Beijing Yi Ting Zhen She Hotel — Hotel in Beijing

In short: the room was good, the service was probably the worst I’ve had in my entire life. Would absolutely not recommend if you do not speak Chinese.Where to start. We booked this place for its location and reviews, which were quite okay. When we arrived on our first day the first impression was good. It was hard to find the hotel, as they have 3 locations in Maps (Apple, Maps.me, Google Maps, they all couldn’t tell us where the place really was). As we arrived I think we realized why: the name of the hotel isn’t their real name, seems like it’s a “fake” name or something? On the building they use a very different name.But once we found it, we were pleasantly surprised. Swift checkin, the room was clean, modern and the bed very comfy. But on our first day the struggle started. We soon realized they didn’t actually offer any breakfast (which we were able to book extra at the hotel). When asking about the breakfast, we also realized they literally didn’t speak a single word of English at all. Don’t get me wrong, yes, it’s China, I’ve been to China multiple times, people not speaking English is normal and should be expected.But the staff wasn’t able to inform us about anything. It almost felt as if they just came to Beijing and started working in the hotel, they couldn’t answer any of our questions regarding visiting the great wall, the Tian’anmen square and the Forbidden City. On the street we spoke with some other foreign tourists, they told us we needed reservations for the square and forbidden city. We asked in the hotel, the guy from the night shift booked us a slot for 2 days later for the square.For the great wall, he failed to inform us properly about the bus, about the times, etc. Result: us missing our bus as he gave us wrong times (and we had missed the last one), but as we had the tickets for the great wall already (and paid already) we had to take a taxi as that was literally the only option left. Obviously that was about 10 times the price of the bus. So thanks for that.Important tip for the hotel: make a simple standard guide book / city guide book for your guests with all basic information in it. All people from the hotel (Chinese and foreigners) come here to visit the great wall + Forbidden city, how hard is it to give your guests correct information?Even worse, on the last evening we were going to take a taxi to the airport from the hotel. They told us we cannot hail a taxi on the road and MUST order via an app. We don’t have the apps (can’t register without CN number), so she offered to book one for us. Great, we thought. I gave her the airport, she booked the taxi and we gave her the cash as China is a very cashless country. About 10 mins into our taxi ride my girlfriend realized we’re heading the wrong way. Beijing has 2 big airports, she ordered the taxi to the wrong one, even though I showed her the airport we were going in both English AND CHINESE.Luckily the driver was very friendly and turned around and drove to the other airport, we made it in time still. He didn’t even charge us anything extra, as he felt so sorry for us (being very stressed and very late), but we did leave him a nice tip. At the airport, just out of curiosity we asked him about the price of the ride in the end. Guess what, with a huge detour + long stopping time to discuss, the lady from the hotel STILL made and extra 25% on this ride. Holy… I do not know what the issue was with the people at this hotel, but it truly seemed as if they didn’t WANT to help us, but were literally trying to screw us constantly.Overall this hotel cost us about 50% extra in all the extra costs we had to make to make up for their mistakes. Our verdict?...

Great Location, but Beware of the Air ConditioningThis hotel honestly has the perfect location—right at the south end of Qianmen Street, which makes it super convenient if you want to explore the area. You literally just step outside and you’re already in the middle of the shopping street action. Walk up to the northern end, and you’ll hit Tiananmen Square, with the Forbidden City just beyond.The hotel’s interior is charming and has a lot of character. Room 329, where we stayed, was clean and well-decorated. That said, the bathroom setup wasn’t ideal—there was a bathtub, but no separate shower area, which made things a bit uncomfortable and unnecessary in our opinion.Staff were kind and really tried to be helpful. Communication was a bit tricky (mostly through WeChat with translation), but they were always polite and accommodating.Unfortunately, the major issue during our stay was the air conditioning—or lack thereof. On our first night, it just didn’t work. It was set to zero degrees but stayed at 28°C the entire time. We were sweating at 1 a.m., unable to sleep. We later found out (both from staff and reviews of other hotels nearby) that many hotels in Beijing don’t turn on the air conditioning in April. Our room didn’t have a window either, so there was no ventilation at all, which made it worse.Because of this, we had to cut our stay short. We moved to Live Fortuna the next day, and while we were refunded for the rest of the nights, we still had to pay for the first (and ironically, most expensive) night.A few extra notes: the hotel doesn’t have direct car or Didi access, but it’s only a 1-minute walk from drop-off, and it’s very close to the subway station—including Qianmen Station—so transport isn’t really an issue.Overall, the hotel wins in terms of location, aesthetics, and staff friendliness. But the air conditioning situation is a dealbreaker, especially in warmer months. Unless they update that, I wouldn’t...

A Serene and Stylish Retreat – Yiting Zhenshe Hotel is a Hidden GemDuring my recent trip, I had the absolute pleasure of staying at Yiting Zhenshe Hotel, and it was truly one of the highlights of my journey. Nestled in a quiet yet accessible part of the city, this boutique hotel offers a perfect blend of modern elegance and warm hospitality.From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the thoughtful design and calming ambiance. The lobby exudes a minimalist aesthetic with tasteful décor, soft lighting, and a gentle aroma that immediately made me feel relaxed and welcomed. The check-in process was seamless, and the staff were not only professional but also genuinely kind and eager to assist.My room was beautifully appointed – spacious, clean, and designed with a sense of tranquility in mind. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and I especially appreciated the high-quality linens and the attention to small details, like the curated tea set and handwritten welcome note. The bathroom was spotless, featuring a powerful rain shower and premium toiletries that added a touch of luxury to the experience.One of the standout features of Yiting Zhenshe Hotel is its peaceful atmosphere. Despite being close to key attractions and transportation, the hotel feels like a serene escape from the city's bustle. It’s an ideal haven after a long day of sightseeing.The breakfast each morning was a delight, offering a selection of local specialties and fresh ingredients in a beautifully lit dining area. Everything was thoughtfully prepared, and the staff made sure I felt cared for at every step.In summary, Yiting Zhenshe Hotel offers much more than just a place to sleep – it provides a full experience of comfort, calm, and style. I would wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a unique and rejuvenating stay in the area. I look forward to returning on...