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imperial aspirations the emperor

text by edwin tam furnishings are also placed in an unusual manner. YIN, meaning drink, is located on The Emperor’s
images courtesy of design hotels™ Each room’s bed, sofa and work-desk is not scat- rooftop and has a fine view of The Forbidden City.
tered willy-nilly around the room; instead they It also serves cocktails and crepes influenced by
Beijing has been the seat of China’s rulers and em- hug the walls and are seemingly strung along one Chinese cuisine. Its unusual sunset ritual – The
perors for the last 3,000 years. Thus it is fitting that continuous line such that each furnishing “flows” Raising of the Lanterns – marks the bar’s transfor-
Beijing’s latest boutique hotel is aptly named The into another. The rooms have wireless Internet mation into a club lounge. YUE, meaning joy, is the
Emperor. Coincidentally, the hotel is also a mere access, wall-mounted flat-screen televisions and hotel’s spa. Like YIN, it is located on the roof, albeit
hop-and-skip from The Forbidden City – former im- butler service. in an all-glass enclosure that boasts a reflecting
perial residences for China’s emperors. pool, two massage rooms, chill-out area and fit-
The Emperor’s facilities – SHI, YIN, YUE, and JING ness centre. The building’s old guardhouse turned
The hotel, a member of Design Hotels™, occupies – also hint at the hotel’s imperial aspirations. boutique, JING, meaning exquisite, sells traditional
the former premises of the Qinghua University Chinese crafts and modern design articles from the
Alumni Club. While they have retained the build- SHI, meaning food, is an all-day dining restau- hotel’s private collection.
ing’s classically Chinese brick façade and roof, rant with an integrated bar. While its eight “impe-
the interiors, designed by GRAFT Labs, are strictly rial cuisine”-inspired dishes might be the menu’s The Emperor is located at 33 Qihelou Street, Dongcheng
modern-chic. highlight, the restaurant’s display of Chinese vin- District, 100006 Beijing, People’s Republic of China; Tel:
tage rice wine is far more impressive. The jars of [86] 10 6526 5566; Fax: [86] 10 6523 8786. For more
For example, the 55 guestrooms are minimalist af- rice wine are stored in a room under diners’ feet information, visit www.designhotels.com or
fairs decked out in stark white and lightened with and can be viewed through patches of transparent www.theemperor.com.cn.
orange, green, blue or grey wall panels decorated glass on the restaurant’s floor.
with silhouettes of The Forbidden City. The room’s

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