Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Worlds Best
  3. The Best Hotels in Beijing in 2017

The Best Hotels in Beijing in 2017

By John Wogan
July 11, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
Many come to Beijing for the iconic cultural sites, like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. But in recent years, the capital has become just as famous for cutting-edge spots like the 798 Art District, an area with a dense concentration of contemporary galleries. The diversity of Beijing’s options extend to its hotel scene, too, where large brands and smaller, boutique options can be found in neighborhoods across the city.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as City or Resort based on their locations and amenities.

The Peninsula Hotel Group has a strong presence in Asia, and their Beijing property, which is close to Tiananmen Square, earned top marks from our readers. Fresh off a recent renovation, the hotel reduced its room number to about half of what it was (from 525 to 230), ensuring that the Peninsula’s accommodations are some of the largest in Beijing, at about 650 square feet. “The rooms were spacious and beautifully decorated,” said reader Angelo Lamantia.

Representing the boutique end of the spectrum is the runner-up, the Opposite House. A sister property to the Temple House in Chengdu (the No. 1 City Hotel in Asia overall), the hotel has just 99 rooms in the city’s Sanlitun neighborhood and was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The sleek, clean-lined rooms come with deep oak soaking tubs.

“The best hotel in Beijing,” is how one reader put it when describing the No. 1 hotel on the list, the Waldorf Astoria. Located in Wangfujing, near the Forbidden City, the 176-room is a relative newcomer (it opened in 2014) but has fast gained a reputation as the place to stay for its sleek modern design with touches of Chinese character, like walls covered in silk, glossy lacquered wood, and artwork from artist Ling Jian. The result feels like the best combination of contemporary and traditional Beijing.
Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

5. Fairmont

Credit: Courtesy of Fairmont Beijing Hotel

Score: 91.74

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

4. Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Credit: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Score: 92.13

2 of 5

3 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. The Peninsula

Credit: Courtesy of The Peninsula

Score: 93.67

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Opposite House

Credit: Courtesy of The Opposite House

Score: 94.52

4 of 5

5 of 5

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Waldorf Astoria

Credit: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria

Score: 94.61

In sprawling Beijing, location is everything, and the top-rated Waldorf Astoria’s central position alone makes it top choice. The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk to both the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, in the Wangfujing neighborhood. Plus, there are only 176 rooms, giving it a more intimate atmosphere that feels decidedly boutique — especially if you spring for the villa, which surrounds a garden courtyard and is inspired by traditional Chinese hutong neighborhoods. Readers also noted the exemplary staff, who are quick to suggest restaurants and shops that are off the beaten path.

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By John Wogan

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 5 5. Fairmont
2 of 5 4. Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
3 of 5 3. The Peninsula
4 of 5 2. Opposite House
5 of 5 1. Waldorf Astoria

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

The Best Hotels in Beijing in 2017
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.