Destination GuiDe series - Elite Traveler€¦ · Opulent and luxurious nightclub venue with an...

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Dest inat ion Gu iDe ser i es

Be i J inG

ELITE GUIDE TO BEIJING

2ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BEIJINGwww.elitetraveler.com

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Some places offer unforgettable experiences... So do we

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HIGHLIGHTS OF BEIJING 3

ONLY ELITE 4 Elite Traveler selects the most exclusive VIP experiences in Beijing

CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS 5 Beijing’s top concierges share their personal recommendations for the perfect day

WHERE TO

➤ STAY 7

➤ DINE 14

➤ BE PAMPERED 18

WHAT TO DO

➤ DURING THE DAY 20

➤ DURING THE NIGHT 23

➤ FEATURED EVENTS 27

➤ SHOPPING 29

NEED TO KNOW

➤ PRIVATE JET TERMINALS 34

➤ EXCLUSIVE TRANSPORT 35

➤ USEFUL INFORMATION 35

STAY AT THE OPPOSITE HOUSE

DINE AT LAN NA THAI

RELAX AT CHI, THE SPA

SHOP AT CHANG & BIORCK

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highlights of beijingBeijing offers a wealth of attractions, adventures and experiences for an unforgettable trip

The city of Beijing has long captured Western imagination as an exotic hub

of ancient, historical Chinese civilization, full of palaces, temples and traditional culture. Modern Beijing, however, has been re-imagined. With a glittering skyline that grows taller by the minute, the new Chinese capital is one of the most exciting and fast-paced destinations in the world.

It’s a city entirely in a league of its own, where visitors can experience the old hutong (traditional alleyways) and courtyard houses alongside the new commercial flurry of luxury shopping and fine dining.In Beijing, antiquity and modernity go hand-in-hand, creating the fresh, original dialog that defines this emergent metropolis. From the Forbidden City and the Peking

Opera to the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium and the budding contemporary art scene, Beijing is the epicenter of Chinese culture and development, both old and new. To visit its incredible sights, thrilling events and spectacular restaurants is to experience first-hand the remarkable advancement of the country —and have a lot of fun along the way.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSPhone: +86 10 6655 0000Address: 2 West Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.chncpa.orgHome of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra and National Ballet of China, the National Center for the Performing Arts (also called the National Grand Theater or, colloquially, “The Egg”) is the country’s premier theater and concert hall. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass is surrounded by an artificial lake and seats over 5,000 people in its three performance halls. Orchestras, plays, operas and dance performances from across the country and all over the world can be watched here. The NCPA also offers a personal courier service, which will deliver tickets straight to your hotel on the morning of the show.

DUCK DE CHINEPhone: +86 10 6501 1949 ext 8808Address: 1949 The Hidden City, Courtyard 4,Gongti North Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.elite-concepts.comCuisine: Chinese - Peking DuckStyle / Ambiance: A new contender amid the highest circle of Peking Duck restaurants in the city and certainly the most stylish, Duck de Chine offers a contemporary take on the city’s trademark dish while maintaining traditional techniques and that signature Beijing flourish. Think moist, flavorful meat with deeply crispy skin that tastes rich but not fatty. The usual ‘tianmian’ accompaniment, a sauce made of fermented flour, is remarkably light and stands out among other restaurants. The menu also boasts some other duck dishes, global favorites infused with a shot of classic Chinese, including a popular duck confit and very original duck tacos, made with tiny cubes of stir-fried duck, red peppers, shredded lettuce and water chestnuts. Aside from the cuisine, Duck de Chine’s textured décor adds to its allure, with slate grey tablecloths, modern chandeliers and warm brick walls, giving it elegance with an edge. There’s also an acclaimed wine list to enjoy and, in the entrance of the restaurant, you will find Beijing’s only Bollinger champagne bar, an extra special indulgence to add to your visit.

GREAT WALL OF CHINAPhone: +86 10 6912 1235Address: Great Wall of China, Huairou DistrictWebsite: www.greatwall-of-china.comSeeing the wall is a must for any visitor to Beijing. A symbol of China’s awe-inspiring history, the Great Wall has snaked through the country’s most beautiful landscapes for thousands of years. Today, select sections of its remains have been restored for tourists. Badaling is the most popular, with a souvenirs market and museum. For less of a crowd, visit Mutianyu. Its dramatic hills and watchtowers are majestic and there is a suspended cable-car that takes you up. Located about 90 minutes outside of the city, the best way to go is to hire a driver for the day.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PEKING DUCK

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA AT MUTIANyU

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ONLY ELITE Elite Traveler has selected the most exclusive VIP experiences for your trip to the Chinese capital

DINING ON THE GREAT WALLPhone: +86 10 6400 9199Website: www.hiasgourmet.comFor those unsatisfied with a day trip and a climb along its steep steps, the Great Wall has more to offer. Plan a dinner or celebration on a private undisturbed length of the wall and watch the sun set over magnificent surrounding mountains while enjoying gourmet cuisine and fine wines, entirely catered and arranged by Hias Gourmet for the Beijing visitor seeking total perfection. They also arrange more

intimate and exclusive dining experiences for couples or families in beautifully restored traditional village homes under the Great Wall. Tucked into the inspiring remote landscape, dining by romantic lantern light with the magnificent Wall before you, you’ll feel like the only people in the world — and certainly the most privileged. A selection of dishes from the sample menu include; oysters on the half shell served natural with a choice of mignonette and spicy cocktail sauce, foie gras pâté with spiced apple tart and aged balsamic, star anise braised beef

short rib, Peking Duck roll with spiced nuts and goat cheese, confit loin stir-fried with cumin, and among other signature desserts, a mouthwatering chocolate terrine with Grand Marnier crème anglaise and fresh seasonal berries. Dining on the Great Wall by Hias Gourmet is, in every way, an elite Beijing experience. Hias Gourmet also arranges fine dining experiences inside the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, where you can indulge your inner gourmand in exclusive rooms and imperial quarters off-limits to tourists and visitors, just like a real emperor or empress.

DINING ON THE GREAT WALL © CULINARY CAPERSDINING ON THE GREAT WALL © CULINARY CAPERS

FORBIDDEN CITY PRIVATE BANQUET © JANFO PALACE


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CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONSBeijing’s top concierges share their recommendations for the perfect trip

SAMANTHA ZOU CHIEF CONCIERGE, RAFFLES BEIJING HOTEL

Phone: +86 10 6526 3388 ext. 4121Email: [email protected] the perfect Beijing itinerary, start your day bright and early by joining Raffles Ambassador John Spooner on a walk to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Come back to the hotel and enjoy a delightful Western or Oriental breakfast at our luxury restaurant East 33. Following breakfast let a Raffles Hotel car and chauffeur take you to the Great Wall for an exciting day trip. After a delicious dinner of Peking duck, return to your room to rest, relax and change. You will find the tickets you requested for a ballet or opera at the National Center for PerformingArts already waiting for you.

BEST DININGLei Garden (Li Yuan)Cuisine: CantoneseThis fantastic Cantonese restaurant brings dim sum to new levels of perfection. Private dining rooms offer sanctuary from the crowd, particularly for busy Sunday brunch.Phone: +86 10 8522 1212Address: 3rd Floor, Jinbao Tower, 89 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District

BEST SHOPPINGNE TigerA Beijing-based fashion house that is at the forefront of emerging Chinese luxury fashion brands. Best known for their couture gowns.Address: Cuiwei Plaza, 33 Fuxing Road, Haidian District

BEST EXPLORINGNational Museum of ChinaLocated on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square, the museum is great to visit. Stroll through the exhibition halls and soak up some Chinese history.Address: 16 East Chang’an Street, Dongcheng District

LEON ZHANGHEAD OF CONCIERGE, CHINA WORLD HOTEL

Phone: +86 10 6505 2266Email: [email protected]

“You can start your day with a fitness session with the tai chi master at our fitness club, followed by a sumptuous buffet breakfast in Scene a Café. Take a bicycle or hybrid car tour to the Forbidden City and learn about Chinese history, then head over to the historical hutongs and walk the traditional neighborhoods particular to Beijing. Have a delicious Peking duck lunch at Duck de Chine and head out to 798 Art District, where you can spend the afternoon taking in the works of contemporary Chinese artists. Homesick? For dinner, a taste of world-class modern European cuisine can be found at the Aria restaurant. Located here at the China World Hotel, Aria offers some of the city’s best gourmet cuisine prepared by head chef Matthew McCool.”

