Grand View Garden Hotel

The Grand View Garden Hotel (Beijing daguanyuan jiudian), gracefully blended into Beijing's famed scenic attraction of the same name, is a good place for those after a bit of peace and quiet in the ever changing capital. The garden itself was modeled, as recently as 1984, on the residence in Cao Xueqin's classic Qing Dynasty novel "The Dream of the Red Chamber". Although not an antique garden in any respects, finished in 1988, the garden is a good way to imagine a bit of Chinese culture.

The 383 rooms in this respectable four star hotel have normal facilities, including IDD telephone, satellite TV, a minibar and a safety box. Although the main reason for staying in this hotel would be for those who have read the novel to appreciate the garden, there are also a number of further facilities. The business center provides 24 hour services with mail delivery, fax, photocopying services and computer rental. For entertainment there is an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a sauna, beauty salon, massage center, billiards and bowling alleys. There is also an airport shuttle bus service.

The best of the restaurants here would have to be the Red Mansion Banquet restaurant which provides full courses based on descriptions from the novel. Les Continents Restaurant also serves western food.