The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Beijing

This four-star hotel in Beijing combines the old and the new, with traditional Chinese architecture contrasting with chic furniture and modern design touches. Experience traditional culture in the heart of the metropolis with regular shadow-art painting classes, calligraphy lessons and dumpling cooking courses, as well as live shadow-art performances three times a week. The 25 guest rooms are clean and simple, and the lounge bar is comfortable.

This 3.5-star property is another quaint boutique hotel in Beijing set around a historic courtyard. It contains 30 guest rooms with en suite bathrooms. There’s also an in-house restaurant dishing up a buffet breakfast. Major Beijing sights such as Si De Park and Olympic Park are right on the hotel’s doorstep.

This four-star boutique hotel occupies the Xinghua Mansion, the former home of Suoni, who was an administrator during the ancient Qing Dynasty. Not far from the Bell and Drum Towers in the trendy Houhai area of Beijing, these 10 exclusive suites are fit for royalty, with traditional Chinese furnishings and an on-site library, bar and lounge, as well as a 24-hour reception that can help you organise rickshaw and boat tours.

Comfort like this normally comes with a much heftier price tag. The three-star Nostalgia Hotel in Beijing has 75 spacious suites decked out with a lot more than you’d expect for what you pay here. There are also free bicycles to borrow, a library, games room, business centre and a gym, all in a great location near the historic Chengxian Street in Dongcheng.

Michael dreamed of turning a traditional Beijing courtyard into a boutique bed and breakfast in Beijing and, in 2005, he turned his dream into a reality. This family-run property close to Houhai Park consists of 12 rooms, from basic twin shares to the opulent Emperor Suite. Michael’s House also features a leafy courtyard to lounge around in, an on-site restaurant serving breakfast and even a playground that’s handy if you’re travelling with children.

This 3.5-star hotel is simple, stylish and super-reliable. The Poly Plaza Hotel is made up of 292 polished guest rooms, a large indoor pool, a fully-equipped fitness centre, business and conference facilities and an in-house restaurant that serves a mouthwatering buffet breakfast. The central Beijing location is another big plus.

Unlike many other boutique hotels in Beijing that rely on the city’s old-world charm, this 3.5-star property is ultra-modern. The 12 gleaming apartments are beautifully furnished with both Western and Chinese elements, but the highlights are the hotel’s outdoor spaces – a large courtyard to chill out in and a scenic rooftop where you can soak in the views of the surrounding hutong alleyways.

Elegant imperial architecture welcomes guests to this great-value Nostalgia Hotel, situated a quick walk from the Bell and Drum Towers. All 56 guest rooms come with a flat-screen television, tea and coffee facilities and roomy en suite bathrooms, as well as breakfast. Guests can also make use of the hotel’s library, on-site convenience store and friendly 24-hour reception.