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From a humble hutong to a golden lobby, China's capital city offers accommodations in every budget, for every taste.

Several major hotels have been built in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics. Of the current crop, some are stylish "boutiques" while others are huge monoliths from the tourism boom which began in the mid-1980s. In a large city like Beijing, where visitors feel the heat of the summer or the chill of the winter, a centrally located hotel with facilities children enjoy can be a real asset.

Kerry Centre Hotel Beijing
No.1 Guanghua Road
Beijing 100020
800/942-5050; 86-10/6561-8833
$$
With a keen appreciation of Shangri-La Hotels from past experiences at their Hong Kong and Singapore properties, we chose the chain's high-style Kerry Centre Hotel Beijing. It's in the Chaoyang district, well-located for tourists, business and the 2008 Olympics, and a short walk from Silk Alley when you want to shop. At the casual Kerry Centre, Matisse-like figures scamper across the woven rugs and contemporary paintings mix with Ming vases to create a visual delight. Many local expats take advantage of the three-story Kerry Sports Centre, the largest hotel health club in Beijing. Among its facilities, hotel guests are able to take advantage of an indoor swimming pool, two tennis courts and an outdoor terrace with a jogging track which is also suitable for rollerblading. The hotel's Horizon Club package charges a premium rate for a concierge-level floor, but it's worth it for a spacious, stylish room with two doubles topped with duvet and silk pillows, a CD player and library of music, fresh fruit and flowers daily, free broadband access, your own scanner/printer, and a butler waiting to tend to your needs. In the Horizon Club lounge (a relaxing place to play), complimentary breakfast, beverages and newspapers are available throughout the day as well. The hotel's excellent coffee shop serves breakfast to the standard guest rooms. Extra beds are available in some rooms for a fee. Other Shangri-La Hotels in Beijing -- the China World Hotel and lower-priced Traders are more business oriented, though well located near Wangfujing and the city center. On the other side of town, the high-end Shangri-La Hotel Beijing recently added Shangri-La's acclaimed CHI Spa, a must-try for frazzled travelers.

St. Regis Hotel, Beijing
21 Jianguomenwai
Daije, Beijing 100020
86 10/6460-6688
$$$
Located in the quiet Embassy District, the St. Regis Hotel is an upscale property families should consider. The hotel is stylish, however the understated décor does not describe a staff that prides itself on service. (Don't tell the kids a round-the-clock butler assigned to your room is available in certain categories.) There is green space behind the hotel and several parks in the area for relaxing after sightseeing. In addition to being surrounded by several foreign embassies, the hotel is around the corner from the popular Friendship Store, perfect for little gifts and souvenirs, and the Silk Market is a short walk away. You will find some Western chain eateries, including a Haagen-Daz ice creamery, right next door. The hotel is quite near the new Beijing subway, or, of course, the doormen will hail you a cab and write down your destination address in Chinese for the driver. The international buffet breakfast is a must-do because it is so lavish you will not need to eat again before dinner. Offerings range from Chinese specialties to more familiar western items such as berries, melons, omelets, cereals, pancakes and meats, and even peanut butter and jelly. A kid’s menu including such items as 'Free Willy Fish' and 'Chips and Calvin and Hobbes Bowtie Pasta with Tomato Sauce' make children feel welcome. The hotel has extraordinary facilities for families, including a fabulous pool and spa, a handball court and a bowling alley with a billiards table. Additionally, there is a children’s play area open to guests. Babysitting is arranged through the concierge.