Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Beijing hotels were once largely impersonal concerns, with standardized, rather non-
descript modern interiors - a by-product of the early communist years. However, a
glut ofnewer accommodation options has placed more emphasis ondesign andcharac-
ter, and the established hotels are sprucing themselves up; whatever your budget, it's
now possible to stay somewhere that's memorable as well as functional. Beijing now
boastsfive-starhotelsasglitzyasyou'dfindinanymajorcity,anever-increasingarray
of boutique-style mid-rangers and some great cheapies. Most notable, however, is the
impressively large number of traditional-as-it-gets courtyard options, set in Beijing's
famed
hutongs
; not only are these tremendously atmospheric but you don't have to
spend too much for the experience, since many of the city's youth hostels are this way
inclined.
BEIJING'S BEST
Best for people-watching
Peking Youth Hostel
Best for free kung fu lessons
Fly By Knight Courtyard Hostel
Best for partying
Leo Hostel
Best for sunset cocktails
The Orchid
Best for night-time walks to the Forbidden City
Kapok
Best for trendy vibes
Hotel G
Best for celeb-spotting
St Regis
Best for views
Park Hyatt
Best for art
Opposite House
Best for night-time visits to the Summer Palace
Aman@Summer Palace
ESSENTIALS
HOTELS
Upmarket
The capital's upmarket hotels (from
￥
900 per night for a double room in high
season) are legion, and more are appearing all the time. They offer amenities such as gyms,
saunas, and business centres; annoyingly, while cheap hotels have free internet, you have to
pay for it at pricey ones. These establishments are comparable to their counterparts elsewhere
in the world, though the finer nuances of service might well be lacking. If nothing else, they
make useful landmarks, and some have pretty good restaurants that are, by Western standards
at least, inexpensive.
Mid-range
Mid-range hotels (
￥
400-900) are well equipped and comfortable, offering spa-
cious double rooms, but are generally anonymous and unstylish - except for a few small
hotels converted from old courtyard houses, which have an ambience that is recognizably
