When visiting a city hotel, I rarely ever expect the stay to make me slow down… until I set foot into the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing. Let me add some context here: I’d been in Beijing for nearly a week covering the Auto Show, running on adrenaline and itineraries, and the Mandarin Oriental stay was supposed to be a two-night wind-down before flying home to Bahrain. What it turned out to be was one of the best ways I’ve ever ended a trip.
I can’t possibly go into the details of my stay without nodding to the story of this brand. Mandarin Oriental is one of those rare hospitality groups that has earned its reputation rather than simply inherited it. Founded in Hong Kong, the group has long stood for a particular blend of Asian-inflected luxury and deeply personal service, the kind where the details aren’t just thought about, they’re felt. The Beijing property, tucked into the heart of Wangfujing – the city’s most iconic shopping boulevard – is a boutique offering by the group’s standards: 73 rooms and suites. That restraint, it turns out, is precisely the point.
Then there’s the view: Step out onto the hotel’s terrace, and the Forbidden City spreads out before you, those iconic vermilion walls glowing against the Beijing skyline. It’s the kind of sight that’s truly breathtaking. Having that as your backdrop, cocktail in hand at M Bar’s infinity terrace, makes the location feel all the more prestigious.
On arrival, I was welcomed by the staff and taken on a proper tour of the property. This wasn’t a routine walkthrough; the staff clearly loves this hotel, and that enthusiasm is infectious. From the moment I stepped into the lobby, I noticed the symbolic well at its centre and the dramatic swirling carpet, both inspired by the glazed Longquan Celadon ceramics and the spring water wells that give Wangfujing its name, which translates as “princely residences well.” Overhead, Frank Gehry’s extraordinary fish lamp, apparently the only one of its kind in the world, cast a warm, animated glow across the space.
My room was already stocked with a beautiful gift: hotel chocolates and a signature fan designed by Oscar-winning art director Tim Yip of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame. Each new Mandarin Oriental property gets its own commissioned fan, a long-standing tradition, and Yip’s design for Beijing is quite stunning. I’m now a proud owner of this fan.
The location is a real draw for a first-time visitor. You’re on the high street, steps away from everything – a shopping spree, an exploring walk up and down the boulevard.
I was back at the hotel in time for a late lunch at M Bar, the hotel’s art deco-inspired lounge. But the meal I’ll be talking about for a while was dinner at the Mandarin Grill. I’d been exploring the local cuisine all week, but by the end of my trip, I was craving a great steak, and this restaurant truly delivered.
What surprised me most, though, was The Library. In a hotel world full of buzzy bars and performative lobbies, here was a room designed simply for sitting and thinking. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, rare art books, and a curated collection that includes a 60-volume atlas of Chinese fine arts spanning 5,000 years. I sat there alone before heading to the airport with a cup of tea and a good book. Losing track of time is not something you expect at a city hotel.
I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. The genuinely good ones share one quality: the hospitality doesn’t feel trained; it feels embedded. Leadership here clearly sets the tone, and it filters through every interaction, the spontaneous chocolates, the tour, and the way staff at every outlet actually seemed pleased you were there. For a first-timer in Beijing who needed to feel looked after in an international-friendly environment, this place absolutely delivered.
Two nights were not enough; I’ll certainly be back.
Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing | mandarinoriental.com/wangfujing | +86 (10) 8509 8888
READ MORE: How to Travel Slowly, and Why It Might Be the Best Thing You Do for Your Next Holiday
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