The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street

Most Ritz-Carltons look, from the lobby if not from the street, like something out of Revolutionary France; in 21st-century Beijing that would just be perverse. Here, in a modern glass skyscraper on Beijing’s very sensibly named Financial Street, is a new breed of Ritz-Carlton, one that departs in two ways: not only is it strikingly contemporary, ever so slightly on the minimalist side, but it’s also very identifiably Chinese.

Nowhere, though, do the visuals threaten to overwhelm the pure old-school luxury of the place. In the rooms the contemporary furnishings are more notable for their comfort than for their looks, and no expense has been spared in making these rooms the absolute state of the luxury art: everything’s totally wired and electronically controlled, and televisions include 37-inch LCD screens in the main room, 15-inch in the lavish marble bathrooms.

The main restaurant is upscale Chinese, showcasing the cuisines of seven different regions; secondary restaurants include a Northern Italian option and a “flexitarian” vegetables-and-seafood choice. The spa is as impressive as you’d expect it to be, and the fitness center is up to the highest standard — and here, as anywhere, the Ritz-Carlton is perhaps best known as a destination for a fine afternoon tea.

How to get there: From Beijing Capital International Airport , 35 km - approximately 40 mins.