Beijing's Hidden Gem: Deshengmen's Hanting Hotel Awaits!
Beijing's Deshengmen Hanting Hotel: More Than Just a Place to Crash (A Review That's Probably Too Honest)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. Because I'm about to spill the metaphorical Beijing-duck-flavored tea on the Deshengmen Hanting Hotel. Forget the perfectly polished travel brochures – this is real life, folks. And sometimes, it's a beautiful mess.
First, let's tackle the basics, because let's be honest, that's what you're here for:
(Metadata Shout-Out!)
- Keywords: Beijing Hotel Review, Deshengmen Hanting, Budget Hotel Beijing, Accessible Hotel, Free Wi-Fi Beijing, Chinese Hotels, Travel Beijing, Beijing Accommodation, Hotel Review, Beijing Travel Tips.
(Accessibility & Stuff - The "So You Can Actually Get In" Part)
- Accessibility: Ugh, this is a mixed bag. The hotel claims to have facilities for disabled guests, and there is an elevator (thank the travel gods!), but… well, let’s just say the ramp leading up to the front door looked suspiciously steep. I'm not a wheelchair user, but my own wonky knee was giving me serious side-eye. Check very carefully if accessibility is crucial. Rating: 3/5 (Potential, but verify.)
- On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: I didn't notice anything specifically labelled as "accessible" within the dining areas, but the layout seemed okay. Don't quote me, though. My observations in this space were a bit fuzzy.
- Wheelchair accessible: See above.
- Elevator: Yes. (Thank goodness!)
(Internet - Because We're All Addicted)
- Internet Access: Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES. Free Wi-Fi? Double yes! Pure, unadulterated happiness. The signal strength was decent, too. Bless.
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't even see a LAN port, but who uses those anymore?
- Internet Services: Standard stuff.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Works, but not amazing. It's a hotel, not a digital utopia.
(Cleanliness & Safety – Trying to Feel Safe)
- Cleanliness and safety: Okay, here's where things get… nuanced. The rooms were relatively clean. Clean-ish is about the best I can give it. There was a slightly-musty aroma in the hall, a classic of these smaller hotels.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: I mean, who really knows? I can only make a guess with a maybe
- Breakfast in room: Only if you really beg. And if your breakfast is a box of pre-packaged cereal.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Another probably answer, but I wouldn't count on it for anything fancy.
- Cashless payment service: Yes
- Daily disinfection in common areas: I hope so. Let's just say I didn't see anyone wielding UV wands, but I’m guessing the staff had to.
- Doctor/nurse on call: I hope.
- First aid kit: I did not test the need for a first aid kit.
- Hand sanitizer: Yes.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: The linens seemed to be washed, but not exactly "hot water steam blasted."
- Hygiene certification: I have no clue. No. Not that I remember.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Mostly. (See breakfast situation above.)
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They try. It's Beijing, so… good luck.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Again, I'm guessing.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Definitely not, I am sure.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Yeah.
- Safe dining setup: They try.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: I trust them.
- Shared stationery removed: I did not notice.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed to go through the motions.
- Sterilizing equipment: See above.
- Smoke alarms: Yes. (Important!)
(Stuff to Do (Or Not) & Ways to Relax (Maybe Try Somewhere Else)
- Things to do: It's an hotel, not a resort. Beijing itself is the "thing to do."
- Ways to relax: In-room coffee maker? Yes. Maybe the best part.
- (The Spa Fantasy - and Reality check!)
- Okay, let's be real. This isn't a spa destination. There are no spa facilities. I'm fairly sure the word "spa" is there to tease, but I digress.
- No body scrub, body wrap, fitness center, foot bath, gym/fitness, massage, pool with a view, sauna, spa, spa/sauna, steam room, swimming pool or outdoor swimming pool.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Fueling Up Part)
- Dining: The on-site restaurant(s) were… functional. Let’s just say the food wasn’t the highlight of my trip.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes, although the menu felt… limited.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Probably.
- Asian breakfast: Yes. (Noodles. Always noodles.)
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
- Bar: Yes.
- Bottle of water: Provided. Score!
- Breakfast [buffet]: Yes. (See above. Your mileage may vary.)
- Breakfast service: Yes.
- Buffet in restaurant: Yes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes. (Instant, usually.)
