A few months before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the anticipated influx of athletes and tourists to the city, the first urban Design Hotels™ member in the People’s Republic of China opened its doors on April 18. The 55-room hotel, The Emperor, is located adjacent to the former Imperial Palace of the Forbidden City, an acclaimed UNESCO world heritage site. Nestled in an old tree-lined avenue among traditional Chinese temples and houses, the hotel offers a tranquil respite from the hectic city pace of Beijing though located in its geographic centre.

The building of The Emperor was the former premises of the Qinghua University Alumni and features a classical Chinese brick façade and roof.  Beijing Dacheng Youfang Zhiye Co. Ltd. developed the building into a hotel project with their international partners. The architecture of the cutting-edge design hotel was developed by renowned interior designers GRAFT, with international offices in Berlin, Los Angeles and Beijing. The project’s brand, overall concept and pre-opening operational development were created by hotel and restaurant development consultancy Walter Junger & Friends, Ltd. with offices in Berlin and Singapore.

The English name The Emperor was specially chosen: on one hand, it refers to the former imperial residence, the Forbidden City, home to Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  On the other hand, the name alludes to the individualised service afforded to every guest - an experience worthy of an Emperor.
The choice of names and their meanings for all areas of the hotel was also based on underlining the philosophy of hospitality and design. The harmony in the relationship between traditional Chinese culture and modern design facilitates guests in learning all about the various facets.

SHI means Food and is the name of the Chinese restaurant. The all-day dining restaurant is an ideal setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features an integrated bar which transforms into a Beijing hotspot in the evening. Chef John Hao is responsible for this culinary jewel. He has worked in the famous Green T. House and is a senior member of associations such as the China Cuisine Association and the China Association of Health-Protection Food.  Chef Hao also leads the "Longxing Hotel" research institute, known for the promotion of talented Chinese chefs.

His creative cuisine combines traditional Chinese basic elements with modern presentation. A highlight of the menu in SHI is the eight specialty dishes, each inspired by a story from imperial Chinese history.

A selection of exceptional Chinese vintage rice wines collected from all over the country are cellared underground in various locations of the restaurant, covered by a transparent glass floor.  Each wine is presented in a special ceremony that explains its tradition and how it should be served.  The wines are offered for limited sampling and sale, and complemented by an international selection of quality wines and spirits.

Individual guests of SHI can dine on a diagonal long table, where architectural books and design magazines are provided for entertainment.  More traditional configuration of tables along the glass windows of the restaurant and booth seating are also available. In addition, spacious bed-like seating in the lounge bar area partitioned with translucent curtains, offer the perfect ambience for a late glass of wine or a drink while enjoying music played by a guest DJ.

YIN, the bar of The Emperor, means Drink and is one of the most breathtaking locations in Beijing. It is located on the rooftop of the hotel and offers unrivalled views of the Jingshan Hill pavilions and the Forbidden City palaces. The bar is open from April to October and the menu features specially-created cocktails, along with a snack menu offering a selection of international crêpes and freshly-baked Chinese sesame buns with sweet and savoury fillings.

Ideally suited to host fashionable events, art exhibitions and such, a daily highlight of the hotel is the "Raising of the Lanterns" ritual at sunset on the roof terrace overlooking the Forbidden City.  A rousing anthem of beating Chinese drums announces the arrival of the red-garbed lantern bearers and culminates in the hanging of the lighted, large red lanterns.  The ceremony is inspired by the once popular Chinese tradition of hanging red lanterns nightly at the door of selected concubines in wealthy households as a sign of favour by the master, as depicted in the acclaimed Chinese movie set in the warlord era “Raise the Red Lantern”. At YIN, this ceremony denotes the transformation of the rooftop bar into a club lounge at sundown and is an invitation to spend the evening under the stars at the highest vantage point in the hotel.

YUE signifies Joy and aptly describes the hotel spa and wellness area.  The all-glass enclosure, also located on the roof terrace, offers amazing views of the surrounding area. A reflection pool, two massage rooms, a chill-out area and a fitness centre, fulfil the demands of international travellers. The highest point of the roof is reserved for the hotel's Jacuzzi and offers relaxation at the "highest" level - in summer as well as when snowfall blankets the city.

The meeting facilities at The Emperor are also tailored to the varying guests needs. The main meeting room located on the rooftop for 20 persons can be used as a private event space while enjoying the roof bar atmosphere. On the ground floor, there are private meeting spaces interconnected with guest rooms. Exclusive events can also be held in the SHI restaurant within a private dining room for up to 15 persons.

The boutique JING, synonymous with Exquisite, offers a modern interpretation of a Chinese arts and craft store. This is in synergy with the hotel locale around which clusters of Chinese handicrafts and artisan workshops supplying the imperial palaces used to flourish.  Housed in the antique guardhouse of the building, JING also offers design articles, traditional Chinese crafts and the private-label collection of The Emperor-branded items.

Along the guestroom hallways, deep sofa niches create a private oasis for a short relaxing break with a variety of music selection from all over the world together with classical Chinese music.  Guests can also find out up-to-date information about Beijing hotspots, historic details, the hotel concept and some other little-known secrets from the LCD screens along the corridors and in the lobby.

The rooms are unique for the almost "floating" interiors. All furnishings are connected to each other by an invisible line, appearing as if the wall flows into the bed, continuing into the sofa and finally to the desk. The prevailing colour in all rooms is white, highlighted with fiery orange, lime green, deep ocean green and dove grey.  Each installation features a roofline motif of the Forbidden City silhouette, once again connecting modern design with traditional symbolism.  The flat screen television can be adjusted for viewing from multiple areas of the room and offers an international channel selection and six in-house music channels in different genres.  Room rates include breakfast, in-room honor bar and wireless internet access.

Project developer Mr. Liu Shao Jun is proud of this new hotel, "I am very excited that we have created such a unique hotel with our international partners and are setting a benchmark in the boutique hotel and restaurant industry in Beijing and all of China. Not only will global visitors feel welcome at our hotel, but domestic travellers will also have an opportunity to experience a new style of hospitality.  Our sincere wish is for SHI, YIN and indeed The Emperor, to become the favoured gathering place for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city."

More information and reservations are available through www.theemperor.com.cn and www.designhotels.com.