The Emperor Qianmen offers imperial splendour in Beiing

Much of Beijing's history can be viewed along its central axis. At its heart lies the Forbidden City, while south of this is Tiananmen Square. Immediately south of the square stands Qianmen, the ceremonial "Front Gate", once reserved solely for the Emperor's use.

Today's rebuilt Qianmen area is popular with tourists thanks to its teahouses, silk emporiums, and snack shops. It was always odd that the area had no high-end hotels catering to the international traveller, so this month's opening of The Emperor Qianmen comes as no surprise.

This 65-room boutique comes from the group behind The Emperor Forbidden City, a hotel known for its rooftop terrace overlooking the imperial palace. Like the original, The Emperor Qianmen also boasts terrific views. From its large rooftop, where a bar and swimming pool are due to open on April 18, visitors can look out onto the ancient gate that gives the area its name.

On a clear day, in the distance, you can also glimpse Tiananmen and the front of The Forbidden City.

It's this vista that will, no doubt, be the new Emperor's main selling point. But it also calls itself Beijing's first "water hotel". When I heard this, I thought it might be gimmicky. But the theme - harking back to the site's original incarnation as a public bathhouse - runs subtly throughout the property, and is a welcome feature in bone-dry Beijing.

Water flows from the large rooftop pool down to a small plunge pool in an underground spa run by the French brand, L'Occitane.