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Rooms at new Banyan Tree in Shanghai might shock the neighbors

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:52 PM PDT

by CNNGo staff

Banyan Tree opened its first resort in Shanghai this week -- Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund -- with some rooms designed to add romance to the views of the city's futuristic skyline.

The 13-story property contains 118 rooms, 12 suites, 11 spa treatment units, three restaurants (seafood, Chinese and Japanese) and a rooftop bar. All 130 guest rooms provide a panoramic lookout towards north Lujiazui.

The Banyan Suite, the resort's best room, includes a rooftop swimming pool which is still under planning and likely to open in March.

The Oasis Rooms have what the Banyan Tree describes as a 'Romantic Pool' -- a giant bath-slash-mini pool measuring three by 1.15 meters and located right next to the window. Those rare clear nights in Shanghai might be offering more than just skyline views.

Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund is the Singaporean company's first "urban resort" in mainland China and the fourth in Asia -- after Bangkok, Macau and Seoul.

7 gorgeous Korean mountain hikes

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 09:20 AM PDT

by Violet Kim

It would be a shame to visit Korea without clambering to the top -- or at least along the slope -- of one of the country's many, many mountains. Korea was blessed with a shapely topography: 70 percent of its landscape is mountain (the other 30 percent, expensive coffeeshops).

Around this time of year, due to the startling colors of the curvy landscape, the trails will doubtlessly be packed with streams of hikers in garishly colored hiking gear, sometimes smelling like soju.

But there are also many paths to the top of the mountain (literally), and many excellent paths that don't necessarily lead to the top.

Here's where to check out the most vibrant autumnal hues or, later in the year, the bleached landscape of a snowy mountaintop.

1. Seoraksan

Hiking Korea From Baegundae you can see neighboring peak Insubong (804 meters), like a mound of ice cream.