commune by the great wall managed by kempinski

COMMUNE BY THE GREAT WALL KEMPINSKIBeijing, People€™s Republic of ChinaManaged by Kempinski HotelsFACT SHEETLOCATIONThe Great Wall Exit at Shuiguan, Badaling Highway, Beijing, People€™s Republic of China.Located in the Shuiguan Mountains amidst 8 square kilometres of private land, 1 hour€™s drive away from Beijing Capital International Airport, 20 kilometres away from the main train station (Qing Long Qiao station) and 50 minutes€™ drive from Beijing city centre, the property enjoys an easy access via the Badaling Expressway. 15 minutes€™ drive from Badaling private airport, available for helicopters (20 minutes€™ transfer from Beijing Capital International Airport) and small aircrafts on the 800 metres long runway.GENERAL MANAGERYves WenckerHISTORYSince its opening as both a boutique hotel and a semi-architectural museum in October, 2002, the Commune has become a must-visit place in China and received over 200, 000 visitors across the world. The Commune is a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects. It was exhibited a the 2002 Biennale di Venezia.A special prize to an individual patron of architectural works was awarded to Ms Zhang Xin, the mastermind and the investor of the project for her €œbold personal initiative which emphasizes the role of 12 Asian architects in building privately-owned houses in a definitely contemporary manner.€ The exhibited project model, made of wood and cardboard, has been collected by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, as its first permanent collection from China. The management of the commune was taken over by Kempinski Hotels & Resorts in August, 2005, and the Commune was then renamed €œCommune by the Great Wall Kempinski€.DESCRIPTIONThe Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski's natural setting is intensely beautiful.42 villas, ranging in size from 4 to 6 bedrooms and offering a total of 236 rooms and suites, are dispersed along the steep slope of the serene valley. Each House frames dramatic views of the sinuous landscape and The Great Wall. There is also a private path to the original Great Wall at the Commune. The Club House serves multiple purposes and houses a courtyard restaurant, a conference centre, a terrace/lounge, a fitness centre, a gallery, a cinema plus a library attired in purple and peacock feathers. The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has become a showcase of contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture. It has been widely covered by both Chinese and international media as a momentous breakthrough in architectural history in China and Asia.The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has been constantly selected in the world€™s best hotels lists. In December 2005, Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski was named by Business Week as a €œNew Architectural Wonder of China.€ It is the only hotel from mainland China selected by Condé Nast Traveler as one of €œ100 Hot Hotels in the World€ in 2004 and was included in the Tatler Travel Guide, 2005 as one of the 101 Best Hotels, ranked among the 10 best Boutiquehotels.The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has accommodated famous guests including Hollywood actresses Renee Zellweger and Michelle Yeoh, director Anthony Minghella, Hong Kong celebrity designer Flora Cheong, Hong Kong tycoon Richard Lee, Tod€™s founder - Delle Valle, F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, tennis star Serena Williams, and soccer branded Arie Haan.The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski is also the perfect place for corporate retreats and parties as well as product launches of high-end luxury brands. Its recent clients include Porsche, BMW, GE, Missoni, branded and Hermès.ARCHITECTURE & DESIGNFurniture and other interior decoration pieces collected by Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski are from such distinguished designers as Serge Mouille, Thierry Hoppe, Von Robinson, Philippe Starck, Alex Strub, Claudio Colucci, Ross Menuez, Kaname Okajima, Jonas Damon, Karim Rashid, Matthew Hilton, Marc Newson and Michael Young.Architects of Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski are Gary Chang ( Hong Kong), Shigeru Ban (Japan), Cui Kai (China), Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan), Antonio Ochoa (China), Kengo Kuma (Japan), Kanika R€™kul (Thailand), Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore), Nobuaki Furuya (Japan), Yung Ho Chang (China), Seung H-Sang (South Korea).ACCOMMODATION & ROOM BREAKDOWN42 villas, ranging in size