- Coffee shop: Nope.
- Desserts in restaurant: Limited. (Mostly pre-packaged.)
- Happy hour: Doubtful.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yes. (With varying degrees of success.)
- Poolside bar: Nope.
- Restaurants: Yes.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes
- Salad in restaurant: Yes. (Possibly pre-packaged.)
- Snack bar: Yes.
- Soup in restaurant: Yes.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Unlikely.
- Western breakfast: Limited. (Try the questionable toast.)
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Limited.
(Services and Conveniences – The "Making Life Slightly Easier" Category)
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes. (Thank you, heavens!)
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: I doubt it…
- Business facilities: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Concierge: Sort of. They'll point you in the right direction, but don't expect a personal butler.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yes.
- Convenience store: Next door.
- Currency exchange: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Mostly good.
- Doorman: Yes.
- Dry cleaning: They'll point you in the right direction.
- Elevator: Yes. (See Accessibility)
- Essential condiments: Available.
- Facilities for disabled guests: (See above.)
- Food delivery: Yes.
- Gift/souvenir shop: The tiny one next door, next to the convenience store.
- Indoor venue for special events: See above. Possibly.
- Invoice provided: Yes.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Laundry service: Yes.
- Luggage storage: Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Yes.
- Meetings: Yes.
- Meeting stationery: I did not notice.
- On-site event hosting: Possible.
- Outdoor venue for special events: LOL.
- Projector/LED display: I did not see.
- Safety deposit boxes: Yes.
- Seminars: Unlikely.
- Shrine: Not really.
- Smoking area: There is a smoking allowed place in the open.
- Terrace: No.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Noted.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Yes.
(For the Kids - Because They're People Too - or Because You Need a Babysitter)
- Babysitting service: Probably not.
- Family/child friendly: Yes.
- Kids facilities: I did not see kids facilities.
- Kids meal: Unlikely.
(Getting Around - The "How Do I Actually Leave This Place?" Section)
- Airport transfer: Yes. *
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your sanitized, corporate-approved travel itinerary. This is me, freshly off the plane, fueled by questionable airplane coffee and the sheer audacity to think I can conquer Beijing. And I'm doing it ALL from the glorious, probably slightly moldy, heart of the Hanting Hotel Deshengmen. Buckle up.
Operation: Beijing Blitzkrieg (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Noodles)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Wall of Exhaustion
- 10:00 AM: Landed at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Flight was a blur of crying babies and the existential dread of being crammed into an aluminum tube for twelve hours. My luggage did arrive, which is already a small victory.
- 11:30 AM: Navigated the airport like a confused hamster in a maze. Finding the airport express train was a triumph. Briefly considered adopting a panda just for the adorable factor. Resisted. (For now).
- 12:30 PM: Arrived at Hanting Hotel Deshengmen. The lobby? Clean enough. The room? Well, let's just say it's got "character." The A/C sounds like a dying walrus. I'm already sweating. This is fine. Everything is fine. Sort of.
- 1:00 PM: The GREAT WALL! God, was it EPIC! I'm talking, actual ancient stone, windswept vistas, and a relentless climb. I could barely breathe. My legs felt like lead. But the view? Absolutely breathtaking. I mean, genuinely, tear-jerkingly beautiful. I even managed to snap a selfie that doesn't make me look like a total sweaty mess, which is practically a miracle.
- 4:00 PM: Okay, maybe I am a total sweaty mess. Descending the wall was harder than going up! Knee pain is my new best friend.
- 5:00 PM: Drove back. I feel like I am a boiled lobster.
- 6:00 PM: Food! I'm Starved! I found a small street food place nearby. The language barrier was REAL. I ended up pointing and smiling a lot. Ended up with some kind of savory pancake. Not sure what was in it, but it tasted delicious! Feeling a little less like a shell-shocked war refugee and a little more like a, well, a slightly less shell-shocked tourist.
- 8:00 PM: Back at the hotel. Showered and collapsed on the bed. The walrus-A/C is still belching. I need sleep. And maybe a massage for my poor abused legs. (I have a good travel pillow, I think)
Day 2: Lost in Translation (and Forbidden City Fury)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up! Surprisingly, the walrus-A/C didn't kill me. Coffee is vital in a foreign country.
