Holiday Inn Express Beijing Shangdi by IHG

We picked this place for a day trip to the Great Wall, so the location worked for that, but it’s way out at the outer edge of the 5th Ring. Getting into the city took over an hour, as expected. The rooms are basic, and breakfast was included and delicious.

I like the self-service laundry room, something that’s hard to find at most other hotels, and the complimentary breakfast is terrific, with great food quality and plenty of choices. The rooms are neat and fairly quiet, and the staff are friendly, polite, and professional. My one gripe is that there’s no exercise facility on site, but I think the value is well above its rating and other chain hotels like it. I travel between the US and China often, and this is where I stay when I’m in Beijing. Getting around is convenient: the subway is a five-minute walk, and airport shuttle buses run back and forth all day right in front of the hotel.

Clean and in good repair, with decent rooms and okay beds and bathrooms. Better than many places in Beijing. Breakfast was a bit weak, and several of the usual items at Holiday Inn Express hotels in the USA were missing.

The hotel is affordable, with comfortable rooms and a very nice breakfast. Dinner is harder, since restaurant choices are quite limited. The location isn’t great either, with very few restaurants or shops in the immediate area.