Gaming room in Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati to pay homage to Liuzhou, China

CINCINNATI - The new restaurants and attractions at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati will be a focal point of the downtown social landscape when the casino opens March 4. In the midst of all the glitz and glamor, the casino will pay homage to the culture and tradition specific to a city in China that has shared a special relationship with Cincinnati for more than two decades. 

The Horseshoe Cincinnati Asian Gaming Room is “meticulously designed to honor the history of Liuzhou, China – Cincinnati’s sister city since 1988,” according to a press release from the casino. Liuzhou was Cincinnati’s first Sister City. Since then Cincinnati has also adopted sister cities in Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Zimbabwe, France and Taiwan. 

Like Cincinnati, the city of Liuzhou, located in southern China’s Guangxi Province, is situated on the banks of a winding river. The center of the downtown area in Liuzhou also features a focal point similar to Cincinnati’s Fountain Square.

Renowned designer Taki Huang-Murao was responsible for designing the Asian Gaming Room inside the casino. The layout and decoration were selected to celebrate the rich history, culture and folklore of the 2,000-year-old city. He says the room represents a great opportunity to further unite two distant cities through the display of arts, crafts and folk tales of the life along the great river.

“We hope to bring the two communities closer by providing a unique space that will provide guests with a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture,” Huang-Murao said.

The Asian Gaming Room features:

• A floor-to-ceiling solid Burmese teak circular display cabinet which features artifacts collected from Liuzhou antique markets and collectors;
• A hand carved wooden replica of an antique map of Liuzhou, embellished by a glittering Liu River, which hovers above the Burmese teak entrance;
• Stone panels, measuring eight feet tall and hand carved by Liuzhou artists depict Chinese life generations ago;
• A colossal hand-painted Chinese paper fan suspended from the ceiling, which is adorned with swimming carp, an ancient China symbol of ‘good luck;’ and
• Three Mini-Baccarat tables, a popular table game among many Asian cultures.

T. Murao Designs Inc., Huang-Murao’s firm, designed Asian-themed gaming and dining spaces at several Caesars Entertainment destinations across the United States, including two Horseshoe properties in Indiana.

The International Sister City program was created by President Dwight Eisenhower to promote International exchange and understanding. More than 2,000 cities throughout 136 countries participate in the program which encourages economic development, tourism, arts and community development.