- 9:00 AM: Attempted to order breakfast at the hotel. Ended up getting what I think was congee. It was…interesting. Edible? Definitely. Delicious? Debatable.
- 10:00 AM: Forbidden City! The sheer scale of this place is overwhelming. Thousands of rooms, courtyards, and enough red paint to give a paint company a hernia. Trying not to elbow any tourists in the face (failing slightly). The crowds! Oh, the crowds! I swear, I saw a tiny child wearing a panda hat. I almost got trampled. My feet hurt.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch near the Forbidden City. Found (or, more accurately, stumbled upon) a little noodle shop. Ordered some dumplings. These were amazing! I mean, melt-in-your-mouth, perfectly seasoned, little pockets of heaven. I think I might have accidentally ordered a second plate. No regrets.
- 2:30 PM: Tiananmen Square. A vast, empty space. I was expecting more… excitement? More pigeons? It felt eerily quiet. I thought about the history here. It's heavy.
- 4:00 PM: The Summer Palace. Escaping the crush of the city felt like such a relief! Walking around the lake felt like a dream compared to the chaos of the Forbidden City. I saw a traditional opera performance in the park. It was fascinating to watch the show.
- 6:00 PM: Tried to navigate the subway. Got on the wrong train. Ended up three stops past my stop. Walked for what felt like a mile.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Found some really tasty street food. It was fried, and crunchy.
- 8:30 PM: Back at the hotel. My feet are begging for mercy. Debating if I should try to learn some basic Mandarin, or just collapse. Collapsed.
Day 3: Temple Troubles and Tourist Triumphs
- 9:00 AM: Sleep in. Bliss.
- 10:00 AM: The Temple of Heaven. This place is beautiful. The architecture is stunning. Trying to focus on the beauty, not the screaming children.
- 12:00 PM: Found a hidden tea house. The tea was wonderful. My spirit has been calmed!
- 1:00 PM: Lunch! Found a hole-in-the-wall place. The food was incredible. This is the place to eat!
- 2:00 PM: Had some down time back at Hanting hotel, I needed some rest.
- 4:00 PM: Shopping! Went to the Silk Market. It was insane. So many vendors. So much haggling. I think I bought a few scarves, and a fake designer bag.
- 7:00 PM: Tried ordering dinner again. It was an adventure, I think I actually made a friend?
- 9:00 PM: Back at the Hotel. Planning my next day.
Day 4: Departure and Delicious Doubt
- 8:00 AM: One last congee attempt. Still questionable, but I have a healthy appreciation for its mysteriousness.
- 9:00 AM: Last-minute souvenir shopping. Scared of my bank account
- 10:00 AM: Check out of the Hanting Hotel. The walrus-A/C will be missed… slightly.
- 11:00 AM: Airport. Waiting. Reflecting.
- 1:00 PM: Goodbye Beijing. I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, and utterly charmed. This trip was a wild ride. I've seen incredible things, eaten questionable food, and lost myself (temporarily) more times than I can count. Beijing, you beautiful, chaotic, delicious beast, I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Now, back to reality. And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn some Mandarin before I return. (Maybe not).
- 2:00 PM: Arrive at the airport
- 3:00 PM: Boarding the plane.
Final Thoughts:
This itinerary is far from perfect, but then again, neither am I. Be open to trying new things. The best moments often come from the unexpected. And always, ALWAYS, bring snacks. And maybe a good pair of walking shoes. And a sense of humor. You'll need it.
Amritsar's Hottest Hotel: PR Residency's Unbeatable Luxury Awaits!
Beijing's Hidden Gem: Deshengmen's Hanting Hotel Awaits! (Maybe... Depends) FAQ
Alright, alright, so you're thinking about the Hanting Hotel near Deshengmen, eh? Good for you! Or maybe… good for you, I don't know. Booking hotels in Beijing is like navigating rush hour – you never quite know what you're going to get. But hey, I've got some hot takes and lukewarm opinions to share. Let's get this bread, or at least, this mediocre breakfast buffet…
1. Is this really a "hidden gem"? Sounds… questionable.
Okay, "hidden gem" is a bit… optimistic. It's not glistening with diamonds, folks. It's more like a moderately priced, clean-ish pebble. Think: functional, not fabulous. The "hidden" part mainly refers to the fact that it's not *directly* on the tourist hamster wheel. You'll have to *slightly* deviate from the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square path. Which, honestly, is a relief. But don't expect the concierge to whisper secret dumpling recipes. They probably don't know any.
