Are you among the more jaded travellers who have just about had it with cookie-cutter luxury five-star hotels you are consigned to around the world? If so, there are choices available to you in Beijing not found anywhere else, traditional Chinese courtyard hotels hidden in tranquil hutong.
As a capital city for more than 850 years, Beijing inspired people to build numerous traditional courtyards (siheyuan) that served as the homes of imperial princes, famous writers like Lu Xun, Lao She and Guo Muoro and even the late Chairman Mao Zedong. Although most remaining residences are smaller than some built over the years, they are mostly well-kept in terms of basic structure and style. With renovation, some have been turned into high-class hotels featuring the best in Chinese ambience and style.
Beijing has four hotels of this kind, all the former residences of celebrities, and they all located in the city centre, within five kilometres of Tian’anmen.
Unlike other hotels, they are characterized by their nobility and traditional architectural style. Traditional Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) furniture and interior decorations, a serene atmosphere and quality services set these accommodations apart. From the outside, red gates with stone lions ensure privacy day and night and guard the mysteries accompanying the lives of these centuries-old courtyards.
But, though these are ancient structures, the facilities and services found there are of an international-standard. Services such as foreign currency exchange and business centres are provided. Quite popular among foreign visitors, the four hotels usually require reservations at least one-month in advance.
These courtyard hotels have also contributed to Beijing’s cultural heritage protection. The ancient structures have found a way to play a role in modern society in keeping with their historic environments. Not just museums, these historic structures are now making a very useful contribution to the city’s cultural heritage conservation in an accessible way.
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Lu Song Yuan Hotel
As the former residence of a famous Qing general, it has four courtyards. The four independent courtyards constitute a whole mansion. It got its name “Lu Song Yuan” from two centuries-old pines that grew side by side, intimately, like a couple.
The garden-like hotel has open-air tea houses. Fruit such as grapes and guava are grown in the courtyards. In addition, typical Chinese food is provided.
Rooms: 50
Price: 680, 720 yuan/night
Address: 22 Banchang Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区板厂胡同22号
Tel: +86 10 6404 0436
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Palace of Princess Hejing
This is the most noble courtyard hotel in Beijing, as the original owner of the mansion was the most beloved daughter of Emperor Qianlong (1735–1796). When she married, the emperor spent a huge amount of money on building the structure and decorating it. Hence, every detail in the mansion is worth viewing, from the symbolic animals on the roofs to plants grown in the garden.
Rooms: 140
Price: 400, 480 yuan/night
Address: 7 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
?Tel: +86 10 6401 7744
The Bamboo Garden Hotel
Located in a tranquil hutong near the Drum Tower, the hotel was formerly the mansion of Sheng Xuanhuai, the minister of Posts of the late Qing. From 1950–55, Dong Biwu, vice-chairman of the People's Republic of China lived there. Verdant bamboo forests, blossoming Chinese flowering crab apples and curving long-corridors combine to create an elegant ambience at the hotel.
Four sets of luxury rooms, named Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, are famous among foreign tourists and are priced at 1,780 yuan (US$223) each. Four renowned Chinese calligraphers autographed steles found in these rooms.
Rooms: 60
Price: 760, 880, 990 yuan/night
Address: 24 Xiao Shiqiao Hutong, Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xichengcheng District
西城区旧鼓楼大街小石桥胡同24号竹园宾馆
?Tel: +86 10 5852 0088
WWW: http://www.bbgh.com.cn
Haoyuan Hotel
This was the home of General Zhang Zizhong and later the office of many celebrities, including Deng Yingchao, the wife of the late Premier Zhou Enlai.
All the rooms are connected by corridors with Chinese paintings drawn on them. An old well surrounded by wooden barrels quietly stands in a corner of the courtyard. The well-preserved scene reminds visitors of its glory decades ago.
Rooms: 19
Price: 668–1,380 yuan/night
Address: 53 Shijia Hutong, Dongcheng District
Tel: +86 10 6512 5557
WWW: http://www.haoyuanhotel.com
Gegefu Restaurant
Address: 9 Daqudeng Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区大取灯胡同9号格格府
Tel: +86 10 6407 8001
Guigongfu
Address: 11 Fanjiayuan Hutong, east of Chaoyangmen Nanxiaojie
朝阳门南小街芳嘉‘昂11号桂公府
Tel: +86 10 6512 7667
Hua Jia Yi Yuan
Address: 99 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区东直门内大街99号
Tel: +86 10 6405 1908
Lijia Cuisine
Address: 11 Yangfang Hutong, Deshengmen Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区德胜门大街羊坊胡同11号
Tel: +86 10 6618 0107
Noble Club
Address: B 16, Hepingli Zhongjie, Dongcheng District
东城区和平里中街““16号““十六号商务会所
Tel: +86 10 6428 1188
Red Capital Club
Address: 66 Dongsi Jiutiao, Dongcheng District
东四九条66号新红资俱乐部
Tel: +86 10 6402 7150/1/2
Royal Palace
Address: Inside Changpuhe Park, east of the Forbidden City
Tel: +86 10 8511 5372
Tian and Di Restaurant
Address: 140 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区南池×”大街140号
Tel: +86 10 8511 5372
Meijia Cuisine
Address: 24 Daxiangfeng Hutong, Xicheng District
西城区大翔凤胡同24号
Tel: + 86 10 6612 6845
Temple Kitchen
Address: Inside Baita Temple, 171 Fuchengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区阜成门内大街171号白塔寺
Tel: +86 10 6617 1119 6618 1119 |
