SOHO China - Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski Opens

On September 23, 2006, the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski welcomed its first group of guests from around the world at its grand opening. This unique boutique hotel accommodates guests at 42 villas and chalets situated by the Great Wall, in the mountains to the north-east of Beijing.
A flame signifying the grand opening was ignited by Ms. Zhang Xin, co-CEO of SOHO China; Mr. Pan Shiyi, Chairman and Co-CEO of SOHO China; Mr. Reto Wittwer, President and CEO of Kempinski; Mr. Yves Wencker, General Manager of Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski; Mr. Seung H-Sang, architect for the project; and several other VIPs. Some 800 guests, including foreign diplomats, government officials, corporate CEOs, and journalists witnessed the sensational moment.
The Commune started as a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects, including Chinese architect Yung Ho Chang and Korean architect Seung H-Sang. It was exhibited at the 2002 Biennale di Venezia, which awarded a special prize for an individual patron of architectural works to Ms. Zhang Xin, the mastermind and investor of the project, for her "bold personal initiative which emphasizes the role of 12 Asian architects in building privately-owned houses in a definitely contemporary manner." Since its opening as a boutique hotel and semi-architectural museum in October, 2002, the Commune has become one of Beijing s must-visit sites and received over 200,000 visitors from around the world. Management of the Commune was taken over by Kempinski Hotels and Resorts in August, 2005.
In December 2005, Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski was named by Business Week as a "New Architectural Wonder of China." It has also been included in the world s best hotel lists - Cond Nast Traveler s "100 Hot Hotels in the World" in 2004 and Tatler Travel Guide s "101 Best Hotels" in 2005. In both lists, the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski was the only one selected from the Chinese mainland.
Today, the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has a bigger scale than when it was first opened in 2002. It has evolved from the original 11 villas to 42, with 236 rooms and suites. In addition, a 1,000-square meter spa managed by Anantara and a Kids Club have been added. At Anantara Spa s 15 suites, guests can enjoy luxurious Asian-inspired treatments and the breathtaking view of the mountains. The Kids Club, designed for children aged 2 to 11, is a one-of-a-kind in Beijing, offering a broad range of activities including hiking, swimming, gardening, cooking, and arts and crafts.