The miniature courtyard made of moss, rocks and white sands, the ancient-style paintings and calligraphies, exquisite flower arrangements, tea ceremony and incense burning...all these iconic Song Dynasty moments or lifestyles are vividly recreated in six hotels in Hangzhou this summer. Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism has initiated a campaign to present the millennium-old arts, relics and skills in public spaces, pampering visitors who long for a taste of the rich cultural and historical legacy.

From mid-July, Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake, Millennium Resort Hangzhou, Cheery Canal Hotel Hangzhou, JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou, Xinqiao Hotel and Cordis Hangzhou Sci-Tech City started to surprise guests with the Song Dynasty culture and craftsmanship discovery program in their lobbies, lounges or restaurants.

People in the Song Dynasty know how to live life to the fullest and seek perfection in four senses (taste, smell, touch and sight). Inspired by such an elegant attitude, some hotels have come up with a Song-style menu, featuring osmanthus, Longjing Tea, Jinshan Zen-style Tea and other Hangzhou specialties.

Eric Li, general manager of JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou, is thrilled that "most tourists are fascinated by the Song-style settings. We are brainstorming on further refining it in our limited spaces and accommodating the concept in catering to attract a broader audience."

Apart from the six hotels, 40 Song-themed courses have been scheduled by the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism, where experts or inheritors of intangible cultural heritage will be invited to share cultural insights and hands-on experience.

If you have an interest in courses in rubbing, tea art, seal engraving, tie-dye silk, handmade paper, etc., check it out this summer at the Landison Longjing Resort Hangzhou, Kempinski Hotel Hangzhou and many other facilities. There is no time machine, but who says it is not possible to have a day back to the Song Dynasty?