from 4 to 6 bedrooms, are dispersed along the steep slope of the serene valley. Each House frames dramatic views of the sinuous landscape and The Great Wall, which is accessible by a path on the property.President Villas in Walnut Valley (the initial collection) 11 (46 rooms) Villas in Rock Valley €“ newly built 21Standard King 92Standard Twin 56Interconnection Room 9Deluxe King 16Deluxe Twin 15Deluxe Suite 2Total number of rooms 201ROOM AMENITIESTV, air-conditioning, phone, fax on request, Video/DVD, Hi-Fi, complimentary wireless-LAN & Mini bar, balcony or terrace.SERVICESThe Club House serves multiple purposes and houses a courtyard restaurant, a lounge, a Business centre, a gallery, a cinema, a fitness centre, and a library. Room service, private butler service, concierge services and a private Movie Theatre for up to 40 guests are also available. Since September 2006, two new Café/Delis offer breakfast as well as style snacks throughout the day. (Seasonal)RESTAURANT & BARSThe Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski is also a culinary destination, serving authentic, local specialties from five regions of China in each restaurant, prepared by chefs from each region and presented with a contemporary twist.€¢Courtyard Restaurant is open 7 days a week (8 -9 )€¢The Terrace Lounge, with views of The Great Wall, serves both Chinese and Western cuisines. Open 7 days a week (8 -9 ), the Terrace Lounge is also open for leisurely weekend brunches from April to October, weather permitting.€¢Pink Bar and Lounge.€¢Four Seasons Restaurant is available for private dining.€¢Two Café/Delis serve drinks and light snacks throughout the day. ( Seasonal)MEETING & CONFERENCE FACILITIESBusiness facilities available on request include laptop, printer and fax. The 42 villas can accommodate up to 500 guests for corporate retreats, meetings or conferences. The Chalets can house 40 guests each.HEALTH & SPORT FACILITIESA superb 1000 m2 Anantara Spa on three levels, linked to the Club House, has just been launched. A 60 m2 fitness area equipped with state-of-the-art machines and a rooftop yoga area are also open to guests. The Anantara Spa€™s design is inspired by contemporary Asian art and architecture, blending seamlessly into the peaceful natural environment. The spa is a true sanctuary of privacy and tranquillity, where guests can enjoy the benefits of supremely luxurious Asian-inspired treatments, offered in 15 Spa suites. An uplifting sensory journey is promised by Asia€™s premier spa brand; Spa suites are delicately scented with sandalwood, lavender and patchouli essential oils and offer breathtaking views over the sinuous landscapes.COMMUNE OF THE CHILDREN - KIDS€™ CLUBThe Kids€™ Club is one of a kind, specially designed for children aged 2-12 and under the supervision of a trained Manager. The club interior anticipates our smaller guests€™ needs with colourful children-size furniture and a comfortable, welcoming environment. Activities which can be organised range from nature trail walks to gardening, cooking, arts & crafts, star gazing, swimming in the outdoor pool and camping.Editor€™s Notes:In 2008, Kempinski Hotels is celebrating 111 years of history, exclusivity and distinctive luxury. During this time, Kempinski hotels have hosted international celebrities, witnessed meetings between the world€™s leaders and been a part of creating history around the globe. Experience Kempinski€™s unique heritage at one of the group€™s prestigious properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia.Kempinski is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, which currently comprises seven luxury brands encompassing 153 upscale and luxury hotels with over 46, 000 rooms in 39 different countries. Each brand is a key player in their main region of operation: Kempinski in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Omni in North America, Pan Pacific in the Pacific Rim, The Leela Group in India, Dusit in Thailand, Landis in Taiwan and China, and Marco Polo in China and Hong Kong. Global Hotel Alliance will continue to grow to include selected hotel brands in those regions not currently covered by the alliance.To book or for further information, please visit/press €¢ - Ends €“Issued by:Commune by the Great Wall KempinskiThe Great Wall €¢ Exit at Shuiguan €¢ Badaling Highway €¢ Beijing €¢ People€™s Republic of ChinaChaowai SOHO 11/F, Tower A, No. 6, Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 People€™s Republic of ChinaTel +86 10 8118 1888 €¢ Fax +86 10 8118 1866 €¢ Yves Wencker €¢ General Manager €¢ Adelina Ye €¢ Director of Sales & Marketing €¢