BEST SIGHTSEEINGDay tour to the Great WallYou simply can’t come to Beijing without seeing the Wall.Address: Huairou, 101400

BEST DININGDuck de ChineCuisine: ChineseArguably the city’s best venue for Peking Duck.Phone: +86 10 6501 8812Address: The Hidden City, Courtyard 4, Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District

Haidilao Hot PotCuisine: ChineseAn entertaining local dining experience where dancing girls make hand-pulled noodles right by your tableside.Phone: +86 10 6506 0403Address: 2 Dahuisilu, Haidian District

BEST SHOPPINGShanghai XuA popular boutique offering high-quality, stunning reinventions of the traditional qipao (cheongsam) or tang zhuang (male version of the traditional attire). Address: Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang’An Street, Dongcheng District

BEST EXPLORINGNanluoguxiang HutongA traditional hutong combined with contemporary and unique shops, restaurants and bars.Address: Nanluoguxiang Hutong, Dongcheng District

LEON ZHANG

LOBBY, RAFFLES BEIJING HOTEL


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LEIGH LI HEAD CONCIERGE, THE PENINSULA

Phone: +86 10 8516 2888Email: [email protected]

BEST SIGHTSEEINGThe Summer PalaceFully restored by the Empress Dowager more than a hundred years ago, the palace and grounds are situated on a tranquil lake where you can see the magnificent Marble Boat.Address: Yiheyuan, Haidian District

Liulichang Culture StreetA traditional, cultural market selling antiques, jewelry and works of ancient calligraphy. Address: Liulichang East Street, Xuanwu District

BEST DININGGreen T. HouseTea-infused fusion cuisine served in an impressively sleek and well designed setting.Address: 6 Gongti West Road, Chaoyang District

Capital MLocated in the historic Qianmen Street, Capital M diners can feast on delicious, modern European cuisine while enjoying spectacular views of Tiananmen Square below.Address: 2 Qianmen Avenue, Pedestrian Area, Dongcheng District

Din Tai FengHailed as one of the world’s ‘Ten Best Restaurants’ by the New York Times, this internationally renowned dumpling restaurant is both opulent and contemporary in style.Address: 24 Xinyuan Xilizhongjie, Chaoyang District

BEST NIGHTLIFEBar BluAn upscale watering hole with an avant-garde décor scheme.Address: 4th Floor, Tongli Studio, Sanlitun Street North, Chaoyang District

LAN ClubOpulent and luxurious nightclub venue with an impeccably well-stocked bar and live DJs most nights.Address: 4th Floor, LG Twin Towers, 12B Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District

BEST SHOPPINGThe Peninsula Palace Shopping ArcadeAll the finest luxury designer brands your heart could desire.Address: 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District

CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS

DESTiNATiON GuiDE SERiES

THE PENINSULA HOTEL, CONCIERGE SERvICESTHE SUMMER PALACE, MARBLE BOAT

DESTINATION GuIDE SERIES


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Where to stay

Pangu 7 Star Hotel BeijingVIP contact: Peter Yang, Executive Assistant ManagerPhone: +86 10 5906 7777 ext: 6250Fax: +86 10 5906 7221Email: [email protected]: 27 Central North 4th Ring Drive, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101Website: www.panguhotel.com

Combining a prestigious location overlooking the Beijing Olympic Park, and an auspicious East-meets-West design built according to ancient Chinese feng shui principles, the Pangu 7 Star Hotel is part of the stunning Pangu Plaza development, which will also comprise luxury offices, residences and the flagship stores of the world’s most luxurious brands. Located on Beijing’s new axis of prestige and power, the complex sits adjacent to the historical central axis that stretches from the Forbidden City to the 2008 Olympic with jaw-dropping views of the Bird’s Nest National Stadium and Water Cube Aquatic Centre, which guests can access via the Ruyi bridge over Pangu Gardens. The 234-room Pangu 7 Star Hotel with 140 suites is an opulent 21st century modern hotel which is set to become a distinct and recognizable icon for new China. The Pangu 7 Star Hotel’s interiors were created by

Milan-based Italian-Brazilian designer Ricardo Bello Dias. Opulent but welcoming, the design strikes a masterful balance between Chinese classical tradition and contemporary European glamour.

No expense has been spared in the creation of the hotel. Marble was sourced from Italy, Spain and other European countries and embellished with traditional Chinese motifs hand-engraved by local craftsmen, while the hotel’s furnishings, lighting and technology were designed by leading global brands such as BAGA, Metis and Baker, as featured in the White House. The hotel is also the only hotel to have been granted permission from the Palace Museum to reproduce priceless artworks from the Forbidden City. These Tang, Ming and Qing Dynasty masterpieces were created on copper panels in Italy and are visible in all guestrooms.

toP SuitePangu PreSidential SuiteSquare footage: 5,253 Nightly rate: $15,585Why we love it: There are five rooms in this glorious suite with a spacious 2,422 square foot (225 square meter) bathroom with a separate rainforest shower and a Kaldewei Jacuzzi from Germany. All guests enjoy personalized butler services.

reStaurantS, BarS and loungeS in tHe Hotel

Wenqi Chinese restaurantVIP contact: Choy Zhong, ManagerPhone: +86 10 5906 7668Fax: +86 10 5906 8610Email: [email protected]

auspicious gardenLocated on the 2nd Floor of the hotel with a panoramic view facing the Water Cube, the restaurant offers sumptuous variety of Japanese sashimi and sushi, imported seafood, Chinese and Western cuisine and delicious desserts.

Kaden MinokichiFounded in 1716, Kaden Minokichi is a traditional gem from Kyoto. The restaurant serves the finest cuisine from Kyoto in six private tatami-laid rooms.

Happiness loungeA trendy lounge overlooking the stunning view of the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest Stadium, offering champagne, cocktails and fine wines.

Karma loungeSituated adjacent to the lobby, this residential style lounge is the ideal venue for high teas and evening aperitifs.

Kaden MinoKiCHi HaPPineSS lounge KarMa lounge


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Where to stay

SHangri-la Hotel, BeijingVIP contact: Christopher Chia, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 6841 2211 Fax: +86 10 6841 8002/3Email: [email protected] Address: 29 Zizhuyuan Road, Beijing 100089, China Web: www.shangri-la.com

Just 22 miles from the airport, the prestigious Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing is near the city’s favorite sightseeing spots such as the Summer Palace and business areas like Financial Street and Zhongguancun Technology Park. With its calming luxury and comfort defying the frenetic buzz of the surrounding city, complemented with the warm Asian-style hospitality that it offers, the hotel plays host to dignitaries and celebrities. A wide choice of exquisite delicacies is available within the hotel, ranging from authentic Japanese and Chinese cuisine to contemporary dining. The 25-meter heated indoor swimming pool and award-winning CHI, The Spa add to the enchantment.

toP SuitePreSidential SuiteSquare footage: 2,639 Nightly rate: $5,563Why we love it: Commanding vibrant city views through the 19 foot floor-to-ceiling windows at the two-story high sitting room, the Presidential Suite has a unique crystal and silver tree chandelier, and its touch of chinoiserie is augmented with a warm tone created by the use of plenty of wood and marble. The suite unequivocally offers exemplary elegance in an expansive and impressive setting, completed by the highest level of service and attention.

The suite has a high-ceiling made of marble and a sitting room with elegant décor and artwork, commensurable with the status of the guests. The master bedroom has a spacious walk-in dressing room.

There is a Jacuzzi in the marble bathroom, complemented with a heated floor and premium toiletries, ideal for in-room pampering. Both bedroom and bathroom are equipped with flat-screen LCD televisions. A separate fitness area equipped with a personal fitness bike offers absolute privacy. There is a dining room and adjoining kitchenette complete with a call button for butler service. Bonus features include a state-of-the-art stereo sound system, a flat-screen television, a DVD player in the sitting room, and a study room with large executive desk, color printer, two-in-one fax/copier and an iPod connection. Concierge and chauffeur-driven limousine services, complimentary breakfast, snacks and beverages, including free-flowing champagne, wines and canapés, are available throughout the day at the Valley Wing Lounge.


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Where to stay

CHina World SuMMit Wing, Beijing Contact: Adrian Rudin, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 6505 2299 Email: [email protected]: No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing, ChinaWebsite: www.shangri-la.com/en/property/beijing/ chinaworldsummitwing

With unrivalled views over the historic city center, China World Summit Wing, Beijing, managed by Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is one of the finest hotels in the city, occupying the upper floors of Beijing’s newest iconic landmark, the 1,100-foot tall China World Tower. Strategically located in the city’s centre, the hotel offers easy access to major tourist attractions. Located between level 64 and level 77, all 278 guestrooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and feature classic wooden decor and the finest furnishing with subtle Chinese touches. Designed with optimum comfort in mind, typical guestrooms span an average of 700 square feet, among the largest in the city, and feature the latest audio-visual facilities, a spacious wardrobe and bathroom and exquisite bath amenities. The hotel boasts three designer restaurants, two bars, a lounge and three exclusive venues devoted to private dining, many of which enjoy stunning views of the cityscape. It also houses the city’s highest spa retreat, CHI, The Spa, on level 77, and a health club on level 78 with fully equipped gymnasium.

