The Peninsula Beijing

One of the city’s longest-running luxury hotels, The all-suite Peninsula Beijing has stood witness to more than three decades of breathless change in China. A pair of works by avant-garde ink painter Qin Feng gazes out over fresh acres of pearlescent white marble in the stunning lobby, encircled by designer boutiques and the setting for Earl Grey and scones with clotted cream for the trademark Peninsula Afternoon Tea. But it’s in the gorgeous guest rooms where things feel the most palatial. Oversized bathrooms, walk-in dressing rooms and a separate bedroom and living room as standard are enhanced with tablet-operated technology, Chinese artworks and Italian sustainable mahogany furnishings. The two restaurants, Jing for modern French fare and Huang Ting for Cantonese, have put the focus firmly on provenance and traceability, openly sharing details on trusted food suppliers from China and beyond.