Wendy Yu Cohosted a Festive Party With Harrods in Chengdu, China

Touch down in Chengdu!

Just a two-hour flight from bustling Shanghai, Chengdu is a slower-paced yet thriving and stylish city that is also home to hot pot and pandas.

I was here to cohost “A Very Harrods” event, together with Harrods managing director Michael Ward, at the exquisite Temple House hotel. But what exactly was intended by the very Harrods theme? I must admit, I was unsure until we arrived at the entrance of the hotel only to be greeted by familiar faces, as two handsome Harrods doormen (who had flown in especially from London) warmly welcomed us in.

As we entered to the hum of a string quartet, the magic continued; the hotel courtyard was lit up by beautiful green lanterns, leading up to a giant golden Harrods bear, who was proudly positioned as a centerpiece in the hotel lobby. The finest jewelry and watch brands in the world were displayed (from Chopard, Piaget, and De Beers to Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, H. Moser Cie, and Roger Dubuis) as part of the stunning 24-hour pop-up.

The night, a celebration of unparalleled heritage and excellence, served to remind me of all the experiences I’ve had in the store over the years. It was at Harrods, in fact, that I first discovered designer Mary Katrantzou’s incredible work—a brand that Yu Holdings now supports.

After interesting conversation with gathered friends, the evening drew to a close, and it was time to say thank you, good night, and farewell to our wonderful guests and to Chengdu. Knowing how passionate I am about philanthropy and supporting China’s future, I was deeply grateful to Ward, who, in his closing speech, announced that Harrods would be making a generous donation to Teach for China, a local charity that is very dear and important to me. The gift will go on to fund a year’s training fellowship to help educate children living in rural areas.

It was the perfect ending to a very Harrods soirée.