Dong Fang Hotel

The WiFi was weak, but the hotel was well run and convenient. There’s a café at lobby level, good amenities, and laundry service. The receptionist was polite and spoke English. A great place to stay.

We got a late checkout, which was a huge plus. The rooms were clean and spacious, and the hotel has a historical restaurant. Breakfast was okay, though not very European. The location was my only real complaint: the Metro isn’t very close and it’s not much of a walking area, so having DiDi and a good internet connection helps for getting a taxi.

I left before my fourth night, after staying three. The room was adequate, but it smelled of smoke, and the WiFi was poor and wouldn’t connect to anything. For the price, breakfast was mediocre at best. Staff were also really unhelpful when I asked questions. Asking for directions got me a shrug or one-word answers. Staff at hotels in the other Chinese cities I’d visited had been great, so this was a disappointing first impression of Beijing hospitality.

Laundry was the one bright spot. The service was very good, though it cost as much as other overpriced laundry services in Beijing. I still don’t understand why there aren’t coin laundries or laundromats. Beyond that, this was the worst hotel I’ve stayed in across China. Breakfast was crowded, and food started running out about an hour before it ended. The staff were abrupt and distant. When my Chinese girlfriend tried to check in, they treated her somewhat disparagingly. The WiFi was mediocre, too. It’s fairly near local attractions, but you can do better.