皇城根兒的寧靜驛棧

“蒼龍以海為驛，美人以英雄懷抱為驛；人之生則紅塵為驛，至皇城根兒，有皇家驛棧。”在這里，你可以品酩盡攬紫禁城美景，享受傳統與時尚并行的優雅風范。

皇家驛棧位于故宮東鄰， 有55間以歷代皇帝命名的客房，周圍古樹列道，古屋環繞，于喧鬧的都市中獨享寧靜。皇家驛棧體現了中國傳統文化與西方現代設計理念的完美融合，每一處細節都是一種創新，令每位入住的客人在醇厚的歷史文化中，對中國酒店進行全新的解讀。

酒店原址是清華同學會，德國著名設計公司GRAFT保留了原有的磚墻和屋頂，將內部改造為現代化的國際酒店。皇家驛棧的命名也是別具匠心：一方面，酒店緊鄰紫禁城——明清兩朝皇宮；另一方面，酒店為每位客人提供的個性化服務使客人感受身臨其境，心臨其境。

餐廳名“玻璃坊”，經營早中晚三餐，還有一個酒吧，成為北京夜晚的又一亮點。行政總廚郝文杰是中國烹飪協會高級技師、中國藥膳協會藥膳烹調師、中國廚師之鄉龍行酒店PM研究院理事，曾為紫云軒的主廚。他以中式素材配以時尚設計創意出品，給人奉獻目不暇接的味覺盛宴。獨自的客人可以在斜長桌邊享美食，邊閱讀時尚設計雜志。聚會的朋友可以圍坐在落地玻璃窗邊的方桌品酒聽音樂。

“紫禁城旁的空中四合院”是皇家驛棧天臺的又一私家用餐圣地，中家設計的精美器皿，用料考究的創意宮廷菜，配以世界頂級的名酒，獨享的GRAFT精心設計皇家驛棧巨資傾力打造私家的庭院，是私人聚會，商務宴請的首選地點。

天臺酒吧名“飲”，可飽覽故宮、眺望景山。“飲”吧提供獨創雞尾酒和甜點，還有現場烤制的意大利薄餅和中國燒餅。天臺舉辦各種時尚表演和藝術展覽，日落時分觀賞酒店“升燈儀式”——伴著傳統的中式擂鼓而升起的大紅燈籠，韻味十足。

客房的設計為獨特的“漂浮”內部結構，故宮的輪廓由墻綿延至床、沙發及書桌，將所有家具聯為一體。房內主色是白，軟包配色為橙、綠、藍、灰。房間內配備現代化設施齊全，有旋轉壁掛電視和無線上網，還可享受瀑布式淋浴和敞開式浴缸，令客人在別具匠心的設計氛圍中體驗皇帝的生活，感受文化的魅力。

A few months before the"Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the anticipated"influx of athletes and tourists to the city， the Small Luxury Hotels member in the People’s Republic of China opened its doors on April 18. The 55-room hotel，"The Emperor， is located adjacent to the former Imperial Palace of the Forbidden City， an acclaimed UNESCO world heritage site."Nestled in an old tree-lined avenue among traditional Chinese temples and houses， the hotel"offers"a"tranquil respite from the hectic"city pace"of Beijing though located in"its"geographic centre.

The building of The Emperor was the former premises of the Qinghua University Alumni and features a classical Chinese brick faccedil;ade and roof. Beijing Dacheng Youfang Zhiye Co. Ltd. developed the building into a hotel project with their international partners. The architecture of the cutting-edge design hotel was developed by renowned interior designers GRAFT， with international offices in Berlin， Los Angeles and Beijing. The project’s brand， overall concept and pre-opening operational development"were created by hotel and restaurant development consultancy Walter Junger Friends， Ltd. with offices in Berlin and Singapore.

The English name The Emperor was specially chosen: on one hand， it refers to the"former imperial residence， the Forbidden City， home to Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties." On the other hand， the name alludes to the individualised service afforded to every guest - an experience worthy of an Emperor.

The choice of names and their meanings for all areas of the hotel was also based on underlining the philosophy of hospitality and design."The harmony in the"relationship between traditional Chinese culture and modern design facilitates guests in learning all about the various facets.

