On a silver platter
The heart of Beijing is indisputably Tian'anmen. But a few miles to the east lies another "heart", the capital's Central Business District, where far from the maddening tourist crowd, skyscrapers cluster around the Guomao Overpass on the east Third Ring Road, forming a hub of commerce.
Among the mushrooming office towers are some of the city's top hotels. It seems only a heartbeat away from the ancient Forbidden City but it's a glistening world all its own, where you can literally witness all the action reshaping the city's character.
Walk into the lobby of China World Hotel (CWH) and you'll be basking in a glow of old glory. Everything is grand: the massive red-lacquered pillars with their sculpted marble bases, a dome with a gold-leaf theme and a circle of Chinese zodiac animals, shimmering crystal chandeliers, three wall murals with various motifes. No wonder it's a favorite with film crews.
