A Tibetan-style dreamland

Every May, Conde Nast Traveler releases its Hot List, a collection of the best new hotels, spas, restaurants, and nightspots. Check the Daily Traveler every day for a new post from this year's list.

This showpiece of the Shangri-La Beijing's new $50 million wing is like a Zen gentlemen's club--one with 11 split-level spa suites featuring Tibetan-style ornamentation, including traditional latticed accordion doors. It uses an online questionnaire to discover spa-goers' element sign: Guests are deemed metal, water, wood, fire, or earth based on their personal preferences (sweet versus salty, morning versus night, etc.) so that therapists can customize treatments. The system isn't foolproof, however: The two-and-a-half-hour Enchanted Journey ($207; three treatments designed to invigorate jet-lagged limbs) sent our reporter into dreamland instead (massages, $88-$95).

Tel: 86-106-841-2211

Further reading:
* Chi Spa's website
* Hot List 2008