It is the first St. Regis-branded hotel in the Asia-Pacific region, with a legendary history dating back to its opening in 1997. Its predecessor was the Beijing International Club, which had witnessed the "tennis diplomacy" between China and the United States. Located at the heart of No. 21 Jianguomenwai Street, adjacent to the embassy district and Chang'an Avenue, and just a 10-minute drive from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the hotel is regarded as one of the preferred accommodations for former US presidents and many other political leaders visiting China.