Chinese actress Li Bingbing joins Princess of Monaco Charlotte Casiraghi on the list of celebrity models for Gucci. Li will be the face of the luxury label’s accessories ad campaign dedicated to the House’s handbags, fine jewelry, and timepieces.

Conceived by Creative Director Frida Giannini, the portraits, shot in London by Sølve Sundsbø, evoke a strong yet minimal aesthetic true to Gucci’s codes of luxury.

A few years ago, British engineering firm Atkins won the rights to design an extravagant hotel deep within a 100-metre pit in Shanghai‘s Songjiang District.

Construction on the Intercontinental Shimao Shanghai Wonderland finally commenced last month, and the hotel is scheduled to open in early 2015.

To mark the anniversary of the sale of the first Ferrari in China – a Ferrari 348 TS ordered by a Beijing customer – Ferrari is opening an exhibition at the Italia Center in the Shanghai World Expo Park and releasing a China-only limited edition 458 Italia.

The new St. Regis Tianjin has launched its Presidential Suite, Tianjin’s largest luxury hotel suite with “extraordinary amenities, unparalleled views and uncompromising service”, according to the Starwood property.

The 450-square-meter Presidential Suite features a 70-square-meter master bedroom with a signature St. Regis king-sized bed, separate seating area, 55” flat screen HDTV and walk-in closet.

The master bathroom has his and her marble showers and vanities, a deep bathtub whirlpool, and a dry sauna, while the guest bedroom features a king-sized bed and a 46” flat screen TV.

The third annual Hainan Rendez-Vous, China’s leading superyacht and business jet show, will be held on the 5th-8th of April 2012.

The show is becoming a landmark event for China’s affluent and influential decision makers providing them with a platform for top level communication and collaboration.

The show’s fantastic turnout is due in part to the fact that Hainan is becoming a key yachting hub for China.

InterContinental Hotels (IHG), the world’s largest hotel chain, has announced the launch of a long-awaited new brand for the Chinese market.

The new chain will be called Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts and is expected to divide its efforts between operating in cities and popular resorts within China — although IHG said that the brand will open in other major cities outside of the country.

While Hualuxe is expected to share many of the characteristics of IHG-owned brands such as Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, several modifications have been made to cater for Chinese travelers, of which there are expected to be 3.3 billion by 2015.