SHI means Food and Crystal is the name of the Chinese restaurant. The all-day dining restaurant is an ideal setting for breakfast， lunch and dinner， and features an"integrated bar which transforms into a Beijing hotspot"in the evening. Chef John Hao is responsible for this culinary jewel. He has worked in the famous Green T. House and is a senior member of associations such as the China Cuisine Association and the China Association of Health-Protection Food. Chef Hao also leads the \"Longxing Hotel\" research institute， known for the promotion of talented Chinese chefs.

His creative cuisine combines traditional Chinese basic elements with modern presentation. A highlight of the menu in SHI is the specialty dishes，"each inspired by a story from imperial Chinese history.

Individual guests of SHI can dine on a diagonal long table， where architectural books and design magazines are provided for entertainment. More traditional configuration of tables along the glass windows of the restaurant and booth seating are also available.

Aerial Courtyard right by the Forbidden City is also a wonderful place for dinner. The plentiful culture and the centuries-old"background made the dishes delicious as well as the skillful cooking method and pure natural materials.

YIN，"the bar of The Emperor，"means Drink and is one of the most breathtaking locations in Beijing."It is located on the rooftop of the hotel and offers unrivalled views of the Jingshan Hill pavilions and the Forbidden City palaces. The bar is open from April to October and the menu features specially-created cocktails， along with a snack menu offering a selection of international crêpes and freshly-baked Chinese sesame buns with sweet and savoury fillings.

Ideally suited to host fashionable events， art exhibitions and such， a daily highlight of the hotel is the \"Raising of the Lanterns\" ritual at sunset on the roof terrace overlooking the Forbidden City. "A rousing anthem of beating Chinese drums announces the arrival of the red-garbed lantern bearers and culminates in the hanging of the lighted， large red lanterns." The ceremony is inspired by the once popular Chinese tradition of hanging red lanterns nightly at the door of selected concubines in wealthy households as a sign of favour by the master， as depicted in the acclaimed Chinese movie set in the warlord era “Raise the Red Lantern”. At YIN， this ceremony"denotes the transformation of"the rooftop bar into a club lounge at sundown and is an invitation to spend the evening under the stars at the highest vantage point in the hotel.

YUE signifies Joy and aptly describes the hotel spa and wellness area." The all-glass enclosure， also located on the roof terrace， offers amazing views of the surrounding area. The highest point of the roof is reserved for the hotel's Jacuzzi and offers relaxation at the \"highest\" level - in summer as well as when snowfall blankets the city. Another Spa centre located at First basement and famous for its

privacy feature and tender romance where you can enjoy the elegant comfort of the pleasure brought by massage.

Underground multi-function room displays many works of famous artists. we change it time to time so that let you feel a different visual effect.

Fitness centre situated next to the multi-function room， large glass floor allows guests experience the feeling of adjacent to natural.

JING， the rooms are unique"for"the almost \"floating\" interiors. All furnishings are connected to each other by an invisible line， appearing as if the wall flows into the bed， continuing into the sofa and finally to the desk. The prevailing colour in all rooms is white， highlighted with fiery orange， lime green， deep ocean green and dove grey." Each installation features a roofline"motif of the Forbidden City silhouette， once again connecting"modern design with traditional symbolism." The flat screen television"can be adjusted"for viewing from multiple areas of the room and offers an international channel selection and six in-house music channels in different genres." Room rates include breakfast， in-room honor bar and wireless internet access.

Along the guestroom hallways， deep sofa niches"create a private oasis for a short relaxing break with a variety of music selection from all over the world together with classical Chinese music. Guests can also find out up-to-date information about Beijing hotspots， historic details， the hotel concept and some other little-known secrets from the LCD screens along the corridors and in the lobby.

Project developer Mr. Liu Shao Jun is proud of this new hotel， \"I am very excited that we have created such a unique hotel with our international partners and"are setting a benchmark in the"boutique"hotel and restaurant industry in Beijing and all of China. Not only will"global visitors feel welcome at our hotel， but domestic travellers will also have an opportunity to experience a new style of hospitality." Our sincere wish is for SHI， YIN"and indeed The Emperor， to become the favoured gathering place for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city.\"