Zhongan Hotel, Beijing

This is a hotel in an old dark hutong and most taxi drivers would not take you as the hutong is too narrow for a taxi to fit in. My best suggestion is that you should use the nearby Marriott Hotel to find a taxi. The front desk service is okay without currency exchange nor warm smile. We need to walk across the main street to a local bank (ICBC) and wait for 30+ mins to get your RMBs. The hotel is near by Beijing Train Station, 10 min walk. The breakfast is authentic/traditional Chinese version with few options of western items. 10 rmbs each. The dinner is GREAT with a reasonable price (25 rmb each and you will be full). We love it a lot. Be careful, there is NO elevator at this hotel so you may need to move your own luggage to the 4th floor if the doorman is busy. A small tour desk is on site and could arrange your trips which is very convenient. You know they could charge you 320 rmbs to great wall, but locals pay only 100 rmbs. It is because you will have your own english-speaking tourguide with a smaller bus. The internet (cable) is free and there is a public computer at the 1st floor of the building for your usage. The restroom is a problem: it is old and with moldy smell. We asked the hotel to apply bleach to it which can do the trick, but they did not comply. If you have enough budget, my suggestion is to stay at a hotel nearby main streets instead of a dark and dirty hutong unless you want to see the lower-level of Chinese life in Bejing.

I stayed 3 nights at the Zhongan Hotel and would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a budget priced, well located, comfortable hotel. The staff were friendly and really tried hard to make my stay a pleasant one. There were some language difficulties, but every time I needed information, I was eventually given correct and concise details. The location of the hotel is excellent, right near the main train station. Public transport from here is so easy. The only drawback is that many taxis don't know how to find the hotel, so always carry a map with you. In fact, prior to my initial arrival, I contacted the hotel and a very kind lady called Cindy emailed me a map and instructions in Chinese for the taxi driver. The other "plus" for the hotel is that they provide a computer in your room, with excellent broadband access, for only 10 Yuan a day extra to the room price. A bargain!

Very good hotel near the railway station and subway. Good rooms, clean bathroom. We had a liitle appartment: a small living, kitchen and two bedrooms. You can hire a computer on your room for only 10 yuan a day, including internet. Two bottles of water are free, bicycle hire, tour organisations etc. They speak a little english. The breakfast is not free, but costs only 10 yuan