CHINA - Destinations & Hotels
Beijing
China's capital city is a dynamic and fast-growing metropolis that keeps a tight grip on its rich cultural heritage as well as embracing rapid modernisation and still adhering to a strict Communist social order. The city is of colossal proportions and can often give a distorted view of China to foreign visitors. Beijing is both modern city with high-rise buildings, shopping malls and vast international hotels connected by an intricate freeway system crisscrossing the city. However, the contemporary buildings often mask traditional hutongs, parks, numerous architectural treasures and beautiful temples whose prayer flags and wind chimes dance in the gentle breeze produced by the passing traffic.
The highlights of the city are as numerous as they are varied. The best good place to initiate exploring the city is Tiananmen Square, where Mao Tse Tung declared the foundation of the People’s Republic. From the square you can see the imposing majesty of the Forbidden City to the north and the vast portrait of Chairman Mao on the Tiananmen Gate. Other more serene places of interest include the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven and of course, The Great Wall. For the foodies out there, there are some excellent restaurants in the city.
We really recommend that you spend a day or so extra in Beijing to really soak up the amazing sights and sounds of the capital. Spend a little time in the public parks where you will see the locals practising Tai Chi, singing and even ballroom dancing, spend an afternoon in the traditional ‘hutongs’ narrow busy backstreets crammed with local markets and incense filled temples and really immerse yourself into this rich and complex society.
Population: 12 million
Beijing Hotels
Beijing | The Opposite House | $$$$
Character Boutique, Directors favourite hotels, Luxury, Modern Chic
This wonderful hotel is located in the heart of the sophisticated and cosmopolitan Beijing district of Sanlitun, just steps from some of the city’s finest and most vibrant shopping and nightlife areas home to Beijing’s first open plan shopping mall - The Village Sanlitun (North and South),...
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Beijing | Red Wall Garden | $$$
Character Boutique
Located in central Beijing in a peaceful courtyard setting, the Red Wall Garden Hotel is around 2km’s from popular attractions like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Wangfujing shopping street.
The hotel offers distinctively designed Oriental-style rooms with free internet...
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Beijing | Cote Cour Hutong Hotel | $$$
Character Boutique, Historic Hotel
The Hotel Cote Cour Beijing is centrally located in the historically-protected Yan Yue hutong area of “Old Beijing”. Yan Yue Hutong used to be the rehearsal area of the royal musicians and dancers and actors in Ming dynasty. It is just 25 minutes walk to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen...
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Beijing | Hans Royal Garden – Boutique Hutong Hotel | $$$$
Character Boutique, Historic Hotel
Located in a historical area dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, this hotel is peaceful and serene with beautiful surrounding courtyards. Hans Royal Garden Hotel cleverly blends the past and the present with modern facilities and its traditional Chinese architecture. It is located just a few...
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Beijing | Bamboo Garden Hotel | $$
Character Boutique
The Bamboo Garden Hotel is a classical Chinese courtyard-style structure in a quiet lane west of the Drum Tower in Beijing.
It was previously the private residence of Sheng Xuanhuai, the postal department minister in late Qing Dynasty, and it was also said to be the garden of Andehai, the...
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