Lonely Planet Review
The grand in the name surely refers to the view. Truly the most magnificent in Beijing, it affords a bird's-eye lookout over the entire Forbidden City. Not every room shares this panorama, but fortunately the price is not so much higher for those that do.
Palace view rooms could simply rest on their scenic laurels, but they generously feature some good touches like armoire TV stands, elegant marble bathrooms and large closets. Overall the design is modern and functional rather than stylish, but this is true of almost all top-end rooms in town. The hotel itself doesn't quite live up to its moniker, and the interior needs a little spit and polish to bring it up to the standards of other top hotels in town, but it is by no means run down. The atrium is massive and bright and a pleasant arena for a meal or a drink. For a truly outstanding drinking option, check out the balcony of the aptly named Palace View bar. Overall, with the tariff now dropping to better reflect the value of the hotel, we find the Grand a solid choice.
Review by author
Robert Kelly