Beijing Purple Horse Garden Hotel Wangfujing

On my trip from Azerbaijan, I found the rooms clean, the staff friendly, and the location good. It was comfortable and great value for money. I’d happily stay at The Purple Horse Hotel again. Highly recommended!

When searching for the hotel, use its Chinese name, Zilong Garden Hotel(zilong huayuan jiudian), meaning “Purple Dragon Garden Hotel.” Google Maps in China is a complete mess, so I’d use a Chinese navigation app along with the Chinese name. This is our favourite hotel anywhere in China. In a hutong（hutong, narrow alleyway traditional in this part of the country), it feels like an urban oasis as soon as you pass through the ornate wooden front door and into the lobby. The staff greeted us warmly and let us check in at 8:30 in the morning, which we really appreciated after our long flight from London. The room balances classical style with modern amenities. There was lots of beautifully designed wardrobe and cupboard storage, and having two bathroom sinks was especially useful. The superking-sized room had a very comfortable superking-sized bed. We usually struggle to sleep on unfamiliar beds, but slept like babies through all five nights. The staff were the most thoughtful and friendly we’ve ever met, especially front desk receptionist Yang and manager Judie. They brought freshly made tangyuan(xiao tangyuan, little glutinous rice balls in a goopy sweet soup) for breakfast, and it quickly became my girlfriend’s favourite. It was meant to be a one-off special, but they asked the kitchen to make it again the next day. We couldn’t be more grateful, and missed the hotel when we had to leave.

Use “The Purple Dragon” when looking it up in the Didi taxi app, or you’ll end up on the wrong side of town. Ask me how I know.

The tea selection at breakfast was so extensive, and the chef knew so much about it that we ended up having a tea ceremony every day. He was also a lovely man, made a fabulous omelette, and we enjoyed the Chinese breakfast dishes he prepared. The restaurant serves food for guests throughout the day and evening, with the same excellent chef working there. The Purple Horse is right in the hutongs, close to lively Dongsi North Street. Our room was large, modern, thoughtfully designed, spotlessly clean, and finished to a very high standard. The big bed was incredibly comfortable, the pillows were the softest, and there was a powerful shower as well as a bath. Staff were friendly and helpful. We usually choose luxury boutique hotels, and this one measured up to the best we've stayed in. We loved our time at the Purple Horse.