PreMier Suite

atMoSPHere Bar

reSidentS’ Foyer

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Where to stay

elite destination guide | beijing10

Where to Whether a sumptuous bed, a spectacular view or service beyond compare, choose from our stunning selections

aMan at SuMMer PalaCe VIP contact: Mark Swinton, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 5987 9999Email: [email protected]: 1 Gongmenqian Street, Summer PalaceWebsite: www.amanresorts.com Inhabiting a series of historic dwellings just steps from one of China’s most iconic sites is Aman at Summer Palace. A sanctuary of peace, pervaded by a sense of balance and tranquility throughout, Aman at Summer Palace opens its doors to China’s regal past and captures the essence of the Ming Dynasty’s elegant aesthetic. Beijing has seen dynasties and revolutions come and go, and today remains one of the world’s most remarkable cities, offering visitors a kaleidoscope of Old and New China. Aman at Summer

Palace is one of the ideal portals through which to experience this multi-faceted city, and within the resort’s walls a mysterious sense of peeking through the veil of time into the romance of another era lingers on.

toP Suite iMPerial Suite Square footage: 3,329 Nightly rate: $3,800 Why we love it: The pared-down yet elegant aesthetic is a hallmark of Aman Resorts and prominently features in the property’s top suite. Composed of three separate pavilions, spanning a majestic 3,329 square feet, guests have plenty of space to relax in the serene atmosphere. The Imperial Suite features both a formal residence with a boardroom for 18 people and separate private quarters with their own spa treatment room.

aMan at SuMMer PalaCe, naoKi reStaurant entranCe

aMan at SuMMer PalaCe, loBBy aMan at SuMMer PalaCe, iMPerialSuite BedrooM

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Where to stay

tHe oPPoSite HouSeVIP contact: Anthony Ross, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 6417 6688Email: [email protected]: The Village, Building 1, 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing,100027Website: www.theoppositehouse.com For design aficionados, this is the one and only place to stay in Beijing. The Opposite House is hands down the most exquisite piece of modernist architecture that you will ever have the chance to visit in the Chinese capital. The name Opposite House is derived from a Chinese word historically describing a building situated opposite the main house in a courtyard where guests would stay. Designed by Kengo Kuma Associates in 2008, this luxury boutique hotel is fresh, inspiring and located in Sanlitun at the vibrant core of the Chaoyang District. The restaurants and bars here are always trendy and popular with

Beijing’s beautiful, bright, young things. Not to mention this place is home to quite possibly the chicest swimming pool in the world. Staying at The Opposite House is a truly unique experience and those who have stayed here cannot recommend it enough. Book your room now and you’ll soon be joining the club.

toP SuitetHe PentHouSe Square footage: 2,050 + 2,580 outdoor space Nightly rate: $3,730 Why we love it: Sprawling over two floors and a massive roof terrace, this expansive penthouse boasts a shallow reflecting pool, spa bathroom and mood lighting features. The suite comes with 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, Denon in-room entertainment, LCD TV, and guest access to both a Maserati Quatroporte and Audi Q7. The Penthouse at Opposite House is definitely a Beijing gem, just ask Beyoncé Knowles or Bobbi Brown, both of whom have slept here.

tHe atriuM at tHe oPPoSite HouSe

SWiMMing Pool at tHe oPPoSite HouSe

tHe PentHouSe at tHe oPPoSite HouSe


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Where to stay

raFFleS Beijing HotelVIP contact: Riaz Mahmood, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 6526 3388Email: [email protected]: 33 East Chang’An AvenueWebsite: www.beijing.raffles.comEstablished in the 1900s, Raffles Beijing Hotel witnessed many of the city’s significant social and political events, and its commanding French-Orient colonnade façade has long stood as an icon of Beijing’s historical heritage. It enjoys a prestigious address, at the crossroads of Chang’an Avenue and the shopping district of Wangfujing, a heartbeat away from the historic Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Faithfully restored, it features 171 tastefully appointed rooms, four distinctive restaurants and bars, and five well-equipped banquet venues, as well as a lofty lobby adorned with a procession of graceful arches.

toP SuiteraFFleS PreSidential Suite Square footage: 7,100 Nightly rate: $4,500 Why we love it: This eight-room, two-bathroom suite was designed with an opulent Baroque and French Colonial vibe. Notable features include a private elevator, personal gym, mini-theater, steam room and Jacuzzi pool. Raffles Beijing Hotel’s Presidential Suite occupies two stories, over a generous 888 square meters, making it one of the most spacious suites in Beijing, and has been ranked among the world’s top 101 luxury suites, as featured in Elite Traveler magazine’s Sixth Annual Pure Decadence issue. This is a veritable home away from home that has been host to many a distinguished guest, including former French president Jacques Chirac. The personal butler who is always on call will really make this a stay to remember.

raFFleS PreSidential Suite MaSter BedrooM

raFFleS Beijing Hotel raFFleS Beijing Hotel, loBBy


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Where to stay

tHe PeninSula BeijingVIP contact: Donald Harrington, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 8516 2888Email: [email protected]: 8 Goldfish Lane, WangfujingWebsite: www.peninsula.com At The Peninsula, you’ll embark on a world adventure in the heart of the thriving commercial Chaoyang District. This five-star hotel in Beijing is the perfect retreat, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure. With 305 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, three exceptional restaurants, and 1,100 square meters of high-tech meeting space, including a 650-square-meter ballroom, you’ll experience a Beijing luxury hotel unlike any other.

toP SuitetHe PeninSula Suite Square footage: 7,100 Nightly rate: $4,500 Why we love it: This stylish suite was recently renovated to the tune of $1.5 million and designed to resemble a traditional Beijing courtyard house. The vibe is contemporary, with advanced technology, yet a collection of antiques lends a classic authentic touch. Enjoy your own private elevator, gym, whirlpool and steam room.

tHe PeninSula Suite at tHe PeninSula Beijing

PreSidential Suite, grand Hyatt

grand HyattVIP contact: Christopher Koehler, General ManagerPhone: +86 10 8518 1234 Email: [email protected] Address: 1 East Chang’An Avenue, Dongcheng District Website: www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com A modern, five-star hotel, the Grand Hyatt Beijing offers the best of both worlds — a subtle blend of Western and Oriental traditions, encompassing contemporary hotel design. Located in the heart of the Dongcheng district, this is the perfect place to stay if you plan on visiting Beijing’s unmissable sights. The Grand Hyatt is also part of the Oriental Plaza complex, home to the city’s premier shopping center for luxury brands and designer boutiques.

toP SuitePreSidential Suite Square footage: 2,800 Nightly rate: $4,200 Why we love it: This duplex suite sits high atop the hotel, majestically occupying the expanse of its top two floors. On the lower floor, you will find a marble foyer, fireplace and spacious living room, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing magnificent views of the bustling Chang’An Avenue below. Upstairs, the master bedroom is equipped with its own private spa treatment room and sauna.


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S.T.A.Y.Phone: +86 10 6841 2211 ext.6727Email: [email protected]: 1st floor, Valley Wing, Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing. 29 Zizhuyuan Road, Beijing 100089Website: www.shangri-la.com

Created by three-Michelin-starred French Chef Yannick Alléno, S.T.A.Y. represents a brand new concept of restaurant. With kitchen and service teams hand-picked by Chef Yannick, S.T.A.Y. has breathed new life into the Beijing restaurant scene.

Two features we love at S.T.A.Y. (‘Simple Table Alléno Yannick’) are the Communal Table and the Pastry Library. A style of dining popular in France, the Communal Table celebrates the French love of sharing good food and conversation with family and friends. The table seats six to ten guests and offers a customised menu from starters and mains, to wines served by the magnum.

Moving away from the more common open kitchen trend, Chef Yannick invented the Pastry Library as an interactive platform for both pastry chef and guests. At the Pastry Library, you can relish the creation of your dessert and take part in the process by choosing the last ingredient or topping. It takes the form of a French patisserie with lovingly handcrafted cakes, pastries and tarts displayed on shelves and in glass cases. We especially love Chef Yannick’s signature Saint Honoré cake and strawberry cheesecake.The opening of S.T.A.Y. brings many ‘firsts’. This is the first S.T.A.Y. in Asia,

the Pastry Library is the first of its kind in Asia, and Chef Yannick is the first chef in Beijing who has obtained all five of his Michelin stars in France. Having made his name at Le Meurice in Paris, Chef Yannick here combines the finest French gastronomy with a fun, interactive setting. For couples, the romantic ambiance of S.T.A.Y. will leave sweet and lasting memories. The cozy space is also great for families and friends to share time together, while its elegant design offers businessmen the perfect setting to make an impression and forge valuable ties.

Where to Dine

toP ChoiCe


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Where to Dine

majestiC

MAISON BOULUDPhone: +86 10 6559 9200Address: 23 Qian Men East Street, Dongcheng DistrictCuisine: FrenchStyle / Ambiance: It’s hard to miss Maison Boulud, the majestic Versailles-inspired manor house located in a walled compound adjacent to stately Tiananmen Square. Bringing the Daniel Boulud dining empire to China, this glittering palace of a restaurant offers a contemporary French-inspired menu, which makes use of both imported and local, or Pacific Rim, ingredients. Patrons have special praise for the sparklingly opulent interiors, which were designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier to reflect colonial Beijing while adding sleek details. The Maison is managed by a cadre of seasoned professionals, many hand-picked from Boulud’s New York restaurants and other noteworthy properties worldwide, including Executive Chef Brian Reimer himself, whose cuisine annually garners the top food and restaurant awards in the city. With its sophisticated ambiance, five luxurious private dining rooms and separate lounge bar, Maison Boulud is the dining darling of Beijing’s most elite circles. As an added bonus, enjoy the fact you are having dinner at one of the most historically prestigious addresses in town — Chienmen 23 was once the location of the former American Embassy during the Qing dynasty. Back then it was high society’s most glamorous little slice of the city, the place for important foreign diplomats and Chinese imperial dignitaries to see and be seen. Spend an evening at Maison Boulud and you will find this old world experience has been captured and reimagined to stunning effect.

MAISON BOULUD

Modern-day Beijing is a restaurant enthusiast’s delight. Whatever it

is you’re craving today, you can be sure to find it in one of the glittering, bustling capital’s main districts, be it an extravagant five-course French dinner à la Daniel Boulud or a chic, post-shopping sushi lunch. Of course, if it’s Chinese cuisine you’re after, you’ll be so spoiled for choice that you won’t even know where to start. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the city’s finest dining, including the hottest new spot for Peking duck and a Beijing original you simply can’t miss.

