The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel Beijing gained the attention of Beijingers back in 2014 as the venue of the APEC conference. Since then, the hotel may have conceivably seen much quieter days compared to similar locales in the Central Business District (CBD) Beijing, due to its location in the Huairou District, in the outskirts of Beijing. If one of these days, you and your family are in the mood for a long drive out of the city, to see some mountains, trees, and water, then perhaps you could go to the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel for afternoon tea, or coffee, or juice, or whatever else you might be in the mood for (they have a pretty long menu).

Their coffees come accompanied with a small, round, adorable-looking chocolate chip cookie and a small glass of water to rinse your palate should you desire to do so after the coffee. I’m no expert on coffee, so in terms of the actual quality of said coffee, I will leave it to you to discover for yourselves. But look, isn’t that cookie really cute? It doesn’t taste bad either.

Doesn’t that cookie look yum?

A close up of the cookie…

Aside from coffee, the hotel also offers a wide selection of teas, with many different types of Chinese teas. Additionally, there are also other drinks and desserts, like the little chocolate cake below…

The interior of the hotel lobby is decorated in a relatively geometric, modern yet cozy style, as seen in the photos below. Wide black columns with ornamental decoration extend from floor to ceiling throughout the lobby space, and the seating area for afternoon tea visitors is carpeted. The sofas are well furnished with cushions and each low coffee table decorated with small floral arrangements. The hotel is by Yanqi lake and the floor to ceiling windows that extend across entire walls on the side of the lobby opposite the entrance grants an expansive view over the water. There is a deck outside that you can walk out onto on a comfortable day, and from inside the hotel you can see boats and people by the water while you sip your tea or coffee.

Although this hotel is indeed located very far from the city, and if you return around dinnertime it’ll probably take you a good hour or two to get back, given the typical situation of Beijing’s rush hour traffic, it could be worth it to spend a day here if you’re looking to be surrounded by peace and quiet, water and sky…and not much else.

A cute floral arrangement on the coffee table

Sunrise Kempinski Hotel Beijing
18 Yanshui Road Jia, Yanqi Lake, Huairou District (6961 8888) 怀柔区雁栖湖雁水路甲18号

With the closing of most international schools during APEC, kids are sure to be overjoyed for some unexpected holiday time. But while kids are reaping the benefits of extra time off, parents may be left wondering how to entertain the young ones during the six day break. Fortunately, O’le Sports is offering a three day indoor sports camp, called “APEC Break Camp” for students and parents seeking an active alternative to sitting around at home. See below for details.

Who: Open to kid age 6 and up in the Beijing community
What: Rock climbing/ Box Climbing/ Football and Slacking
When: Monday, November  11 – Wednesday, November 12
Where: O’le Climbing
Time: 10am- 4pm
Price: RMB 1,100 (not including lunch. All campers should bring a packed lunch)

Activity Descriptions:

Rock Climbing- The high wall is 12.5m and features five rope trails including three ropes on the straight wall and two ropes on the overhang wall. Climbing stations with set routes are suitable for both beginning and more advanced climbing levels. Students will be fully equipped for safety and monitored by the trained staff of O’le.
Box Climbing- While attached to a top rope and wearing a helmet, students will attempt to stack and climb a wobbly tower of boxes. This challenge focuses heavily on the use of team work.
Bouldering- Just a few meters off a large “crash wall, students can climb on the large bouldering wall with instructors present to provide tips and lead games.
Slack-Lining- Similar to a tight rope but wider and with slack, the slack-lineis set up outside on the grass and instructors will be taught how to balance and walk along the line.

To sign up or for more information contact: oleclimbing@gmail.com or call 186 1846 1002

 Photos: Melissa Frederiksen

So the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is going to be hosted in the capital from November 7-15, which brought about some very interesting developments- schools and non-essentials government officials are to take a break. While 26 heads of state descend upon us for high level economic talks at Huairou and the China National Convention Center near the Bird’s nest to ease traffic around town in an effort to keep pollution at lower levels. Internationals are as of now not mandated to shut down for the week as this directive only affects local public schools.

The three days from October 8-10, the air quality index was well within the city’s yellow alert level just one level shy of red- this would have had all schools shut down and stay home till the levels reduce. The high AQI index prompted the central government to issue directives as a way to tackle pollution and help the heads of states not wish for a change in venue. One such directive as stated above is the shutting down of schools and the other is the restriction of vehicles. Whether the latter might become a long term strategy is yet to be seen but for now its all about making guests feel at ease.

According our sister publication, the Beijinger, schools will be closed on Friday November 7 and Monday through Wednesday November 10-12 will be off as well, but wait for it…Sunday November 2 and Saturday November 15 to be make up days so to get work done. There’s not such thing as a free ride.

Going back to an old policy used during the 2008 Olympics, the government has restricted vehicles according to a China Daily report. The city will be switching to the odds-evens rule of having odd license plates ending with (1,3,5,7,9) only being allowed on the road on odd-numbered days while the even license plates on even numbered days. This however does not apply to public transportation and the government will add more buses to tackle the rise in numbers of commuters as its expected to be by three million according to a report by Caixin.

Construction, construction vehicles, and factories are to share the same fate as the government officials and public schools.