Brickyard Retreat at Mutianyu Great Wall — Hotel in Beijing

Guests should be aware that the Brickyard has been under new ownership since September and is no longer managed by the original owners. The new owner is the 2049 Group whose desire is to "shoulder the Chinese dream...through living up to the glory and belief of the party."||||Service from management was still very, very good. Those manning the front desk are conscientious and deliver a high level of customer service. ||||Other aspects of the property have clearly slipped. The property is now decorated with garish flashing lights that are completely out of character with the outdoor/organic concept and with the surroundings. The outside hallway leading to our room was decorated with very bright white lights hanging from the ceiling all the way to the ground, which completely obstructed the narrow walking path. This does not make any sense. Every time we walked to and from our room, we needed to dodge the light arrangements or forcibly push them aside. The bright lights were kept on all night, obscuring the night view and shining obnoxiously through the upper windows of our guest room--without any curtains.||||There was litter left from housekeeping in the courtyard outside our room and a strong musty/mildewed smell that seemed to come from the bathroom and never dissipated. Multiple features advertised by the property were no longer offered. For example, small touches like locally made grass slippers, which were advertised but not actually provided. Bicycles are advertised and visible from the outside but are not maintained and are unavailable to check out. The restaurant/lounge advertises that it is open until midnight and takes orders until 9:30pm. However, it was closed and locked each night much, much earlier, and staff inside seemed to wait for the earliest possible opportunity to put things away and close the place down. ||||Some of the local staff members seemed unhappy when customers actually tried to take advantage of the advertised amenities. I already mentioned the lounge. The same went for the outdoor jacuzzi that is offered as available 24 hours. However, when my wife and I tried to use it late in the evening, staff members inside the adjacent spa looked outside to see what we were doing and seemed unhappy we would be there. Better training is necessary. ||||Other small issues in the room--noisy radiator (loud knocking/popping sounds all night), limited hot water, etc. ||||As mentioned at the beginning, front desk/management staff were vey good and made my feeling somewhat better. However, my real issue is with the price. As a resident in China, I am able to accept most any of the things outlined above as part of the experience--but not in this location at $250 per night. For this price (in China), I expect a 5-star to 5-star-plus experience, even if the setting is rustic. The rate, in my opinion, was overpriced by double. ||||New ownership will likely oversee the property's change of concept and continued decline,...

We love the Brickyard and this stay was no exception. From the moment we arrived - with our 3 children and our puppy, we had a fantastic time.||What I love about this small, intimate hotel is the friendly care taken by the team under the guidance of the General Manager. The hotel is really great with rustic homely rooms, all with excellent and breathtaking views of the Great Wall. The grounds are beautiful and tranquil and you never feel like it is too crowded - which is wonderful if you have come to escape the busy city (like us). But what really makes this hotel my favourite hotel ever (and I’ve stayed in a few), is without a doubt the service. The team just get it right; the service is friendly and the team cannot do enough to help you. We love it because it truly is a restorative break, a home from home. Oh, and the food is just lovely too: I recommend the chicken curry ‘China in a Bowl’ which is delicious...and if you have any space left, the homemade cakes are the best I’ve had in Beijing! Not great for your waistline but great for your soul. We are already planning our...

We were charmed by the beautiful setting of this renovated factory. It was an ideal break for autumn. I very much suggest it, and we can't wait to return! We had heard much about it, and it went above and beyond what we expected.||We stayed in the Chairman's Suite and enjoyed the stunning view of the Great Wall's through the large windows. Our room featured a comfortable Japanese soaking tub, a private courtyard, and a fireplace that we happily ignited. The small touches, like the eyeshades, helped make our stay memorable. The staff was very hospitable and accommodating, allowing us to extend our stay a bit longer due to our sleeping baby.||We had a wonderful dinner at one of the 3 restaurants with excellent food and a lovely merlot. The next morning, a delicious breakfast with homemade products and freshly squeezed orange juice was ready for us. In the daytime, we walked around the small village and discovered paths for future visits to the...