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The Best Hotels in Beijing, China

The imposing skyline of Beijings Forbidden City is a thrilling sight for first-time visitors
The imposing skyline of Beijing's Forbidden City is a thrilling sight for first-time visitors | © Sean Pavone / Alamy Stock Photo

From the cavernous Forbidden City to the soaring Temple of Heaven, the greenery-cloaked Summer Palace to imposing Tiananmen Square, Beijing is a sightseer’s paradise with historic draws aplenty. With designer shopping and buzzing restaurants, this ancient city has a modern side, too, which extends as far as its thriving hotel scene. China’s capital offers big-name, blockbuster stays with private access to the city’s Summer Palace, as well as hole-in-the-wall hideaways with leafy courtyard gardens, all bookable through Culture Trip.

Cours Et Pavillons

Luxury

Beige toned room with marble pattern furniture, fluffy rug and coffee table and traditional Chinese cabinet and art on walls at Cours Et Pavillons
Courtesy of Cours Et Pavillons / Expedia

Set just to the north of Beijing’s river-lined Forbidden City palace complex, Cours Et Pavillons channels the area’s historic vibe with seven luxury rooms in a converted hutong (traditional alleyway dwelling). Contemporary sofas join antiques from the Ming and Qing dynasties – think old wall prints and wooden carved furniture – to lend a chic vibe to this intimate space, painted in crimson red and calming jade. Rooms open onto an atmospheric courtyard studded with trees and potted plants. A fine-dining French restaurant adds yet another modern twist.

The Opposite House

Hotel, Luxury

Opulet dining area at the Opposite House, Beijing with hanging chandeliers, velvet dining chairs and gold toned cabinets lining the wall
Courtesy of the Opposite House / Expedia

Part of a collective of China’s most stylish hotels, the Kengo Kuma-designed Opposite House doubles as a gallery. The striking emerald-green exterior is a nod to traditional Chinese latticework, while bold art pieces are woven into the lobby and restaurant spaces. Feast on modern Peking duck at Michelin-starred Jing Yaa Tang – or beers and dumplings at Superfly – then retire to serene, light-flooded rooms dressed in white and natural wood. Wake up early for a Sunday morning yoga session by the glassy indoor pool.

NUO Hotel Beijing

Hotel

Low double bed with silky sheets in large room with wooden panelling, hanging lights and cherry blossom artwork above bed at NUO Hotel Beijing.
Courtesy of NUO Hotel / Expedia
The 798 Art Zone, a complex of old military buildings reimagined as galleries and creative spaces, is one of Beijing’s most thrilling contemporary sights – and NUO, just to the west, is perfectly situated nearby. Sip cocktails on a terrace while taking in live music, or taste fine teas (sourced directly from Chinese plantations by the hotel) in a swish contemporary dining area. Dark tones with saturated pops of colour dominate both rooms and public spaces alike, lending a sophisticated feel all around.

Conrad Beijing

Luxury

Beige toned room at Conrad Beijing with long, curved sofa, coffee table with orchid and stylish desk area looking out the cityscape of Beijing at night.
Courtesy of Conrad Beijing / Expedia

With its lattice-like glass façade, the Conrad dominates the Beijing skyline. The interior is just as notable with centrepiece contemporary chandeliers, dramatic black and red bar space and curved windows giving things a distinctly indulgent feel. That vibe extends to the spa, with its detoxifying soaking baths, body-polishing treatments and stress-busting massages – not to mention the serene indoor pool. Save time on learning about Chinese tea culture by paying a visit to the elegant in-house lounge Lu Yu.

The Peninsula Beijing

Luxury

Outdoor terrace The Peninsula Beijing with red furniture, lanterns and wall featuring blue and green running mosaic looking out onto the city.
Courtesy of The Peninsula Beijing / Expedia

Beijing stays don’t get more luxurious than The Peninsula. After a Rolls-Royce collects you at the airport, white-suited bellmen will guide you through an elegant lobby before serving up gourmet afternoon tea. Classically elegant rooms are fitted with discrete tech, from tablet-controlled lights to nail dryers, whilst a shopping arcade boasts the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Sign up for one of the exclusive expert-led experiences to learn kung fu within the Temple of Heaven walls for an unforgettable experience.

