Today’s article contains a surprise. At the end of the article, I’ve included a special offer for a five-star Antarctic cruise during next year’s Spring Festival, including flights, hotel, and ship tickets in an all-inclusive suite with a butler service, all for just over 50,000 yuan.
Now, onto the main content, back to Beijing MO.
There are a few hotel brands (alliances) that I am collecting like stamps.
Relais & Châteaux, Mandarin Oriental (MO), The Luxury Collection, Park Hyatt, Rosewood, Aman… I hope to stay at all of these hotels within my lifetime.
Among them, MO and Rosewood are the two brands I’ve recently taken a liking to. I’ve stayed at them particularly often over the past one to two years.
Just to take MO as an example, there are a total of nine MOs in the Greater China region (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Sanya, Hong Kong *2, Macau, and Taipei), and I’ve stayed at seven of them, only missing Macau and Taipei.
I recently visited Beijing again, and naturally, I chose to stay at the Beijing Wangfujing MO. As for why, the following pictures will provide an answer.
This is an exceptionally beautiful terrace overlooking the Forbidden City, with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen, the Great Hall of the People, and the TV tower all in sight.
The Wangfujing MO is located in WF Central, part of Beijing’s four major luxury shopping areas (SKP, China World Trade Center, WF Central, Financial Street Shopping Center), and is housed in the WF Central.
The top two floors, the fifth and sixth, are entirely occupied by MO. Despite this, the Wangfujing MO has only 73 rooms. If I recall correctly, it’s the smallest and most exquisite MO globally.
After all, the hotel is situated in the prime second ring of the bustling capital, right next to Wangfujing Street, merely 803 meters in a straight line from the Forbidden City walls.
This MO features many photographic works.
In the restaurant, hallways, and even at the entrances to the washrooms, there are many photographic works displayed, all of which are quite tasteful.
There are also numerous other artworks in the hotel.
The Frank Gehry fish lamp hanging right at the entrance in the hotel lobby is a scene almost every guest at Wangfujing MO photographs. It is said to be worth an eight-figure sum.
In the lobby, there’s also an eye-catching red horse by artist Su Lingzhi.
Furthermore, the lobby boasts this centerpiece fan “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” created by art director Tim Yip, representing China with silk and paper, intertwined with wind, light, shadow, and water; it’s one of a kind.
While checking in, I happened to encounter a young artist discussing with MO the placement of their artworks throughout the hotel.
No wonder the artwork in some high-end hotels is frequently changed; it turns out they are favored exhibition sites sought after by artists. Everyone hopes their art pieces can be displayed in prestigious locations.
This time, I stayed at a terrace room (the third-tier room) at the Wangfujing MO. The highlight is the terrace (although it doesn’t face the Forbidden City).
During my stay, Beijing had great weather with blue skies and white clouds, making my terrace room feel like a great deal.
PS: Of course, I also wanted to book a room with a view of the Forbidden City, but the price for that room type at the Wangfujing MO has risen to over 7000 a night. I figured that since the terrace also offers a view, I might as well save some money.
The rooms at Wangfujing MO follow a new Chinese style, which is a combination of modern and classical elements.
The room is filled with Chinese style, featuring a four-poster bed and an octagonal table. It’s said that the design was inspired by the prince’s bedroom in Wangfujing courtyards. Unfortunately, the lens I brought this time wasn’t wide enough to capture its beauty fully.
I really like the light green color scheme of the room; it’s the understated luxury that MO should have.
The bathroom is also very large. Even the basic room at Wangfujing MO has an area of 55 square meters, which is quite impressive given it is located within Beijing’s second ring road.
The hardware configuration of the Wangfujing MO rooms is absolutely top-notch. The bedside has a Bose Soundlink Revolve speaker, the bed is adorned with a Begg & Co custom-made Scottish cashmere blanket, the utensils are from the British royal family’s tea set brand Wedgewood, and the glassware is a collaboration between Wedgewood and bridal queen Vera Wang.
They don’t flaunt their value, but none of these items are cheap.
The welcome fruits were also generous.
As a turndown gift, I received a Wangfujing MO toiletry bag, which I absolutely loved.
The public area at the Wangfujing MO is the most memorable point.
The hotel has two restaurants and one bar, all located on the fifth floor, each with a rooftop garden terrace offering an unobstructed view overlooking the Forbidden City.
I make it a point to visit this terrace every morning and evening.
Breakfast at Wangfujing MO is served at the Zîshàn Restaurant. I love sitting outside on the terrace to eat. You could say it’s like enjoying a quiet, garden-like dining experience in the bustling city, with a view of the Forbidden City as a bonus.
The breakfast is a buffet combined with à la carte options, offering a wide selection and good taste.
The terrace becomes livelier in the evening, as it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset over the Forbidden City. The setting sun casts a golden glow over the Forbidden City, which is stunning.
Starting in the evening, Mo Bar opens.
Mo Bar is very secluded, requiring entry through a hidden door.
Sunset, terrace, breeze, fine wine, the Forbidden City… Mo Bar is worth your visit.
This time, I also tried Zijin Mansion and the Mandarin Grill because MO’s location is so convenient. I ended up meeting all of my friends there.
Zijin Mansion has a strong Chinese character, with eye-catching ceramic tiles and floral patterns on the walls.
I recommend dining there during lunch; they serve Cantonese dim sum, which offers better value for money. Although there’s no dim sum in the evening, the sunset over the Forbidden City is priceless.
The Mandarin Grill is a traditional American steakhouse, offering brunch on weekends and dinner on weekdays.
The steaks at the Mandarin Grill are charcoal-grilled. This method locks in the juices and imparts a unique smoky flavor to the meat, which I, as a meat enthusiast, absolutely love.
In the evening, the terrace area of the Mandarin Grill also features a DJ.
Another dining facility worth mentioning is MO’s bakery, located not within the hotel but in WF Central Mall. It’s best to go early, as some pastries may sell out by the afternoon. MO’s bakery is truly popular.
Additionally, The Library at MO on Wangfujing is highly recommended, especially when the weather is good and sunlight streams in.
The gym and pool, though not large, have everything you need.
Finally, here’s a panoramic photo of the sunset view from the terrace at MO on Wangfujing.
I suggest rotating your phone for a better view. Good scenery brings great joy.