Destination guiDe series

MAISON BOULUD, STAIrcASe

MAISON BOULUD, LIBrArY


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Where to Dine

elegant

romantiC / trenDy

MeI FUPhone: +86 10 6612 6845Website: www.meifujiayan.comAddress: 24 Daxiangfeng Hutong, south bank of Houhai Lake, Xicheng DistrictCuisine: Chinese - Jiangsu, ZhejiangStyle / Ambiance: To visit Mei Fu is to step backwards into the world of 1930s Peking Opera and experience the retro elegance of this exquisitely restored courtyard. An interior filled with velvet drapes and antique furniture is accentuated by vintage black and white photographs and playbills of Mei Lanfang, a famous Peking opera star and official restaurant muse. Pebbled floor hallways and waterfalls create a wonderfully relaxed experience. Mei Fu offers a full dramatic sensory experience, with the high-swaying notes of Chinese opera, mainly Mei Lanfang’s recorded performances, drifting through the series of courtyard dining rooms. The cuisine on offer is healthy and light, featuring traditional Jiangsu and Zhejiang favorites, including shrimp with water chestnuts, pineapple salad, steamed fish and celery stir-fried with lily bulbs. The Mei Fu courtyard is a hidden oasis of tranquility and Old World calm in the bustling capital.

LAN NA THAIPhone: +86 10 6551 6788Website: www.facebars.com/enAddress: 26 Dong Cao Yuan, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang DistrictCuisine: ThaiStyle / Ambiance: Lan Na Thai is one of the restaurants on the ever trendy Face Bar Estate, one of Beijing’s most popular hangouts for the well-heeled and well-dressed. Artfully carved Thai wooden panels hang on striking blue walls and tables overlook the buzzing courtyard below. It also makes for a very romantic setting. While the crowd is international, the chefs here are most definitely from Thailand, using fresh ingredients and serving spectacularly flavorsome creations, such as the steamed mushrooms stuffed with mince pork, prawn and Thai spices, served with oyster sauce. For great food in a great location, head to Lan Na Thai for a night to remember.

MeI FU

LAN NA THAI


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Where to Dine

ClassiC

romantiC

THe cHINA cLUBPhone: +86 10 6603 8858 ext 116/117Website: www.thechinaclubbeijing.comEmail: [email protected]: 51 Xirong Xian Hutong, Xidan DistrictCuisine: ChineseStyle / Ambiance: Set in a 400-year-old palace built for the 24th son of the Emperor Kangxi, this one-time favorite haunt of Communist Party Leader Deng Xiaoping is a place for those with a penchant for luxury and all things authentically

Chinese. The China Club is a private member’s club comprised of a series of five courtyards surrounded by 14 private dining rooms, a bar and a banquet hall. The dining rooms are fashioned out of what were once the concubines’ quarters and an opium parlor. The China Club’s chefs are renowned for their classical Chinese cuisine. Make sure you call ahead to book. And while you’re there, don’t forget to visit the club’s Long March Bar and adjacent Cigar Room, stocking high-quality imported Cuban cigars.

HAZArAPhone: +86 10 6551 6788Website: www.facebars.com/enAddress: 26 Dong Cao Yuan, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang DistrictCuisine: IndianStyle / Ambiance: Deep, dark and seductive, Hazara is all candlelight and dark wood, full of Indian and Balinese antiques. Beijingers call it one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. Part of the Face Bar complex, Hazara offers quality North Indian food, excellent service and an extensive wine list. The bar on the first floor, which is colonial inspired, is the perfect place to meet your date for a pre-dinner drink.

moDern

HATSUNePhone: +86 10 6581 3939Address: 8 Guanghua East Road/The Village, Gongti North Road, Sanlitun, Chaoyang DistrictCuisine: JapaneseStyle / Ambiance: A frequent champion of local dining awards, Hatsune’s ultra-modern interiors, extensive specialist sake list and excellent service ensure it is always busy. Not to worry though, as there is a beautiful glass-encased VIP dining room available by booking that features an intricately woodworked sunken table and is perfect for those who prefer some privacy. Hatsune is extremely popular, known as one of the best spots to eat Japanese in Beijing, and is the perfect choice if you’re meeting a friend or associate for lunch. There’s a cozy terrace overlooking the Sanlitun Village main plaza where you can enjoy your drink while people-watching.

family

DAccAPOPhone: +86 10 8522 1789Address: The Regent Beijing, 99 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng DistrictWebsite: www.regenthotels.comCuisine: ItalianStyle / Ambiance: Daccapo is a vibrant, contemporary Italian restaurant offering genuine and refined Italian cuisine that is impeccably presented. The dishes are personalized and perfected by the creativity and flair of Michelin Star Chef Mario Cittadini, of Italy’s Il Postale fame. Old World Italian décor and mood lighting makes this restaurant warm and relaxing. Be sure to try one of their fire-baked pizzas, famous all around town.

trenDy

MY HUMBLe HOUSePhone: +86 10 8518 8811Website: www.myhumblehouse.com.sgAddress: W307 Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang’An Avenue, Dongcheng DistrictCuisine: Fusion, Chinese - HunanStyle / Ambiance: Don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing humble about this place. When it comes to restaurants, My Humble House is playing in the Major Leagues. Since its launch in 2004 by Singapore’a TungLok Group, My Humble House has been a jewel in the crown of the Beijing restaurant scene. With the main dining area situated around a rose-petal

covered pool and gingko leaves scattered throughout the hallway, this unique spot is pure elegance. The spacious, light-filled atrium even sports a miniature bamboo forest to one side. When it comes to the food, few restaurants in the world do fusion so exceptionally well, successfully combining Western ingredients with subtle yet distinct Hunan-inspired Chinese flavor. The menu constantly changes, so there is always something new to try, but don’t dare leave without sampling the oatmeal crusted wasabi prawns. Almost painfully hip, My Humble House is loved by the city’s ultra-trendy and has been featured by the New York Times.

A PrIvATe DININg rOOM AT HAZArA AN INTIMATe TABLe FOr TwO AT HAZArA

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Where to be pampered Escape into a world of beauty and relaxation at one of Beijing’s top spas

CHI, THe Spa aT SHangrI-LaPhone: +86 10 6841 2211Email: [email protected] Website: www.shangri-la.comAddress: 29 Zizhuyuan Road, Haidian DistrictTreatment and facilities: CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La draws inspiration straight from the origins of the Shangri-La legend, a place of personal peace, enchantment and well-being. The spacious and relaxing spa offers 11 private treatment suites with self-contained herbal steam showers, changing areas, a color therapy bath and a relaxation area. The treatments here incorporate precious stones such as amber, jade, pearl and crystals for their healing and soothing properties. A true spa of the East, CHI emphasizes balance and harmony in creating the most relaxing and rejuvenating experiences. After an exhaustive sightseeing session around the capital, this is the ultimate place to put your feet up with a facial, a private massage and an indulgent aromatherapy soak. Go on, you’ve earned it.Signature treatment: The Jade Jewel Facial is one hour and 40 minutes of invigorating facial pampering. Specially crafted aventurine jade gemstones, exclusive to CHI, are massaged on the face to smooth and ease tension, improve circulation, and calm the skin while bio-active products are applied to nourish and hydrate.

reCepTIon aT CHI, THe Spa aT SHangrI-La

CHI, THe Spa aT SHangrI-La

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Where to be pampered

KoCoon Spa LoungeSpa Director: Maika EndoPhone: +86 10 5208 6068Email: [email protected]: Nali Garden, 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.kocoonspalounge.comTreatments and facilities: As its name suggests, this spa is cozy, intimate and personalized. Kocoon is a French-Japanese boutique day spa run by a mother and daughter team in Sanlitun, offering holistic therapies, facials and massages, as well as the best waxing and mani-pedis in the city. At Kocoon, the personal touches are what really make things special. Says spa co-founder, Maika Endo: “If our guest likes jazz music, we’ll play jazz during the treatment. If they prefer honey in their tea instead of sugar, I’ll get honey.” This place is airy, fresh and cute; perfect for a pre-party primp or post-shopping treat. And the best part about Kocoon? The martinis, of course. Sip one while you have your nails done and live it up like a true Beijing superstar.Signature treatment: The Voodoo Love Bath, offered in the winter, is a two-hour treatment so sinfully indulgent you’ll be coming back for seconds. Emerse yourself in a luxurious rose-petal milk bath and soak all your problems away with a selection of six different exclusive Kocoon scrubs. Follow it up with a 90-minute full body aromatherapy massage, featuring a custom elixir of organic essential oils.

green T HouSePhone: +86 10 6552 8310/11Email: [email protected]: 6 Gongti West Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.green-t-house.comTreatments and facilities: Part sensual spa, part haute dining and part art exhibit, the Green T House is a Beijing gem that cannot be missed. The brainchild of socialite Miss Zhang Jin, musician, artist, trendsetter, tea connoisseur and general fabulous woman about town, the Green T House designs and delivers a full sensory experience based on the elements and sensations of fine Chinese tea. It’s also a paradise of modernist architecture and interiors, the darling of design aficionados worldwide and constantly orbited by the capital’s most fashionable sets. For even more extensive pampering, a second location, Green T House Living, has opened, tucked away in the outskirts of Beijing, especially designed for couples and groups to enjoy fabulous full-day treatments and overnight stays. Inspired by a Tang dynasty emperor’s imperial bathhouse, it sleeps couples in traditional curtained royal-style beds and small groups in their beautifully designed loft bedrooms. Picture the most high-end slumber party you can imagine, then add some seriously indulgent and unique spa services, including meditation therapy, a tea ceremony and a bamboo leaf facial. Green T House combines the tradition, innovation, energy and tranquility that define New China. It is, without a doubt, the ultimate place to go for a complete body, mind and soul experience.Signature treatment: The Bamboo Leaves are Green is the name of a four-hour package, beginning with an invigorating green tea bath with bamboo extract and sea salt, followed by a meditation session, steam scrub, palm pressure massage and, exclusive to Green T House, their most talked-about specialty by far, the ten-handed massage. Finally the package ends with a facial, head massage and tea tasting. Head to the dining room to finish off with a light bite to eat. We recommend the fennel and lotus dumplings with asparagus.

