A short 30 minute bullet train ride away, Wuxi is perched on the northern edge of China’s third largest lake, Tai Hu. Overshadowed by its larger neighbour Suzhou, the city is often disregarded as a weekend getaway destination. However ‘Little Shanghai’, as Wuxi is commonly referred to, is an attractive option should you ever need a break from the real version for either a bit of natural scenery, culture, or plain old relaxation.

Located in the heart of the growing town on Tai Hu Square just opposite the Wuxi Museum, the Kempinski Hotel Wuxi China has dominated the city’s skyline for the past four years. The feng shui lobby is a collection of water features and neon reds, with an attached Paulaner Brauhaus that serves up German fare, freshly brewed beer and a live band. The hotel also celebrates its German heritage with its yearly Oktoberfest, one of the standout events in the city.

The hotel’s other food options include the Berlin Café, an expansive open kitchen restaurant that serves a variety of international standards and Fang Yuan Cantonese Restaurant whose Hong Kong chef creatively matches southern favourites with local delicacies including fish caught from Taihu.

For relaxation, the In One Spa provides a retreat where you can take advantage of their one to four hour long massages to help work out the stress of weekday life. The hotel also features a very well-equipped gym and the largest indoor swimming pool in Wuxi, as well as a sauna and steam room. With Wuxi’s most popular KTV also on site, crooning the night away in one of the well appointed rooms is another great way to unwind.

The large guest rooms – the minimum size is 38 square metres – welcome visitors with a huge fruit plate and cheerful decoration. Luxuries include 40 inch flat screen televisions, high speed internet, a rain shower, bathtub and pillow service if you find the standard one either too hard or soft. From the higher floors, the hotel presents a panorama of Tai Hu Square that comes alive with roller skaters at night and neon-adorned bridges spanning the Jinghang Canal.

For those with children, Kempinski makes it very easy to keep them occupied. Kid's bedding, including cribs, is just a quick telephone call to housekeeping that can also provide special toilet seats, bottle warmers, wash tub, baby washing kits, toys, games, crayons and other assorted items needed for the wee ones.

The hotel is an attractive option for meetings too. Two whole floors are given over to executive level guest rooms and a large lounge takes up the top floor. A sizable ballroom can be broken into three parts, while eight smaller meeting rooms surround it, each equipped with advanced audio/video kit and broadband. Free wifi in all the hotel’s public spaces make it even easier to stay in touch digitally. All in all, for your next out-of-town company conference, the Kempinski Hotel Wuxi is an easy choice.

Currently the Kempinski Hotel Wuxi China is offering a special Summer Family Package which includes a Deluxe King Room with a complimentary extra bed for a child and breakfast for three for RMB 859 + 15%.

Kempinski Hotel Wuxi China. 18 Yonghe Lu. Tel: (510) 8108 8888. Web: www.kempinski.com/wuxi