Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing

Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing is at No. 269 Wangfujing Street. It sits a five-minute walk from the clamor of Wangfujing Snack Street, placing guests well within the perimeter of the city’s primary shopping artery.

This hotel ignores the sprawling, fortress-like footprint favored by most of its neighbors, choosing instead to be a boutique-scale retreat. While the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China are each a twenty-five-minute walk away, the address suits those who prefer quick access to transit over grand, isolated compounds. Choosing this hotel means swapping the common Beijing-sized lobby crowds for a calm, singular vantage point. It is the better pick for travelers who want to be in the center of the district without feeling like they are standing in its thoroughfare.