LuxurIouS roSe peTaL TreaTmenT

zen SToneS


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What to do ➤ during the day

F rom a climb of the ancient Great Wall to a tour of the contemporary

798 Art District, Beijing offers countless sights and experiences, each of them

unique and extraordinary. Soak in the history of one of the oldest cities in the world by visiting the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, or take in

some culture by viewing an exhibition at the National Art Museum, followed by an invigorating rest at a traditional Chinese teahouse.

798 ART DISTRICT (DASHANZI)Address: 798 Art Zone, 4 Jiuxian Bridge Road, Chaoyang DistrictFormerly a Maoist industrial factory compound, in the past decade 798 has become the fast-beating heart of Beijing’s contemporary art world. With its old decommissioned factory buildings and unique architectural style, the creative cocoon of the 798 Art District is often compared to New York’s Greenwich Village or Soho. A hive of galleries, studios and cafés, it is the preferred destination of Beijing’s hippest and most cosmopolitan new community of contemporary artists, designers, collectors, students and visitors. Enjoy a browse through the district’s endless exhibits and take your time to discover a new favorite Chinese sculptor, photographer or painter. A few galleries worth mentioning include Long March, an avant-garde conceptual space known for housing larger installations, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, a top-class gallery/museum founded by a Dutch couple in possession of what may be the world’s finest collection of modern Chinese art, and Galleria Continua, which features local talents and international artists, including hard-hitters like Anish Kapoor and Michelangelo Pistoletto, bringing new and refreshing dialogue to the Beijing art scene.

art

THE FORBIDDEN CITYEmail: [email protected]: www.dpm.org.cnAddress: Forbidden City/Palace Museum, Dongcheng DistrictIt would be a grave crime to go to Beijing and not visit this iconic and magnificent architectural complex. The sprawling palace is a monument of China’s dynasties; 24 emperors ruled from within its red walls for nearly 500 years. The Outer Court, at the center of the Forbidden City, is easily the most impressive part. The Inner Court houses three intricate palaces and the emperor’s private living quarters, and is flanked on both sides by Western and Eastern Palaces. A select few rooms and halls are open to visitors and worth the visit, like the Palace of Eternal Spring, residence of imperial concubines, where tromp-l’oeil paintings at the ends of passageways make them appear infinite. Those looking to avoid crowds might choose to start at the northern Gate of Divine Prowess, a more peaceful entrance, and simply tour the palace in reverse. If you book in advance, you can even enjoy lunch in the hidden, exclusive Gugong Yushan Fang, where its ancient, Qing-style, long banquet table will let you become Emperor Pu Yi for a day.

CuLturaL

THE FORBIDDEN CITY798 ART DISTRICT



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LAMA TEMPLE (YONGHEGONG)Phone: +86 10 6404 3769Address: 12 Yonghegong Avenue, Dongcheng DistrictAlso known as the Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple, this 17th century Tibetan Lama temple is a stylistic blend of Han, Mongol and Tibetan symbols and motifs. The dimensions of the temple are magnificent.Its five main halls are bedecked with many different statues, depictions and different forms of Buddha, the highlight being a vast 55-foot statue of Amitreya, the Future Buddha, encapsulated within the toweringly tall Wanfu Pavillion. Enjoy beautifully carved archways, upturned eaves and the temple’s extensive treasury of Buddhist art, as well as Tibetan-style wall murals. It is one of the largest and more important Tibetan Buddist monasteries in the world.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC STADIUMWebsite: en.beijing2008.cnAddress: Olympic Green, Chaoyang DistrictDesigned by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron in collaboration with famed Beijing artist Ai Wei Wei, the bird’s nest design of the Olympic Stadium has become a city icon and has remained one of the most striking structures anywhere in the world following the Games. To visit the stadium is to understand the massive construction program China undertook in preparation for the games. It is the centerpiece of the Olympic Green development, which includes a large landscaped park and the Olympic Village, among various other stadiums and buildings. For a private tour of the Olympic Stadium or other Beijing sites, you may want to contact Stretch-A-Leg. These trip planners will organize bespoke tours and sightseeing experiences to your specifications (www.stretchalegtravel.com).

FaMiLy

XI HUA YUAN TEAHOUSEPhone: +86 10 6603 8534Address: 92 North Chang Street, West Gate of Forbidden City, Xicheng DistrictChina’s long history of growing and drinking tea has led to considerable refinement in its production, preparation and serving. With its many varietals, procedures, subtleties and finesse, a higher enjoyment of Chinese tea might be compared to a connoisseurship of wine in the West. Having Chinese tea at an actual teahouse may just be the highlight of your visit. Xi Hua Yuan serves some of the rarest of Chinese teas, including Longjing green tea, which grows on only 120 select trees in the Zhejiang province, and Da Hongpao from the oolong family, harvested from only several trees on Wuyi Mountain in the Fujian province. Elegant private rooms are available by the hour, but be sure to say “ni hao” to the teahouse’s most prized patron, a Chinese-speaking mynah bird that presides over the main tearoom.

reLaXing NATIONAL OLYMPIC STADIUM

CHINESE TEA

LAMA TEMPLE



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CHAOYANG THEATREPhone: +86 10 6526 8228Email: [email protected]: www.chaoyangtheatre.comAddress: 36 Northeast Third Ring Road, Chaoyang DistrictThe Chaoyang Theatre is a well-renowned venue, long used for some of Beijing’s greatest performances. Today, acrobatics have become the main attraction of the theater. China has a worldwide reputation for its remarkable gymnasts, who perform breathtaking routines showcasing their unnerving flexibility and precision. Many classic routines are known for drawing inspiration from everyday life, often using props such as chairs, plates, vases and other household objects. One of the Chaoyang Theatre’s most popular tricks is 20 or so acrobats on a single bicycle. After more than ten years of characteristic management and nightly performances, Chaoyang Theatre is a world-famous acrobatics destination in Beijing. Book your tickets in the VIP zone to get the best view of the action.

entertainMent

RED CAPITAL CLUBPhone: +86 10 8401 6152Email: [email protected]: www.redcapitalclub.com.cnAddress: 66 Dongsi Liutiao, Dongcheng DistrictThink of the Red Capital Club, a boutique inn, restaurant and clubhouse in a Qing-era courtyard in the city center, as an irony-laden witticism on a retro, Communist-kitsch theme. Furniture favored by Mao fits out the rooms, which come with his provocative Little Red Book at every bedside. The dining room is decked out in vintage fixtures, 1960s’ hand-painted propaganda posters and mass-produced statuettes of the Chairman. With a menu designed to imitate the spread at an official state banquet, you can spend the afternoon enjoying delicious Chinese dishes named after notable party figures. In the underground bar, a converted bomb shelter, women in Red Army gear serve “Lin Biao’s Crashes” (blue Curacao, vodka and maotai — a potent Chinese liquor). The club also boasts a chic cigar lounge, where you can puff away while sitting in an original chair obtained from the Central Government Office, used in the 1950s for discussions among military leaders. But by far our favorite restoration here is the spectacular “Madame Mao’s Red Flag Limo”, the classic old luxury Chinese motorcar parked outside, in which the Red Capital Club offers a 50-minute VIP tour around town, complete with caviar and a redefinition of the word fabulous.

SoMething diFFerent

NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF CHINAPhone: +86 10 6401 7076Website: www.namoc.org/enAddress: 1 Wusi Avenue, Dongcheng District Showing a number of Chinese and international exhibitions in 17 halls spread over five floors, the National Art Museum of China holds around 100,000 works. Modern and contemporary pieces make up most of the exhibits, including masterpieces by renowned Chinese painters, award-winning pieces from major national competitions and a large variety of Chinese folk art. Four original Picasso paintings are also housed here, China’s first major acquisition of Western art. Now, the museum holds frequent exhibitions of foreign art, with previous shows including works by Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Salvador Dali. The National Art Museum also features an exhibit of African wood sculptures and other collections of art from the developing world.

artRED CAPITAL CLUB

CHAOYANG THEATRE ACROBATICS

What to do ➤ during the night


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You’ll find that as the sun goes down, Beijing is only just getting started.

Watch as the city becomes an urban jungle of trendy bars and exclusive nightclubs

far more extravagant and opulent than anything in the West. For something more cultural, enjoy a Chinese opera or symphony at the beautifully designed

National Center for Performing Arts or enjoy something different with a night boat tour. With so much to see and do, you might just be out all night.

BEIJING OPERA SHOWPhone: +86 10 8402 3595Email: [email protected]: Beijing Theatre Cultural & Development Co. Ltd.,A3306 Dongya Wangjing Centre, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.theatrebeijing.comThe Beijing Opera Show is an introduction to Peking Opera’s many forms, presenting the audience with a taste of Chinese cultures, and unfolding stories from history and art. For foreigners who aren’t used to hearing it, Peking Opera, with its unique pitches and affectations, is unlike anything in the West — a theatrical form you will either love or hate. However, regardless of your understanding of the singing, everyone can enjoy the exquisite costumes, dramatic gestures, acrobatic fighting and other spectacular theatrical aspects distinctive of the Peking Opera. Visitors can enjoy this show while sampling traditional Chinese hors d’oeuvres and sipping tea. Private tables can be booked.

