Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Haoyuan Hotel is another popular courtyard hotel.
Cheers!

2

My uncle has asked me to book him into a hotel in Beijing. Jin Ya was one of the ones he suggested to me but, because it is on Wangfujing - which is basically a big mall - I couldn't help thinking it wouldn't be too authentic.

I might go and check it out in person later today though.

When I looked at The Insiders Guide to Beijing to find somewhere nice I suggested to him:

Bamboo Garden Hotel.
A traditional Chinese courtyard hotel near the Drum
Tower. Former home of a head eunuch of the Qing
dynasty. RMB 660 - 1760 (40 to 100 quid)

Lvsongyuan Hotel
centrally located in a hutong and close to houhai,
this hotel is built around a series of charming
coutryards. The second story cuite has a canopy bed
and classic views of gray tiled roofs. RMB 650 - 1200
(40 to 80 quid)

Red Capital Club residence
Stylish boutique hotel in a 200-year-old coutryard
home. antique furniture, stained glass ceilings in
the bathrooms, A former bomb shelter has been
converted into a bar. US 150 - 190 (80 to 100 quid)

3

I do not suggest red capital club at all

Bamboo Garden (less authentic but nicer rooms) and Lvsongyuan (more authentic but lower quality rooms) are both very nice

4

oh and I stayed at the haoyuan hotel last march. The hutong it is on is becoming a construction site, but the rooms were nice. I think bamboo garden is a better deal though because of it's location by the bell tower and on the ring metro.

5

I've stayed at the Lusongyuan hotel and went back in 2005 to take a look and it still looks fine. Seems to me I got a much lower rate than what #3 has posted, but maybe prices have gone up. Like any of the places, negotiate for a lower rate.

john

6

I've just been in person to both the lvsongyuan and the jinya.

They are both close to each other so the location is much over muchness. I would probably prefer the lvsongyuan's location for easy reach of Nanluogu Xiang's restaurants.

Jinya
This is not actually on Wangfujing, just near. It is on one of those centrally located hutongs that has been renovated to have a slightly "middle class" feel although I quite like them, why not? The courtyard is nice although obviously newly renovated rather than with an ancient feel to it. The rooms are pretty decent but not luxurious. 600 RMB for a double room was dropped down to 300 RMB a night for booking ahead. I don't think anyone would complain about 300 RMB for that room (150 each). If the weather was nice you would spend the time sat out in the courtyard anyway.

Lvsongyuan
This is much bigger, more foreigner friendly (the guy knew the English for "low season" when I didn't catch on to the Chinese) the room I saw had more tese with more effort having gone into the furniture and wooden rafters. In fact, the handpainted red bedside cabinet and 1920s style telephone would have a slightly tacky feel if you've lived for a while in Beijing and have visited panjiayuan and other "antique" markets. Those new to China wouldn't notice such things.

The cost of that double room was 600 RMB a night, with no discount for booking ahead and, in fact, April would be high season and so more like 800 RMB a night.

My uncle will only be in China for two weeks so I think he'd appreciate the details that make lvsongyuan more expensive. If it was just for me I wouldn't bother and be quite happy at the Jinya.