Frequently Asked Questions
General
Are you open the whole year?
Yes, we are open the whole year.
Since when are you Serviced Residences managed by Kempinski ?
Since August 2005
When did the commune open?
The initial 11 presidential villas along with the Club house were opened in October 2002, the 31 other buildings along with the spa and kids¡¯ club were opened in 2006.
What is special about Commune by the Great Wall ?
The Commune by the Great Wall has become a showcase of contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture. ?It has been widely covered by both Chinese and international media as a momentous breakthrough in architectural history in China and Asia.
Who are the architects and designers of the commune?
Furniture and other interior decoration pieces collected by Commune by the Great Wall are from such distinguished designers as Serge Mouille, Thierry Hoppe, Von Robinson, Philippe Starck, Alex Strub, Claudio Colucci, Ross Menuez, Kaname Okajima, Jonas Damon, Karim Rashid, Matthew Hilton, Marc Newson and Michael Young.
Architects of Commune by the Great Wall are Gary Chang (Hong Kong), Shigeru Ban (Japan), Cui Kai (China), Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan), Antonio Ochoa (China), Kengo Kuma (Japan), Kanika R¡¯kul (Thailand), Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore), Nobuaki Furuya (Japan), Yung Ho Chang (China), Seung H-Sang (South Korea).
Did the commune receive any awards?
Commune by the Great Wall is a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects. It was exhibited at the 2002 la Biennale di Venezia and bestowed a special prize. In 2005, Commune by the Great Wall was hailed by Business Week as a ¡°New Architectural Wonder of China¡±.
Are pets allowed on the premises?
No, pets are not allowed as per the laws of the People¡¯s Republic of China
What is the dress code?
Casual throughout the property. Smart casual in the restaurants. We advise guests not to wear flip flops, shorts or tank tops when dining in our restaurants.
Rooms & Villas
How many rooms does the commune have?
The commune offers 42 villas (236 rooms), designed by 12 Asian architects, ranging in size from 4 to 6 bedrooms, which are dispersed along the steep slope of the serene valley. Each House frames dramatic views of the sinuous landscape or The Great Wall, which is accessible by a path on the property.
The "Walnut Valley" includes 11 presidential villas with 46 guest rooms and 1 Commune club which opened in October 2002, and the "Rock Valley" includes 31 new villas with 190 guest rooms, which opened in September 2006.
What is the difference between the presidential villas and the new villas?
The initial collection located in the walnut valley consists of 46 bedrooms in 11 beautifully designed villas, which range in size from 300 to 700sqm, each with an average of four bedrooms and one or two en suite bathrooms. Presidential suites offer 24hour dedicated butler service. A natural path leads to a non-restored part of the Great Wall on site and adds to the mystique of the experience.
The Rock Valley is the setting for 31 new buildings complete with 190 bedrooms and suites, equipped with well ¨Cdesigned amenities for business and leisure travelers alike. All feature en-suite bathrooms Each Villa shares a common living and dining room area complete with a fitted kitchen where selected beverages and tea and coffee are available on a complimentary basis. Please note that no self catering is allowed.
At what time can I check in and what time do I have to check out?
Guests can check in from 2.00 pm on the day of arrival and are requested to check out by 12 noon on the day of departure.
Can I check in early? Can I check out late?
Requests for early check in or late check out can be offered depending on availability. If the commune is running on high occupancy we might not be able to grant your request. However, you can always store your luggage and spend the time on the premises, using all facilities until your room will be ready or until you depart.
Do you have interconnecting rooms?
Yes, some of our rooms are interconnected. Please specify upon reservation.
How many people can sleep in one room?
Generally, rooms are for two persons. The commune offers King, Queen and Twin beds. Extra beds are limited to one per room, and not every room is suitable for extra beds. If you are a party of more than two, we recommend either a deluxe or interconnecting room or two rooms.
Do you have separate bath tubs and showers in the rooms?
