Beijing Smart Splurges

This stylish luxury hotel opened in late 2006 and occupies the central wing of the historic Beijing Hotel, the favored retreat of China’s political elite. The location is exquisite; just a stone’s throw from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Beijing’s main shopping street, Wangfujing Dajie. The hotel’s interior effortlessly recreates its Singapore sibling’s timelessness, from the leather armchairs and chandeliers in the high-ceilinged lobby to the classic furnishings and four-poster beds of the spacious rooms. Each room also features contemporary luxuries like flatscreen TV and broadband and wi-fi Internet; there are also specially designed Personality Suites named after historic figures. The Writers Bar – with wooden ballroom dance floor and photos of China’s political elite greeting foreign counterparts – is the perfect place to sip a signature Beijing Sling cocktail.

Located 37 miles outside Beijing at the foot of the Great Wall of China, this unique design hotel offers a luxurious way to experience China’s famous man-made wonder.

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
Private Access to a World Wonder

The original 11 über-chic villas and clubhouse are dotted across the picturesque Shuiguan Valley. The setting is stunning, particularly at sunrise and sunset, when you can stroll on a private section of the Wall. Each custom-designed villa offers private butler service, large contemporary rooms with plasma TV, broadband Internet, interior furnishings by designers such as Philippe Starck and Karim Rashid, and communal relaxation areas. In late 2006, several new villas and chalets were added, plus an Anantara Spa, Kids program, and café bar – making Commune a small luxury hillside village. See more Smart Luxury Award winners

 

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Beijing entrepreneur Zhang Lan hired Philippe Starck to design this 1.5-acre space, which comprises a restaurant, bar, and club. The result is eclectic – Mongolian yurts star in the dining room, while upside-down Regency-style portraits, ’50s Chinese memorabilia, and Starck’s eagle-winged thrones decorate the lounge.

Tibet enthusiast Chris Buckley sells exquisite handwoven Tibetan carpets, rugs, and antique furniture sourced in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. The gallery-style store is located in the Kempinski Hotel.

Invented in China some 3,000 years ago, kites are still quite prominent throughout the country. Celebrate the tradition with a colorful high-flyer of your own – although cheaper versions are sold in markets throughout the city, this family-run shop sells intricate, hand-painted renditions of the craft (from elaborate dragons to delicate butterflies) that are well worth the higher prices.