Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gardens once belonged to a eunuch from Empress Cixi's entourage. It's within roaming
distance of the Drum and Bell Towers and the Hòuhǎi lakes.
RED LANTERN HOUSE
|HÚTÒNG HOSTEL
( Fǎnggǔ Yuán; 8328 5771;
www.redlanternhouse.com
; 5 Zhengjue Hutong, 4-6 bed dm ¥70, d without/with
shower ¥190/290, tr ¥360; ; Jishuitan)
With a charming interior, trimmed with red lan-
terns and opening onto an ample bar area, this is a welcoming hotel. It also has helpful
staff and a winning
hútòng
location. Reserve ahead. If it's booked out, its laidback sibling,
in an alley off Zhengjue Hutong, although that branch has no dorms.
JǏNJIĀNG INN
|HOTEL
( Jǐnjiāng Zhīxīng Bīnguǎn;
;
Jishuitan)
There's nothing remarkable about this branch of the popular hotel chain, al-
though the rooms are clean and modern and have broadband access. Rather, it's the fant-
astic location close to the border of the Hòuhǎi lakes, and within one of the most
hútòng
-
rich areas of Běijīng, that makes it a great choice. Step outside and you can be lost in the
surrounding labyrinth of alleys, or the bars of Hòuhǎi, in a matter of minutes.
DRUM TOWER YOUTH HOSTEL
( Gǔyùn Qīngnián Lǚshè; 8401 6565;
www.24hostel.com
;
51 Jiugulou Dajie, 6-bed dm without/with bathroom
¥60/¥80, d & tw without/with bathroom ¥200/280 ; ; Gulou Dajie)
A few years ago, this place
had a deservedly bad rep among travellers. Now, it has upped its game with staff who are
actually interested in helping people and clean, if uninspired, dorms and rooms. The ad-
ded bonuses are a cool roof terrace and the attached next-door bar Lakers, which serves
up reasonably priced Western comfort food and standard Chinese dishes. Bike hire is ¥35
a day.
|HOSTEL
BĚIJĪNG HÒUHǍI COURT
YARD GUEST HOUSE
|HÚTÒNG HOSTEL
( Sānbǎo Sìhéyuàn Kèzhàn; 6612 8458; 14 Sanbulao Hutong, 4-bed dm ¥70, d & tw without/with shower ¥128/258,
tr without/with shower ¥210/298; ; Pinganli)
Friendly and down-to-earth family-run
place that's a hop, skip and a jump from the Hòuhǎi lakes. Set around a small courtyard,
the rooms and dorms are not big, but the communal bathrooms are clean and it attracts a
good mix of domestic and foreign travellers. The young owner is eager to please and