Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
there's bike hire for ¥20 a day too. It's located at the Deshengmen Dajie end of Sanbulao
Hutong.
BĚIJĪNG HÙGUÓSÌ HOTEL
|HOTEL
( Hùguósì Bīnguǎn; 5933 1688;
www.hgshotel.net
; 125 Huguosi Jie, d & tw ¥298-420, tr ¥480; Pinganli)
This place has a rather grand, faux-courtyard exterior that promises more than it delivers
because the rooms and bathrooms are on the small side. But the staff are pleasant and the
location is convenient: within walking distance of both Hòuhǎi and the Forbidden City.
Discounts of 20% available.
GRAND MERCURE BĚIJĪNG CENTRAL
; Xidan or Xuanwumen)
North of the South Cathedral and formerly known as the Marco
Polo, this busy four-star hotel has eager staff and is one of the best in this part of town,
even if its comfortable but characterless rooms are a little overpriced. There's a tiny swim-
ming pool, but the fitness centre is more rigorous. Discounts of 25% available.
|LUXURY HOTEL
Dashilar & Xīchéng South
|COURTYARD HOSTEL
QIÁNMÉN HOSTEL$
( Qiánmén Kèzhàn; 6313 2369, 6313 2370;
www.qianmenhostel.net
;
33 Meishi Jie, 6-8 bed dm ¥60, 4-bed dm
¥70, tw without/with bathroom ¥200/240, tr 240/300; ; Qianmen)
A five-minute trot southw-
est of Tiān'ānmén Square, this heritage hostel offers a relaxing environment with able
staff. Close the door on the busy street outside and appreciate the high ceilings, original
woodwork and charming antique buildings. An affable old hand, hostel owner Genghis
Kane may enthusiastically show you his environmentally sound heating apparatus (fired
with dried pellets of plant matter), or you can just hang out in the courtyard. The rooms
are simple and not big but, like the dorms, they are clean, as are the shared bathrooms.
THREE-LEGGED FROG HOSTEL $
( Jīngyī Shí Qīngnián Lǚshè; 6304 3721, 6304 0749; 3legs@threelegged
froghostel.com
;
27 Tieshu Xiejie, 6-bed
dm with bathroom ¥70, 10-bed dm ¥60, d & tw ¥220, tr ¥300, f ¥420; ; Qianmen)
The name is a
mystery but this is a welcome addition to the growing band of hostels along and off
Dazhalan Xijie. The six-bed dorms are an excellent deal, while the rooms are compact but
clean and all are set around a cute courtyard. It has a sardonic but helpful owner and a
communal area out front that does Western breakfasts and evening beers.
|HUTÒNG HOSTEL
