Beijing: Business Traveler’s Weekend

Friday

It’s been a long week of meetings, and now it’s time to unwind a little. Grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat from your hotel’s restaurant and start your day on Financial Street [1]—a modern business thoroughfare that contains many company headquarters, banks, and luxury hotels. Admire the gleaming highrises that form Beijing’s commercial heartland as you make your way down the street to Oriental Taipan Massage [2] for a relaxing foot or body massage.

If you’re meeting clients or coworkers for lunch, take them to CourtYard [3] for a high-end European meal overlooking the imperial city. After lunch, it’s worth the short jaunt to take a look around the Forbidden City [4], a former place of business, as it were, for China’s emperors.

Depending on how much time you spend in the Forbidden City, you may have time to take in a show before dinner, so head over to the Beijing Center for the Arts [5] in Qianmen’s Chi’enmen 23 complex. Catch a performance at the Center’s Black Box theater, or you can simply explore the two-story exhibition hall.

For a dinner sure to impress your clients, stay in the Chi’enmen 23 complex to experience Maison Boulud [6], one of Beijing’s best restaurants. Make your way to Sanlitun and stop at Glen [7] for a nightcap, then check into the Kerry Centre Hotel [8] where you can catch up on your email before turning in for the night.

Saturday

Start your morning off with some tai chi or an aimless walk in Ritan Park [9], Beijing’s most peaceful green space, then head east to grab a quick breakfast from Trends Lounge [10]. Get acquainted with the CBD by checking out the unusual contemporary architecture of the New CCTV Tower [11], designed by Rem Koolhas and Ole Scheeren. Now it’s time to pick up a few souvenirs for your family and coworkers back home at the designer shops and boutiques of Sanlitun Village [12].

For dinner, immerse yourself in culinary tradition at Fat Duck [13], the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel’s elegant Beijing duck restaurant. Round off your meal with a drink at Atmosphere [14], the city’s highest bar. Head back to your room at the Kerry Centre Hotel and get a good night’s rest in preparation for a busy final day in the capital city.

Sunday

Break your fast with the comforts of home at Grandma’s Kitchen [15], then it’s time to explore. Wander through Tian’anmen Square [16] and nearby Legation Quarter [17] to get a glimpse of the various places from which Beijing has been ruled over the years, through imperial times to the colonial era, and into the era of Communism.

Have lunch at Ristorante Sadler [18], another gem of the Chi’enmen 23 development, then head back in the direction of Tian’anmen Square and visit the National Museum of China [19], the largest museum in the world. Lose yourself among the countless artifacts and exhibits, but be sure you don’t miss the Han-era jade burial suit.

Treat your clients to one last dinner, this time at Domus [20]. Feast on the mouth-watering home-cooked European dishes, then relax with a cocktail at the chic XIU [21] lounge before heading back to your hotel (or the airport, if you’ve booked a redeye).