Beijing 161 Drum Tower Hotel

The rooms are a little small, but the rest of the place more than made up for that and made our Beijing stay feel unique. We especially liked the classic Chinese decor, and taking a quiet morning walk in the garden was peaceful and lovely. We stayed last summer. The hotel is in a convenient spot and is actually a private residence of a postal official from the late Qing Dynasty.

The room was missing the minifridge I had booked, the WiFi signal was weak, and the mattress was so hard it felt like a stone. Noise was another problem: the stone building echoes in the corridor, so you can hear people talking from your room. Chinese guests were quite noisy, and when I complained to reception, nothing was done. The entrance and street look pretty awful, as if they've been damaged for a long time and no one cares. In other respects the hotel was fine, but these details bring it down to a deserved three stars.

The garden view from the large, well-appointed room was great. The grounds are nicely landscaped with bamboo, persimmon trees, and other trees and shrubs. Staff were friendly and helpful. It's quiet here, but still close to the subway, restaurants, and shops. Recommended.

The Bamboo Garden Hotel sits on an authentic hutong within walking distance of Beijing’s Drum and Bell Towers. This traditional low-rise building, supposedly once owned by an imperial eunuch, is arranged around a courtyard with bamboo shade, rockeries, fountains, and flowers. It feels like a peaceful oasis in the city centre. There are 40 rooms, furnished with satellite TV, a telephone, safe, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, minibar, internet access, and a balcony. Hotel facilities include Chinese and western restaurants, a bar, café, shop, business centre, currency exchange, beauty salon, massage, and sauna.