A gracious look at history

Yihe Mansions offers a complete Min Guo-style experience, with plane-lined alleys, brick facades and vintage Chinese fountain pens and porcelain dinner sets.

The emperor arrives in qianmen

Home away from home

The first hint of their pedigree is written on the old brass plaques by the door. The names of the previous owners include Xue Yue, nicknamed "the Patton of Asia" by US commander Claire Lee Chennault of the Flying Tigers. Another historical resident was Chen Bulei, the former deputy secretary-general of the KMT's central political council.

Once past its brick facade, visitors are embraced by the genuine warmth inside.

Perhaps it has something to do with the megawatt smile of the butler waiting by the door 24/7, or the vintage linens on the bed, but it is certainly the little touches that brighten the visit.

Up close and personal, it is the details that impress - such as a welcome note in a retro Min Guo-style envelope written in the traditional vertical columns, with a vintage Chinese fountain pen thoughtfully placed beside it.

For the complete experience, the Min Guo banquet is a must.

In Yihe Mansions' two Chinese restaurants, perfectly matched porcelain dinner sets differ in every dining room. All feature popular Chinese themes and elements, from the chopstick holders to the ceramic base plates.

The banquet has an impressive procession of dishes, all carefully written on a pocket size collapsible menu individually prepared for each guest, so well made that it should be treasured as amemento.

It also helps each diner connect immediately when the manager introduces each dish and its interesting anecdote.

For example, Young Marshal Prawns was one of the dishes Zhang Xueliang, nicknamed "the young marshal", used to prepare for Chang Kai-shek.

"As an integral part of our training, we go to great lengths to make sure all our employees are familiar with that period of history," says Zhu. "To us, it is more than just selling the food. We are telling a part of our country's history."

Zhu believes as more people in China begin to look back in history to seek their roots, the awareness will spread to overseas Chinese. They will be the next wave of visitors coming back to their ancestral land.

From Zhu's perspective, Yihe Mansions has a part to play in both preserving and maintaining history.

"Yes, it is business, but at the same time, we strongly feel this is part of our social responsibility, that we can share with our guests something of this particular period of history while they are staying with us."