Touching down in a sprawling mega city of 20 million souls is enough to make even a seasoned traveller’s head spin. Beijing seems bold, brash and very, very big to new arrivals. But the city is much more manageable than you might think. Which is why we’ve created a unique product – two, in fact – to make our guests feel instantly at home in China’s capital.
The Waldorf Astoria has stood proud on New York’s fifth avenue since the late 19th century, a grand dame that has hosted Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly – even a visiting Deng Xiaoping. 121 years on, Beijing has become the newest member of the Waldorf Astoria club. And boy is it a stunner.
Conrad Hilton (or ‘Connie’, as Don Draper memorably calls him in the TV series Mad Men) took over the brand in 1949, the same year Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China. But the historic link here concerns a certain Qing Dynasty viceroy named Li Hongzhang, the Waldorf Astoria’s first Chinese guest in 1896 (along with his 40-person entourage). The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is apparently built close to Li’s old Beijing residence, which is a nice twist in the tale.
OK, so it’s not exactly hidden, but the tallest structure in Beijing (402m) is certainly overlooked.
Can I drink the water in Beijing? The official answer is, yes you can. Our recommendation is, better to stick to bottled (or filtered) water. But you shouldn’t worry too much about brushing your teeth or showering with tap water, or eating fruits and vegetables that have been washed in tap water.
Wouldn’t you like to know? OK fine, we’ll tell you. Bespoke Beijing did take her shopping, after all – on our Signature Hidden Hutong Boutiques Tour.
