Admire the Splendor of Jinling, Explore the Charm of the Ancient Capital: It's the Perfect Time to Check in at This Kempinski Hotel

Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, has long been a top travel destination in China. Over the past year, a number of international brand hotels have opened their doors, revitalizing the city's hotel scene. Among them, one hotel has kept a low profile, deliberately avoiding too much publicity, but friends who have stayed there rave about its many highlights and say it's well worth a visit. That hotel is the Kempinski Nanjing, which has just celebrated its first anniversary.

For a new hotel to be memorable and worth recommending, it needs a few “secret weapons.” The Kempinski Nanjing knows this well, boasting two striking new spaces, one serene and one lively, each with its own character.

Fragrant Ink: “A thousand years of fragrance lives in poetry and ink.” I'll admit it openly: I was drawn here by this artsy, literary name, which also seems to reflect Nanjing's profound cultural history. Passing through the elevator lobby on the ground floor, the sign for Fragrant Ink led me to the door of this lounge. The neon-lit logo on the wall behind the main sign feels like a collision and interplay between modern and traditional, subtly hinting that day and night here offer two completely different vibes.

By day, Fragrant Ink is artistic and cultured. The lofty, airy space with its deeply cultural decorative pieces invites many to relax here for an entire afternoon, and it's also perfect for small gatherings, product launches, and private events.

Or you might choose the outdoor terrace of Fragrant Ink, bathe in sunlight, and feel the city's pulse. Here's a little preview: word is that next month, a small Christmas market will be held here, with German food, drinks, and delightful little trinkets waiting for you.

By night, Fragrant Ink comes alive. Dynamic music fills every corner of the lounge, and the best thing to do is order one of the signature cocktails, lose yourself in the neon-lit atmosphere, and sway to the beat... sway, sway...

The bartenders at Fragrant Ink are good-looking, and the way they mix drinks is elegant, occasionally showing off a “flaming cocktail.” “Night Mooring at Qinhuai,” “Dawn over Zhongshan,” “Lady in Red” ... the cocktails here have a wonderful connection to Nanjing and the Kempinski brand—each with a story and great looks.

My favorite design element: for each cocktail, the bartender pairs a little bear-shaped candy in a matching color. When the cocktail is served, the bear sits by the glass gazing at you, and in that adorable, silly moment, you feel a little tug at your heart.

Fragrant Ink also has a private room, very spacious, ideal for private parties, business negotiations—full of atmosphere and style.

For business travelers, the value of a luxury hotel is often best reflected in its executive lounge. The Kempinski Nanjing places the executive lounge on the top floor, giving it a lofty, prestigious feel and the best views in the hotel. Facing west, the lounge overlooks almost the entire old city of Nanjing, making it a superb spot to watch the sunset at dusk.

The executive lounge is perhaps the quietest spot in the hotel. The art-filled décor naturally makes people lower their voices. Guests in executive rooms and suites can while away the entire day here. Free-flow coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks are available all day. As soon as I sat by the window, the gentle lounge attendant came to ask if I'd like a coffee. Even just sitting here enjoying the view and doing nothing feels incredibly pleasant.

During afternoon tea hours, the lounge offers a variety of pastries and light bites. In the evening happy hour, the selection is expanded with multiple dishes, almost at a full-dinner level—an excellent way to have a satisfying meal. The drink choices are also particularly extensive.

With these two standout features covered, let's look at the Kempinski Nanjing, whose design narrative revolves around the “Ming Imperial Palace,” and see what kind of golden-age flavors it presents.

Every Kempinski hotel has its own exclusive logo. At Kempinski Nanjing, I spotted the mythical creature Bixie. It resembles a Qilin but without horns, symbolizing “benevolence” and “auspiciousness”—a perfect embodiment of Nanjing's spirit.

The hotel's location is exceptional, right next to the Qinhuai River and the Inner Ring East Line, making it a rare new hotel in the heart of Qinhuai District in recent years. “The beautiful land of Jiangnan, the imperial capital of Jinling.” Near the Kempinski Nanjing, historical sites such as the Ming Palace Ruins, Dongshuiguan, and the Presidential Palace surround it, and the adjacent Ming Palace ruins provided the design narrative. Kempinski's long-time partner YANG Design Group reinvents the splendor of the Ming Dynasty's heyday with a fusion of East and West, welcoming guests from near and far.

|A bellman at the entrance|

The hotel entrance is tucked behind the main road, unintentionally adding a sense of seclusion. The ground floor is a welcome lobby with a dessert bar in one corner. Already here, you can feel the designers' hard work. At Kempinski Nanjing, Ming history isn't simply copied and pasted; YANG's team uses contemporary design methods to reconstruct classical elements, turning the complexity of palaces and imperial culture into something simple and more understandable and appreciated by modern eyes.

