health and beauty. They are eagerly looking forward to the Link Club activities lined up for them in 2007!

The 4th Annual Guangzhou Terry Fox Run was held on Saturday, 25 November at Luhu Golf & Country Club. The run is organised around the world to raise funds for cancer research in Terry Fox's name, to preserve his legacy and keep his dream of finding a cure for cancer alive.

The Guangzhou run is supported by the Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou, Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Guangdong Charity Federation. The event attracted more than 5000 participants.

This year, Springdale decided to invite 40 in-house residents and staff to participate in this commendable cause and managed to raise over RMB5,000. As Terry said in 1980, "If you've given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope." We are glad that everyone in Springdale and Ascott International managed to provide that glimmer of hope.

Sweet Pickings at Conghua's Lychee Festival

The lychee is probably the most popular native fruit in China, which explains why many flock to Conghua, the renowned hometown of the fruit, annually. Over 40 residents and their families at Springdale Serviced Residence took a day trip to Conghua to participate in the Lychee Festival this year.

Both adults and kids picked the delicate fruit excitedly with local farmers at the Conghua lychee garden. This was the first time many of them had a chance to sample lychees fresh off the plants. But what really impressed our residents were the creative ways lychee was used in Conghua's signature local dishes. It turned out to be a pleasant gastronomic surprise for the palate upon discovering how well the sweetness of the fruit complemented with other ingredients not typically used in cooking. This turned out to be a satisfying trip for everyone as the residents mingled and got better acquainted with each other, as well as the local culture of Guangdong.

Autumn with its cool breeze and lovely weather, is the perfect season for outdoor trips. To allow the residents of Somerset Olympic Tower, Tianjin a chance to experience autumn in the mountains and the sea, an excursion to the historical site of Shanhaiguan and Laolongtou was organised for its residents in October.

Shanhaiguan, which literally means "Pass of the mountain and sea", was aptly named due to its location between the Yanshan Mountains and Bohai Sea. This was the first strategic pass to be built at the eastern part of the Great Wall as a formidable military and defence stronghold during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Since then, the earthen pass has been a bone of contention for military strategists, earning for itself the title of "The First Pass Under The Kingdom of Heaven".

Beyond Shanhaiguan, the Great Wall continues to stretch 5 kilometres north until it dips into the sea at Laolongtou, also known as Old Dragon's Head. Our residents were so awed by the spectacular sight of the Chinese ancient engineering feat that many started snapping photos excitedly. On the way back, the residents of Somerset Olympic Tower left Shanhaiguan in high spirits with pleasant memories of a trip carefully put together by dedicated staff of Somerset Olympic Tower.