Aman Summer Palace

Hotel, Luxury

Indoor pool at Aman Summer Palace, Beijing bathed in moody, low lighting and surrounded by loungers with fluffy white towels.
Courtesy of Aman Summer Palace / Expedia

What’s better than visiting Beijing’s opulent Summer Palace? Staying (almost) right on its grounds. Set in historic, century-old pavilions with tiled roofs and accents of red and jade, this hotel channels all the historic elegance of the revered monument, with a modern touch thrown in. Contemporary lattice-wood detailing meets crisp whites in bedrooms, while an underground spa boasts Chinese medicine-inspired treatments. Best of all? A private entrance pours you straight onto the Summer Palace grounds so you can explore before the crowds arrive.

Hotel Jen Beijing by Shangri-La

Chain Hotel

Airy, light bedroom with large desk area, bed with crisp white sheets facing flat screen tv and stunning view of the city at Hotel Jen Beijing by Shangri-La
Courtesy of Hotel Jen Beijing By Shangri-La / Expedia

Cool and casual, this stay in the heart of Beijing’s business centre provides a dose of fun for travellers coming to China’s capital to work. Frosty glasses of craft beer are dished up daily at gastropub Beersmith, while an open kitchen keeps the energy up at Beijing-style restaurant San Wu Tang. Group Zumba classes and pilates are on hand when you want to destress after a big day, while co-working spaces let you tick off tasks and socialise at the same time.

EAST hotel

Hotel, Luxury

Modern, stylish, minimal bedroom featuring bed with white, crisp sheets, wooden floors and stunning view of the city at EAST hotel, Beijing from floor to ceiling windows
Courtesy of EAST hotel / Expedia

Note to shopaholics: EAST is handily located at the edge of one of Beijing’s best malls, with multiple floors of designer brands and eating spots. Dressed in art and furniture pieces by young Chinese creatives, the hotel has a real energy about it, too. Expect stand-out sculpture, ink paintings and boundary-pushing photography. Rooms come with big windows overlooking the city – as does the pool area, which is atmospherically lit for moody after-dark swims.

Four Seasons Beijing

Hotel

Indoor pool at Four Seasons Beijing with loungers in background, looking out through floor to ceiling windows at the city.
Courtesy of Four Seasons Beijing / Expedia

Beijing’s edition of the Four Seasons blends the brand’s world-renowned class and top-notch service with a location in the central Chaoyang district. There’s a lot to love here, not least of all the breadth of dining options, among them an Italian restaurant (Mio), a traditional Chinese place (Cai Yixuan), and even a tranquil tea garden. An excellent spa is perfect to while away an entire day, trying KORE physiotherapy, relaxing with hot-stone therapy, or joining serene yoga classes.

Hotel Cote Cour Beijing

Hotel

Cosy room with traditional Chinese panelling, lantern lights, red velvet couch and colourful patterned rug at the Hotel Cote Cour, Beijing.
Courtesy of Room at Hotel Cote Cour / Expedia

Bright green and yellow walls give Hotel Cote Cour Beijing a fun, energising vibe. A 15-minute walk from Wangfujing, one of the city’s main shopping streets, it’s a boutique intimate stay both for couples and small families (one of the rooms sleeps up to three). Despite the small hotel size, there’s still plenty of in-house attractions such as a rooftop bar, a concierge service, laundry facilities, a cafe and covered patios, as well as bathrobes and slippers in all rooms.

For more options, discover our guide on where to stay in Beijing for luxury-loving culture seekers. Looking for a more low-key stay? Check out the best of Beijing’s budget hotels, now bookable with Culture Trip, and if you need some inspiration before you go, browse our list of the best books to read before visiting Beijing.

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