Imperial Tours

23/03/2026

Nice to hear a British CEO be so complimentary about China.

Many in the UK still have only a limited understanding of China, but firsthand experience can quickly change that, according to Will Butler-Adams, the CEO of Brompton Bicycle. From Beijing's history to Shenzhen's dynamism and Chengdu's pandas, he says cycling offers a unique way to explore the count...

02/11/2025

Some 30 years ago, I moved into my dad’s house at the foot of Bukhan Mountain in Seoul. Guy & I went to find the house, having been told that there are now a hundred houses where once there were only a few dozen. But I found the house and the small entrance that I used to hike almost daily. We also found a great cafe built into the rock face. When we were little, we’d complain about coming to Korea and now I treasure my time here. If only my dad was still with us, he left us far too young.

16/10/2025

Spending some time exploring Seoul’s vibrant contemporary art scene. Especially meaningful on a personal note was the retrospective on Kim Tchang Yeul at the MMCA. He was one of my father’s favorite artists and we had one of his Waterdrop paintings in the living room.

10/10/2025

Guy and I are in Seoul just in time for the annual Chuseok (Harvest) and Hangul (Korean writing) festivals. So much to explore…from delicious food, shopping and of course, culture.

17/09/2025

Seoul’s art scene is calling your name. From Frieze Seoul to emerging galleries tucked into historic alleys — there’s always something to discover.

From blue-chip galleries to experimental, artist-run spaces, here are 9 places art lovers should visit ahead of Frieze Week in Seoul.

04/09/2025

Korea has a long history of artisanship celebrating ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, lacquerware and textiles. Today, artisans are designated as National Treasures and some are taking tradition and giving it a modern twist.

19/08/2025

I’ve always associated pandas with Chengdu and Sichuan Province - but in fact their natural habitat stretches into Shaanxi Province, close to Xi’an. Its panda reserve, in the Qinling Mountains, only opened to the public in 2024 but in doing so has expanded public awareness of the panda’s territory. This is also where I met the world’s only brown panda, named Qi Zai (七仔)! She has this warm mocha-colored fur - absolutely adorable and one of a kind. This rare colour is due to a natural genetic mutation, so far only seen in the world at Qinling. It’s almost a reason on its own to visit Xi’an!（Terence）

08/08/2025

Once the heart of the Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju is a living museum where every corner tells a story. From royal tombs and centuries-old temples to scenic lotus ponds and traditional hanok villages, this timeless city is one of Korea’s top destinations for history lovers and culture seekers.

Korea is a place where contrasts live in harmony.Energy and stillness, culture and nature, tradition and modernity—all coexisting in one vibrant country.We'r...

11/07/2025

Growing up, popsicles were a rare summer treat. Options were limited: often just sugar and ice, or perhaps red bean flavor. One of my favorites was shaved ice topped with fruit syrup. Of course nowadays you can buy so many types - tour site-themed popsicles are particularly popular! My siblings and I still keep this tradition alive; on a hot summer evening after a long day’s work, we’ll hop in a car to chase that taste from our childhood. Sometimes I will still buy the simplest sugar and ice one. (Lilly Tian)

27/06/2025

When summer heats up, these Chinese dishes offer a delicious way to cool down. Liangpi (冷皮), chilled wheat noodles in a spicy sesame sauce, are a street food staple. Or you can try liangban cucumber (凉拌黄瓜), served cold and crisp, marinated with garlic and vinegar. If you are adventurous you may try bitter melon (苦瓜), known for its cooling properties. For something sweet, one of my personal favourites is douhua (豆花), a silken tofu pudding, often served with light syrup. To drink, suanmeitang (酸梅汤) is a tart and sweet plum drink over ice whereas for fruit, watermelon is particularly popular to combat heat and humidity. (Terence Parker)

20/06/2025

Hangzhou’s Longjing (Dragon Well) is a pan roasted green tea native to the West Lake area and harvested in the weeks approaching Qingming - typically early April. However, many don’t know that these same fields are also a source of black tea, harvested after the festival and left to oxidise naturally. I’ve been drinking tea all my life, but to experience the process has given a new appreciation and understanding of the drink. We do this at a private villa at the foot of the Longjing Hills, where we arrange a tea harvesting & processing experience against the lush green backdrop of working tea fields. (Terence)