In a historical part of the Chinese capital, ancient courtyards in a bustling local neighbourhood have been transformed into luxury rooms
Location
In a maze of hutongs in central Beijing, the Mandarin Oriental has opened its second hotel in the capital city. Some of the residential courtyards that make up these small alleys have been transformed into luxury rooms, but they are peppered in and around courtyards where locals still live. Buggies carry hotel guests from their rooms to the restaurant for breakfast, stopping to allow locals on their mopeds or swerving around a table of elderly mahjong players.
The hotel is ideally located to explore all of historic Beijing’s attractions while experiencing what life is like in the hutongs among the locals. Cool independent bars, noodle restaurants and vintage boutique stores line the traditional streets just outside the residential area which are a delight to explore and duck into for a cocktail or coffee break.

The vibe
The small winding alleys are cosy and feel secluded and peaceful compared to the hubbub of Beijing just a few streets over. The lobby courtyard is breathtaking, with towering old trees jutting from the centre. There isn’t a grand porte-cochère at the entrance, instead the main building is quite unassuming. The reception area once you’re inside is tastefully and elegantly decorated, allowing the wooden beams of the ceiling and walls to become a central feature of the decor.
The buildings in Beijing’s hutongs are protected and cannot be built upwards, so every part of the hotel is on the first floor like in the old times. Sculptures and artworks throughout allow moments to pause, with an overall feeling of serenity permeating the main building. Concepts of feng shui were employed when the hotel was first built as small square houses, that reveals a calming connection to nature with a focus on plant life in the middle of the courtyards.

The service
Whether chatting cheerfully when carting guests through the hutongs in the buggies, ensuring the cleaning is up to standard, or taking breakfast orders, the staff are all clearly trained to a very high standard to ensure a smooth, enjoyable and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…