New Hotel Park Royal on Pickering, Visa-Free China, Craft Beer in the Asia-Pacific and Dragonair Goes to Da Nang

Going Green in Singapore

Opening this month in the Lion City is a hotel that makes the awesome “vertical garden” in our own Hotel Icon look like a potted plant. The Park Royal on Pickering was designed to appear as if it were plopped down right in the middle of a lush garden. The 367-roomer has tons of manicured greenery, waterfalls and planter walls, and its zero-energy sky gardens are gentle on the environment, powering themselves via solar cells and using harvested water. Birdcage-like structures surround the infinity pool, adding to the natural vibe. Rooms start at about HK$1,750 a night at a special launch rate available till March 31.
Visit singaporehotels.parkroyalhotels.com/pickering to book.

Visa-Free China

Dare we believe our good fortune? As of the first of this month, passport holders from 45 countries can now enjoy a visa-free stay for up to 72 hours in Beijing. Yes, that means you, Americans! (Saving $1,200 or so per visa = win!) Koreans, Aussies, Brits, Frenchmen, Germans, Spaniards, Japanese folks and more can also join in the money-saving, hassle-waiving fun (for the full list of countries allowed this grand privilege from our grand masters, visit tiny.cc/nochinavisa). Plus, if you're just transiting through Beijing (China Eastern passengers, I’m looking at you), you don’t need a visa either. Though it must be said, the capital’s fremeny, Shanghai, already has a 48-hour visa-free stay policy in place for travelers hailing from 32 countries arriving at either Pudong or Hongqiao airports. As long as we can get the toxic pollution to subside, we’re all set to jump on a plane for some baozi next weekend.

Craft Beer, Will Travel