PerForManCe

BEIJING NIGHT BOAT TOURPhone: +86 138 1154 5162Email: [email protected]: www.greatwalladventure.comAddress: China Industrial International Center, Fourth Ring RoadFor the couple with a sense of adventure, this romantic ride starts around 8.30pm and is a magical experience. A car brings visitors to the River Romance Dock located at Lotus Market, where a fleet of traditional Chinese river boats are docked. Each has its own boatman, ready to take you on a moonlit cruise through Old Beijing. You’ll be able to enjoy tea and snacks on the boat along with the sweet music of Chinese stringed and woodwind instruments, and will experience a peek into the daily lives of local people in the old parts of the city.

SoMething diFFerent

THE HOUSEPhone: +86 10 6552 6661Address: North Gate, Worker’s Stadium, Chaoyang DistrictThe newest addition to the circle of bars and venues that encircle the Worker’s Stadium, The House is cool for one reason only: its ultra-glam rooftop bar. This is the place to be when the days are warm and the sun has gone down. VIP tables and a bottle service at The House can be booked for the ultimate summertime party experience.

Bar

OPERA SINGER, BEIJING

NATIONAL CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS



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NIGHT TOUR OF THE CCTV TOWERPhone: +86 10 6716 0201 ext. 1006Email: [email protected]: www.tour-beijing.comAddress: 2001-1-1, Nanxiaojie Guangqumen,Chongwen DistrictCompleted in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this is the best place in Beijing to get a bird’s-eye-view of the city. The highest point of the CCTV (China Central Television) tower is 1,329 feet (405 meters) tall, making it the fifth highest tower in the world. The TV Culture Hall takes you on a quick journey through the central Chinese broadcasting network’s past and present. Best of all, there is a rotating dining hall serving international cuisines, at a more manageable 725 feet (221 meters) above the ground, where you can enjoy dinner while taking in a slowly spinning 360-degree view of the glittering metropolis. The restaurant creates an elegant and romantic atmosphere whilst gently revolving every 90 minutes.

SoMething diFFerent

PUNK AT THE OPPOSITE HOUSEPhone: +86 10 6410 5222Email:[email protected]: www.barpunk.comAddress: The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang DistrictPunk is The Opposite House’s pulsating, provocative late night bar and club. The antithesis of everything you know about hotel bars, this is where luxury goes underground. From the latest dance beats to classic punk rock mixes, this place is all about the sounds and where you’ll catch renowned DJs from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and all around the region playing the sets that made their names. Music aside, it is known for its incredibly well-designed stylish interior (a mixture of urban and neo-Gothic design encased in a glass shell) and for serving some of the best cocktails on the Beijing bar scene. Favorites include the Lychee Martini and the Jasmine Iced Tea, a mix of vodka, whiskey and jasmine tea with a cinnamon garnish. Punk is always host to a hip and happening crowd, especially on Fridays, so dress to impress.

Bar

CCTV TOWER PUNK AT THE OPPOSITE HOUSE



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LAN, THE CLASSIC BAR

LANPhone: +86 10 5109 6012Email: [email protected] Website: www.lan-global.comAddress: 4th Floor, LG Twin Towers, 12B Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang DistrictThis is unequivocally the hottest, hippest, most extravagant nightspot in all of Beijing. Designed by Philippe Starck and taking up an entire level of the LG towers, Lan features an upscale restaurant, a special cocktail bar, an oyster bar and 35 private VIP lounge rooms, where Beijing’s celebutante, jet set crowd preen, pose, sip champagne and dance the night away in tune to the zeitgeist of their emerging country. Interiors at Lan include paintings hung on the ceiling and toilets in which every imaginable surface is mirrored. Lan is the highest of high-class in Beijing and popular among entertainment industry up-and-comers, so keep your eyes open for the regular CCTV presenter or Korean movie star. Check their website to see what’s going on — the venue is frequently booked for art shows, fashion events and exclusive launch parties. And no matter what, don’t leave Beijing without spending a night wrapped up in its mad hatter world of decadence.

CLuB

XIUPhone: +86 10 8567 1838Email: [email protected] Website: www.xiubeijing.comAddress: 6th Floor, Park Life, Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomenwai Street, Choayang DistrictXiu is, without a doubt, the brightest light on the Beijing nightlife scene right now. Xiu was awarded 2010 Best Bar of the Year by Time Out Beijing and voted “The Bar with the Most Beautiful People” in The Beijinger’s 2010 Bar & Club Awards. Half palatial indoor lounge and half rooftop

terrace wonderland, Xiu’s spectacular ambiance is matched only by its divine cocktails —the Grand Marnier cosmo is especially fab. Xiu’s sprawling open-air patio is the Beijing socialite and celebutante’s self-exhibition hall of choice, with water flowing around the terrace’s sharp edges, giving the impression of a colossal Chinese pavilion suspended in the clouds. This is the place that everyone seems to be talking about and, when it comes to rumors, everything you’ve heard is true, from the strictly glamorous door policy (dress in your best) to the celebrity clientele. A number of VIP rooms and tables are available for private parties or bookings.

Bar

LAN, THE WHITE BAR



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FACE BAR

FACE BARPhone: +86 10 6551 6788Address: 26 Dong Cao Yuan, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.facebars.com/enThis bar is lush and opulent, inspired by the Silk Road and filled with exotic antiques. A trendy and diverse crowd flocks to Face Bar each night for its excellent cocktail menu, stunning décor, and lovely outdoor patio space, making it a top spot in Beijing. Face Bar also has an indoor hall which can be booked if you’re inclined to host a private affair. If not, simply relax instead on one of the antique opium-den-style daybeds in the bar area with a few friends and toast away your troubles like a Silk Road traveler after a long day’s journey.

Bar

CLuB

FACE BAR

VICSPhone: +86 10 6553 4392Email: [email protected]: www.vics.com.cnAddress: North Gate, Worker’s Stadium, Chaoyang DistrictVics is an old standard of Beijing nightlife, one of the largest and most impressive clubs in the capital with two dance floors and a range of private rooms and VIP areas available for private bookings. Local nightlife

scenesters frequently rave about the DJs, who play a varied mix of genres, though predominantly Hip Hop and R&B. The club also brings in big-name performers from time to time, including the likes of Fat Joe, and has been featured on the E! Channel. This joint is diverse, young and loved by the city’s fashion industry insiders, who host a monthly private party here. Having been around for ten years now but newly renovated, Vics has proven it never goes out of fashion to dance night away. It is the place to see and be seen. Not just a club, it’s a Beijing institution. Let there be (purple) light.

What to do ➤ Featured eVentS


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There is always something happening in modern-day Beijing and, whether

it’s an Asian film festival, the spring

orchestra season art fairs or even sport, you’ll be sure to find an event going on that will be right up your

street. We’ve compiled a short but diverse list of the city’s best annual offerings to keep you entertained.

CHINESE ORCHESTRA SEASON ANNUALLY IN APRILPhone: +86 10 6655 0000Website: www.chncpa.comAddress: 2 West Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng DistrictThe National Center for Performing Arts brings together the best musicians in the country for its annual springtime Chinese Orchestra Season. A number of philharmonic and symphony orchestras, soloists and conductors perform a series of recitals in the NCPA’s Concert Hall. Private boxes are available by advance booking.

FASHION’S NIGHT OUT: BEIJING ANNUALLY IN SEPTEMBERWebsite: www.vogue.com.cnVogue magazine is the brains behind Fashion’s Night Out, a series of annual evening events for fashionistas in capital cities all around the world, including Beijing, to celebrate their love of style and fashion. Shops and malls usually open for late-night shopping, designers host champagne receptions, and well-dressed crowds attend celebrity-studded parties, makeovers and style seminars.

ART BEIJING: CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR ANNUALLY IN MAYPhone: +86 10 6501 8877Email: [email protected]: www.artbeijing.netAddress: China National Agriculture Exhibition Center,

16 Dongsanhuan North Road, Chaoyang DistrictCollectors, critics and art lovers convene at the China World Trade Center for this annual fair, known as Contemporary Beijing for short. Admire world-class pieces from top Asian, European and American galleries. Apply for a VIP pass to attend exclusive preview exhibitions.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

FASHION’S NIGHT OUT

CONTEMPORARY ART

What to do ➤ Featured eVentS


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CHINA TENNIS OPEN ANNUALLY IN OCTOBEREmail: [email protected]: www.chinaopen.com.cnAddress: National Tennis Center, Olympic Green, Chaoyang DistrictThe China Tennis Open, on the ATP and WTA tours, sees world pros compete at Beijing’s National Tennis Center, a former 2008 Olympic Games venue. The unique lotus flower-shaped courts are designed with steep stands to seat plenty of fans and spectators. There is a choice of six VIP box packages available for the event, each accommodating between 12 and 24 people and including amenities such as a catered gourmet lunch and dinner buffet, access to the VIP lounge and invitations to the Official China Open Reception.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL CHORUS: HANDEL’S MESSIAHANNUALLY IN DECEMBERPhone: +86 10 8149 2345Email: [email protected]: www.beijingifc.orgAddress: International School of Beijing, 10 An Hua StreetEvery year the International Festival Chorus, Beijing’s top choir, perform their annual rendition of Handel’s Messiah. The performance is a long-standing city tradition and a highlight of the Beijing foreign community’s calendar. A different conductor is invited to lead the festive concert each year. The Chorus also holds an annual gala dinner in the fall.

