This time when I came to Beijing to choose a place to stay, I deliberately avoided the crowded internet famous new hotels and headed straight into the CBD core area of Jinglun Hotel Beijing - this old four-star hotel that opened its doors to guests in 1984, hoping to find the unique sense of relaxation in old Beijing business hotels.
Take a turn from Exit B of Yong'anli Subway Station and walk for less than five minutes to reach the hotel lobby. At the moment of pushing open the glass door, there was no deliberate sense of cool luxury created by the new hotel. In the spacious and elevated space, the solid marble floor with a warm luster polished by time gave off a feeling of transported back to the golden age of Beijing in the 1980s and 1990s. The efficiency of the front desk check-in was very high. Upon learning that I was coming to Beijing for the first time, the staff took the initiative to help me upgrade my room type for free. I received my room card and walked into a high-rise room. The moment I opened the curtains, I was pleasantly surprised: the traffic on Chang'an Avenue laid a flowing light strip in my eyes, and the lights in the direction of Tiananmen Square in the distance lit up in the evening twilight. The wind blew in from the window, and even the noise of the CBD seemed to be filtered out a bit.
The room is a newly upgraded smart room type in 2025, with embroidery of the Forbidden City pattern on the bedside wall, quietly incorporating the elegant details of the East into daily living. The 24 square meter space is not particularly spacious, but every layout exudes the thoughtfulness of an old hotel: bedding is fluffy and soft, disposable slippers are thick enough to be stepped on like stepping on clouds, free Wi Fi signal covers every corner, and the digital VOD system allows you to lie flat and choose the movies you want to watch. The only small detail is that the shower needs to be standing in the bathtub, but it does not affect the user experience at all. The faucet is shiny and there are no old water stains commonly seen in old hotels.
The most unforgettable thing for me is the fireworks atmosphere in the hotel. You can eat all the authentic Beijing flavor without going out of the building. In the first floor of the Tafeiyuan buffet breakfast, I squatted beside the dining table and filled two bowls of hot fermented sour milk made from ground mung bean wow gold and fried liver. The coke ring was so crisp that it cracked. At the same time, there were such Chinese and Western options as freshly ground coffee and fresh sashimi. The price of 115 yuan per person was very high. The Quanjude branch in the building can eat the roast duck without waiting in line. The Deep-fried meat balls in the Sihexuan Beijing Flavor Restaurant are crispy on the outside and waxy on the inside. The milk skin yogurt is so thick that it can be hung by the spoon. Even the fried sausage is just the authentic taste recognized by the old Beijing people.
In my spare time, I went to the hotel's fitness center and indoor swimming pool. While exercising, I could look up and catch a glimpse of the street view of Chang'an Avenue outside the window. After swimming, I went to the spa center to relax for a moment, and the exhaustion from the rush suddenly dissipated. Going out is even more convenient. It takes only ten minutes to walk to Guomao Mall, and within a 3-kilometer radius, you can take a taxi to reach Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. If you want to go to the Global Resort, you can take Line 1 of the subway directly, and even go to Xiushui Market to buy souvenirs without taking a detour.
Having stayed in too many new hotels that pursue a fast-paced lifestyle, Jinglun Hotel Beijing has become the most rare experience hidden in the CBD, with its old-fashioned composure. It doesn't have flashy internet celebrity decorations, but with the thoughtful service accumulated over more than 30 years, it puts every guest's daily travel in place. Next time I come to Beijing again, I will definitely return here, push open that familiar glass door, and take another look at the evening lights of Chang'an Avenue.Show more