It’s fitting that when guests first arrive at Vue Hotel Houhai, they receive a welcome story from their hosts. Set on the edge of the picturesque Houhai Lake in a relaxed and verdant park-like area of Beijing, this stunningly unique property presents visitors with a complex visual narrative of its own, one that comprises a variety of architectural styles and approaches. Boldly realized by the internationally acclaimed Singapore-based studio Ministry of Design, the hotel’s 80 rooms and suites—several offer private terraces or views of the park or lake—are spread across a series of buildings designed primarily in the Chinese vernacular yet which present an arresting range of ornamentation, from distinctive gargoyles, decorative roof eaves, and sculptured balconies, to latticed window frames, pared-back jack roofs, and brick walls. Upon entering the hotel, guests discover a series of landscaped gardens that bring harmony to these many voices, as well as a bakery café fronting the bustle of the hutongs, a signature restaurant serving Spanish-influenced global tapas in a warehouse, a rooftop bar overlooking the lake, and rooms that reflect the area’s cultural heritage yet are infused with a whimsical twist inspired by the spirit of the lake and its animal inhabitants. As for the host’s welcome story? Well, it’s one that perfectly captures the essence of Vue Hotel Houhai—a crossroads of international allure and traditional Chinese culture.