Life
Celebrities saddle up social and business lives at Jockey Club
By Wang Wen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-09 08:06
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A copper horse stands guard outside a 38,000-sq-m Chinese traditional house off Jinbao Street, where top auto brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini and a variety of luxury retailers are clustered nearby.
The statue signals the presence of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse. Its clubhouse was constructed in 2008, just before the Beijing Olympic Games.
Inside, a variety of opportunities await clients, including lectures on such matters as equestrianism and geomantic omens that point out the clubhouse's lineage as a branch of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
About 400 local celebrities have enrolled in the Beijing clubhouse over the past two years. Although they join for various reasons, most want the clubhouse to satisfy five demands: security, networking, comfort, convenience and prestige.
The club is open to members and their guests and family members.
"It is a little difficult to get admitted into the club. With only money you would never be our member," said Billy Chen, executive director of membership services of the Beijing clubhouse.
Applicants must have social status and have made contributions to society, Chen said.
The joining fee for the club is 250,000 yuan ($21,960) in Beijing and members also pay a 1,300 yuan monthly fee. In Hong Kong, the fees are cheaper: HK$68,000 and HK$420 respectively. But the Jockey Club remains one of the toughest to join.
In both outlets an applicant must be nominated by one of the 200 voting members and another voting member must sponsor the applicant. The applicant also needs three club members who are prepared to support his or her application for membership.
All candidates face thorough financial and security vetting, after which their application is submitted to the club's stewards for a final ruling.
Even after the investigation and votes, newcomers still do not gain immediate access.
"We need to make sure these people are the right ones because our seats are limited and we only open a quota of 25 every month," said Chris Chen, public relations manager of the Beijing clubhouse.
The club provides its own restaurants offering traditional Chinese and Western food. One of the restaurants, the Fortune Room, serves authentic Cantonese delicacies. But the most attractive facilities are the 13 private dining rooms, insiders said.
"Rich people all keep low-key and do not want to be bothered by others, so they prefer private rooms in the restaurants," said Chen.
Still, the clubhouse is also haven for schmoozing with other movers and shakers.
"Many big deals and business cooperative ventures were made in our clubhouse," he said.
Members expand their social circles - in a big way.
"I can learn others' advantages and turn them into my own, because the members are all celebrities in society," said Wang Zhongjun, board chairman of Huayi Brothers Media Group, who has attended several parties and other events in the clubhouse.
Wang said he was a loyal follower of club life and as long as he has time, he takes part in all the club's campaigns.
"Sometimes, I only go there for the environment," Wang said.
Chris Chen said some members hold family parties in the clubhouse. "They do not just take the clubhouse as a business place. It is also part of their personal life," he said.
The clubhouse owns 90 guest rooms facing hutong, or courtyard building. Used horseshoes adorn the doors of each room. The guestrooms rent for 1,500 yuan per night, a price that is lower than hotels in the vicinity, Chen said.
Levade, a small shop, differentiates the club from others in the city. All the goods are only made for the club and sold to members. However, the prices are not expensive. An exclusive full leather bag costs several hundred yuan and a watch is priced at about 400 yuan.
"It is exclusive to our members and profit is not our aim," said Chen.