DESTINATIONS BEIJING ASIA
cable car, but also vast numbers of other tourists. We headed for less-crowded Juyongguan, which is beautifully restored but steep – not one for clients with any access issues. However, views are wonderful and steps in good condition. The stretch at Mutianyu is recently renovated and has a cable car and chair lift, but also receives fewer tour groups than Badaling.
w WHERE TO STAY Unsurprisingly given its Hong Kong HQ, the Shangri-La brand has a host of options in Beijing for the luxury end of the market. The super-central China World Hotel and China World Summit Wing have classic oriental good-looks and impeccable Shangri-La service, but for something more modern recommend the nearby Kerry Hotel. It’s sleek and contemporary, with a strong
wellness and fitness focus including a 35m indoor pool. Farther from the centre, the Shangri-La Beijing is a great choice for those planning to head out to the Great Wall, and it has a beautiful Garden Bar set in a far larger green space than you’d expect in a city hotel. Cox & Kings recommends Raffles Beijing’s colonial stylings – and excellent location near the Forbidden City – for older
couples, and the more modern design of the Peninsula Beijing for younger clientele. Those who can afford to really splash the cash could consider the Aman Palace, which is located within the grounds of the Summer Palace and gives access outside normal visiting hours. For clients travelling with kids,
Travel 2 suggests the Novotel Beijing Peace – a mid-range property within walking distance of the Forbidden City with a great play area for children.
w MOVING ON Beijing is the starting point for many tours of China, with the most popular highlights being Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, pandas at Chengdu, a cruise on the Yangtze, the striking karst hills of Guilin and Shanghai. Travel 2’s 11-day Essential China starts from £2,349 and
spends three days in Beijing, as well as visiting Xi’an, Guilin and Shanghai. At the luxury end of the market, Cox & Kings’ 16-day China: The Grand Tour starts from £2,995 and takes in Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Chengdu, a Yangtze River cruise and Shanghai. Wendy Wu Tours’ most popular
package from Beijing is the 16-day Wonders of China, combining Beijing, Xi’an, a Yangtze River cruise, Guilin and Shanghai, from £2,790, but also popular is the 21-day Magnificent China, which also visits Chengdu, from £3,190. Wendy Wu Tours’ Ben Briggs
says: “For our tailor-made guests travelling on from Beijing, one of the most commonly requested trips is to visit remoter sections of the Great Wall such as Simatai and Jinshanling. There is lots of interest in two or three-day hikes along the Great Wall, with stays in guesthouses along the way.”
RIGHT: Panda in Chengdu BELOW: Aman Palace, Beijing
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travelweekly.co.uk 18 February 2016
TOP TIP Cox & Kings offers a tea-tasting and
traditional decorative paper-cutting
experience with a Beijing family
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