Who's Going
Spa Lovers, Design Travellers, Honeymoon Couples
Reason to Stay
Spa Hotel, Architectrual Hotel, Private Villas
Hotel Type
Architectural Spa Hotel
The Jetson-inspired airport arrival leaves the senses ill-prepared for the taxi-cab chaos that awaits just outside the terminal as you attempt to communicate with a sweaty driver in a plumb of cigarette smoke via hand gestures and hotel confirmations only to be rebutted with pointed fingers and grunts at a stained map. Traffic is as confusing as the static-plagued sound of the local radio as intersections are approached at a snails pace and a million-man foot brigade is unleashed and then retreated by a single six-foot traffic light.<br /> <br />For those looking for a property off the beaten track, the Commune at the Great Wall is located an hour-and-a-half drive from central Beijing and offers one of the most dramatic architectural properties in Asia. Operated by Germany's Kempinski Group, the modernist hotel is located along an un-restored section of the Great Wall facing a landscape of endless forest and grassy horizon.<br /> <br />Originally opened in 2006, a recent management change has resulted in an upgraded 3-level spa with plunge pools and fitness center as well as upgraded guest rooms with furniture-infusion by Philippe Starck. Three restaurants serve a range of western and eastern cuisine that hopefully will like given the lack of local alternatives. <br />
The Room
A visual design experience is housed within separate annexes and private villas that make up the hotel, each with a unique architectural flavor and varying intensity of views of the mountainside. Rare by Western standards, entry-level twin rooms have in-room showers and simple décor with mountain or Great Wall views. Larger King rooms offer hardwood floors and wrap-around windows with open-style spa bathrooms with soaking tub. A series of private houses include the Bamboo Wall composed of water, glass and bamboo reeds and Cantilever House with its honey-colored wood floors and endless terraces overlooking the entire commune.
Preferred Room
Bamboo Wall
Special Features
Architectural Hotel, Luxury Spa, Great Wall Views
Amenities
Pool, Spa, Lounge, Bar
