Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski's natural setting is intensely beautiful. 42 villas, ranging in size from 4 to 6 bedrooms and offering a total of 236 rooms and suites, are dispersed along the steep slope of the serene valley. Each House frames dramatic views of the sinuous landscape and The Great Wall. There is also a private path to the original Great Wall at the Commune. The Club House serves multiple purposes and houses a courtyard restaurant, a conference centre, a terrace/lounge, a fitness centre, a gallery, a cinema plus a library attired in purple and peacock feathers. The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has become a showcase of contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture. It has been widely covered by both Chinese and international media as a momentous breakthrough in architectural history in China and Asia.

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has been constantly selected in the world’s best hotels lists. In December 2005, Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski was named by Business Week as a “New Architectural Wonder of China.” It is the only hotel from mainland China selected by Condé Nast Traveler as one of “100 Hot Hotels in the World” in 2004 and was included in the Tatler Travel Guide, 2005 as one of "the 101 Best Hotels", ranked among the 10 best "Boutique" hotel

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has accommodated famous guests including Hollywood actresses Renee Zellweger and Michelle Yeoh, director Anthony Minghella, Hong Kong celebrity designer Flora Cheong, Hong Kong tycoon Richard Lee, Tod’s founder - Delle Valle, F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, tennis star Serena Williams, and soccer coach Arie Haan.

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski is also the perfect place for corporate retreats and parties as well as product launches of high-end luxury brands. Its recent clients include Porsche, BMW, GE, Missoni, Sony and Hermès.

Since its opening as both a boutique hotel and a semi-architectural museum in October, 2002, the Commune has become a must-visit place in China and received over 200,000 visitors across the world. The Commune is a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects. It was exhibited a the 2002 Biennale di Venezia. A special prize to an individual patron of architectural works was awarded to Ms Zhang Xin, the mastermind and the investor of the project for her “bold personal initiative which emphasizes the role of 12 Asian architects in building privately-owned houses in a definitely contemporary manner.” The exhibited project model, made of wood and cardboard, has been collected by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, as its first permanent collection from China. The management of the commune was taken over by Kempinski Hotels & Resorts in August, 2005, and the Commune was then renamed “Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski”.

The Great Wall Exit at Shuiguan, Badaling Highway, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Located in the Shuiguan mountains amidst 8 square kilometres of private land, 1 hour’s drive away from Beijing Capital International Airport, 20 kilometres away from the main train station (Qing Long Qiao station) and 50 minutes’ drive from Beijing city centre, the property enjoys an easy access via the Badaling Expressway. 15 minutes’ drive from Badaling private airport, available for helicopters (20 minutes’ transfer from Beijing Capital International Airport) and small aircrafts on the 800 metres long runway.

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski is also a culinary destination, serving authentic, local specialties from five regions of China in each restaurant, prepared by chefs from each region and presented with a contemporary twist.

• Courtyard Restaurant is open 7 days a week (8 a.m. -9 p.m.)
• The Terrace Lounge, with views of The Great Wall, serves both Chinese and Western cuisines. Open 7 days a week (8 a.m. -9 p.m.), the Terrace Lounge is also open for leisurely weekend brunches from April to October, weather permitting.
• Pink Bar and Lounge.
• Four Seasons Restaurant is available for private dining.
• Two Café/Delis serve drinks and light snacks throughout the day. ( Seasonal)