Capital Hotel Beijing - Beijing, China 

Bejing, in my view, is working hard to catch on to western ways...while it's very western in some ways, many times I felt this must have been much what Japan was like, shortly after the war. The spirit is there, but the culture is so different. I always felt the Japanese can do whatever they want, more or less, in western, or their own style. China, isn't quite there...like looking in a funhouse mirror sometime. If the above doesn't quite make sense to you, you will understand after visiting China. The hotel is a mirror of the above opinion....smart, stylish, and well located, it truly is a four star hotel....and in some ways, perhaps more. Comfortable beds, spacious room, great view...but with natural stone bath surfaces, the shower door still leaked profusely...but into a conveniently placed drain on the floor outside the shower...intentional design ? Beautiful stainless steel accents...apparently attached with rusty bolts, as the rust leaked out from beneath the stainless steel. Huge dept store sized windows...covered the the soot/haze that descends upon Bejing each day. A sumptuous buffet, rivaling the four/five star Japanese hotel(s) I've reviewed...and an enormous lobby. A basement level indoor pool (but you MUST wear a shower cap....ah the '50s live !) I would stay here again. Hint to the traveler: Don't drink the Bejing water...the locals are used to it: You aren't ! The 7-11 behind the store is a great place for price and quality for fresh sandwiches and liquor (and bottled water...the hotel furnishes one small bottle to you each day).