To say that China is a nation undergoing rapid change would be a vast understatement. While some of Beijing’s greatest highlights and architectural achievements have been around for centuries —Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace — there are some wonderful new additions to Beijing that add some magic to the city.
The bed
The China World Summit Wing Beijing, with its 278 rooms, towers over this large capital city. The lobby is on the 64th floor, making for magnificent, see-forever views when the weather cooperates. The property hosts an incredible spa on the 77th floor, where a great massage made me forget the long flight over the pond. The beautifully appointed treatment rooms are the largest, most indulgent I have seen anywhere in the world. There’s an indoor infinity pool and marvelous buffet and made-to-order breakfasts and mouthwatering a la carte dinners served at Grill 79, conveniently on the 79th floor. The Atmosphere Lounge with its panoramic views from the property’s 80th floor has plush seating and a chic East-meets-West decor. Guest rooms are enormous at nearly 600 square feet. A wonderful plus is that just below the building is the subway, where you can take a direct line to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the shopping mecca of Wangfujing. Room rates start at $355. No. 1 Jianguomenwai Ave., Beijing. Telephone: 866-565-5050. Website: shangri-la.com.
The meal
For incredible Peking Duck, in a modern atmosphere, just a 10-minute walk from the China World Summit Wing, head to Horizon Chinese Restaurant, Lobby Level, Beijing Kerry Centre, 1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District. Telephone: 8610/8565-2188. Website: thekerrylife.com.
The find
The 798 Art District was originally set up in 2001 in the newly vacated 798 military factory. The 50-year-old industrial compound boasts unique, Bauhaus-influenced architecture built by East Germans. Original plans called for large indoor spaces to provide maximum natural light with great attention to arch-supported ceilings and engineered to withstand earthquakes registering a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale. Little did the East German architects then know what a great home 798 would make in the future for the burgeoning avant-garde art community.
Today, along with art galleries showcasing Chinese artists, there are studios, bars, lofts, design firms, cafes, restaurants, art bookshops, designer stores and photo galleries. There are also several foreign art dealers. 4 Jiu Xian Qiao Lu, Dashanzi, Chaoyang (northeast of Metro Park Lido Complex).
A bit farther outside the city is Caochangdi, which has developed into a truly avant-garde art haven and is also home to China’s leading artist and activist, Ai Weiwei. 105 Caochangdi Village, Chaoyang District, 5th Ring Road and Airport Expressway.
The lesson learned
While travelers can always learn from the greatness of eras past, often the new serves to put the past into perspective. Architect Norman Foster once said, “You design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” Perhaps nowhere is this truer than in Beijing.
Julie L. Kessler is a travel writer, attorney and legal columnist based in Los Angeles and author of the award-winning book “Fifty-Fifty: The Clarity of Hindsight.”
