The frosted-glass windows and
leather walls at the Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street may seem strikingly
modern, but the concept behind this newly opened property is ancient. Designed
according to the principles of feng shui (the Chinese art of placement), the
glass-and-chrome hotel features a high-ceilinged lobby built to resemble a
traditional Chinese courtyard, with precisely arranged trees and flowers that
flourish in natural sunlight. Ginger-lily essence wafts throughout the lobby,
and clouds (considered good luck in Chinese society) are embossed on the
polished metal doors of the elevators.
 The feng shui surroundings—and offerings such as afternoon tea
with some 80 loose-leaf selections served by waitresses clad in Mandarin silk
gowns—help guests unwind from the gridlock and frenetic pace of pre-Olympics
Beijing. Located in the heart of the newly constructed financial district
(China’s answer to Wall Street), the Ritz-Carlton shares the neighborhood with
the likes of UBS, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs. In a nod to Manhattan, the
verdant strip of land that sits adjacent to the hotel is known as Central Park.
Patrons of the Ritz’s ground-level Italian restaurant, Cepe, enjoy
floor-to-ceiling views of the financial district and park. For guests who crave
local fare, the hotel’s Qi restaurant showcases seven distinct Chinese cuisines,
including Sichuan, Cantonese, and Shandong. But for a true sense of place, do as
Beijing’s billionaires do and book one of the Ritz-Carlton’s seven private
dining rooms for a catered Chinese feast.
 LOCATION Within walking distance of the Forbidden City in Beijing’s newly
constructed financial district.
ACCOMMODATIONS The 253 rooms include the 2,740-square-foot
Ritz-Carlton
Suite, which offers views of the nearby White Pagoda Temple.
A technology
butler is on call to assist guests with the accommodations’ touch-control
technology, DVD/CD players, and LCD televisions. FACILITIES The 15,000-square-foot fitness center and spa features a
heated indoor lap pool, plunge pools, steam and sauna rooms, and 11 treatment
rooms. The hotel also houses a hair salon, a ballroom, a 24-hour business
center, and meeting rooms. DINING A bar and three fine-dining venues—Chinese, Italian, and
seafood—complement the burgeoning restaurant scene in the surrounding financial
district. CONCIERGE RECOMMENDS Take a predawn trip to the Temple of Heaven and join the locals
as they greet the day with tai chi, badminton, kite flying, and song and dance.
During warmer months, expect to see people walking with their caged birds in
tow. RATES From $550 for a deluxe room to $5,660 for the Ritz-Carlton
Suite.
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The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
+86.10.6601.6666, 800.542.8680
www.ritzcarlton.com
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