Mid-range: The Emperor Hotel (theemperor.com.cn) has clean modern rooms and is right next to the Forbidden City, with a roof terrace overlooking the roofs of the imperial halls. Doubles from £60-80.
Perched on the roof of Emperor Hotel in the Dongcheng District, Yin’s alfresco patio provides spectacular views of the nearby Forbidden City and Behai’s White Dagoba.