Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Běijīng Fàndiàn Láifóshì Jiǔdiàn; 6526 3388;
www.raffles.com/beijing
; 33 Dongchang'an Jie, r from ¥1800;
; Wangfujing)
Sandwiched between two drab edifices (to the east, the 1970s
lines of the Běijīng Hotel; to the west, a gawky Soviet-era facade), the seven-storey
Raffles oozes cachet and grandeur. The heritage building dates to 1900 when it was the
Grand Hotel de Pekin, so pedigree is its middle name. Illuminated in a chandelier glow,
the elegant lobby yields to a graceful staircase leading to immaculate standard doubles
that are spacious and well proportioned, decked out with period-style furniture and large
bathrooms. The ground floor Writers Bar offers a unique variety of stress-busting tranquil-
lity in deluxe surroundings (with prices to match).
BĚIJĪNG SAGA INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH HOSTEL$
|HÚTÒNG HOSTEL
( Běijīng Shíjiā Guójì Qīngnián Lǚshè; 6527 2773; sagaiyh@yahoo.cn; 9 Shijia Hutong, dm ¥60, d without/with
bathroom from ¥219/289; ; Dengshikou)
Enjoying an interesting location on historic
Shijia Hutong, this popular hostel is a grey block but the inside compensates with some
character, and staff members are helpful towards travellers. Rooms are basic but well
kept, and it has a refectory, a bar and, in the main lobby, a spacious seating area. The
mixed dorm rooms are a decent size and include private lockers. The building is modern,
but the height has advantages: head up to the huge open rooftop and directly view the
Qing-dynasty-era courtyard below.
BĚIJĪNG CITY CENTRAL INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH HOSTEL$
( Běijīng Chéngshì Guójì Qīngnián Lǚshè; 8511 5050, 6525 8866;
www.centralhostel.com
; 1 Beijingzhan Jie, 4-8
bed dm ¥60, s/d with shared bathroom ¥128/160, d from ¥298-368; ; Beijingzhan)
The first
youth hostel you hit after exiting Běijīng Train Station, this place is a decent choice if you
can't be bothered to lug your heavy rucksack to nicer parts of the city. Rooms are pretty
basic but clean and spacious enough, and there's a large bar-cafe area with free wi-fi, in-
ternet terminals, pool tables and Western food.
|HOSTEL
REGENT BĚIJĪNG
|$$$
|LUXURY HOTEL
( Běijīng Lìjīng Dàjiǔdiàn;
;
Dengshikou)
The lavish 500-room Regent has staked out a precious plot of land on the
corner of Jinbao Jie and Dongdan Beidajie to the east of Wangfujing Dajie. Guest rooms
are good value - luxuriously styled and up to the minute. A full range of health and leis-
ure facilities and five restaurants round off the impressive picture.
