Travel news: Relax at Buddhist-inspired hotel

Plus: Relax at Buddhism-inspired hotel; Halal restaurants on the rise in Kyoto; Literary package in St Petersburg.

The penthouse’s terrace at The Mark. Todd Eberle

Relax at Buddhist-inspired hotel

Visitors to the Chinese city Leshan can now book into the new Ayard of Ch'an boutique hotel. The property offers 47 rooms and is 120 kilometres outside the ancient city of Chengdu in Sichuan province. Rooms are set in private courtyards named after the Zen Buddhist principles of Xing Shen, meaning practice, and Jing Lv, meaning peace of mind. Visitors will find a private meditation area set among gardens, a teahouse that hosts traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, and a vegetarian restaurant inspired by Buddhist principles. The world's largest carved stone Buddha, the Leshan Giant, is a short walk from the hotel. Rooms cost from 455 Chinese yuan (Dh256) per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.slh.com/ayard.

Halal restaurants on the rise in Kyoto

Muslim travellers exploring Kyoto now have more halal food options to choose from, according to the Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau. At present, there are about 15 restaurants that offer either halal options or full halal menus, with cuisines ranging from Japanese to continental and Indian. The Kyoto Muslim Association and Kyoto Council for Sharia and Halal Affairs have supervised the establishments to ensure Sharia standards are maintained. For the full list, visit www.kyoto.travel/muslim/en/food.html.

Literary package in St Petersburg

In celebration of the recent TV adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace, Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg is offering a package that includes visits to sites linked to 19-century Tsarist Russia. The itinerary features a full-day tour of Catherine Palace and a half-day tour of the Hermitage Museum. Also included is accommodation (for a minimum of three nights), buffet breakfast, early check-in and late checkout. The package costs from 65,000 roubles (Dh3,099) for three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit www.corinthia.com.

Hotel makes Mark with penthouse

The Mark Hotel in New York has opened what it claims is the largest penthouse in the United States. The 12,000-square-foot room features a 2,500-square-foot rooftop terrace. The penthouse also boasts five bedrooms, four fireplaces, six bathrooms and two powder rooms, all decorated by the French interior designer Jacques Grange. Visitors will have access to The Mark's 24-hour room service from The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges, personal training at the hotel's fitness centre, round-the-clock access to shop at Bergdorf Goodman, and a car of choice with driver. The hotel, on Madison Avenue, is within walking distance of New York landmarks such as Central Park, the Frick Collection and the Guggenheim. The penthouse costs from US$75,000 (Dh275,500) per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.themarkhotel.com.

[e-mail]