Yes, some of our rooms are with separate bath tubs and showers. Please specify upon reservation.
Do you have balcony or terrace in the rooms?
Some villas are with terraces, and some rooms also have balcony.
Can we cook in the villas?
Guests are not allowed to cook in the villas due to security reasons. However, our chef can coordinate catering if booked in advance
Can we have barbecue in the villa gardens?
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to have barbecue in the villas due to security reasons, However, our catering team can set up a barbecue party for you.
Do you have Great Wall view in villas?
Some of the villas and the rooms are with Great Wall view. Upon availability, requests can be accepted on reservation.
What amenities does a standard room feature?
All our rooms are equipped with TV, phone, W-LAN, safe, hair dryer, mini bar (either in room or in the common living area), bath robe. The common living area provides facilities for boiling tea and coffee
How much is a tour around the commune?
The cost for a tour is RMB 120 per person. If guest choose to dine in one of our restaurants and spend more than RMB 200 per person, the tour will be complimentary.
What time do you do tours?
We offer tours from 10 am till 5 pm; guest may prebook their visits in order to verify if villas are available on the preferred day. Please note that tours depend on the occupancy of the commune. To avoid disappointment, please call ahead.
Are there any nice villages around?
We recommend visiting Houhai in Beijing to experience the traditional Hutong Houses located around a lake with many restaurants to choose from. Houhai is located around 90 min from Commune by the Great Wall.
Dining
What restaurants does the commune feature?
The ¡°Terrace Lounge¡± and the ¡°Courtyard Restaurant¡± are the perfect setting for elegant dining. The ¡°Peacock Room¡± is available for more intimate parties or cozy reading. Casual snacks can also be enjoyed in one of the Cafes or served in the privacy of your villa.
What type of meals is served in the restaurants?
Commune by the Great Wall serves classic Beijing, Sichuan and Cantonese cuisines, as well as a vegetarian menu and a selection of western dishes, enjoy locally grown organic products and healthy contemporary Chinese cuisine with western influences as well as the region¡¯s signature dish, Beijing Duck.
Do you have Children menu?
Yes, we have a set menu for children.
Do you have Vegetarian menu?
Yes, we have a special Vegetarian set menu and various choices of Vegetarian dishes on our a la carte menu
Do you have Diabetic menu?
If you have certain dietary requirements, please let us know beforehand so our chef can prepare some special dishes according to your needs
Facilities
Anantara Spa
Should I make bookings for my treatments in advance?
We always recommend to book time slots for treatments in advance. Otherwise, the Spa might not be able to grant the time you desire.
What other facilities does the commune offer?
Commune Club
The Commune Club takes up an area of 4,109 square meters. The two-storey reinforced concrete construction sits on the junction of valleys on the south and east, facing the Great Wall on the west, gifted with the most beautiful landscape of the entire neighbourhood. It also serves as a multi-functional public area for dining, parties, and other events. It houses a courtyard restaurant, a terrace lounge, a ball room, a gallery and a private cinema.
Gallery & Private Cinema
Located on the second floor of the Commune Club, the gallery and the private cinema are the first choices for small conferences or cocktail parties. The gallery, 99 square meters in floor area to accommodate 20-40 people, is spacious enough for every visitor. You can feast your eyes on delicate graphic arts while enjoying delicious food. The cinema, 72 square meters in floor area to accommodate 20-40 people, is equipped with a projector, Dolby 5.1 AV system, and other necessary conference facilities to handle all kinds of small conferences.
Ball Room
Ball Room, an essential part of the Commune Club, is a whole room with the largest area of 856 square meters and complete conference facilities, a precondition for all-purpose arrangement. From banquets to cocktail parties and large conferences, the Ballroom can be the best choice by seating up to 400 people for dinner or accommodating 800 for a cocktail party. The spacious open layout will keep you in a perfect mood for meals and meetings filled with daylight.
Art Exhibition
Our Club house is also a permanent exhibition venue for Chinese contemporary art.
