Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is a five-star hotel on Connaught Road Central in Central, Hong Kong, owned and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is located in Hong Kong Island
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Location on Hong Kong Island
General information
Location5 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Coordinates22°16′53″N 114°9′27″E / 22.28139°N 114.15750°E / 22.28139; 114.15750
Opening24 October 1963; 61 years ago (1963-10-24), reopened in 2006 after a complete renovation
OwnerMandarin Oriental Hotel Group
ManagementMandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Technical details
Floor count25
Design and construction
Architect(s)John Howarth, Leigh & Orange[1]
Other information
Number of rooms447
Number of suites67
Number of restaurants10
Website
www.mandarinoriental.com/hong-kong/victoria-harbour/luxury-hotel
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese香港文華東方酒店
Simplified Chinese香港文华东方酒店
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiānggǎng Wénhuá Dōngfāng Jiǔdiàn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHēung góng màhn wàah dūng fōng jáu dim
JyutpingHoeng1 gong2 man4 waa4 dung1 fong1 zau2 dim3

History

edit
 
Mandarin Suite living room at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Construction of the hotel on the site of the colonial Queen's Building on the waterfront in Central Hong Kong[2] was announced on July 9, 1960, with the name Queen's Hotel.[3] On August 24, 1962, the South China Morning Post reported that the unfinished hotel's name had been changed to The Mandarin, because "a nationwide survey of the United States seeking American reaction to the hotel name shows that the American public, who comprised the majority of this Colony’s tourists, preferred the exotic-sounding Mandarin."[3] The topping off ceremony was held on March 28, 1963. The cost of construction was HK$42 million, and HK$66 million was spent on interior decoration. John Howarth,[4] of the Leigh & Orange architectural firm, designed the building, while the interior was designed by Don Ashton.[5]

The Mandarin opened to the public on September 1, 1963 and celebrated its grand opening on October 24, 1963.[3] The hotel was managed by Intercontinental Hotels[6] from its opening until 1974. At 26 storeys, it was the tallest building in Hong Kong. It was the first hotel in Hong Kong to have direct dial phones and the first in Asia to include a bath in every guestroom.[7] The Mandarin was originally adjacent to Victoria Harbour, but as a result of extensive land reclamation in the waterfront area, the harbour is now several blocks away. In 1988, it was renamed the Mandarin Oriental.[3] In 2003, the hotel was the site of the suicide of actor and singer Leslie Cheung, who jumped from the 24th storey of the building. In 2005, the hotel underwent a US$150 million renovation.[7]

Facilities

edit

The hotel contains 501 guestrooms, 67 of which are suites, overlooking Victoria Harbour. There are ten restaurants and bars. The Michelin-starred Pierre, Chef Pierre Gagnaire's first restaurant in Hong Kong, closed in 2020.[8][9] An event space can accommodate up to 600 people.[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong – The Mandarin Story. Mandarinoriental.com.
  2. ^ a b Press Kits | Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Mandarinoriental.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "When did the Mandarin Oriental open?". 4 September 2020.
  4. ^ https://photos.mandarinoriental.com/is/content/MandarinOriental/corporate-hong-kong-PK-hotel-history [bare URL]
  5. ^ Press Kits | Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Mandarinoriental.com.
  6. ^ "Page 161".
  7. ^ a b Jon, Peter. (10 July 2014) History of the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong – Articles | Travel + Leisure. Travelandleisure.com.
  8. ^ Press Kits | Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Mandarinoriental.com.
  9. ^ Pierre | Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong. Mandarinoriental.com.
edit

22°16′55″N 114°09′33″E / 22.282075°N 114.159284°E / 22.282075; 114.159284