City guide: Beijing

Quirky hotels

Purple Jade Laguna Hotel Beijing (three-star)
Go back to nature
From £77 per room per night
In the Chaoyang District of Beijing, Purple Jade Laguna is an ecologically friendly hotel away from the noise of the city. Surrounded by dense forest that is home to more than 16,000 plants and 100 bird species, this hotel is an idyllic spot to get back to nature and escape the bustle of city life.

The hotel has two lakes and a huge garden where animals, such as black swans and spotted deer, roam free.

There is traditional Cantonese cuisine on offer at the Jade Lake Chinese restaurant or western specialties at the Oasis Western restaurant. After dinner, guests can sip a cocktail or two while enjoying stunning forest views from the Sky Lounge. To book go to www.hotels.co.uk or call 0871 200 0171.

King Wing Hot Spring International Hotel (three-star)
A natural hot spring haven
From £50 per room per night
The King Wing Hot Spring International Hotel is located in the commercial Chongwen sector of Beijing, just a short walk from the Auction Market.

For spa lovers, this hotel is a gem as it stands above a natural hot spring which is channelled into the hotel, for the very purest spa experience. As well as a spa tub, sauna and steam room, there is also an array of treatments in the individually designed Moroccan, Mediterranean and Chinese-inspired treatment rooms.

Other highlights include an expansive Shanghai-style restaurant, a traditional Chinese teahouse, a karaoke lounge and a 24-hour fitness centre complete with an indoor pool. To book go to www.hotels.co.uk or call 0871 200 0171.

Deals

Stay two nights and save 10 per cent at the two-star Beijing Dong Jiao Min Xiang. Within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the hotel features a sauna, restaurant and coffee shop. From £47 per room per night with www.hotels.co.uk or call 0871 200 0171.

Top tips

You can't go to Beijing without visiting the Great Wall. However, to escape the hoardes of other tourists you should head to Mutianyu, just a short drive from the city centre and home to one of the best sections of the wall.

For those who don't feel like walking, you can take a chair lift up and toboggan down. A top tip is to make sure to bring water with you or you will be charged 500 times the regular price when you get there!

Visit the Hutongs for a true Beijing experience

Enjoy the sites and sounds of a traditional Beijing neighbourhood or Hutong, before they are all demolished in favour of high rise apartments.

The architecture is amazing and the glimpses you get into local Beijing culture are priceless. Some great antique bargains are also to be found in the many flea markets.