Pamper your inner empress at Aman at the Summer Palace

July 6, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – In ancient times, Chinese emperors would board river boats and cruise to pastoral summer accommodations to escape the dust and boiling heat of Beijing summers.  Today, the summers are just as sweltering (if not more so), but add to that the headaches of snarling Beijing traffic and… (more)

A+ architecture at Commune by the Great Wall

June 28, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – An urban legend that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from the moon with the naked eye has circulated at least since the 1930s.  Though the claim’s been disputed by many a moon-walking astronaut, that doesn’t mean the Great Wall isn’t one… (more)

Views and value elevate The Regent above the posh pack

April 4, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – I hate to say it, but there’s a point at which luxury can become a cliché. Not to sniff at opulence and comfort, but it seems like all the big, high-end, business-friendly hotels in Beijing (or for any world city, for that matter) traffic in the same… (more)

Rest your head in the clouds at Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street

February 17, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – Planning a Beijing stay at The Ritz? Well, haven’t you landed on a lucky cloud! In Chinese mythology, the “lucky cloud” is a symbol of blessings and harmony rooted in everyday life. The image is incorporated into Chinese objects both ordinary and divine, from utensils and furniture… (more)

Welcome to the “Emerald City” at Opposite House

February 8, 2010

BEIJING, CHINA – It’s not every day that you’re greeted at the airport by a man in a Maserati. He’s not your tour guide or your weekend rendezvous — he’s the driver from Opposite House, a boutique Beijing hotel that’s at the top of our pick list. The courtesy car,… (more)