Shangri-La China World by Brian Johnston

It has to be said that the approach to the China World is unexciting, unless speed humps and parked cars are your thing, and the door staff can sometimes be Basil Fawlty in their methods. Persevere, though: once through the revolving doors, the lobby erupts in colour and extravagance, as if designed by Donald Trump on opium.

The marble floor gleams, soaring red pillars are topped with dragons, a gilt ceiling drips with glittering chandeliers. Weave your way between an orgy of flower arrangements, lacquered furniture, Chinese lamps and statues of elephants, overlooked by Chinese landscapes that surge up the walls in gold. Over the top? You could say so, but somehow it all works, and the comfy sofas of the lobby café are just the place to slump and soak it all up, even if you have to listen to the theme tune from Dr Zhivago while doing so. Elsewhere, the hotel’s large fitness centre is kitted out in ultra-modern style with not a Chinese element in sight – quite a startling contrast, but very spacious and functional. As for the efficient staff, they look as if they’ve been recruited from a modelling agency; cheerful Fu Manchu look-alikes man the lifts, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

The rooms
In a world of rectangles, guestrooms at the China World are positively quirky, with lots of curving lines and few right angles, giving a pleasant sense of flow. Spaciously arranged, a very large desktop will suit the busy, while a swivelling TV that can be viewed from the comfy bed, or the armchair with its ottoman footrest, will appeal to the indolent. Bathrooms are also large and attractive, although the use of faux marble and plastic countertops seems inexcusable in a hotel of this calibre. Still, the glittering pink tiles of the shower stall and gushing hot water are just what you need to cheer you up in the grey of a Beijing morning. Don’t expect a repeat of the Chinese décor of public areas, though – guestrooms go for the bland, international look. From rooms out front, you get a view of the intersection of busy Jianguomen Avenue and the Third Ring Road – not as awful as it might seem, as the ceaseless flow mesmerises. If the constant hum of traffic noise disturbs you, ask for a guestroom at the rear of the hotel.