Beijing, China is a bustling metropolis that houses over 13 million people. The word "Beijing" means ‘northern capital’. It is an exciting place to visit because over the centuries this unique city has gone through many transformations. Today Beijing offers its visitors a distinctive blend of old and new China as it looks forward to hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Once an imperial city with many palaces and temples, Beijing’s landscape is now dominated by modern architecture and towering buildings that seem to touch the sky.
Accommodations of all kinds can be found in this diverse city. There are hundreds of hotels in Beijing. Typically, a five-star luxury hotel in Beijing will cost $150 - $200 per night for a standard room. Conversely, a 2-star hotel will cost only $30 - $40 per night. Chao Yang and Dong Cheng are the best places to stay in the city because of their proximity to all of Beijing's tourist attractions, shops and restaurants. If you are in the city on business, hotels in the northeast section of the city near the airport are the best. Hai Dain is the best place to go if you are looking for a discount hotel in Beijing. This area is Beijing’s university district and is usually teeming with students so there are many Internet cafes in the area.
Beijing Resorts
If you are on vacation or you just want to splurge on luxury accommodations, the Northeast third Ring Road has a number of four and five star hotels like the Kempinski, Great Wall Sheraton and the Hilton Hotel. If you prefer a resort holiday, the fashionable Sino Swiss Hotel is ideal.
The Sino Swiss Hotel
The Sino Swiss Hotel is the only international business and resort hotel in Beijing. It is located near the Beijing airport and offers personalized services to all its guests. Although it is not close to many of the city’s main attractions, the resort is well within reach to all of them by bus or taxi. This international four star resort also has plenty of outdoor recreational facilities. Situated just a few minutes from Beijing Capital Airport, the Sino Swiss Hotel has 408 well-furnished, spacious guest rooms with all the modern comforts and amenities of any high class resort hotel.
Tastefully decorated, the hotel offers a spectacular view of Xiao Tianzhu village, as well as having six restaurants serving everything from authentic Chinese cuisine to fabulous European dishes. Also found here is Beijing’s only natural thermal hot springs pool. Other recreational facilities of the hotel include: a solarium, an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, a volleyball court, an indoor squash court, a fully equipped health club, 2 outdoor tennis courts, a Jacuzzi and sauna, a billiards room, golfing facilities, bike rentals, a children’s play area and even a resident camel.
With business and conference room services and a banquet hall on hand at this resort, staying at the Sino Swiss Hotel in Beijing is a great way to spend a vacation. While the Sino Swiss Hotel is the only resort in Beijing, the St. Regis Beijing and the China World Hotel offer nearly the same facilities and amenities as any other first-class resort.
The St. Regis Beijing
The St. Regis Beijing is a luxury hotel in Beijing that is truly one-of-a-kind. Winner of the Conde Nast Traveler in 2002 (Gold List), the St. Regis is a great hotel for your stay in Beijing. Government officials, foreign dignitaries and international correspondents meet and gather here because it has an ideal location and excellent first class service. St. Regis is the ultimate in hotel indulgence. It is situated on the grounds of the Beijing International Club, right in the center of the city's diplomatic district, which makes this Beijing hotel is both convenient and accessible. It is also close to the Jian Guo Men Wai business district, Wangfujing Street and the Russian Market. The Friendship Store and Silk Alley are just around the corner and the hotel is also near the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Zoo and the Summer Palace.
With the most beautiful and most expensive rooms in Beijing, the St. Regis provides deluxe accommodations combined with elegant Chinese style. Guest rooms include the Presidential and Ambassador Suites, Executive Deluxe and Diplomat Deluxe rooms. With the services of a personal butler, St. Regis is definitely a must for those who enjoy the finer things in life. St. Regis has facilities on par with any resort hotel as well as five restaurants, a gorgeous indoor pool, an outdoor putting green, a well-equipped exercise and spa room, a bowling alley, a billiards room, cigar and wine-tasting rooms and squash courts.
China World Hotel
The China World Hotel is located near the St. Regis is and is a part of the China World Trade Center. Though not a resort, this hotel has many facilities that you will make find at any resort. It is close to many of Beijing’s attractions and offers excellent access to the city’s premier conference and exhibition facility. With 716 guest rooms, including 126 Horizon Club rooms, the China World Hotel offers its guests the best recreational facilities. You can visit one Beijing’s most well known eateries, Henry J Beans; and the Scene-a-Café, a coffee shop on the premises, is an innovative entertainment venue where the hotel chefs perform their culinary skills in open kitchens.
Recreational facilities here include:
Beijing's only Oxygen Room,
indoor heated swimming pool
hi-tech golf simulators
an incredible gymnasium
whirlpools
sauna
steam room
solarium
massage room
aerobic classes
game room
ice skating rink
karaoke club
snooker room
bowling alley
indoor tennis and squash courts
The China World Hotel also arranges city tours for its guests. It has meeting rooms, banquet facilities, medical services and facilities for the disabled. This hotel is perfect for a comfortable and relaxing holiday.
