Housed within a glistening 12-story bronze tower, the new Waldorf Astoria Beijing appears on its surface to be yet another contemporary addition to the sprawling Chinese capital. Inside, however, the Yabu Pushelberg–designed hotel—which opened last year in the Dongcheng district, just minutes from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square—is clearly inspired by the gilded style of its Ming dynasty–era neighbors. Embroidered silk walls, traditional latticework, and ornate rugs offset contemporary artworks and sli…