Beijing Xinyuan Hotel

This is a decent hotel; clean and staff are reasonably polite, but it is quite far out and if I hadn't been on a prearranged tour (with transport provided) I would never have stayed there. There is nothing close by and the staff told us to stay away from the nearest train station as it was dangerous - nice. We went there and it was fine, but unless you have transport or need to be in this area, I would strongly suggest you stay elsewhere.

Unique Quality: around the back of the hotel was a cute little old man and woman selling snacks and crap out of a little window - loved them and their smiles. Also their food wasn't past it's used by date, which is often the case in some of the other stores. Go the little kiosk!

If you have a backpacker soul, these tips are helpful:

I recommend the BEIJING FAR EAST YH.
TIESHUXIEJIE No. 90.
Phone: 63018811-3118 or 3119 They charged 45 Kuai in a 3-bed-room. They offer a complete kitchen, washing machine, drier and western style showers and toilets. But the best thing is the location. Outside there is a market street full of streetkitchens, restaurants, supermarkets...only 5 minutes walk from TianAnMen and the ForbiddenCity!

On our difficult way to find a nice place we passed:
1. BEIJING YH, JianGuoMenNeiDaJie No.9 close to Beijing Railwaystation which was said to be brand new...in fact they were still building it in 2003
2. SAGA YH in some bad alleys 700m behind the Beijing YH, with 60 Kuai in a shabby 4-bed-room too expensive for the run down state.
3. ORIENTAL YH, Dondang-third-lane at Donfang Plaza No.8 - good location close to the TianAnMen and fair prices....but booked out! Ah, keep on walking;-)
4. Another place in the middle of nowhere: DIAO YUAN HOSTEL, somewhere next to the channel on YouAnMenDongBinheLu No.135...which is closer to the Temple of Heaven
BUT they have the best guy for organizing trips to the Great Wall!
It is Mr. John:
TieShuXieJie No. 66, XuanWu District. Phone: 83151553, 13901123938, 138012211089 or 13611326769.
Email jian_min@hotmail.com
His place is called ManGuoXiangHuoGuoDian.
A great trip to Simatai for two persons (60 kuai each) for a driver (Mr. John himself) in a jeep. to Simatai it is a 3h drive each way.

Unique Quality: a complete kitchen, washing machine, drier, western style toilets and showers.
But the best thing is the location. Outside there is a market street full of streetkitchens, restaurants, supermarkets...only 5 minutes walk from TianAnMen and the ForbiddenCity!

Directions: only 5 Minutes walk from TianAnMen