Meet Beijing’s Homegrown Five-Star Hero

In Beijing, around Embassy Row, there’s a fair share of luxury hotel brands (think Four Seasons, Kempinski, and the Hilton). But there’s one Chinese luxe hotel brand where the well-heeled, Chinese jet setters settle in for the night.

It’s also where this roving travel correspondent called home for her entire visit to Beijing.

Welcome to The Kunlun Beijing. Recently refreshed and still standing tall after nearly four decades, this landmark property reminds visitors that sometimes the hometown hero knows the city best.

During my arrival, an AI robot glides past carrying room service. Diplomats disappear into discreet meeting rooms. And when I arrive at my suite, outside my window, evening joggers hug the banks of the Liangma River as Beijing’s skyline flickers to life.

Only at The Kunlun Beijing could yesterday’s grand luxury and tomorrow’s technology meet together.  

Location, Location, Location

For me, location can make—or break—a hotel. The Kunlun Beijing is in Beijing’s diplomatic heart, where embassies, Fortune 500 headquarters and upscale shopping districts converge. This is Chaoyang at its cosmopolitan best. For luxury shoppers, nearby Sanlitun delivers designer boutiques, rooftop lounges and enough people-watching to qualify as an Olympic sport.

The hotel also offers easy access to the airport and sits within convenient reach of the city’s efficient subway network. When sightseeing calls, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and even sections of the Great Wall are all manageable day excursions.

The neighborhood itself tells Beijing’s evolving story—where old hutongs have gradually given way to gleaming towers while preserving pockets of local life between ambitious architecture.

What surprises me most is the peaceful ribbon of water flowing below my window.

The Liangma River has reinvented itself from a working canal into one of Beijing’s most successful urban renewal stories. Landscaped walking trails, cycling paths and illuminated evening cruises have transformed it into a favorite gathering place for locals. As dusk settles, couples stroll the waterfront while the city’s glittering towers shimmer across the water.

The Kunlun Beijing sits front row to this evolving cityscape, making those river-facing guestrooms especially rewarding. And blue sky weather to boot! A far cry from my last visit 10 years ago, when the billowing smoke from the coal-fired power plants sent air advisory reports daily. Back then, nearly every local was masked up. Now, not so much! PS: The coal power plants have relocated.

My first impressions of The Kunlun Beijing

First impressions? It looms riverside like a giant airport control tower governing the sky. This curved silhouette of The Kunlun Beijing has anchored Beijing’s skyline since 1988, when it emerged as one of China’s earliest internationally recognized luxury hotels. No wonder it holds the distinction of being the first five-star hotel in the capital city, independently designed, built, and managed by the Chinese.

Designed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD)—the celebrated architectural practice behind many of Beijing’s major civic landmarks and Olympic-era projects—the building embraces geometry rather than fleeting trends. Nearly forty years later, it still looks remarkably comfortable in its own skin.

Inside, a soaring marble atrium stretches overhead while sculptures and polished stone create an atmosphere that’s equal parts gallery and grand hotel. Reception almost plays hide-and-seek toward the rear of the expansive lobby, encouraging guests to slow down and absorb the visual feast.

Then comes my favorite surprise. An AI-powered delivery robot quietly patrols the lobby like a futuristic bellhop, transporting amenities to guestrooms with surprising precision. They’re efficient, undeniably cute, and impossible not to photograph. It’s Old Beijing elegance meets twenty-first century hospitality.

Bragging rights for The Kunlun Beijing

As the flagship luxury property of Jin Jiang Hotels China Region, one of the country’s largest hospitality groups, The Kunlun Beijing represents Chinese luxury on its own terms. Since opening, it has welcomed heads of state, diplomats, business leaders and international delegations drawn to its prime Embassy District location.

One of its most fascinating secrets waits upstairs. Long before rooftop lounges became fashionable, Hotel Kunlun’s revolving Heavenly Jin restaurant was already giving diners a constantly changing view of Beijing. On the 29^th floor, slowly rotating above the city, the restaurant offers a sweeping 360-degree panorama that transforms breakfast, lunch or dinner into sightseeing without ever leaving your chair.

