China has a rapidly disappearing number of hutong hotels.
Hutongs are a type of narrow street or alley commonly associated with Beijing, China. The number of historic Beijing hutongs has dramatically decreased in recent years due to the construction of modern roads and buildings. Travelers hoping to see traditional hutongs can reserve rooms at one of several hutong hotels in central Beijing. Due to the narrow streets, taxi drivers may not be able to take travelers directly to the hotel's doors, but that minor inconvenience only adds to the experience.
Cong's Hutong
Located several blocks from Beijing's ancient Forbidden City, Cong's Hutong is a small boutique courtyard hotel in the heart of China's capital. Cong's Hutong offers an authentic Chinese courtyard lifestyle in its four guest rooms, each with its own theme and named after the four arts admired by ancient Chinese scholars. All air-conditioned rooms are junior suites, equipped with modern amenities including separate bathrooms with showers and wireless broadband Internet access. The east wing of the hotel's yard serves as a living room, which is connected to a small dining room and fully equipped kitchen.
Guests can enjoy tasty meals on-site. Your server will even ask if anyone has a particular food allergy. The hotel is also situated in a bustling area within a 5- to 10-minute walk of plenty of excellent restaurants. Set in an old hutong courtyard building, Dali Courtyard offers a variety of dishes featuring tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, meat and fish. Ding Tai Feng Restaurant is a popular place for dumplings and sesame noodles.
Cong's Hutong is within walking distance of many major attractions including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Drum Tower and the Temple of Heaven. The hotel's owners speak very good English and can help guests plan city adventures and excursions to the Great Wall.
Cong's Hutong
139 Lishi Hutong
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100006, China
86-1370-120-6139
cong-hutong.com
Courtyard 7
Located on an old lane adjacent to Beijing's ancient Forbidden City, the upscale Courtyard 7 hotel consists of three rows of courtyards. A three-year restoration project has transformed the building and introduced advanced technologies, running water, heating and electricity. Courtyard 7 features eight rooms, some with standard accommodations and others with superior and deluxe amenities. All rooms come with air conditioning, complimentary high-speed Internet access, cable TV and en-suite bathrooms with showers. Courtyard 7's restaurant features a fusion of Eastern and Western cuisines through a variety of French and Chinese dishes.
Guests can easily get to many popular tourist destinations by renting bikes or using the subway (a 10- to 15-minute walk). The famous Drum Tower is situated just around the corner from the hotel, and the Forbidden City and Hou Hai Lakes are also close by. A few minutes south of Courtyard 7 is the Wangfujing shopping district, featuring more than 200 shops.
Courtyard 7
No. 7, Qiangulouyuan Hutong
Nan Luo Gu Xiang
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100009 China
86-1064-060-777
couryard7.com
Maoer Hutong Courtyard Bed and Breakfast
The Maoer Hutong Courtyard Bed and Breakfast provides Western-style bed and breakfast experiences with a Chinese accent. It is located in a traditional hutong near the former residence of the Chinese Empress Wan Rong. All rooms are furnished with a TV, safe, water cooler, heating units and complimentary Internet access. Most rooms have air conditioning, but only three have en-suite bathrooms. Other available amenities include a shared DVD player, hair dryer and washing machine. Breakfast is included in the room rates.
Nearby restaurants include Family Li Imperial Cuisin, featuring dishes prepared in accordance with old imperial family recipes. Middle 8th Restaurant, located within the Yoyo Hotel, is a very busy establishment, featuring tasty Yuan cuisine such as fried mushrooms and steamed fish. For a completely different dining experience, Argana is a very popular Moroccan restaurant.
Maoer Hutong is located within walking distance of several popular tourist destinations including the Forbidden City, Shichahai/Hou Hai Lakes, Beihai Park, the Drum Tower and shopping on Nanluogxiang Lane. The nearest subway stations, Guloudajie, is a brisk 20-minute walk from the hutong.
Maoer Hutong Courtyard Bed and Breakfast
28 Maoer Hutong
Di'anmenwai Daije
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100009 China
86-1366-121-9901
bb-china.com
