THE YARD HOTEL BEIJING, Qianmen Avenue

Location: Its location on Qianmen Tianjie, right in a shopping street, is a huge plus. To get there from Zhushikou Station (Line 7), take Exit A, turn left (don't go into Liangshidian Street), then walk about 20 meters further and turn into Qianmen Tianjie. Hygiene: Both the hotel and the bathroom had an odor. It's that general musty smell some hotels have. Facilities: The hotel has a retro, 'In the Mood for Love' vibe overall, but the long corridors might feel a bit creepy to kids. The TCL TV was old. You needed VIP access to watch anything, and I had to ask staff to replace the remote. The central air conditioning couldn't be adjusted. I didn't hear any sound of it running. Perhaps the temperature is centrally controlled in winter. Luckily, it wasn't cold. The soundproofing is terrible. You can hear pretty much everything clearly. Service: The service from the staff and front desk was decent. They upgraded my room to one with a big window. I also received a small gift upon check-out, which was a nice touch, and they offer luggage storage. The hotel price was around 400+ RMB per night before the Lantern Festival. When I tried to extend my stay for an extra night, my request for a discount was denied, and I was asked to rebook through the platform for 570 RMB a night (I understand price fluctuations, but that's a bit expensive 😒). Summary: As other guests have mentioned in their reviews, I checked the negative reviews for other hotels nearby for a few days, and they're all pretty similar. The main points are: The location and service are good. The facilities are not great; the walls are thin, leading to poor soundproofing. The TV and air conditioning are subpar, and the bathroom has an odor. The old Shanghai/Hong Kong decor style makes the long corridors feel scary to kids, and it might take a few days to get used to. It's not a bright and airy style.

The hotel's location is excellent, just 50 meters from the entrance of Qianmen Pedestrian Street. It's also a mere 2-minute walk from Exit A of Zhushikou subway station. The interior design of the hotel is quite retro, and it's clean and tidy. My only minor complaint is that some bathrooms have a wet/dry separation, while others don't. There's a Lawson convenience store right across from the hotel, which was super convenient for grabbing breakfast and drinks daily. As someone from the south, I found the windowless room in the north to be quite stuffy and uncomfortable. However, the front desk staff were very friendly and helpful; they eventually moved us to a slightly better room. Overall, this hotel is very convenient for getting around and dining.