Stay at CHAO, Beijing's Most Artistic Hotel
This month, CHAO is opening in Shanghai, and just in time for my May holiday trip to Beijing, I finally checked into the long-awaited Beijing CHAO Hotel! ❕ True to its reputation as the "art player" hidden in Sanlitun, every corner after entering is full of surprises, with a carefully designed sense of spontaneity ✨
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🎨 Design at Its Best, Like Living in an Art Gallery
The hotel's front desk design cleverly blurs the traditional business vibe with a "de-standardized" community concept, creating a space that feels more like an art salon with a neighborly touch:
▫️ The front desk floor features blue bricks reminiscent of Beijing's hutongs.
▫️ The check-in counter is intentionally lowered to eliminate distance, fostering an equal dialogue space.
▫️ To the right of the front desk is a book nook, with a 12-meter-long walnut composite table displaying art and design books.
▫️ The upscale feel of "no uniforms": Neutral colors + natural, unironed fabric textures.
CHAO's overall style leans industrial + minimalist art, with concrete walls, metal accents, and interplay of light and shadow—every shot is a high-end masterpiece. The grand staircase in the lobby is a design highlight, and when lit up at night, the ambiance is unmatched!
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This time, I stayed in an 80 sqm suite with clear zoning—sleeping area, workspace, and lounge—seemingly independent yet interconnected. At night, the sleeping area is softly partitioned by curtains.
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🌟 Bonus Features: So Fun You Won’t Want to Leave
CHAO is more than just a hotel—it’s an art complex.
▪️ Underground Cinema: Screens indie films with sound and seating comfort rivaling professional theaters!
▪️ Sunlight Hall: A beautiful white-domed space, constantly welcoming newlyweds!
▪️ Printmaking Gallery: Free exhibitions for guests, and rumor has it the printmaker’s studio is hidden here too!
▪️ Whiskey Bar: Live performances at night—sip a custom cocktail, enjoy some jazz, and soak in the vibe.
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🍽️ Breakfast So Good You’ll Want Seconds!
CHAO’s breakfast is à la carte, featuring Chengdu dan dan noodles, French toast, and Beijing specialties. Next to the dining area is another book nook, serving both food for thought and the palate.
💡 NINI’s Insider Tip:
Returning at night, I found port wine set out during turndown service. With the room’s sound system on and the gauzy curtains framing Sanlitun’s nightscape, CHAO nailed the mood 🥂