Hotel
The Peninsula Beijing
A five-star, all-suite hotel on Goldfish Lane off Wangfujing, home to the Michelin-starred French restaurant Jing and the courtyard-style Cantonese restaurant Huang Ting.
Heyuan Courtyard Hotel
A boutique hotel of 11 rooms in a three-courtyard house on Dengcao Hutong, said to date from the Ming dynasty and once home to Peking opera master Mei Lanfang.
At a glance
- Type
- Boutique courtyard hotel
- Area
- Dengcao Hutong, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
Good to know
- 11 individually designed rooms
- Ming-era courtyard house
- Garden
- Tea gatherings and cultural events
Why we recommend it
Heyuan, listed in full as the Beijing Heyuanzhixin Courtyard Hotel, occupies a traditional courtyard house at 5 Dengcao Hutong in Dongcheng district. According to Beijing's official tourism resource site, it is the only three-courtyard house in Beijing preserved since the Ming dynasty, and Mei Lanfang, the great Peking opera performer, was among its residents. The restoration kept the character of the original courtyards while using modern techniques to conserve the buildings.
The lane itself has a long history. Dengcao Hutong belonged to the Huanghuafang ward in the Ming dynasty and to the Bordered White Banner area in the Qing dynasty. The tourism site notes that of about 630 hutongs in the Ming capital, only around 30 are well preserved today, and Dengcao Hutong is one of them.
There are just 11 guest rooms, each in a different position and style within the courtyards, and each is linked to one of 11 stories about the hotel's design, garden, philosophy and history. Furniture is custom made in black walnut or white oak using mortise-and-tenon joinery. Room types include suites and deluxe double or twin rooms. Facilities include Wi-Fi, a buffet breakfast, a bar and a garden.
The hotel also works as a small cultural venue. It hosts tea gatherings, literary salons, exhibitions, photography sessions and Chinese cultural experiences, and can cater for small conferences, team events and weddings.
Prices are at the upper end, with the tourism site giving a range of roughly 900 to 5,000 yuan, so this is a boutique choice rather than a budget one. It suits couples, travellers interested in architecture and Peking opera history, and small groups who want to rent a courtyard experience in the old city.
The location in Dongcheng puts you in the hutong area near Wangfujing, Tiananmen, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. The Peninsula and Novotel Beijing Peace are in the same part of the city, and Donglaishun's hotpot is on Wangfujing Street. The Shichahai routes set out by the Xicheng government include the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, which makes a natural follow-up for guests curious about the hotel's most famous resident.
The tourism site does not list a hotel website, so call +86 10 6528 6659 to ask about availability.
Heyuan Courtyard Hotel FAQs
What is special about Heyuan?
It occupies a three-courtyard house on Dengcao Hutong, described as the only one in Beijing preserved since the Ming dynasty.
Who lived here?
Peking opera master Mei Lanfang was among its residents.
How many rooms are there?
11, each individually designed.
What facilities are there?
Wi-Fi, buffet breakfast, a bar and a garden.
Does it host events?
Yes, including tea gatherings, literary salons, exhibitions and small weddings.
How much does it cost?
Beijing's tourism site gives a range of about 900 to 5,000 yuan.
Where is it?
At 5 Dengcao Hutong, Dongcheng, near Wangfujing.
How do I book?
Call +86 10 6528 6659.