3+1 BEDROOMS

A courtyard hotel that is minimalist at heart

In Beijing, the word "courtyard" is often overused by the design world. Even so, 3+1 Bedrooms is true to its name and design concept. The hotel has just four rooms, named after the landlord's four lovely daughters. The Spartan use of chunky antique wooden furniture and decorative elements is offset by a profusion of white. The space reminds visitors of a Chinese ink-on-paper artwork, with enough space left for thought.

17 Zhangwang Hutong, Old Gulou Dajie, Dongcheng district

010-6404-7030

Built on the interplay between light and shadow

The ancient Chinese form of Western puppetry is shadow plays, which evoke a beautiful and enigmatic world. And a hotel that finds inspiration in this age-old art is bound to attract those with a nostalgic vein, and an eye for nuanced beauty. During the day, light filters through latticed wooden windows and doors to cast intricate and ever-changing patterns on the interiors. At night, authentic shadow play performances are held to usher visitors into a quaint world just a thin screen away.

24 Songshu Jie, Xicheng district

010-8328-7846

Fulfills a dream of the Orient

What does Orientalism mean aesthetically? The answer may range from the classic to the erotic, depending on who's looking. Duge offers it all, and its riotous jumble of cultural symbols, from peonies to poster girls, only serves to enhance a sense of the surreal, as visitors easily move between imperial China and 1930s swinging Shanghai. A few Western touches come in the form of Paisley-patterned wallpapers, or huge chandeliers. Call it "pampering" and "debauched" if you like, but Duge offers escape to escapists.

26 Yuan'ensi Hutong, Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng district

010-6406-0686

A hotel in the guise of a gallery

Will lying beside a painting worth $1 million give you a sleepless night? Well, you can find out at Gallery Hotel. All works displayed are genuine and they are ubiquitous, launching a visual assault with their impossible-to-miss presence. Whether this "art attack" is exhilarating or numbing is up to you, the guest, to tell. Exhibitions are planned for the hotel to keep it constantly on the radar, and to ensure it stays tuned with the art world from where it derives its cachet.

50 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang district

010-6551-5555

- Zhao Xu

(China Daily 10/28/2012 page13)