What it is

A 313-room high-rise with a 66-foot indoor pool, pristine spa and five divine restaurant options.

What it isn't

Sleepy. 24-hour services at the property include laundry, dry cleaning and pressing; in-room dining; and a gym—should you want to hit the treadmill at 3 a.m. (it happens).

What we think

There’s nothing worse than flying all the way to China to feel like your hotel room could be in Des Moines. That won’t happen here, where rooms are Asian-inspired in design and as cozy as they come, with mahogany furniture, silk upholstery and other thoughtful details, like down duvets and pillows and iPod docking stations. (Keep an eye out in the hotel’s common spaces, as well, which are chockablock with Chinese art: framed calligraphy, carved doors and ceramics). First-timers to Beijing love the fact that the hotel staff have curated myriad activities for guests—you can ride a helicopter over the Great Wall of China (and stop on it for a picnic made by Executive Chef Jackson Wu) or help dye cloth the old fashioned way in Gubei Water Town, tucked under the Simatai Great Wall.

You're here because

You love Executive Club Lounges, and theirs is remarkable: on the 26th floor, with gratis food and drink throughout the day plus an artist in residence studio you can pop into for inspiration.

The Moment

Some 400 stainless steel butterflies seem to flit above you in the atrium, where you’ve come for afternoon tea. And what a tea it is. The space feels like an ancient Beijing courtyard, the air sweetly scented with tea leaves, bamboo walls slit from below as if by moonlight. You settle into your rattan armchair and sip your oolong—a first harvest on Wuhi mountain in Fujian, according to your waiter. Who needs caffeine with a boost like this?

Restaurants & Bars

Cai Yi Xuan- Traditional Cantonese cuisine presented in an enticing and elegant way.

Chef's Table- For an engaging and unique dining experience.

Mio- Italian restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Beijing.

Opus Lounge - Premium tea leaves selected by the Hotel’s tea connoisseur.

Opus Bar - Contemporary cocktail specialties or another tempting libation.

Tea Garden - Offers intriguing traditional tea.

Location

Beijing’s buzzing Central Business District, right on the Liangma River. Beijing Capital International Airport is just a 30 minute drive away.