Departures Magazine Dedicates Entire October Issue to China; The Ultimate Luxury Guide to Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beyond.

NEW YORK -- Departures, the luxury lifestyle magazine published exclusively for Platinum Card(R) and Centurion(R) members from American Express, has devoted its entire October issue to China.

"As China continues to move to the forefront of international attention," Departures Editor in Chief Richard David Story says, "We were determined to put together the first--and so far only--luxury guide for the modern traveler. We were also committed to really getting inside China, without relying on cultural cliches or easy answers."

In pursuit of that goal, Departures enlisted more than 50, primarily China-based, contributors--writers, photographers, and other experts on the country--to cover first hand this rapidly changing and evolving nation. And to cover it with all the luxury, comfort and style that Departures readers have become accustomed to. Among the issue's highlights:

--A Black Book for Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong 

--China Now: A series of literate, artistic dispatches from various insiders--artists and writers--as they act as witnesses to the greatest national transformation in modern history

--A food tour of China: where to eat in Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shanghai

--Intrepid Traveler: A candid report on the right--and the wrong way--to travel China, with specific recommendations on what travel outfitters do it best

--A practical first-hand guide to traveling with kids

--The Culture Scene: Architecture, contemporary Chinese art 

--The stylish trendsetters who are changing the way China looks and how we look at China

--Visiting Shangri-La

In addition, they added gold foil to the cover, stepping up the investment to an unprecedented six-figure amount--the most ever spent on a Departures cover. The image is an illustration from Beijing of a contemporary Chinese man drinking a Fanta on top of one of China's holiest places, the Forbidden Palace in Beijing.

Departures, the leading authority on luxury lifestyle, is published by American Express Publishing Corporation exclusively for Platinum Card(R) and Centurion(R) members from American Express. Departures is published seven times per year and has ten editions within its international network that includes the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria and Japan.