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, 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. 

Quick note: Prices will obviously vary from high season to low season, in some cases by almost 50%!

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
Leo Hostel
Peking Station Hostel

Budget Hotels near Qianmen Street
King’s Joy Hotel
Super 8 Hotel Beijing Qian Men
Qianmen Jingshun Hotel (Second)

Mid-Range/Family Friendly Hotels near Qianmen Street
Jingtailong International Hotel
Capital Hotel Beijing
Jianguo Hotel Qianmen Beijing
pentahotel Beijing

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Qianmen Street
New World Beijing Hotel
Xiao Xiang Hotel
Beijing Hotel NUO
JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central

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

Cheapest Hostels near Houhai
Jingmei Hostel
WADA Hostell

Budget Hotels near Houhai
Huguosi Hotel
Orange Hotel (Beijing Guanyuanqiao)
Beijing Guxiang 20 Club

Mid-Range/Family Friendly Hotels near Houhai
King Parkview Hotel
Inner Mongolia Hotel Forbidden City
Beijing Z S Hotel
Shichahai Sandalwood Boutique Hotel

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Houha
Jintai Hotel
VUE Hotel Hou Hai, Beijing
Han’s Royal Garden Hotel

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.

Best Places to Stay near Forbidden City

Cheapest Hostels near Forbidden City
Yo Yo Hotel Nanluogu Alley

Budget Hotels near Forbidden City
Citytel Inn
GreenTree Inn Beijing Houhai Express Hotel

Mid-Range/Family Friendly Hotels near Forbidden City
Hotel Kapok Beijing
Jade Garden Hotel
Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Forbidden City
Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel
Sunworld Dynasty Hotel
Nanjing Great Hotel
Pan Pacific Beijing

Nanluoguxiang – Where to stay in Beijing for culture junkies

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

Budget Hotels near Nanluoguxiang
Piao Home Inn Beijing
Motel 268 Beijing
Jinjiang Inn Beijing

Mid-Range/Family Friendly Hotels near Nanluoguxiang
Hotel Palace
Jade Garden Hotel

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Nanluoguxiang
Waldorf Astoria Beijing
The Peninsula Beijing
Legendale Hotel Beijing

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.
Eastern Morning Sun Youth Hostel
Yonghe Hostel

Budget Hotels near Wangfujing.
Beijing Wangfujing Donghua Hotel
Chunhao Hotel

Mid-Range/ Family Friendly  Hotels near Wangfujing.
Hotel Kapok Beijing
Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing
Jade Garden Hotel

Affordable Luxury Hotels near Wangfujing.
Beijing Hotel NUO
Regent Beijing
Beijing Hotel
Grand Hyatt Beijing

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

Cheapest Hostels near Chaoyang Park
Wujing Zongdui Guesthouse

Budget Hotels near Chaoyang Park
Pod Inn Beijing TuanJieHu
Beijing Saga Hotel
Fudongsen Hotel
Rich&Young Seasons Park Service Apartment

Mid-Range/Family Friendly Hotels near Chaoyang Park
Corea Hotel
The Twenty-First Century Hotel
Guangming Hotel
Starway Tuanjiehu Hotel

Luxury Hotels near Chaoyang Park
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center
Somerset Grand Fortune Garden Beijing

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