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Beijing TRAVEL GUIDE AND DEALS

An extensive municipal makeover prepared China’s capital for the 2008 Olympic Games and enabled it to challenge the dominance of its nemesis, Shanghai, in terms of dining, nightlife, shopping, and sky-high architecture.

Why Go

For the impressive Imperial architecture, fascinating history, mammoth museums, and to experience both modern and ancient Chinese values living side by side.

Beijing Travel Guide: Deals to Beijing | Beijing Editor Picks | Beijing Smart Splurges | Beijing Great Values | Beijing Hotels | Beijing Restaurants | Things to do in Beijing | When to go to Beijing | Getting to Beijing | Beijing Local Tips | Beijing Shopping | Beijing Nightlife | Beijing Day Trips | Beijing Neighborhoods | Beijing Additional Resources

See Also: Asia | China | Beijing

$928+: Low Asia fares via 10+ cities (round-trip) All Nippon Airlines

$91/nt+: Luxury Beijing hotels nr Tiananmen Square Hotels.com

$124/nt+: 4-star Jianguo Hotel Beijing Expedia

$199/nt+: 5-star The Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street Expedia

$87/nt+: 4-star Yu Yang Hotel Expedia

$869+: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai trio with flights Tripmasters.com

$1329+: 5-night Beijing vacations w/flight Major Providers

Beijing Hotels

The Olympic Effect has brought several deluxe hotels to the new skytower developments of Dongcheng district, as well as Chaoyang and Financial Street. Chinese-owned mid-range and budget hotels are plentiful, and Beijing is at last celebrating some boutique openings, especially in restored hutong courtyards.

= Smart Splurge

= Great Value

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Beijing Ning Xia Hotel
Opened in early 2006, 160-room hotel is an excellent value and well-located in a side street hutong district near Ditan Park.... great value

Lu Song Yuan
Tucked away in a 19th-century imperial compound, this small hotel occupies five quiet courtyards in an old Beijing hutong...

Commune by the Great Wall
Located 37 miles outside Beijing at the foot of the Great Wall of China, this unique design hotel offers a luxurious way to... smart splurge | design | spa | editor pick | smart luxury winner

Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
Opened just in time for the 2008 Olympic Games, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing is a contemporary 255-room hotel located near the... expensive | great location

Hotel G
Boutique hotels in Beijing are like London buses: you wait an eternity for the first, then several arrive at once. For... boutique

Peninsula Beijing
This handsome luxury hotel is situated just off Wangfujing Dajie, Beijing’s main shopping thoroughfare. The spacious...

Raffles Beijing
This stylish luxury hotel opened in late 2006 and occupies the central wing of the historic Beijing Hotel, the favored retreat... smart splurge | historic | expensive

Ritz-Carlton Beijing
Opened in late 2007, this sophisticated 308-room hotel is centrally located near Shin Kong Plaza mall. Classical,... new | expensive

St Regis
This is long-standing favorite of business travelers and US Presidents – both Clinton and Bush Jr. have stayed here...

The Opposite House
Clad in paneled emerald glass, this 99-room hotel was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma with a singular artistic aim:... boutique | expensive

Hotel Cote Cour S.L.
This small, 14-room, design-led hotel opened in 2007 in a restored, grey-brick hutong. Mosaic tiled bathrooms, free WiFi, and... new

Hotel Kapok
This brand-new boutique hotel (opened in early 2007) is located in the old Legation quarter on the east side of the Forbidden... boutique hotel

North Garden
Down a side street just off the Wangfujing shopping street is a well-managed four-star hotel. Its central location –...

Red Capital Residence
Owned by American filmmaker, author and entrepreneur Laurence J. Brahm, this slightly offbeat private hotel combines modern...

The Emperor Beijing
The Emperor's pedigree is impeccable. Designed by in-demand architecture firm Graft, who create swanky abodes for global... new