The Peninsula Beijing

The Peninsula Beijing is more or less exactly what one expects from a Peninsula hotel in the Far East. This should not be taken to mean that a stay is a predictable experience, in the way that the average chain hotel experience is canned and uninspiring; rather that a visitor here may rightly expect to encounter the extremely high standard of service for which the Peninsula hotels have become known. A foolish consistency may be, as Emerson said, the hobgoblin of little minds; but the brand of consistency practiced by the Peninsula is anything but foolish.

The Peninsula is just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, perhaps not such an auspicious location upon its opening in 1989. But in today's Beijing, the political (if not trade) capital of this most rapidly developing of nations, a business hotel could hardly ask for a better location — the Peninsula is right in the center of the city, surrounded by such landmarks as the Museum of Chinese History, the Great Hall of the People, and Mao's mausoleum. The bustling Chaoyang commercial district (home to many of the foreign embassies) is just to the east, and the major shopping districts are also close at hand.

The Peninsula Beijing is a five-star hotel, of course — in fact, if "five-star" simply means that all conceivable amenities are accounted for, then this may as well be a six-star hotel. Everything in the guest rooms is entirely operable from the bedside control panel, including lighting, climate control, and the television (42" plasma screens, in certain rooms). And for those who need help deciding what to wear, another panel by the front door displays outside temperature and humidity.

Yes, there is a pool (heated, of course), a fitness center, a massage service, and a Clarins spa. As expected, there are two very fine restaurants, one a "modern Asian" restaurant (JING), the other in a more traditional vein, serving classic Cantonese (Huang Ting). High-speed internet in-room? Check. Three levels of designer shops, from Burberry to Louis Vuitton, in the hotel's arcade? Of course.

But what is special about the Peninsula, what makes it feel somehow intangibly right, comes down to two simple things: execution and service. This is one of the most luxurious hotel experiences to be had anywhere, yet the feeling of luxury, somehow, never crosses over into excess. Everything simply feels right, from the extremely high standard of service — the staff, ever-attentive when needed, then fading discreetly away at just the right moment — to something so prosaic as the sheer material quality of the construction and furnishings. How do they do it? We have, frankly, no idea — but that does not make it any less impressive, or enjoyable.

Travel advisory: Passport and visa requirements differ from country to country. Please check with your local authority before booking.