NUO Hotel Beijing

The primary colours chosen to represent NUO Hotel Beijing are grey and blue as popularised by Chinese literature from the Ming Dynasty era. These colours were adjusted and modernised by design agency Landor Associates, which selected a brick grey and blue sky as contrasting colours, subtly adding a touch of royal yellow or warm gold. Threading a common design inspiration throughout NUO Hotel Beijing are symbolic heritage footprints of a veritable who’s who of the Ming Dynasty’s most renowned scholars and philosophers, artists, poets and calligraphers, innovators and explorers, from intellectual Zhang Dai in the hotel lobby, writer Wen Zhenheng and poet Wen Zhengming in the guestrooms, calligrapher and painter Xu Wei in Jia, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, prince-turned-philosopher Zhu Quan in Yuan Tea House and legendary naval explorer Zheng He in N’Joy, the hotel’s international all-day dining destination. Also highly influential for the designers was the work of Ming Dynasty-era literary figure Wen Zhenheng, who documented his philosophy of interior design nearly 500 years ago. Aesthetic tastes of that era tended towards simple, restrained, orderly, even austere elegance, based on the underlying structure of nature – a style which actually shares commonality with today’s Zen-influenced minimalist interior design trend. It is no wonder that Master Wen’s “Treatise on Superfluous Things” is still regarded by scholars today as one of the most compelling glimpses into classic Chinese interior design. Throughout the hotel, guests may see various building and decorative techniques characterised by the Ming Dynasty era in various places in China. Rigorously applied, the depth of historical and technical knowledge has enhanced the design and extended to every detail, such as colour combinations, artistic decoration, material selection and so on. The hotel’s complex yet simple and harmonious design, evoking modern Ming Dynasty style inspiration and opulence, is poised to become a new standard for Chinese hotels.

A prestigious address for meetings, conferences, weddings and glittering celebrations, NUO Hotel Beijing provides a full range of facilities and services to ensure perfect events. With a total of 2,500 square metres of indoor meetings and banqueting space spanning across 14 multi-function rooms and the Yongle Grand Ballroom, the hotel’s events space artfully incorporates subtle design elements and accents from the Ming Dynasty. The 1,600-square metre, pillar-free Yongle Grand Ballroom, named after the Ming Dynasty’s most formidable emperor who bore a monicker meaning “Perpetual Happiness”, is a showcase of flexibility for an event planner’s dream; sumptuously swathed in smooth grey marble and plush carpeting, it can be divided into four smaller rooms equipped with 75 square metre wide screen capabilities whilst the ballroom foyer is ideal for pre-function events and coffee or tea breaks.  Its 9-metre high ceiling, featuring an array of giant crystal chandeliers and a contemporary “cracked iceberg” design, is outfitted for flexible lighting installations to suit any event, along with dynamic LED lighting to change and enhance a room’s mood at the touch of a button, and direct access elevators with the capability to accommodate a car, perfect for product launches and automotive exhibitions. Both the Yongle Grand Ballroom and the foyer boast natural daylight. NUO Hotel Beijing’s professional events team are fully in charge of every detail throughout any event, committed to exceeding expectations in delivering successful meetings and celebrations. Event organisers benefit from a dedicated events manager on standby at all occasions.

Situated next to the world-famous 798 Art District, NUO Hotel Beijing benefits from fast travel links to the city centre and Beijing Capital International Airport. The property is also ideally placed for the dynamic Wangjing Business Zone and northeast embassy area. Landmark attractions including the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace are conveniently reached from the hotel.  

Designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, NUO Hotel Beijing’s 438 guestrooms and suites, all offer floor-to-ceiling views of the city. In an homage to Ming Dynasty-era literary figure Wen Zhenheng’s book “Treatise on Superfluous Things”, where he advocates that form should follow function, the guestrooms’ layout and design are reminiscent of an ancient Chinese intellectual’s residence, a harmonious blend of balance and symmetry, whilst maintaining simplicity of comfort. An entrance foyer welcomes guests in all guestrooms and suites and there are clearly delineated areas for working, studying or entertaining, relaxing, sleeping and bathing. Elegant furnishings in warm woods and leather, hushed jewel-toned accessories, plush silk-patterned walls, rich wooden and textured marble floors combine harmoniously in a contemporary interpretation of Ming Dynasty-inspired residential style. Paying tribute to Master Wen’s belief, stated in his treatise, that bedrooms should be “appropriate for a hermit who supposedly sleeps with clouds and dreams of the moon”, asymmetric cloud graphics on the carpets allow guests to experience the feeling of nature, stimulating creative inspiration even whilst relaxing in the comfort and privacy of their rooms. Ming scholars viewed artwork as a powerful force in the home that should be used sparingly, with Wen Zhenheng advising the hanging of only one painting per room. Guestrooms at NUO Hotel Beijing remain faithful to this adage whilst bringing the hotel’s art destination experience vividly to life with each room featuring an artwork originated from Zeng Fanzhi’s paintings on paper, an interpretation of “Stepping on Snow to Look for Plum Flowers” , “Mountain”, and “Rampike”. All guestrooms have been thoughtfully designed and equipped with the modern traveller’s security, comfort and productivity in mind: complimentary broadband and wireless Internet access, marble-topped executive writing desks, flat-screen high-definition televisions, Bluetooth-enabled Bose stereo speakers, in-room bars and Nespresso coffee machines, walk-in wardrobes, ensuite laundry and valet delivery cabinets, sophisticated air purification filters and high-level soundproofing, intelligent lighting systems and electronic mesh curtains to reduce energy wastage. The all-marble bathrooms are spacious and sun-kissed with natural daylight, with large soaking tubs, glass-enclosed rainforest showers and custom NUO Pu’er tea-infused bed and bath accessories, developed exclusively for the hotel by Shanghai-based Ba Yan Ka La, China’s first luxury skincare brand. Even in the bathrooms, inspiration can be found, such as whimsical lines of poetry from Ming Dynasty-era scholar Wen Zhengming, one of China’s “Four Masters of Ming”, etched in exquisite calligraphy on a corner wall. NUO Hotel Beijing has a dedicated bridal suite as well as five guestrooms specifically created with female travellers in mind. Guests at NUO Hotel Beijing may avail of the hotel’s round-the-clock butler service, in-room dining and lifestyle concierge whilst Club accommodation and suite guests have exclusive access to the hotel’s 25th floor Club Lounge.

NUO Spa, with its nine treatment rooms, derives authentic Chinese heritage wellness treatments inspired by “Huangdi Neijing”, also known as the “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon”, an ancient Chinese medical text which has been treated as the fundamental and most comprehensive doctrinal source for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the past two millenia. According to the Canon, the universe is controlled by natural energies such as “Yin” and “Yang”, the life force “Qi” and the Five Elements (or seasonal phases).  A holistic balance of these forces and energies with the changing seasons, as well as the natural effects of diet, lifestyle, emotions, environment, and age are required for a healthy lifestyle. With the changing of the seasons, the wellness and beauty treatments at NUO Spa aim to boost the “Yang” energy during spring and summer and nourish the “Ying” energy during autumn and winter to harmonise daily energy with the breath and spirit, stimulate the senses and purify the soul. NUO Spa’s proprietary essential oils and special fragrances are custom-created exclusively for NUO Hotel Beijing, inspired by renowned traditional Chinese physician Li Shizhen’s greatest contributions to Chinese pharmacology, “Compendium of Medical Material” and “Syllabus of Medical Herbs”, and extracted from high-quality natural ingredients and special herbs. Thereinto, the special massage candle after burning, pour melted oil on the skin with no scalding feeling, but to moist the skin warmly. NUO Spa’s signature treatment is the Warm Wood Signature Massage, which combines Oriental martial arts elements with a traditional Chinese healing regimen, coordinating and harmonizing the yin and yang, resulting in a relaxed, almost meditative state. Prior to beginning the treatment, the therapist will guide the guest in a 10-minute stretching and rhythmic breathing exercise in order to warm up and relax. The therapist then deploys a wooden ash stick, very smooth, heavy and pliable, for the massage. The stick is warmed with especially formulated massage oil and used for rolling, kneading, point pressing and other massage methods, to deeply relax the muscles, and stimulate the lymphatic circulation, soothing, detoxifying and generally enhancing overall health and wellbeing. During treatment, guests can listen to a compilation of soothing music exclusively composed for NUO Spa—“ Aqua mix incense”, inspired by the concept of the water section in Li Shizhen’s “Compendium of Medical Material”. The soothing sanctuary of NUO Spa and its team of well-trained, meticulous therapists combine to create a serene lifestyle urban oasis in the heart of Beijing.

NUO Hotel Beijing offers a well-equipped recreation and wellness facility in order for guests to rejuvenate and revitalise. NUO Fitness features a variety of sleek cardiovascular and strength training fitness equipment from Technogym, a 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool, a dedicated yoga studio; within the changing facilities, guests may luxuriate in a separate steam room and sauna for ladies and for gentlemen. Membership programmes for individuals, couples and corporations are available.