Another delightful discovery for this rooftop resto lies tucked behind elegant wooden doors. Several private dining salons honor notable international figures, including one dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill—a quiet nod to the hotel’s long-standing role in welcoming distinguished foreign guests. These intimate spaces have hosted everything from diplomatic dinners to milestone celebrations, adding another layer to the hotel’s fascinating story. It’s these hidden corners that separate a memorable hotel from a merely comfortable one.

The amenities read like a seasoned luxury playbook: multiple restaurants, executive facilities, meeting and banquet venues, wellness amenities, indoor swimming pool, fitness center and attentive concierge services.

Rooms and Suites at The Kunlun Beijing

The Kunlun Beijing features more than 550 guestrooms and suites spread across multiple accommodation categories, ranging from Deluxe Rooms to expansive executive suites and the prestigious Presidential Suite. The Presidential Suite showcases Beijing luxury at its grandest, with expansive entertaining rooms, formal dining space, elegant furnishings, and panoramic skyline views worthy of visiting dignitaries.

Lucky me—I experience two different accommodations during my stay.

Both deliver magnificent city vistas, but my second suite earns top honors thanks to one unforgettable indulgence: a deep soaking bathtub positioned beside floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Beijing’s ever-changing skyline. It’s the kind of view that tempts you to linger just a little longer.

The rooms feel comfortably contemporary following recent renovations, featuring generous workspaces, quality bedding, marble bathrooms and thoughtful lighting. Large windows flood the interiors with natural light, making the city itself part of the décor.

There are, however, a couple of quirks international visitors should know.

First, remember that Google services—including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Search—are unavailable throughout mainland China without specialized workarounds. Purchasing an eSIM with appropriate connectivity before arrival makes navigating considerably easier.

Second, hotel Wi-Fi setup can occasionally be challenging for foreign devices. During my stay, much of the connection information initially appeared only in Mandarin. Fortunately, the front desk quickly arranged for a staff member to troubleshoot everything—even after 11 p.m., when most sensible people are dreaming rather than debugging internet connections.

One more curiosity involved the bathroom’s ceiling-mounted heating lamp. Even after switching off the lights, the heat continued running. During Beijing’s steamy summer temperatures, that extra warmth wasn’t exactly welcome when I was trying to cool the room before bedtime.

Room Tip: Request a recently renovated high-floor river-facing room or suite overlooking the Liangma River. The higher the floor, the more spectacular the city panorama—especially after sunset.

The Kunlun Beijing Hotel Perks

The indoor swimming pool offers a welcome retreat after navigating Beijing’s energetic streets, while the fitness center, concierge services, and around-the-clock hospitality make it as appealing for leisure travelers exploring Beijing.

Restaurants at The Kunlun Beijing

Bring your appetite—and your camera.

Breakfast at the Tianting Café is an international affair, with generous buffets spanning East and West. Fresh fruit, pastries, handmade noodles, dim sum, congee, egg stations and excellent coffee fuel both sightseeing adventures and boardroom marathons.

The hotel’s Chinese restaurant celebrates regional cuisine with refined presentations, while Japanese and international dining options broaden the culinary lineup.

Still, the undeniable star, often dubbed the Summit Club for its exclusive soaring views, remains the revolving restaurant high above Beijing.

Watching the skyline slowly unfold beneath you feels delightfully nostalgic in an era obsessed with speed. Here, the city comes to you—one gentle revolution at a time.

Author Ilona Kauremszky in one of her suites at The Kunlun Beijing

Final Impressions

The Kunlun Beijing proudly showcases Chinese luxury in a neighborhood dominated by international hotel brands.

For first-time visitors to China, there is a slight learning curve. Not every member of the hotel staff speaks fluent English, but that’s easily overcome. Download WeChat before you arrive—its built-in translation tools are invaluable—and set up Alipay for seamless mobile payments throughout Beijing. Together, they’re as essential as your passport.

As I wheel my suitcase toward the exit, one of those cheerful little robots quietly motors past on another delivery. I smile. Only in Beijing could a grand dame embrace the future with such effortless grace.

Check rates for The Kunlun Beijing online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, or Hotels.com

PHOTOS: Ilona Kauremszky

 Hotel-Scoop Columnist Ilona Kauremszky stayed at The Kunlun Beijing while on assignment, hosted by the China National Tourist Office and Air Canada.