Golf Connoisseur - A Wall With a View

IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT THE GREAT WALL OF China, one of the highest-profile tourist sights in the world, and still get away from the crowds? Yes- if you stay at Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski, the only luxury resort along the majestic,4,000-mile-long landmark.

Nestled in the Badaling mountains about an hour s drive north of Beijing,Commune makes a bold architectural statement. Launched in 2002, its original 12 villas (each with four to six bedrooms) were built to be private homes. But once the $20 million project won a special prize at the 2002 Venice Biennale for innovative architectural concept and design, the developers dicided to open it to the public as a housing exhibit. Three years later, with China s top-end hotels in high demand, Commune evolved into a five- star luxury resort under the management of Kempinski Hotel.

Driving up a narrow road into the mountains, the first view of the ultra-modern villas places them in dramatic contrast to the ancient Wall looming in the background. Once at Commune, wondrous views of the third-century fortification are available from many vantage points. Including each villa s living room; a private footpath puts the Wall just a 20-minutes walk away and allows visitors to get there in quite-sate from the throngs and T-shirt vendors.

There are now 42 villas (last fall,10 new all-suite mountain chalets and 21 replicas of existing villas opened), each equipped with amenities including a private butler, state-of-the art TV/DVD systems,and Wi-Fi.They also come with playful names reflecting their unique disigns-among them,Forest House,Shared House, See and Seen House,and Split House.

As an example, Suitcase House is a one story structure designed by Hong Kong architect Gary Chang. The interior, completely paneled in teakwood, is filled with Marc Newson s futuristic furniture.The living room is an open space with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side that offer unobstructed views of the Wall. In addition to four bedrooms, there s also a meditation room, music room, library,

lounge, and sauna.

The central hub for the resort is a clubhouse that houses the Courtyard Restaurant and Terrace Lounge, as well as a conference center, gallery, library, and well-stocked gift shop.Meals can be delivered to villas,but don t miss the views of the Wall from the outdoor dining space of the Terrace Lounge, a wonderful place to while away the afternoon feasting on northern Chinese dishes, such as dumplings and noodles.

Among the other activities available are morning tai chi lessons and a choice of rejuvenating treatments at the Anatara Spa.The new kid s Club will amuse children between 2 nd 11. With its combination of spectacular location and accommodations. Commune has become a top destination for corporate retreats and meetings. Recent international visitors have included executives from Missoni, BMW, Hermes, and Sony.They made an inspired choice.