5 Reasons to Check into the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

Tucked away between the residences and embassies of Beijing’s diplomatic enclave, the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is a grand, opulent hotel designed to appeal to aesthetes, foodies, business travellers, wellness warriors and everyone in between. Here are five reasons to check into this bastion of luxury next time you’re in Beijing.

The Rooms

There are 313 rooms and suites at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, and each is an homage to comfort, style and restrained Chinese aesthetics, all rendered in earthy tones, dark woods and plush fabrics. For a real treat, book yourself into an Ambassador Suite. These spacious boltholes offer every luxury imaginable, and then some. Kick back in the cozy lounge area, get a little work done in the chic study area, mix up a drink at the well-stocked minibar, and when the sandman beckons, grab your 40 winks in the bedroom — it can be configured with one king-size bed or two doubles. The expansive marble bathroom features double vanities, an oversized bath and separate shower, and lush amenities by Parisian brand Atelier Cologne.

The Guest Experience

Guests come first at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing. The attentive personalized service doesn’t miss a beat. Celebrating a special occasion? Just mention it and you’ll probably find a sweet treat after dinner. Requesting an airport pick-up? Expect to be whisked through a gilded VIP back entrance and into a waiting Mercedes-Benz. And when it comes to seeing the city? Well, you wouldn’t be overstating the fact if you said this hotel does it better than any other. Yes, they can organize city tours and insider tickets, but you’ll want to hold out for their latest offering. For a truly “wow” moment, book the all-new Great Wall aerial tour where you’ll helicopter over the Great Wall at less-touristy Mutianyu, enjoy an on-site picnic, and enjoy a quiet little hike all by yourselves (or perhaps with a tour guide).

The F&B

With an array of top-notch F&B offerings, you’ll be hard-pressed to venture from the hotel to find food. Each of the restaurants has been exquisitely designed with unfettered opulence, yet each offers a very distinct experience. At Mio, you’ll dine on sumptuous, creative Italian dishes in an elegant, European-inspired setting. Regional Chinese eatery Cai Yi Xuan specializes in — of course — Peking duck and modern Chinese cuisine in a sophisticated Oriental-style space. In the AM, breakfast is served at the chic Opus Lounge, while by night, cocktails are whipped up at the stylish Opus Bar. Though if you have access, you’ll want to enjoy brekkie and aperitifs in the Executive Lounge. One thing’s for sure — you won’t go hungry.

The Wellness

Let’s get this out of the way — yes, there’s a gym, pool and spa onsite. But if we left it at that, we’d be doing the Four Season Hotel Beijing’s wellness offerings a serious disservice. The gym is fully-loaded with all manner of cardio and weight equipment, so your workouts won’t suffer at all while you’re on the road. The pool area is flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows and is fringed with copious sunloungers dressed in crisp white. And then there’s the spa. This zen retreat combines the best of eastern and western practices in an array of effective, restorative treatments. And while you can get all manner of massages, facials, wraps and any other treatment you can think of, you’ll want to plan ahead to take advantage of the spa’s visiting wellness masters program. The 2019 season kicked off with Zhang Hong Guo who specializes in The Royal Treatment —a Traditional Chinese Medicine combining acupuncture, massage and bonesetting — and Sabina Mallanalli Visarraga, who performs the Hawaiian-inspired Lomi Lomi Sui massage.

The Design

Any which way you look at it, there’s no going past the fact that the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is one heck of a good-looking property. The rooms are oh-so-sophisticated, the restaurants are stunning in their sumptuousness, and the spa — with its attached tea garden — is a genuine oasis of tranquility. The grand design concept was developed by three different firms — Hirsch Bender Associates (Hong Kong), DiLeonardo, and SPIN DESIGNS — but come together to form one gorgeous, luxurious hotel.

Note: The author stayed as a guest of the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing.

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