LOW COST BEIJING

Once a sea of grey-clad people and greyer buildings, Beijing has come a long way in the last decade. Art and culture are more a focus here than they have ever been - and a growing list of both museums and Beijing design hotels is testament to the change. If you're interested in the exoticism of Chinese culture, and the country's unique way of thinking about art and design, check out museums like the Chinese National Film Museum, with ten levels and a screen that aim to demystify filmmaking, and allow you behind the scenes of movies from China's very first to the new breed of million-yuan blockbusters. For culture and nature together, check Cao Xueqin's memorial in the Beijing Botanical Gardens in Xiangshan. Cao Xueqin wrote 'The Dream of the Red Mansions' among other Chinese literary greats. And with a clever and intricate design, the Great Wall Museum of China is also a must see.

If you are looking for a Beijing boutique hotel with a difference to augment your cultural trip, Hotel G is one of Beijing's most stylish hotels. Mark Lintott, the designer, specializes in restaurants and nightspots, and the extravagant air of art and excitement at Hotel G is the result of choosing such an eclectic stylemaster. The hotel's facade is perhaps the most stunning feature. Each window lights up at night with a different neon color - guests can choose their own.

The inside of the Beijing hotel is no less stunning, with full size, head height artworks adorning the walls, artistic patterns rather than plain beige on the walls, suede lounges and artistic plant life. However, this boutique hotel in China's features doesn't stop with artistry. The new Techno gym branded workout facility is an innovative mix of indoor and outdoor space but decked out with state of the art equipment. Hotel G's rooms have rainforest style showers, and the hotel's restaurants, Scarlett Bar and Morio, offer an unusual mix of tapas and Japanese fusion dining.

The Emperor in China is another stunning exclusive boutique hotel in Beijing. The use of space here is one of the most striking features of the hotel's interior design, with rooms that extend lengthways rather than radiating, as in a usual Beijing hotel. Traditional symbolism accents the modern designed rooms, yet one of the best features of the rooms are not contained within them. Guests at this stylish Chinese hotel actually have private butler service, a classical touch in a hotel that includes all the technological conveniences.

Another design hotel in Beijing where the facade creates an instant atmosphere for the building is Hotel Kapok. A distinctive steel mesh covers the outside of the building, utilizing the traditional element of the paper lantern, but in a regular, minimalistic modern style. There is an innovative bamboo courtyard inside the lobby, setting a relaxed pace for the hotel room's design. All rooms have views of either the Forbidden City or the courtyard garden, and many of the higher grade rooms have unique glass walled bathroom facilities.

Hotel G Beijing is the first of an exclusive beijing boutique hotel brand launched by Hong Kong-based real estate private equity management firm Gaw Capital and a model to be rolled out in selected cities of Asia.

Article Source: Boutique Beijing Hotels and Museums for the Culturally Inclined Traveler