Can we buy the displayed art?
Please contact our Public Relation Manager Ms. Jelin Zhang for information about the displayed art. Guests and Visitors are able to buy the art displayed at Commune by the Great Wall.
Business Center
Business Center provides PC with internet access, complete business facilities including meeting room, printer, copy machine and fax. Complimentary wireless LAN is available in the Clubhouse as well as in the villas
Fitness room,
There is a fully equipped fitness room (60 sqm) for indoor exercise.
Outdoor swimming pool
In summer 2008, a new outdoor pool was completed. It locates next to our village caf¨¦, for Commune residents only.
Facilities for physically challenged persons
Unfortunately, due to the natural terrain, the commune doesn't have facilities specifically designed for physically challenged guests. There are only a few ground floor rooms without steps but the interior layout of the rooms is not fitted for special requests.
Great Wall
How long is the Great Wall?
Approximately 5000 km
On what height is the commune located?
986 m above sealevel
How do I get to the Great Wall?
The commune offers a unique private access to the unrestored and non-commercial part of the Great Wall. This part of the Great Wall is only open to guests staying at the commune and is within a 15 minutes walk on a hiking path. We recommend hiking shoes or sports shoes to climb to this part.
If you prefer to visit a restored section of the Great Wall, we recommend the nearby ¡°Shuiguan¡± or the well-known ¡°Badaling¡± Great Wall access points. Our concierge will assist in organizing transfers.
What activities are available?
Hiking, Horseback riding, Golf in the summer, skiing in the winter.
Children
Can I bring my children along?
Children are more than welcome at Commune by the Great Wall. There is no charge for children under 12 years of age if staying at the parent¡¯s room
What facilities do you have for children?
Commune of the Children provides a haven of fun and activities for children to indulge in various activities. This unique kids¡¯ club on 500 sqm is especially designed for children between 2 and 12. ?The furniture and facilities are designed at a height to suit children and the interior is bright and colourful. We offer a wide range of activities including natural trail hiking, gardening, cooking, reading, arts and crafts, star gazing, outdoor swimming (during the summer season) and camping. This is the perfect introduction to design, art and architecture for the future generations.
Babysitting can be arranged with advance notice. Baby cots are available free of charge, please tell us upon your reservation
Internet
Is Internet access available at the commune?
The commune provides complimentary wireless LAN in all villas and clubhouse to stay connected.
Location
Where is the Commune by the Great Wall located?
Located in the Shuiguan Mountains amidst 8 square kilometres of private land, 1 hour 15 minutes drive away from Beijing International Capital Airport, 20 kilometres away from the main train station (Qing Long Qiao station) and 1 hour 15 minutes drive from Beijing city centre, the property enjoys an easy access via the Badaling Expressway. 15 minutes' drive from Badaling private airport, available for Helicopters (20' minutes transfer from Beijing Capital Airport) and small aircrafts on the 800 metres long runway.
How is the terrain?
The property is located in the mountains, with some steep slopes to get to the villas.
Transportation
How do I get to the commune?
The commune provides shuttle service to/from the airport and to/from downtown Beijing at an additional cost depending on the chosen limousine. If you organise your own transportation, our concierge is delighted to give further driving instructions. ?
How do I move around within the commune?
In the summer, guests are ferried in golf carts. A fleet of vans is available for guests within the property to ensure pick up and drop off.
Climate/Weather
What climate can I expect from Beijing?
There are four seasons in Beijing: long hot and humid summer, long chilly and dry winter, and shorter spring and autumn. The hottest month is July and the coldest is January. Considering the frequent sandstorms in spring, September and October with their pleasant weather are probably the best visiting times. To visit Beijing in spring or autumn, bring lightweight clothing such as long-sleeved shirts or T-shirts, plus one or two jackets and sweaters. The temperature in summer ranges between 30 and 39 centigrade, calling for summer clothes. If you travel to Beijing in winter be sure to bring winter clothes, including wool sweaters and a warm coat.
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