Personal experience rant incoming: I once saw a review that called it "rustic charm." Seriously? Rustic? It felt more like "slightly-worn-down-but-clean-enough-you-won't-get-scared-about-the-sheets-I-hope." Charm is definitely a stretch. But hey, the price was right, and after a long day of battling crowds, a clean-ish room is a win.
2. How's the location? Is it… convenient? Or, you know, a nightmare?
Convenience is relative, my friend. It's near the Deshengmen archway, which is *cool*, history-wise, but practically speaking? It's within walking distance of some local restaurants (essential!), a small market (great for snacks), and most importantly, a *subway station*. The subway is your lifeline in Beijing. So, on that front, it's gold. Getting around is relatively easy. You can hop on a subway and be almost anywhere in the city, eventually.
Beware: Google Maps *might* lead you astray. I once got completely lost trying to find a particularly delicious noodle shop, thanks to a rogue instruction. Trust me, download a good offline map *before* you go. Saved my life (or at least my sanity).
3. The rooms… what are they *really* like? Don't sugarcoat it.
Okay, deep breaths. They are *functional*. Don't expect the Ritz. Think clean but basic. The beds are usually… *okay*. Not luxurious, not terrible. The bathrooms are usually clean. The Wi-Fi varies. Sometimes it's blazing fast; other times, you'll swear you're back in dial-up land.
Unfiltered truth moment: My first time, the room was *tiny*. Like, I could touch both walls simultaneously. And the window looked out onto a brick wall. But, it was a roof over my head, and after a day of battling Beijing's pollution, I was just happy to collapse. They do have different room sizes. Ask for a bigger one if you can. It won't magically transform into a palace, but at least you won't feel claustrophobic.
4. The breakfast buffet? Tell me about the… breakfast.
Ah, yes... the breakfast. It's… well, it's included. And it's... there. Expect a mix of traditional Chinese breakfast items and some more "Western" options. I've had some *amazing* jiaozi (dumplings) from a street vendor nearby, and, well, the Hanting's breakfast dumplings… weren’t quite the same level of amazing. It's not going to make you weep with joy, but it'll fill the hole in your stomach before you head out for a day of sightseeing. Just don't expect Michelin-star quality.
Anecdote time: Once, the coffee machine was broken. Pure. Disaster. I needed that caffeine. Had to stumble out searching a local coffee shop. Which, thankfully, was a good experience – a reminder that adventure awaits. Breakfast can be a gamble, folks.
5. What about the staff? Are they friendly? Do they speak English?
The staff is usually… *trying*. English proficiency varies. Some speak decent English; others, not so much. A translation app or a phrasebook is your friend. They are generally polite and helpful, in the way most service staff are in China. If you need help, they *will* try. Just be patient and use your best hand gestures.
Honest moment: I remember checking in once and mispronouncing my name. The front desk guy just stared at me – blankly. Eventually, with some back and forth (and me pointing at my passport like a crazy person), we sorted it out. Communication can be tricky, but the effort is generally there.
6. Is it *safe*? Anything to worry about?
Beijing is generally a safe city. I've never felt particularly threatened. The hotel itself seems safe enough. Common sense applies: don't leave valuables lying around, be mindful of your surroundings, and don't wander around dark alleys at 3 am. Overall, I haven't had any experiences that raised safety concerns. But hey, vigilance is always important, wherever you are.
7. Okay, fine. So, should I stay there?
It depends. Are you on a budget? Do you value convenience over luxury? Are you happy with a clean but basic room? If you answered "yes" to most of those, then, yeah, it might be a good option. It's a solid, reliable choice. But if you're looking for pampering, or a truly romantic getaway… look elsewhere. Maybe, *definitely* look elsewhere.
My bottom line: I'd stay there again. It's not the stuff of Instagram dreams, but it's functional, affordable, and well-located. It’s a good base of operations for exploring an amazing city. Just manage your expectations. And maybe pack some earplugs/eye mask, sometimes the street noise is something else. Good luck, and happy travels!
