One of the most unique and awe-inspiring hotels in the world, The Opposite House in Beijing, China has been positioned as a must-visit destination for travelers looking for a contemporary atmosphere in the bustling city of Beijing. One of the most fascinating elements of The Opposite House is their dedication to local artists. Featuring and supporting local artwork, music, and films, The Opposite House takes great pride in showcasing the artists of Beijing.
To help bring The Opposite House to life for our readers and showcase the experience travelers have while visiting, we interviewed the hotel managers at The Opposite House.
See below for this exclusive interview:
1. How does the location of The Opposite House in Sanlitun Village bring Chinese culture to life for guests?
Sanlitun has been the place where Beijingers and foreigners living in Beijing come to dine and drink for a number of generations, due to it being one of the three embassy districts in the city. Today, it represents both new and old China with restaurants, bars, galleries, international luxury, and local shopping—all of which surround the hotel.
2. How does the interior and exterior design of The Opposite House enhance the guest experience?
The exterior of The Opposite House is made with a green glass print. It is unique, easily recognizable, and has become somewhat iconic in Beijing. Upon entering through the refurbished front doors from the Qing Dynasty, guests experience a soaring, light-filled, six-storey atrium. The atrium pays homage to China’s heritage with an oversized, contemporary interpretation of Chinese medicine cabinets found in traditional Chinese herbal pharmacies. Also featured in the atrium is a rotating collection of art, mainly sculpture from some of China’s most renowned contemporary artists.
Our rooms are light-filled and minimalistic. The approach is to let the guest fill the space. We use the best quality linen and bedding and offer complimentary wi-fi and mini-bar. The rooms feature wooden floors, bathroom walls, and unique deep-soaking oak tubs.
3. Tell us a little bit about The Art House and the kind of artwork exhibited. What other activities are there for guests to take part in at the hotel?
We mainly feature contemporary Chinese sculpture, and over three years, we have hosted approximately fifteen different shows. Artists that we featured included Wang Shugang and his figure sculptures, Laurens Tan and his Chinese Toy Stories, and many others. In conjunction with Universal Music we also produce an annual CD of young Chinese musicians. Work has just started on The Opposite House CD Volume 4. In 2012 we will be producing our second series of short films set, by young Chinese film makers set in The Opposite House.
We had a Beijing sidecar package this summer, offering guests stays and a unique way to explore the capital in a motorcycle sidecar—beating the traffic jams and crowds of tourist while cruising the hidden-gems of Beijing with an experienced guide.
4. The Opposite House offers six dining options for guests. Tell us a little bit about these options—specifically, focusing on the dining experience and cuisines.
The Opposite House is introducing a wealth of culinary talent to establish itself as a hot dining destination in Beijing with five innovative restaurants and bars, many of them designed by top restaurant designers, Neri and Hu—an attraction in their own right.
Mediterranean restaurant, Sureño, evokes casual yet elegant dining, with a menu utilizing the freshest ingredients of Southern Europe. Bei offers contemporary north Asian cuisine with influences from Northern China, Japan, and Korea. The Opposite House also has a casual all-day café style venue, Village Café.
Mesh is our contemporary lounge bar, featuring a large selection of champagnes by the glass, an impressive wine list, and a wide range of highly original cocktails. Providing a stylish late-night scene is the edgy Punk, a mini club with international and Beijing based DJs invited to play late into the night.
All of our restaurants and bars are popular with the local community, as well, and add to the dining experience of hotel guests that are staying with us.
Are you interested in staying at The Opposite House? Visit their website at http://www.theoppositehouse.com/ or contact Travelex to help you book a complete trip to Beijing and stay at The Opposite House.