by Aude Camus
I am a busy traveler and I’ve been lucky enough to discover the wonders of many countries across the globe and more specifically in Asia since moving to Hong Kong 4 years ago. One destination I have been kind of purposely avoiding though is China. Can’t 100% explain why but whenever I’m booking flight tickets for a quick getaway I’m always more attracted by Thailand or Vietnam than China. Plus, I’ve visited Shanghai a few times already and didn’t like it at all. I mean there are a few things I loved about it, one of them being the great dining scene there but to all the people who were telling me “if you love Hong Kong you are going to love Shanghai” and “you must visit the French concession, it’s such a charming area” it’s an absolute no from me!
Everything is so different, busy, complicated that I usually come back quite exhausted from my short getaways. But it was about time I paid another visit to China and this time I’ve decided to go to Beijing, a place which has been on my bucket list forever. Wandering the alleys of the Forbidden City, walking the Great Wall (which I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to do this time but anyway I’ll be back for it), unveiling the history of the Temple of Heaven, finding my way through the Hutongs and discovering the Summer Palace were things I’ve been wanted to do forever … so here I was, 2 weeks ago, hoping on a flight to Beijing.
I had no idea at all what to expect from this trip but one thing I was quite sure off is that I wanted to book myself in the nicest hotel possible and make sure I can retreat there for some quiet time and 5-stars service and therefore checked-in at Four Seasons Beijing.
I am a busy traveler and I’ve been lucky enough to discover the wonders of many countries across the globe and more specifically in Asia since moving to Hong Kong 4 years ago. One destination I have been kind of purposely avoiding though is China. Can’t 100% explain why but whenever I’m booking flight tickets for a quick getaway I’m always more attracted by Thailand or Vietnam than China. Plus, I’ve visited Shanghai a few times already and didn’t like it at all. I mean there are a few things I loved about it, one of them being the great dining scene there but to all the people who were telling me “if you love Hong Kong you are going to love Shanghai” and “you must visit the French concession, it’s such a charming area” it’s an absolute no from me!
Everything is so different, busy, complicated that I usually come back quite exhausted from my short getaways. But it was about time I paid another visit to China and this time I’ve decided to go to Beijing, a place which has been on my bucket list forever. Wandering the alleys of the Forbidden City, walking the Great Wall (which I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to do this time but anyway I’ll be back for it), unveiling the history of the Temple of Heaven, finding my way through the Hutongs and discovering the Summer Palace were things I’ve been wanted to do forever … so here I was, 2 weeks ago, hoping on a flight to Beijing.
I had no idea at all what to expect from this trip but one thing I was quite sure off is that I wanted to book myself in the nicest hotel possible and make sure I can retreat there for some quiet time and 5-stars service and therefore checked-in at Four Seasons Beijing.
Speaking of 5-star service, I was picked-up by a Four Seasons’ staff from the minute I left the aircraft and was taken all the way to immigration (which can be quite stressful in China) and out the airport (through a VIP door and directly in a Four Seasons Mercedes) in less than 45 min and without having to think for a single minute. Level of stress? Below 0. Level of “Four Seasons I love you”? Over a hundred.
It’s actually already pre-dinner time (we took the mid-afternoon flight from Hong Kong) and I won’t be hitting the streets of Beijing before tomorrow so shall we go on a tour of the hotel?
Room tour
Room tour
Checking-in my Ambassador Suite and knowing I am going to have the best night. One thing I’m very serious about when it comes to hotel stays are the bathroom amenities and I can tell you that Four Seasons Beijing is setting a high standard with products from (one of my fav French brand ever) Atelier Cologne.
And look at that bathtub … it’s just huge. I was looking for a haven of piece where to relax after wandering the busy streets of Beijing and that bathroom just by itself would have been enough …
Spa tour
Spa tour
She is only in Beijing for 48h and she is wasting 2h at the spa some would say. To whom I would reply: I was on cultural exploration getting to meet Imperial therapist Zhang Hong Guo and discovered The Royal Treatment descended from Zhao Xi Chen, Imperial Physician in the Qing Dynasty.
This one of a kind treatment draws on traditional Chinese techniques such as pulse diagnosis, Chinese massage, acupuncture, moxibustion and bonesetting, it uses gentle, rapid touches to diagnose and address a range of illnesses and issues, from serious back issues to even slight bone discrepancies that an x-ray can't show. The experience was amazing! I had never heard of bonesetting techniques before and even though the name can be a bit scary, the treatment in itself isn’t scary nor painful at all. The idea of this massage is to restore the optimum position of bones and heals muscle strains and I was amazed by the results on my super tense and arched back.
A treatment which I was happy to conclude with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in the Spa Tea Garden.
The Royal Treatment is available at Four Seasons Beijing every Tuesday throughout 2019
Royal Meridian Adjustment (RMB 2,250/90 min) / Physical Therapy of Traditional Chinese Techniques (RMB 500-1,000 / 60 min) / Bonesetting Massage (RMB 680 / per body part)
Dining tour
This one of a kind treatment draws on traditional Chinese techniques such as pulse diagnosis, Chinese massage, acupuncture, moxibustion and bonesetting, it uses gentle, rapid touches to diagnose and address a range of illnesses and issues, from serious back issues to even slight bone discrepancies that an x-ray can't show. The experience was amazing! I had never heard of bonesetting techniques before and even though the name can be a bit scary, the treatment in itself isn’t scary nor painful at all. The idea of this massage is to restore the optimum position of bones and heals muscle strains and I was amazed by the results on my super tense and arched back.
A treatment which I was happy to conclude with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in the Spa Tea Garden.
The Royal Treatment is available at Four Seasons Beijing every Tuesday throughout 2019
Royal Meridian Adjustment (RMB 2,250/90 min) / Physical Therapy of Traditional Chinese Techniques (RMB 500-1,000 / 60 min) / Bonesetting Massage (RMB 680 / per body part)
Dining tour
When in Beijing eat Peking Duck … this was a motto I have decided to live by during this weekend and lucky me Peking Duck is a signature dish at Cai Yi Xuan, the award winning Chinese cuisine restaurant of the hotel.
And if you ever get tired of Chinese food, a meal at Mio definitely also is a good idea. You’ll be treated to contemporary Italian cuisine (with a French touch). A must order if you ask me: the chesnut tagliatelle.
Well, as much as I am enjoying myself and having a great time, I am afraid I am going to have to leave you guys here and get out to actually discover a bit of Beijing! I’ll see you guys on Tiananmen Square?
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
48 Liangmaqiao Rd, SanYuan Qiao, Chaoyang Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100096
Well, as much as I am enjoying myself and having a great time, I am afraid I am going to have to leave you guys here and get out to actually discover a bit of Beijing! I’ll see you guys on Tiananmen Square?
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
48 Liangmaqiao Rd, SanYuan Qiao, Chaoyang Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100096
This write-up is based on a complementary 1-night stay offered by the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing (no monetary compensation).
