Beijing Hotels
The hotels in Beijing have not yet reached the standard that one would expect from a metropolis of this size. Most five-star hotels are neat, but not particularly outstanding. The middle class hotels operated by locals often do not reach international level. However, there are some wonderful traditional hotels with a typical courtyard that give the otherwise rather ordinary hotel scene a real Beijing atmosphere. The website www.ctrip.com is recommended for reservations in the middle and lower price range and for last-minute offers .
The following hotels in Beijing are divided into three categories:
Luxurious (over ¥ 2000)
Moderate (750 to ¥ 2000)
Budget (up to ¥ 750).
This is the average price for a double room with taxes, but without breakfast unless otherwise stated.
Lifted
Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street
The hotel is located in the new financial district in western Beijing and has a view of Exchange Square. Its elegant, modern furnishings and spacious rooms (50 m² and more) herald a new era for the Ritz-Carlton brand name. The characteristic high level of service can be felt everywhere in this 253-room hotel, which opened in 2006. It also has three restaurants, a gym and a wellness center.
Address: 1 Jin Cheng Fang Street, East Financial Street, Beijing
Phone: (10) 66 01 66 66
Website: http://www.ritzcarlton.com
Grand Hyatt
This huge, striking glass building is located on Beijing’s main traffic artery, Donchangan Dajie, and just a few minutes’ walk from Wangfujing Shopping Center and Tiananmen Square. It shines with five different concept restaurants, a chic wellness center, a luxury shopping center and a breathtaking tropical indoor swimming pool. It is undoubtedly one of the most impressive hotels in all of Beijing.
Address: 1 Dongchangan Dajie, Beijing
Phone: (10) 85 18 12 34
Website: http://www.hyatt.com
The Peninsula Beijing
Limitless luxury is not cheap. Located two blocks from the Wangfujing shopping center, the hotel underwent extensive renovations in 2006 on a budget of $ 27 million. The changes are obvious. Each room has a hanging 42-inch flat screen TV with DVD, a silent fax machine and a bathroom with a TV and speaker system. If you can afford one of the exquisite suites, you won’t find the price too high. There are 50 designer shops in the shopping center and the two restaurants combine elegance, atmosphere and highly acclaimed cuisine in a successful way.
Address: Dongcheng, Jinyu Hutong 8, Beijing
Phone: (010) 85 16 28 88
Website: http://www.peninsula.com/Beijing.aspx
Moderate
The Kerry Center Hotel
In this Shangri-La hotel in the central business district, many regular business travelers and overseas entrepreneurs stay here. The premises for business meetings are excellent. The rooms are very comfortable and have lockers large enough for a laptop. There’s also a gym (with a jogging track on the roof), a swimming pool, wellness center, and a good selection of restaurants.
Address: Chaoyang, 1 Guanghua Lu, Beijing
Phone: (10) 65 61 88 33
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com
St Regis
The lobby, in marble and dark wood, suggests luxury, but guests’ suits and business conversations reveal their real reason for staying. This beautifully designed hotel is located between Wangfujing and the China World Center. Half of the 273 rooms are suites, and the business equipment and functional rooms are exemplary. There are five restaurants, three bars, a wellness and fitness center and butler service for every guest.
Address: Chaoyang, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing
Phone: (10) 64 60 66 88
Website: http://www.stregis.com/beijing
Red Capital Residence
A classy boutique hotel in a 200-year-old traditional residence with the Red Capital Club restaurant, whose iconic interior is dedicated to the communist history of China. The furnishing of the five suites is exactly as it would have been for a communist official in the 1950s. The bar is a converted air raid shelter. Not cheap, but the experience factor is unbeatable.
Address: 9 Dongsi Liutao, Beijing
Phone: (10) 84 03 53 08
Website: http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn
Cheap
Beijing Guxiang 20 hotel
This cozy and pretty boutique hotel in the style of an imperial residence is located in the heart of Beijing’s most famous hutong, Nanluogu Xiang, which has been transformed into a trendy district full of bars, cafés and restaurants. You can choose from a range of affordable single and double rooms and suites. In addition, a rather cheesy, but somehow cool Chinese restaurant in the style of a cocktail lounge is worth mentioning.
Address: 20 Nanluoguxiang, Beijing
Telephone: (010) 64 00 55 66
Website: http://www.guxiang20.com
Beijing Ningxia Hotel
This affordable 128-room hotel opened in 2006 and is conveniently located in a Hutong district near Ditan Park. The clean, spacious rooms have modern amenities, Internet access and cable television.
Although the target group is certainly Chinese business travelers, this hotel can offer a lot to visitors on a budget due to its good location and moderate tariffs.
Address: 13 Fensiting Hutong, Andingmennei Jie, Beijing
Phone: (10) 64 00 99 99
Website: http://www.bjnxhotel.com
The North Garden Hotel
A well-organized four-star hotel near Wangfujing shopping street. Small but comfortable rooms, English speaking staff, a generous breakfast buffet, business premises, a fitness and wellness center and free internet access in all rooms complete the central location of the hotel. Extremely good price-performance ratio.
Address: Doncheng, 218-1 Wangfujing Dajie, Beijing
Phone: (10) 65 23 88 88
Website: http://www.north-garden.com
