Finally, the first buds are beginning to bloom and tips of fresh green grass are peeking out of the hard earth as dusty winter leaves Beijing to make way for spring! Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful times to be in the city, springtime in the capital calls for us to gather with friends and family to rediscover old connections.
In that spirit, the rebranded Empark Prime Hotel, formerly known simply as Prime Hotel, is welcoming guests, after extensive renovations, to enjoy their suite of stylish rooms. To sweeten the deal, they are also offering a spring-themed high tea afternoon every day from 2pm to 5pm. Featuring light, fruity cream cakes and savory bites of salmon and beef carpaccio wrapped with fresh cucumber, as well as fresh-baked scones with homemade cream and passion fruit jam, the high tea set comes served in a sturdy wooden display with the Chinese character “世” (which translates to “world” and is part of the hotel’s name). But one of the most fun parts of the display is the edible flowers and vines that adorn the wooden frame, though I would warn that they are more of a gimmick than a tasty treat.
Enjoy your high tea in the lounge bar on the ground floor of the hotel, across the stately lobby with the eye-catching marble stairway – a point of pride in the hotel’s luxurious aesthetic. There are distinctive works of art on display throughout the lounge area that allude to the hotel’s varied past – such as a remarkable replica of the sailing vessel that once sailed to Nanyang (now known as Singapore).
After 60 years of accommodating visiting royalty, heads of state, celebrities and captains of industry, Empark Prime Hotel Beijing is well-equipped to understand the discerning needs of its VIP guests in a suite. The historical hotel has cultural roots dating back to the 1950s, and the hotel was once proposed by famous patriot Mr. Tan Kah Kee as one of the top ten buildings in Beijing.
High tea is available at Empark Prime Hotel every day between 2pm and 5pm from now until June, and priced affordably at RMB 399 per set. The hotel is within a five-minute drive to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and is located right at the exit of Dongsi subway station (Lines 5 & 6).
Find it:
2 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
王府井大街2号
Images: Courtesy of the hotel
