The hotel's grasslands package offers guests a chance to experience nomadic life on the great plains of Inner Mongolia. Cang Lide / China Daily

Both elements drive his passion in pushing the hotel's grasslands package, specially arranged for guests who want to experience the nomadic attractions of life on the great plains of Inner Mongolia.

"Guests buy the Shangri-La brand for its famous service," Ng says.

"We felt we needed to make sure these standards are delivered at every stage, including on the grasslands."

That is why Shangri-La carefully chose partners who are totally in tandem with its philosophy.

Among the many yurt holiday camps on the Xar Moron Grassland, Menggu Ren Shengdi, or Sacred Ground of Mongolians, certainly stands out.

Its yurts are not cramped together in geometric rows like most of the others we saw on the way, and they closely follow Mongolian nomadic designs.

What impressed most was this story: The camp's owner is an avid environmentalist and encourages his guests not to litter. Whenever he walks the grasslands, he carries his own trash bag for picking up the bits and pieces careless visitors have left behind.

That is why we can enjoy a clean, green expanse in the morning, with nothing but clumps of spinifex dotting the grassland, and patches of purple and white asters adding subtle color.

We have had an excellent night's sleep. Our tent was comfortable and well insulated against the winds, with floor length windows that offered an unobstructed view of the night sky. The North Star had sparkled above us, clearly visible among the glittering constellations that blanketed the sky.

The bed linen, toiletries and various amenities had been sent over by car from Hohhot the previous day, and the two smiling young ladies who had also come over had already made sure our yurt had the comfort of a Shangri-La hotel room.

Also in the car was the chef.