CHINA TENNIS OPEN

BEIJING INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL ANNUALLY IN OCTOBER Phone: +86 10 6959 8179Website: www.lixianting.org/entry/191Address: Songzhuang Art Center, Tongzhou DistrictThe Beijing Independent Film Festival, a private initiative founded by well-known arts critic Li Xianting, is currently in its sixth year. Held every year at the Songzhuang Art Center in the trendy, buzzing Songzhuang Art Village, the festival screens over 100 independent Asian films, including musicals, animated shorts and documentaries and the line-up always leaves the critics and public impressed.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL CHORUS

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WHAT TO DO ➤ SHOPPING

www.vancleef-arpels.com

The spirit of Van Cleef & Arpels is a subtle combination of values and styles, born with the love story of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels in 1896 and enriched over the years. Established in Place Vendôme in 1906, the Maison’s technical mastery, legendary craftsmanship, and the passion for innovation and transformations are sublimely demonstrated through its astonishing jewelry inspired by the nature, the poetry of couture, the magic of fairies and ballerinas.

With two in-house workshops, Van Cleef & Arpels is the only Maison to create all its high jewellery in its own workshops amongst the jewellers on Place Vendôme, Paris and 5th Avenue, New York, along with every stone set in the pieces of the most remarkable and finest quality.

The “Mystery Setting” is the renowned technique dedicated to the creativity and craftsmenship of the Maison. It’s an exclusive procedure applies mainly to rubies and sapphires which eliminates visible claws and enhances the sparkle and purity of precious stones and diamonds. Patented by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1934, this unique skill requires both virtuosity and an incredible amount of time to complete an extraordinary piece.



VERSACEPhone: +86 10 5969 6230Address: L101, China Central Place, No. 81 Jianguo Road

The Gianni Versace company was launched in Milan in 1978 with a women’s fashion collection under the name Gianni Versace Donna. In 1996 an agreement with Frank Muller led to the development of a limited edition range of jeweled watches made in Geneva. 1998 saw the foundation of Versace SA, an independent company set up for the production and distribution of all Versace jewelry and watches. In 2007 the first Versace store dedicated entirely to the jewelry and watch collection opened in Rome. The third one opened grandly in Beijing in 2010.

To celebrate the ‘Year of The Dragon’, an extraordinary milestone in Chinese culture, Versace presents the Character Dragon Limited Edition China. This watch features a special case, set with a glittering pave of 398 white diamonds. The final touch is a black enamel dial decorated with a silver dragon and Mother of Pearl, giving to this watch an exceptional appeal. Only 30 precious pieces will be on sale from Christmas 2011, dedicated to the Chinese market through Versace boutiques and the most exclusive retailers throughout the country.

DeSTINATION GuIDe SerIeS

elite destination guide | beijingwww.elitetraveler.com

CHANG & BIORCKPhone: +86 10 5208 6039Address: The Village, Gongti North Road, Sanlitun, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.changbiorck.comRedefining home and lifestyle items in Beijing, Chang & Biorck commissions products from some of Sweden’s most prominent designers, creating a distinctive aesthetic blend of Chinese

and Scandinavian culture that is also, notably, eco-friendly. Expect signature patterns, vibrant color and striking forms. Chang & Biorck’s products have won design awards, are stocked in Europe by the prestigious Conran Store and are used in the interior design of several luxury hotels worldwide, among them the Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-la. While you’re in Beijing it’s definitely worth going to visit their original store in person.


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When it comes to shopping, don’t let historical communist allusions about

the city mislead you. Today’s Beijing is a cosmopolitan, capitalistic paradise of retail

with merchandise just waiting for you to take it all home in your newly purchased Louis Vuitton luggage set. From marbled malls of designer shop fronts to unique high-end local

showrooms to contemporary Beijing fashion and concept brands, shopping in the Chinese capital can also be a great way to understand its modern attitude, tastes and lifestyle.

KATHRIN VON RECHENBERGPhone: +86 10 6463 1788Address: Xinyuanxili East Street (yard behind building 12), Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.rechenberg.cnKathrin von Rechenberg sharpened her scissors at some of Paris’s biggest fashion houses before falling in love with the ancient Chinese material tea silk, a Ming dynasty textile with a marbled gloss that improves with age and a complex production process involving many steps, including sun-drying and being washed in tea. Kathrin’s signature tea silk wraparounds are just the thing to take home from a magical trip in Beijing. Her collections also feature beautifully shaped jackets and coats, elegant cocktail dresses, and sleek wide-leg trousers that have all developed a devoted following among sophisticated in-the-know ladies around the capital. Give Kathrin von Rechenberg a call and stop by her contemporary courtyard atelier so you can go home with a beautifully wearable, fabulously stylish memento (or two). Showroom visits are by appointment only and all clients are personally fitted for the garments of their choice. You can also pick up selected prêt a porter pieces.

LANE CRAWFORDPhone: +86 10 6622 0808Address: Season Place Shopping Center, 2 Jinchengfang Street, Xicheng DistrictWhen it comes to shopping, Lane Crawford is undisputedly the belle of the ball. It is the only retailer in China for many of the world’s most fashionable, style-conscious brands and, as such, it’s the store to go to for anything by Acne, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Comme des Garçons, Helmut Lang, Opening Ceremony, Elizabeth & James or Alexander McQueen. With locations in Hong Kong and Beijing, Lane Crawford is the leading department store in Asia for the hottest, most cutting-edge fashions, offering womenswear, menswear, shoes, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, and home and lifestyle products. Forget Barneys or Harrods — if you live, breathe and eat fashion, look no further than Lane Crawford, the style authority of the Far East. And for the discerning shopper, their special in-store concierge offers a range of services, including exclusive appointments with professional stylists, a porter service, personal shoppers, worldwide shipping of purchases, luxury shoe and handbag repair, a cloak room, mobile phone recharging while you shop, and even fresh flower deliveries.

STEFANO RICCIPhone: +86 10 8532 1756 Address: 19-20 South Corridor, St. Regis Hotel, 21 JianGuomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang DistrictClassic Italian tailoring at its best, Stefano Ricci offers refined attire and accessories for the discriminating gentleman, as well as a coveted home ware range. The trademark cufflinks are handmade by master goldsmiths using a host of precious stones, and the luxury leather range includes wallets, footwear, belts, travel bags and handbags for the perfect gift.

DONG LIANG STUDIOPhone: +86 10 8404 7648Address: 26 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District Located in the even hipper Wudaoying Hutong, Dong Liang Studio is the definitive stockist of Beijing’s most of-the-moment fashion designers, including unbearably trendy local design labels Liu2, Vega Wang, JL and Ipa-Nima. This happening boutique also stocks celebrity collaborations and student collections from the Beijing Fashion Institute. Dong Liang Studio is a great place to go for a quick education in China’s contemporary urban sartorial scene.

SHOPS

CHANG & BIORCK

A KATHRIN VON RECHENBERG DESIGN



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AGNÈS B.Phone: +86 10 6533 1630Address: Shin Kong Palace, 87 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.asia.agnesb.com/en

ANNA SUIORIENTAL PLAZAWebsite: www.annasui.com

FASHION & AcceSSOrIeS

SANLITUN VILLAGEPhone: +86 10 6417 6110Address: The Village, Gongti North Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.sanlitunvillage.comThere is nowhere better to hang out in Beijing than at the Sanlitun Village. Always a great place to start your day or night, think of it as the check-in desk of the Chaoyang District. The Village is a newly developed shopping and restaurant complex with some great stores and excellent food, bound on all sides by Sanlitun’s famous Bar Street and a collection of cute little malls full of unique local boutiques (the main one is a six-story labyrinth called 3.3, a good spot for kitschy accessories, indie Korean labels and the occasional vintage Louboutins.) Draw a star next to this one on your map when you visit, chances are you’ll be going back.

ORIENTAL PLAZAPhone: +86 10 8518 6267Email: [email protected]: 1 East Chang’An AvenueOriental Plaza is one of the largest name brand shopping centers in Beijing, featuring a special family section and exclusive luxury brand section. This is the place Beijing’s haute couture addicts go to pick out a new outfit or ten.

THE PENINSULA PALACEPhone: +86 10 8516 2888Email: [email protected] Address: 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District Located in the heart of the Wangfujing shopping and commercial district, The Peninsula is a hotel complex boasting one of Beijing’s most extravagant shopping arcades. Here you will find all of the fashion world’s most high-end representatives, including Hermes, Lanvin, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro. Welcome to the elite shopaholic’s Beijing fantasyland.

CHINA WORLD CENTERPhone: +86 10 6505 2288Address: 1 Jianguomenwai AvenueA popular shopping center in Beijing among trendsetters and jetsetters, China World Center carries worldwide designer brands. Make sure you head to Basement 1, dedicated entirely to luxury world-class shopping and one of the best places in Beijing to pick up the season’s latest ‘it’ bag.

