An enormous curved facade fronts this large five-star located in the northwestern Beijing district of Haidian. The hotel largely draws guests in town for conferences or business, but is also excellent value for tourists. Situated roughly halfway between the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City, visitors are a little over a half-an-hour by taxi from either, traffic permitting, and about 40 minutes from the airport (give yourself at least an hour, just to be safe).
The amenities are quite up to date, including the two executive floors that offer extra services to business travelers. There are several solid restaurants, both Chinese and international, and a shopping arcade makes on-the-spot purchases a breeze. An added attraction for visitors with some extra time is a reputed entrance to part of Beijing's famous Underground City, dug out beneath the capital during the Cold War in case of a nuclear attack.