Concierge.com's insider take:

Encased in tinted green glass and opened just in time for the 2008 Olympics, the interior of this artsy 99-room lodge, by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is based on the theme of an urban forest. Stepping inside the lobby—which has a welcome lounge rather than a check-in desk—feels like entering an art museum (exhibits include a Mao jacket and a qi pao dress created from broken pieces of Chinese porcelain by artist Li Xiaofeng). An angular atrium floods the area with light, and two flat reflecting pools sit beneath ceiling-draped wire mesh curtains. Visible below is a 22-meter stainless-steel swimming pool. The minimalist open-plan guest rooms are outfitted with brushed oak floors, glass paneling, and cream bedwear. Each room features free Wi-Fi, complimentary minibar, plasma TV, stand-alone bathtub, and rain forest shower. Shanghai restaurateur David Laris has conceptualized an eclectic collection of restaurants and lounges. There are three places to eat, including Sureño, which serves Mediterranean food in a space decorated with sultry dark woods and caramel detailing. If you're looking for something a bit more authentic, try Bei, specializing in northern Chinese cuisine as well as Japanese and Korean dishes. The hotel's Mesh Bar buzzes with a post-work crowd followed by the party set later in the evening. Opposite House is destined to be the choice of film stars, visiting architects, and anyone who wants to be surrounded by the capital's most dramatically stylish interiors.