Tianjin boutique hotel rich with history and fine detail

The Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe has opened in the renovated former German consulate. The cinema-themed room's walls display old movie posters and classic movie clips. Photos provided to China Daily

Beyond Germany lies an array of well-preserved German historical architecture far away in the East - Tianjin's former German concession. The Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe opened on Sept 15 in the renovated former German consulate in the heart of the concession, combining vintage elegance and modern facilities.

More than upscale architecture, the hotel's red-brick facades and ornate cupolas are imbued with stories of the city's past.

In 1878, the country's first modern post office was set up in Tianjin and the "Big Dragon" stamps, the first set of stamps in China, was printed and issued here.

The hotel's lobby wall depicts the birthplace of modern postal service, with historical images of the building as well as stamps and letters printed and used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tianjin's Dahua Cinema, one of Tianjin's first luxury cinemas, is featured in one of the hotel's three themed guestrooms. The room's walls display old movie posters and classic movie clips, and a vintage floor lamp from a movie studio is included. Window curtains and velvet couch are both red, the color of movie-screen curtains of the old cinema.

A taste of local flavor extends to the hotel's restaurant and bar.

Albert's Cafe, with a rich mix of European dishes, is named after Albert Kissling who opened the first foreign restaurant in Tianjin. The hotel's streetfront beer house and eatery, Blaue Engel, is named after the first major non-silent German movie Der Blaue Engel (The Blue Angel), inviting guests to mingle with locals.

Besides those stories, the hotel inspires guests' interests with its 96 rooms of different types. Some rooms have fireplace, some have bay windows and others balconies.

"Each villa is a different design and each floor is a different size. This has created a unique property with each room being of a different configuration and size. You have to see it to believe it," says Patrick Waring, partner of the hotel's exterior designer Silverfox Studios.

General manager of the hotel Ringo Poon says it definitely matches the character of boutique guests. "The hotel creates a unique experience for sophisticated travelers full of curiosity," Poon adds.

Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is Hotel Indigo's third property in China. The global branded boutique hotel group opens its first hotel in Shanghai in 2010 and Xiamen in 2012.

Lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn