Beijing: Smart Splurges

Commune by the Great Wall Located 37 miles outside Beijing at the foot of the Great Wall of China, this unique design hotel comprising several über-chic villas offers private access to the Wall, butler service, and interior furnishings by designers such as Philippe Starck and Karim Rashid. Great Wall of China; Great Wall Exit, Badaling Highway; 011-8610-8118-1888; www.commune.com.cn
luxury | hotel | design | spa | best experience

LAN 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. Chaoyang; 4/F Twin Tower; B12 Jianguomen Waidajie; 011-8610-5109-6012; www.lanbeijing.com
design | expensive | nightlife | best experience

People 8 After succeeding in Taipei and Shanghai, Taiwan’s Shintori group brought its uber-hip Japanese-Chinese fusion cuisine to the capital. The low-lit, slate-and-darkwood interior is stunning; the elevated lounge bar regularly seats Beijing celebs. Dongcheng; 2/F, 18 Jianguomen Waidajie; 011-8610-6515-8585
restaurant | expensive | japanese | chinese

Raffles Beijing Located in a wing of the historic Beijing Hotel, the classically deluxe, 171-room sibling of the Singapore original seduces guests with chandeliers, high ceilings, and four-poster beds. Personality suites are named after famous guests; the Writers Bar serves signature Beijing Sling cocktails. Dongcheng; 33 Dongchangan Dajie; 011-8610-6256-3388; www.beijing.raffles.com
luxury | hotel | historic | expensive

San Shi Zhai Feng Zheng Kite Store 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. Doncheng; 29 Di'anmen Xidajie; 011-86-10-8404-4505
culture | art | traditional | shopping | handicraft

Torana Galleries 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. Chao Yang District; 50 Liang Ma He Qiao Lu; 011-8610-6465-3388; www.toranahouse.com
expensive | shopping | home | handicraft | best experience

Whampoa Club After adding contemporary verve to Shanghai cuisine at Three on the Bund, Jereme Leung has turned his wok to reinterpreting traditional Beijing cuisine. Reworked classic dishes, such as Imperial fried lamb with sweet bean paste, are served in a lavishly renovated siheyuan courtyard. Financial District; 23A Jingrong Jie; Xi Cheng; 011-8610-8808-8828; www.whampoaclub.com
culinary | restaurant | expensive | chinese