Where to stay in Beijing [Most Comprehensive Guide for 2023]

Fragment of the Great Wall of China, in the Mutianyu village, one of remote parts of the Great Wall near Beijing

Beijing is one of the most populated cities in the entire world with a population of over 21.5 million people. As such, the tourism industry in China’s capital city is booming!

The sheer size of Beijing means that there is a wide variety of things to do, places to see and places to stay. Beijing is rich in culture and history and several popular areas of the city reflect this, such as Qianmen and Wangfujing.

Other areas like Nanluoguxiang and Xi’dan are better known for their extravagant shopping malls, as shopping is quite a major activity in China.

Tourists with any and all interests will find an area of China that caters to their specific interests- it’s all about finding which one suits you best.

We will cover off all types of Beijing accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Beijing hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Beijing 2023.

This guide shoes off the best Beijing hotels, best places in Beijing to visit, the best places to stay in Beijing, hotels near Beijing attractions, Beijing neighborhood guide and many more.

Below are 6 of the best neighborhoods in Beijing to help you make the right decision when trying to work out best areas to stay in Beijing for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible.

We have also included some things to do or places to visit as well as some eatery suggestions of either our favourite places or some funky places to eat at within the areas in Beijing so you can use this as a go to guide to pick the best accommodation in Beijing for you.

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Table of Contents

Forbidden City – Where to stay in Beijing for families

The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing, located at the city centre of Beijing.

It is a very popular tourist attraction and was once the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties it now houses the Palace Museum.

Which houses extensive collection of artwork and artifacts which were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Below is a list of Beijing hotels near Forbidden City Tiananmen Square:

Best Places to Stay near Forbidden City

Cheapest Hostels near Forbidden City

Budget accommodation near Forbidden City

Mid-Range accommodation near Forbidden City

Family Friendly accommodation near Forbidden City

Affordable Luxury accommodation near Forbidden City

Nanluoguxiang – Best place to stay in Beijing for tourists

Nanluoguxiang is a narrow alley one of the most famous districts in Beijing, Dongcheng District. Although it’s a primarily residential area, for travellers who want a break from the busy craziness of central Beijing, it can be a great place to stay.

Alleys such as this represent the “real life” of Beijing, where alley ways connect to courtyards of traditional homes.

A lot of tourists enjoy going through the area and observing the historical homes and buildings, new and old.

The neighborhood contains many typical narrow streets known as hutong, Pedicab tours of these hutongs are popular tourist attractions that normally include the Drum Tower, courtyard neighborhoods and Prince Gong’s mansion.

Best Places to Stay near Nanluoguxiang

Cheapest Hostels near Nanluoguxiang

Budget accommodation near Nanluoguxiang

Mid-Range accommodation near Nanluoguxiang

Family Friendly accommodation near Nanluoguxiang

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Nanluoguxiang

BEIJING CHINA - Unidentified people visit Nanluoguxiang futong street. Nanluoguxiang lane has become a popular tourist destination with restaurants and bars.

Houhai – Where to stay in Beijing nightlife

Houhai is the hub of nightlife in Beijing. This bar street combines western culture with Chinese culture and is a popular place for many travellers who are into the party scene.

Houhai is home to a plethora of bars, restaurants, and cafes, which are reasonably priced for those on a budget. Understandably, there is a heavy presence of youth culture in Houhai, as they are attracted to the area’s vibrant nightlife.

Although Houhai is known for its party scene, it’s also home to the scenic Shichahai Lake.

Shichahai Lake is a historic area and is actually comprised of three major lakes combined into one. Whether you are a party animal or a nature lover, you can find your place in Houhai.

Best Places to Stay near Houhai

Budget accommodation near Houhai

Mid-Range accommodation near Houhai

Family Friendly accommodation near Houha

Affordable Luxury accommodation near Houha

Grand Metropark Yuantong Hotel Beijing

Qianmen Street – Where to stay in Beijing for sightseeing

Qianmen is one of the most recognizable symbols of Old Beijing. Located on the edge of the historical Tiananmen Square, Qianmen is a bustling area of Beijing where visitors can see the worlds of ancient Beijing and contemporary city life meet.

Qianmen, the colloquial name for Zhengyangmen, is home to several markets that offer a wide variety of goods, including meat, cloth, and jewellery. This is the best location to stay in Beijing.

The street also has a sightseeing trolley, which takes people around the area to see what there is to be offered.

While there are plentiful local restaurants in within this area there are also several international fast food joints and stores. If you are interested in history and how ancient traditions and contemporary city life merge, you must visit Qianmen.

Best Places to stay near Qianmen Street

Cheapest Hostels near Qianmen Street

Budget accommodation near Qianmen Street

Mid-Range accommodation near Qianmen Street

Family Friendly accommodation near Qianmen Street

Affordable Luxury accommodation near Qianmen Street

Beijing Zhengyang Gate Jianlou in Qianmen street in Beijing city China.

Wangfujing – Where to stay in Beijing for shopping

Wangfujing which is over 700 years old is located in the Dongcheng District; Wangfujing is the most famous shopping district in the entire city.

It has a wide variety of shops and boutiques that house world famous brands, so if you’re a shopaholic, this is paradise. In addition to selling high-end clothes and accessories, Wangfujing also sells a variety of antique traditional wares that have been around for hundreds of years.

The street also has bookstores and restaurants. Wangfujing is one of four of the most prosperous business centres in Beijing and is by far one of the busiest.

If your favourite thing to do while on vacation is go shopping, then you won’t want to miss Wangfujing.

Best Places to Stay near Wangfujing.

Cheapest Hostels near Wangfujing.

Peking Station Hostel

Budget accommodation near Wangfujing.

Mid-Range accommodation near Wangfujing.

Family Friendly accommodation near Wangfujing.

Affordable Luxury accommodation near Wangfujing.

Beijing, CHINA -: Wangfujing street is a famous shopping street in Beijing, China

Chaoyang Park – Where to stay in Beijing on a budget

For seasoned tourists, visiting city after city can get dull if you don’t take a break in between. Chaoyang Park might be just the break that you’re looking for.

This is the largest park in Beijing, which began construction in 1984.

Chaoyang Park is a park located on the site of the former Prince’s Palace in the Chaoyang Park District, it has beautiful lakes, sprawling green fields and plenty of playgrounds for kids and adults alike.

You can spend hours upon hours in Chaoyang Park, wandering down the walkways and enjoying the slower pace.

Best Places to Stay near Chaoyang Park

Budget accommodation near Chaoyang Park

Mid-Range accommodation near Chaoyang Park

Family Friendly accommodation near Chaoyang Park

Luxury accommodation near Chaoyang Park

Top 5 favorites accommodation options for Beijing

❤️ Best Area first timers	Nanluoguxiang
💸 Best Luxury Hotel	JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central
👪 Best Hotel for For Families	Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel
🏨 Best Mid-Range Hotel	Nostalgia Hotel Beijing- Yonghe Lama Temple
🛏️ Best Budget Hotel	Jinjiang Inn – Beijing Houhai
✨ Best Hostel	Happy Dragon.Backpackers Hostel