Emperor Guesthouse, Beijing, China

The Beijiing Emperor Guesthouse is 10 minutes walk from Tiananmen Square, Beijing's largest courtyard guesthouse.

Welcome to the Emperor Guesthouse!

The Emperor Guesthouse is one of Beijing's most famous hutong courtyard structures. It is a protected hutong building, with over 240 years of history. It is a main feature of all hutong tours around the Qianmen area, with visitors having to pay a small entrance fee.

Unlike many single-storey courtyard hostels around Beijing, the Emperor Guesthouse is a large 2-storey building, with authentic wood-carved structure and wood-beam roofing. Nowhere else in Beijing can you find such a great combination of traditional Chinese architecture at such a central location (& at such a budget cost).

The guesthouse is well-known for its colorful history. In the past, the Emperor Qian Long himself is rumored to have resided here, along with other famous nobles. In the basement, there is even a secret tunnel that previously led to the Forbidden City (now partially blocked off).

Although our Guesthouse is over 240 years old, the western toilets and showers are all newly fitted, with a 'green' solar-powered hot water system.

Enjoy the peaceful ambiance of our historic courtyard, and try a few games of ping pong or badminton. Or meet fellow guests in our restaurant/bar over a beer, with free internet and WI-FI. (Facebook is blocked in China but you may be able to access it on our computers ;). We also have hundreds of movies and music videos to choose from.

Facilities/Services:

- Tourist Information

- Tours to Great Wall, Beijing Opera, Acrobatics, Kung Fu, & more (including Lhasa/Tibet tours)

- Laundry service

- Bicycle rental. New mountain bikes with Shimano gears...

- Telephone facilities

FREE:

- Internet computers at reception & WIFI signal all around Guesthouse

- Chinese tea in the morning and snacks & rice wine in evening

- Dumpling party

- Ping pong, badminton, darts, Playstation & many board games

- Local area and subway map

- Luggage storage, and security lockers (in dorms)

The Emperor Guesthouse welcomes you to enjoy the amazing opportunity to sample a real taste of Beijing's history. Its beautiful wooden structure (and our 2 cats :) will welcome you from the moment you step through the red double doors!

(Please note: This Guesthouse is affiliated with Lonely Planet top-rated 'Leo Hostel', just 5 minutes walk away. Guests can enjoy the facilities and services offered at both hostels :)

We offer large private rooms with inside toilet and shower, and smaller private rooms with outside toilet and showers. We also have budget dorm rooms with security lockers. All rooms are air-conditioned.

Directions From The Beijing International Airport:

You can book a taxi pick-up from us. We can pick you up at the airport for 240rmb per car which can fit up to 3 passengers. From 10pm to 7am, there will be an extra 50rmb charge, however, ff you are interested, please provide us with all of the following details: arrival date, arrival time, flight number, airline, departure city.

Please book your pick-up at least 48 hours in advance. If your flight arrives within 48 hours, please phone the hostel to give us your details.

Shuttle Bus

You can take the shuttle bus to the Beijing city center, the journey takes over 1 hour. There are different shuttle buses but it is best to take the bus to the main Beijing train station for 16rmb. The bus stops about 200 meters west of the Beijing station. When you get off the bus, continue walking straight in the direction of the bus to arrive at Beijing station. For directions from the station, please read below.

Train

Take the new shuttle train from Terminal 2 or 3 to Dongzhimen subway station which costs 25rmb. Then change to subway line 2 and take the subway to the Qianmen stop, then follow the map.

Directions From The Main Beijing Train Station:

Bus

Take the bus, leave the station by the north exit, walk right (east) about 500 meters to the bus park and take bus 20 or 59 to Qianmen which costs 1rmb. The Qianmen stop is around the 5th or 6th stop, you should wait for the bus to completely pass Tiananmen Square and then get off at the next stop. When you get off the bus, walk south in the direction of the bus and then turn right on to Da Zha Lan Xi Jie market walking street. Then walk for about 500 meters and go right when you get to the fork in the road. Emperor Guesthouse is 100 meters down the road, on the right side.

Please remember to print out our map, or even make a hand-copy.

Subway

Take the subway, the subway is outside of the train station, 500 meters left (West) of the main exit. Take the subway to the Qianmen subway station which costs 3rmb. Leave the subway by Exit C and head towards Meishi Jie Road, you can see the 'GUANQI HOTEL' on the corner. Walk south on Meishi Jie Road about 500 meters (to the 4th zebra crossing) then turn right on to Da Zha Lan Xi Jie market street. Then walk for about 500 meters and go right when you get to the fork in the road. Emperor Guesthouse is 100 meters down the road, on the right side.

Please remember to print out our map, or even make a hand-copy.

3) Take a taxi to the hostel which would cost around 25rmb. Please ask the driver to phone us for directions. Please note that taxis cannot drive on Da Zha Lan Xi Jie street from 8am-8pm, so the taxi may stop at the start of the road. Walk for about 500 meters down Da Zha Lan Xi Jie and go right when you get to the fork in the road. Emperor Guesthouse is 100 meters down the road, on the right side.

Please remember to print out our map, or even make a hand-copy!

Directions From Beijing West Train Station:

Leave by the North exit & take bus 67 from in front of the station (opposite a KFC). You need to get on at the front of the bus and put 1rmb in the drivers’ box. The bus ends at Qianmen (next to a KFC). When you get off the bus, continue walking East for about 200 meters (in the same direction as the bus). Follow the road round to the right and look for Meishi Jie Road where you can see the 'GUANQI HOTEL' on the corner. Walk south on Meishi Jie Road about 500 meters (to the 4th zebra crossing) then turn right on to Da Zha Lan Xi Jie market street. Then walk for about 500 meters and go right when you get to the fork in the road. Emperor Guesthouse is 100 meters down the road, on the right side Please remember to print out our map, or even make a hand-copy.

Leave by the North exit, walk 10 minutes North to the Military Museum (Junshi Bowuguan) subway station. Take the subway to the Fuxingmen station and then change to subway line 2 and take the subway to the Qianmen station for 3rmb. see above for directions from Qianmen subway station.

Directions From Beijing South Train Station:

Subway

Take subway line 4 to Xuanwumen stop, then change to line 2 to Qianmen stop. Leave the subway by Exit C and head towards Meishi Jie Road (you can see the 'GUANQI HOTEL' on the corner). Walk south on Meishi Jie Road for about 500 meters (to the 4th zebra crossing) then turn right on to Da Zha Lan Xi Jie market street. Then walk for about 500 meters down Da Zha Lan Xi Jie and go right when you get to the fork in the road. Emperor Guesthouse is 100 meters down the road, on the right side.

Please remember to print out our map, or even make a hand-copy!

Please Note: If you have any problems or get lost, please phone us - many small newspaper shops have a phone you can use. Taxi drivers do not always know the best way to reach the hostel, so it is best to ask them to phone us, or you can get out at Tiananmen Square and follow the map yourself.