Lonely Planet Review
What would Beijing do without its western tourists? Well, it certainly wouldn't have a place like Red Capital. Locals just aren't going to sustain a gorgeous Qing dynasty courtyard that's been transformed into an ironic temple of communist paraphernalia and propaganda. This is China for the hip barbarians.
Not that we think there is anything wrong with that, or disagree with Red's fame. We like an intimate five-room hotel as much as the next person. We like stylish rooms appointed with their own theme. OK, it's a little hokey to have a Chairman's Room (even if some of Mao's personal effects are in there), but the room is lovely regardless. And this is crucial. The nostalgia and kitsch of Red Capital could get old really fast if the setting, furnishings, and bric-a-brac weren't genuine and appealing in their own right. Just check out the bomb shelter bar and you'll see what we mean. Sure it's filled with propaganda-era posters, books, and the furniture of famous communist leaders, but the lasting pleasure is that the stuff all looks great together. Of more dubious taste is the hiring of Mao's wife's limo to take you around town.
Review by author
Robert Kelly