Whether it's the hollowed-out background wall design of the ground-floor reception desk or the refined decorative sculptures on the side, you see a different kind of “historical feel.”

This difference is amplified when the elevator doors open on the fifth floor. What greets you is a large-scale “Ming city wall.” This is the lobby, using the architecture of the imperial city and the main hall of the palace as design elements, shaping a majestic atmosphere with modern techniques to highlight the esteemed welcome etiquette.

The “Ming city wall” is constructed of large slabs of high-transparency marble with built-in lightboxes, the lighting accentuating the mottled texture of the stone surface. Echoing this is a ceiling that reinterprets the “caisson” element in dark metal, with a beautiful gilt-like metallic sheen and a strong sense of order.

The front desk design is equally impressive. Two huge metal hollow-cut art screens, with double layers of metal overlapping, outline the layered pavilions of the palace, instantly transporting you into a historical illusion while solving the problem of strong sunlight from the lobby's east-west orientation. These screens also echo the painting at the far end of the lobby, repeatedly evoking the grandeur of the Ming Palace.

Another sight in the lobby is Kempinski's signature Lady in Red. Her bright red outfit is reassuring; any questions during your stay, you can turn to them.

Through a “city gate”-like passage from the front desk, you arrive at the lobby lounge, which has a distinctive view. The top of the “city gate” uses dougong (interlocking wooden brackets) technique, inlaid to resemble an “official's hat,” implying that stepping through here brings a rise in status. The lobby lounge takes the “Jiangnan Examination Centre” as its design theme, contrasting the solid city wall with walls of antique bookshelves to highlight the weight and breadth of “the cultural hub of the world.”

The details of the lobby lounge are both historical and vividly alive—Jinling auspicious beasts, birdcage lanterns, jade and Song Dynasty porcelain, adding a touch of contemporary beauty to ancient charm. I think it would be perfect to come dressed in Ming Dynasty attire for some photos—guaranteed to blow up your social media.

From the artistic spiral staircase next to the lobby, descend to the fourth floor and you'll find the all-day dining restaurant, Ben Wei. It's like a journey from the examination hall to the commoners' taverns—after feeding the soul, it's time to satisfy the stomach and taste buds.

The Ben Wei restaurant incorporates elements of “Jinling taverns,” with food counters and wall cabinets featuring latticework that conjures street stalls, making dining more fun.

In the year since the hotel opened, its buffet has made a name for itself in Nanjing, and the restaurant also runs seasonal themed buffets that are hugely popular. For just over 200 RMB, you can enjoy unlimited oysters, a variety of fresh sashimi, tomahawk steaks, and daily chef's specials like the current season's hairy crabs offered in limited quantities—really great value. Plus, as a German hotel brand, the quality of the pork knuckle, sausages, and other German dishes is absolutely the best in the city.

Starting in November, a Chongqing-themed buffet has landed with a bang! Hot pot, skewers, cold pot skewers, pea and mixed noodles, and all kinds of hot and spicy flavors await you. This is the time of autumn and winter to warm up with something hot.

\ Weekend buffet dinner is only RMB 258 per person, click the original link to jump to the official purchase.\

After a satisfying meal, it's time to return to your room. My room this stay was a Senior Suite, located at the two ends of each floor, with a generous 77 square meters—very comfortable.

The rooms are filled with a retro quietness, a “dreaming of the past” feel, with the use of Morandi colors subtly adding understated luxury. The most pleasant design feature of the whole suite is the super-long daybed by the window, stretching from the living room into the bedroom, perfect for lounging.

The open-plan design blurs the line between business and leisure. With a spacious living room and a relatively private bedroom, you'll always find a spot to truly relax.

In the details, traditional screen elements are asymmetrically attached to the walls, displaying artistic beauty. The white decorative painting above the headboard abstractly captures the bustling Ming Dynasty city, creating a profound sense of distance. And the asymmetrical bedside lamps, with a retro, hand-held palace lantern shape infused with contemporary beauty, are so charming you'll want the same ones at home.

The suite's bathroom has a pass-through design, convenient both when entering from outside and at bedtime. The textured matte copper framework, the centrally placed oversized deep soaking tub, and the separate walk-in closet all ensure a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I'm personally very fond of the chosen amenity brand Rituals—a Dutch brand with a strong Eastern spirit at its core, using many Asian plants as base notes, full of a holiday vibe.

Of course, the basic rooms are also quite outstanding. The layout is carefully divided, with the WC and shower separately located, and there's an open-style closet. The long sofa by the window is perfect for a nap or just sitting back.

Finally, I have to mention how much I love the fitness center and pool. The gym, with its excellent views and a separate yoga studio, makes exercise feel more uplifting and pleasant. The pool is large and beautiful, suspended in the air, with one side flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows creating a infinity effect, and the other side softened by carefully arranged flowers, blurring the line between indoors and out. At dusk, against the sunset, the Nanjing skyline is especially beautiful!