BEIJING MOON ME HOTEL is a small 72-room hotel in Fengtai, on the south side of Beijing, where there are far fewer tourists than by the Forbidden City. It occupies the first five floors of a residential building in Dongtiejiangying alley, and this is perhaps the main secret: in the morning you step out onto a street where an ordinary city district is waking up, not a tourist quarter. It is about eight minutes on foot to Liujiayao metro station, and from it a few stops to the centre. The Temple of Heaven next door, Qianmen and Tiananmen are reachable in a single ride. Guests note the cleanliness, the very attentive staff and the quiet rooms, and in the hotel itself there are a restaurant, a cafe, a library, a gym, a laundry and luggage rooms. Some people choose this area because of the closeness to clinics: nearby are an oncology hospital and large medical institutions. For everyone else it is advantageous for its quiet and good transport links.
Fengtai: the quiet southern part of Beijing
The Fengtai district lies south of the centre, and it is one of those quarters of Beijing where you can see ordinary life: markets, hairdressers, bakeries, and in the evening courtyards with chess. The hotel is in Dongtiejiangying alley, about eight minutes from Liujiayao metro station. From here it is convenient to go to the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the streets of Qianmen and Wangfujing. Metro trips take a few stops, and in the evening you can return to a quiet area, leaving the tourist crowd behind. Near the hotel there are clinics, so in the surroundings there are always pharmacies, cafes and inexpensive canteens.
- The Temple of Heaven — the main temple complex of the south of the city.
- Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City — the centre of the capital.
- Qianmen Street and Wangfujing — shopping and street food.
- Liujiayao metro — eight minutes on foot from the hotel.
Tip for travellers: For Tiananmen and the Forbidden City you need a passport and, as a rule, advance booking of tickets; it is better to check the rules before the trip. The Temple of Heaven is beautiful at any time, but especially good in the morning, when Beijingers exercise in the park.
Cleanliness, quiet and calm service
The hotel makes no claim to showy luxury, but it has what is needed on a long trip. In the morning you go out to a cafe, take a coffee and head to the metro, in the afternoon you return for your things and rest in the reading area, and in the evening you drop into the gym. The hotel is equipped minimally but thoughtfully: there is a library, a restaurant, a cafe, a meeting room, a laundry, a luggage room and lockers. The concierge desk helps with taxi and ticket booking, and free Wi-Fi works in public areas. Check-in is quick, and so is check-out.
- A restaurant, a cafe and a library
- A gym and a laundry
- Luggage rooms and lockers
- A concierge, taxi booking
- Coworking, a meeting room
Rooms and quiet
Guests single out the cleanliness: the rooms and bathrooms are kept at a high level. The area is calm, so it is usually quiet at night too.
Who it suits
Those who come to Beijing for a few days and want to spend the evening away from the noise, and also guests who visit the clinics nearby.
What to eat in the area
The hotel itself has a restaurant and a cafe, so breakfast and dinner can be eaten on site. If you want something local, look for the nearest canteens: on the outskirts of Beijing they serve noodles with zhajiangmian sauce, dumplings, lamb and hot buns. In the evening in the area many places work late.
It is better to order Peking duck at one of the popular restaurants by Qianmen or in Dashilar: it is convenient to go there by metro. Returning in the evening to a quiet alley after the noisy centre is pleasant.
Pros and cons of BEIJING MOON ME HOTEL
What guests like
- The quiet Fengtai area and the metro eight minutes on foot.
- The Temple of Heaven, Qianmen and Tiananmen are accessible by metro and taxi.
- The cleanliness and attentive staff, which guests call the main plus.
- A restaurant, a cafe, a library and a gym in one building.
- It suits both tourists and those who come for treatment nearby.
What to know in advance
- To reach the Forbidden City and Wangfujing you need to take the metro, not walk.
- The hotel occupies several floors of a residential building and has no park or pool of its own.
- There are few restaurants with tourist cuisine around.
- The entrance to the alley is not always easy to find, so it is better to save the address in advance.
What guests usually write
Guests most often praise the cleanliness, the quiet, the polite staff and the convenient metro. Many note that the area is calm and that the staff help with questions. Criticism is rare and concerns the distance from the centre.
How to book BEIJING MOON ME HOTEL from Russia
Decide on your dates: in holiday weeks Beijing is packed. Choose your dates in the “Where to book” block and pay in roubles; you will see the payment method at the last step.