AQUASCUTUM Phone: +86 10 6526 7890Address: One World Department Store, 99 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District Website: www.aquascutum.com

BALLYORIENTAL PLAZAWebsite: www.bally.com

BURBERRY Phone: +86 10 6525 8829 Address: Beijing Scitech Plaza, 22 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.burberry.com


SHOPPING

mAllS


CARTIERCHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.cartier.com

CHOPARDPhone: +86 10 6459 1333Address: Capital Airport Terminal 3, Chaoyang District Website: www.chopard.com

PATEK PHILIPPEPhone: +86 10 6525 5868Address: C. Melchers & Co, Chienmen 23, 23 Qianmen East AvenueWebsite: www.patek.com

ROLEXORIENTAL PLAZAWebsite: www.rolex.com

VACHERON CONSTANTINORIENTAL PLAZAPhone: +86 10 6559 9818Address: Sung Duong An Plaza, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng DistrictWebsite: www.vacheron-constantin.com


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CHANEL THE PENINSULA PALACEPhone: +86 10 6598 1705Address: Shin Kong Palace, 87 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.chanel.com

CHLOÉCHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.chloe.com

DOLCE & GABBANA THE PENINSULA PALACEWebsite: www.dolcegabbana.com

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNAPhone: +86 10 6622 0625Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jin Cheng Fang Street, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.zegna.com

ESCADATHE PENINSULA PALACEWebsite: www.escada.com

FENDICHINA WORLD CENTERPhone: +86 10 6533 1307Address: Shin Kong Palace, 87 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang DistrictWebsite: www.fendi.com

GIANFRANCO FERRÉ THE PENINSULA PALACEWebsite: www.gianfrancoferre.com/it

GIORGIO ARMANI THE PENINSULA PALACEWebsite: www.giorgioarmani.com

GIVENCHYCHINA WORLD CENTERPhone: +86 10 6622 0735Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jimchengfang Street, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.givenchy.fr

GUCCIPhone: +86 10 6622 0536 Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jinchengfang Street, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.gucci.com

HERMÈSTHE PENINSULA PALACECHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.hermes.com

HUGO BOSSPhone: +86 21 5465 5892Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jinchenfang Street, Xicheng District

Phone: +86 10 6466 0478Address: Lufthansa Center Youyi Shopping City, 52 Liangma Qiao RoadWebsite: www.hugoboss.com

LANVINTHE PENINSULA PALACEWebsite: www.lanvin.com

LOUIS VUITTONCHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.louisvuitton.com

MARC JACOBSCHINA WORLD CENTERPhone: +86 10 6622 0180Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jinchengfang Street, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.marcjacobs.com

MARNI CHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.marni-international.com

MOSCHINOORIENTAL PLAZAWebsite: www.moschino.it

NINA RICCIORIENTAL PLAZAWebsite: www.ninaricci.com

JeWelry & WATcHeS

PRADATHE PENINSULA PALACECHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.prada.com

SALVATORE FERRAGAMOTHE PENINSULA PALACECHINA WORLD CENTERWebsite: www.ferragamo.com

VERSACEPhone: +86 10 6622 0783Address: Seasons Place, 2 Jin Cheng Fang Street, Xicheng DistrictWebsite: www.versace.com

T R A V E L E R



Need to kNow Private jet termiNals

BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RED DIAMOND AVIATIONPhone: +86 10 6464 9218Email: [email protected]: Unit C719, Kempinski Hotel Lufthansa Centre, 50 Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, 100016Website: www.reddiamondaviation.comThis five-star, luxury corporate jet charter firm has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and one under construction in Shanghai. Red Diamond Aviation has exclusive aircraft registered and based in mainland China, and operates to the highest international standards on a 24/7 basis. In addition to its own dedicated fleet, Red Diamond also makes available its partner Business Aviation Asia’s fleet to meet your every requirement. With its impeccable standards, highly qualified flight crew and luxury concierge service, Red Diamond Aviation takes care of every last detail and ensures all your needs are met both in the air and on the ground.

BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTDEERJETPhone: +86 10 6506 8300Email: [email protected]: Grand China Air Building, B-2 East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District, 100027Website: www.deerjet.comDeerjet boasts the largest charter fleet in Asia, consisting of the world’s most advanced business jets. Their charter service is distinguished by its utmost flexibility and efficiency, without the limitations of fixed itineraries and destinations, allowing you to take off according to your schedule and needs. With a flawless ten-year record, Deerjet is one of the longest-standing providers of private charter aviation services in China, and has a faultless reputation for immaculate service and reliable flights. Its flying range covers an impressive scope of over 200 airports worldwide, including airports not flown to by commercial airlines, making it a leader in Asia’s private jet industry.

BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTCAPITAL JET COMPANYPhone: + 86 10 6459 0236Email: [email protected]: Beijing Capital International Airport, Terminal 3, Inter-Terminal Road, Shunyi District, 100621Website: www.ccjet.comWith its luxury VIP terminal in the Capital International Airport, Capital Jet is equipped with a private apron for exclusive use and a magnificent lounge. Recently built to handle business jets during the Olympic Games, the Capital Jet building is comprised of a service area that includes information booking and ground service centers, three VIP lounges, a private bar counter, and a CIQ and security check passage. Wireless broadband internet access is also available. There are two five-star guest rooms on the second floor and a 70-vehicle parking lot on the premises. Distinguished passengers from all over the world can relax and enjoy top grade, comfortable and considerate FBO and ground-handling services.

BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTJET AVIATION BEIJINGPhone: +86 10 6459 2133Address: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Business Aviation Center - Capital Jet Building, Terminal 3, Inter-Terminal Road, Shunyi District, 100621Website: www.jetaviation.comJet Aviation Beijing provides full passenger, crew and aircraft ramp services. The company also offers flight support services, including over-flight and landing permits. In addition, they offer technical support such as ramp and AOG services for Gulfstream, Bombardier, Cessna, Hawker and Dassault Falcon aircraft via Jet Aviation’s Asian maintenance network. Jet Aviation, operating in the Capital Jet Terminal at Beijing Capital International Airport, has become one of the first global business aviation services to meet the needs of the growing business aviation community in China, and of international operators who regularly fly to and from Beijing.


Need to kNow UsefUl iNformatioN/ traNsPort

WHEN BEST TO GOThe spring months of April and May are a pleasant time to visit Beijing, when the average temperature is between 10˚C and 23˚C, though there may be the occasional dust storm if you’re unlucky. Ideally, plan your trip in autumn, from mid-September to November. With temperatures between 6˚C and 20˚C, you’ll be able to avoid both the extreme heat and humidity of the summer months as well as the intense cold of the winter.

LOCAL CUSTOMSIn Beijing, you will find most people are welcoming and friendly to foreigners. Shaking hands is a common way of greeting people. Smoking is acceptable almost everywhere. Outside of large hotels, tipping is not practised.

LANGUAGEWhile Mandarin Chinese (putonghua) is the official language, you’ll find English spoken in some places but not everywhere. Beijingers have a habit of adding a retroflex “r” sound to the end of many Chinese words and phrases, giving the city a unique and identifiable accent.

CURRENCYRenminbi/Yuan (RMB)

EXCHANGE RATE$1 = RMB 6.56 £1 = RMB 10.71 €1 = RMB 9.21

TRIP-LEADERExecutive Manager: James LiPhone: +86 10 8660 1095Email: [email protected]: 408 Tower 30, Jing an li, Chaoyang District, 100028Website: www.tripleader.com.cnTrip-Leader offers car hire specifically for foreigners in Beijing with professional English-speaking drivers. It has a large rental car fleet and offers Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi vehicles. Cars and drivers can be hired by the hour or for full-day itineraries. Ask manager James Li to recommend a day trip for you. Trip-Leader also provides interpreters who will travel with you at your request.

BEIJING CENTRAL CHAUFFEURPhone: +86 10 6758 6625Email: [email protected]: Ling Long Business Building Room 406, 46 En Ji Zhuang, Haidian District, 100036Website: www.bccrental.comBeijng Central Chauffeur is one of Beijing’s leading car service providers, with over ten years’ experience in car and limousine hire. It provides safe and reliable high-end transportation services to local and foreign corporations, as well as to business or leisure travelers in Beijing. Its fleet includes Mercedes S320/S350, Mercedes S500 and BMW 5 Series vehicles, as well as eight-passenger Lincoln and five-passenger Bentley limousines.

ASM CHAUFFEURPhone: +86 10 5166 1575Email: [email protected]: Jian Wai SOHO 11-2805, Chaoyang District, 100022ASM Chauffeur is China’s premier limousine service and has been providing exclusive transportation to Beijing’s elite travelers for more than 16 years. Its services are perfect for you if you’re looking to get around the city with the utmost comfort and convenience. ASM Chauffeur also provides airport transfers.

COUNTRY DIALLING CODE+86

24 HOUR EMERGENCY CONTACTAmbulance: 120 Fire: 119 Police:110

EMBASSY CONTACTSUS: +86 10 6532 3831 UK: +86 10 5192 4000

TIME ZONEGMT +8 hours

POPULATION22,000,000

RELIGIOUS DEMOGRAPHICThe population is predominantly non-religious, though many people culturally observe Buddhist or Daoist practices and symbols.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS• NewYear’sDay-1January• SpringFestival/ChineseNewYear- January/ February (subject to lunar calendar)• QingmingFestival-4/5April• MayDay-1May• DragonBoatFestival-June (subject to lunar calendar)• Mid-AutumnFestival-September(subject to lunar calendar)• NationalDay-1-3OctoberShops are typically open from 9am to at least 7pm, with many open to 9pm.

EXCLUSIVE TRANSPORT

Mean temperature (°C)Total rainfall

(mm)Number

of rainy daysMonth Daily minimum

Daily maximum

January -10 1 4 3

February -8 4 5 3

March -1 11 8 3

April 7 21 17 4

May 13 27 37 6

June 18 31 78 8

July 21 31 243 13

August 20 30 141 11

September 14 26 58 7

October 6 20 16 3

November -2 9 11 3

December -8 3 3 2

TRIP-LEADER, MERCEDES-BENZ

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