Beijing holds a special place for me. While I never lived here until this September, it’s where my family is from and it’s where I feel more at home than anywhere else in the world. For this reason, I find discovering special places extremely gratifying. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel Beijing has been one of my favorite finds so far.

As an introverted art-lover and no-colour-wearer, I felt immediately at home. Upon entering, I felt removed from the bustling Wangfujing pedestrian shopping street nearby. The last time I felt like I was in a special place was back in Vienna.

Waldorf Astoria also offers a private Hutong Courtyard, linked to the main hotel building by an underground passage. This is a more luxurious and elegant option for travellers looking for a more personal and exclusive experience of Beijing.

The hotel features meticulously curated artwork by both Chinese and international contemporary artists, showcasing Beijing’s cultural identity, juxtaposed with contemporary gestures to its modern sophistication.

My favourite piece is ‘Palace Servant’ by Ling Jian, a large-scale oil painting 300cm in diameter.

The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is not Louis Vuitton – it’s Maison Martin Margiela. The space holds itself with calm grandeur and contemporary elegance that I hope transcends from its walls and into the rest of the city.