WHAT’S IT LIKE? This Shangri-La property dazzles guests with an opulent lobby best described as The Plaza meets the Far East. Crimson columns lead your gaze to intricate chandeliers illuminating a grand, winding staircase, and ample seating allows guests to take it all in over a drink at the Lobby Lounge. Though close to 20 years old, the property was so immaculate and up-to-date that I could easily have believed it was built last year.
As with every Shangri-La property I’ve visited, the staff was on point from the moment I arrived. They opened the car door, retrieved my luggage from the trunk, and once I gave my name, took me directly to the Horizon Club for check-in. The Club had all the luxuries I could have wanted spread throughout its two stories, including complimentary buffet breakfast, Wi-Fi, drinks, newspapers, magazines and board games. As a Club guest, I also benefited from exclusive Club Purser services to arrange whatever I needed during my stay, as well as free suit pressing and shoeshine.
The courteous staff further impressed me when I dropped into the Horizon Club early for breakfast. When I arrived at 6:15 a.m. (15 minutes before serving time), I thought the spread seemed a little sparse, but I hadn’t realized that they were still setting up. Staff never told me this, but instead graciously accommodated me with a beverage and other items I ordered before the Club even opened.
WHERE IS IT? The hotel is near the Forbidden City and Beijing Railway Station in the diplomatic and financial district, and is attached to the China World Shopping Mall and China World Trade Center. The area wasn’t pedestrian-friendly, so I took taxis frequently, although it never cost very much.
HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 660 rooms and 56 suites.
ROOM FACILITIES Staff showed me how to operate the electronics in my room, which was equipped with free Wi-Fi, an electronic safe, coffee and tea making facilities, a sizeable work desk with an ergonomic chair, a flat-screen television and a marble bathroom. A feather duvet covered the bed, and a pillow menu was available to accommodate my preferences.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES Club guests receive two hours’ free use of a meeting room, while a business center with copy and fax machines is available for guests, providing translation, interpretation and courier services.
The hotel has 16,700 square feet of meeting space and can seat up to 2,000 people in the conference hall or 800 in the Grand Ballroom. The multiple function rooms can be customized for a variety of occasions, with the option of audio-visual equipment, simultaneous translation facilities, and a portable stage, catwalk and dance floor.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS Dinner at Summer Palace, which specializes in Cantonese cuisine, was exceptional, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to return for the dim sum lunch. Chinese tea culture is emphasized here as much as its sommelier’s superior wine selection.
Meanwhile, the kitchen at Aria caters to European tastes with a wine bar and live jazz, Gourmet Corner feeds business travelers on the move with takeaway selections, Nadaman nods to Japan with a teppanyaki kitchen and sushi bar, and Scene a Café has an open kitchen, with eight stations and an à la carte menu.
LEISURE FACILITIES An indoor heated pool beckons guests to the fitness center, which also has a state-of-the art gym and exercise studios. You can stay fit on the squash and indoor tennis courts, relax in a steam room or Jacuzzi, or indulge in a Chinese massage. The hotel also boasts Beijing’s only oxygen room.
VERDICT China World Hotel, Beijing can impress even the most weary road warrior with its comfortable extravagance. By frequently going the extra mile, a team of dedicated and resourceful employees seemed to predict my every need, proving that the hotel was more than just a show pony.
PRICE Rates start at RMB 1,275 with advance purchase.
CONTACT China World Hotel, Beijing, No. 1 Jianguomenwai Ave., Beijing, China; tel. 86-10-6505-2266;
www.shangri-la.com.
