- The Linden Centre – Exploring Ideas in Sustainability
- Sunday June 17
- 3-5pm
- Cost: 100 RMB, 50 RMB for members, and includes a free drink and a selection of Chef Sue’s unique Yunnan tapas. To sign up, click here.
If you missed the September talk, join Brian and Jeanee Linden on Sunday June 17th to explore ideas of sustainability in China. The Lindens, who also own and manage one of the larger galleries on Asian antiquities and contemporary art, became one of the first couples to gain access to a rural-based Type A Cultural Relic – a building protected at the national level. Their complex, which is based near Dali in Yunnan Province, is one the most pristine examples of pre-revolutionary architecture in China. It was a base for the military after the revolution and survived the Cultural Revolution unscathed.
The Lindens’ talk will touch on the story of the challenges facing them in working with multiple layers of government and cultural bureaus. The final product, the Linden Centre, has quickly become one of China’s most popular retreats. It has received numerous international and domestic accolades, including China Hotel of the Year, China’s Sustainable Tourism Award, and the Global Vision Award, China’s only recipient.
Brian will trace the evolution of the Centre, from its initial conception through the years of negotiations with local governments and villagers. It is a story of perseverance and passion, and highlights a changing business environment in rural China. The Centre’s success has inspired government officials around China to offer the Lindens other historic complexes for restoration, including their new expansion in Wuxi.
Sunday’s talk will also be the last opportunity for guests to sign up for this July’s South of The Clouds Culinary Excursion, and ask questions pertaining to the trip.
