The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing

The Ritz-Carlton Beijing sits inside China Central Place, the mixed-use development at the heart of Beijing's central business district. The World Trade Centre and SKP Shopping Centre are within easy reach on foot; the imperial monuments of the historic centre — including the great palace complex and the ceremonial temple grounds to the south — are farther into the city but straightforward to reach from here.

Guest rooms are fitted in an English manor style — marble bathrooms, soaking tubs, and views over either the city skyline or the gardens below. The room categories divide between garden-facing and city-facing outlooks.

The hotel runs four dining options. Aroma covers international cuisine; The Lounge serves afternoon tea and Western dishes through the day; ATTA handles Italian fare. The fourth is a Chinese restaurant that holds a Michelin star — a meaningful distinction in a city with a serious restaurant scene.

Leisure facilities include a spa, a fitness centre, and an indoor pool that opens onto a balcony. The pool-balcony combination is one of the more practical details for a city hotel: lap swimming with natural light, in a district that otherwise runs on glass and steel.

The location makes the hotel workable for both business travellers and those using it as a base for the historic centre, which sits roughly to the west.