A Unique Hotel Experience with Unparalleled Access to the Great Wall of China

Thousands of tourists from all over the world make plans to visit the Great Wall of China every day. Despite the wall's vast 5,500-mile stretch across the country, most travelers end up visiting the Badaling or Mutianyu sections, which are the closest to Beijing.

Is there an alternative for these early-rising visitors who pack into vans and endure long lines to visit the Great Wall, jostling through crowds of camera-wielding tourists to get the perfect shot for Instagram?

An hour's drive north of the bustling capital lies Commune by the Great Wall, a sought-after weekend retreat for residents of Beijing. This luxurious hotel is made up of modernist buildings that have won awards for their design, nestled amongst vibrant yellow gingko trees.

In addition to the standard amenities such as a generous breakfast buffet and plush bed linens, Commune by the Great Wall offers a unique opportunity to conveniently stroll to the Great Wall itself.

Just 20 minutes by foot from the hotel reception is the Shuiguan section of the wall.

Here, there are no long lines, no tour guides shouting into microphones and no sea of buses in the parking lot.

Tucked amid the mountains, the views from the highest turrets of the wall are breathtaking - and, even more importantly, unobstructed.

Shared House by Thai architect Kanika R'kul is one of the options for solo travelers.

Courtesy Hyatt

A hotel thats its own destination

It isnt only the bucolic surroundings that lure travelers to the town of Yangqing.

Commune by the Great Wall is a unique type of hotel known as an albergo diffuso, or diffused hotel, where guests stay in a collection of separate buildings rather than a single central structure.

This setup can be disorienting for taxi drivers or first-time visitors, who may feel as though they have gone from the Chinese countryside to a luxury neighborhood development.

The hotel features a central building that acts as the reception area and houses the hotel's restaurants. Guests are driven from check-in to their accommodations by bellhops in golf carts around the expansive property.

Created by husband-and-wife developers Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin, who co-founded the Chinese real estate firm Soho, the hotel was initially meant to be a collection of upscale country houses for Beijing's elite but eventually transitioned into a hotel.

Pan and Zhang enlisted a top-tier team of architects and designers to make their mark in Yangqing. Twelve distinguished professionals from across Asia were commissioned to create individual residences, akin to an Avengers-like assembly of architectural talent. The couple emphasized the use of local materials and encouraged the architects to ensure the villas harmonized seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

Korea's Seung H-Sang designed the clubhouse, which is home to the swimming pool.

Hyatt's "Furniture House," designed by Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban, integrates chairs and tables into the structure of the home. This project marks Ban's first endeavor in China and was inspired by his observations in Japan after an earthquake, where heavy furniture often remained intact while home foundations did not.

Hong Kong native Gary Chang designed the "suitcase house" based on the micro-flats in his hometown. Upon entering the dwelling, it appears to be a simple wooden cabin with no furniture. However, pulling up sections of the floor reveals bedrooms, a bathroom, and living spaces neatly tucked away underneath, similar to opening a suitcase. Additionally, the landscape design was done by Ai Weiwei, a prominent Chinese artist.

In 2002, Commune by the Great Wall received a special commendation at the Venice Architecture Biennale when the 12 core buildings were finished. Since then, additional structures have been added, including replicas of Kengo Kuma's iconic bamboo house. Guests now have the option to specify whether they will be staying in Bamboo House 1, 2, or 3.

Communal buildings are available for individual travelers who cannot afford to rent an entire villa. A concierge is available to give on-the-spot architecture tours of any unoccupied building upon request.

The addition of Commune by the Great Wall to Hyatt's Unbound Collection in 2021 provides an additional reason for loyal members to plan a visit. Furthermore, the original 12 buildings are set to undergo upgrades and renovations starting in 2024.

The wear and tear of years of guests and their wheelie suitcases has left some areas damaged, while others were affected by the floods in the Beijing area in summer 2023, and are currently uninhabitable.

Commune by the Great Wall

The Great Wall Exit No.53, Yangqing, China, 102102

Phone: +86 10 81181888