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The Bush Family and Beijing Roast Duck
The "Beijing Hotel" situated near the center of Washington City is a place frequented by the Bush family. In more than 20 years the old Bush couple have dined there for over 50 times, many occasions accompanied by their children. When George W. Bush swore in as US president, the New York Times and the Washington Times simultaneously carried articles on the special relations between the family and the hotel, saying "After becoming President-elect Bush entered Washington, had his first breakfast with Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve, then, chose Beijing Hotel as the place for his first supper". George Xu, owner of the hotel, was lately interviewed by our journalist.
The Beijing Hotel doesn't look so grand and luxurious, with palatial lanterns hung high and picturesque mahogany screens standing in a row. On the walls are over hundred framed pictures showing celebrities once dined here: Zhu Rongji, Wang Daohan, Chinese ambassadors to the US, Philippine President, Thai Queen, Saudi Arabian Prince and Princess, Colin Powell, William Cohen etc.
Mr Xu was quite elated talking about the Bush family and that significant dinner. "At noon, December 18, I had a phone call saying a frequent visitor will come and I realized it must be an old friend. I immediately made preparations and at six guards entered and had a look round in the building. Half an hour later the guest arrived, the right person of President-elect Bush. Later I understood the dinner was to celebrate the birthday of Bush's younger brother. There were seven of them, including his younger brother and sister, and Ms Rice, who was just named as National Security Advisor".
It was Bush's younger brother who linked the whole family with Beijing Hotel. Twenty years ago, the old Bush, when worked as director of the US Liaison Office in China, out of which grew the US Embassy, developed a strong liking to Chinese dishes. He favored Beijing Duck all the more, even in his later tenure of presidency. While his little son, a frequenter of the hotel, made a recommendation. Bush tried, got charmed, then, in 1995, invited Mr Xu to go to Houston for his golden wedding celebration, taking his top cooks and ducks with him.
From long-term contacts with the Bush family Mr Xu feels that both senior and junior Bush enjoy and appreciate Chinese culture highly, they are ready to make friends with Chinese, for in their eyes the Chinese people are always hard working, thrifty, honest and reliable.
By PD Online staff member Li Heng
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