Unbelievable Tiananmen Square Views: Your Hanting Hotel Beijing Adventure Awaits!
Unbelievable Tiananmen Square Views: My Hanting Hotel Beijing Adventure… Or, Well, It Was An Adventure! (A Review)
Alright, buckle up, because I'm about to unload on you my experience at the Hanting Hotel in Beijing. The slogan promises "Unbelievable Tiananmen Square Views!" and, well, alright, I'll give them that. Technically you could see Tiananmen Square… if you squinted, climbed a precarious fire escape (not recommended!), and possessed the eyesight of a hawk. Let's just say, the view was… aspirational.
Metadata, Folks… Gotta Have It:
- Keywords: Hanting Hotel Beijing, Tiananmen Square View, Beijing Hotels, Accessible Hotels, China Travel, Budget Hotels, Beijing Reviews, Wi-Fi, Spa, Cleanliness, Dining, Safety Protocols.
- Meta Description: My honest, hilarious, and slightly messy review of the Hanting Hotel Beijing. From the (sort of) view of Tiananmen Square to the slightly-off-kilter amenities, get the real scoop! Accessibility, dining, and a whole lotta opinions included!
- SEO Rating: Optimized – We're aiming for the stars here!
Now, onto the nitty-gritty…
First Impressions & The Quest for a Decent View (Or, At Least, a Reasonable One)
Check-in was… efficient. Not unfriendly, not overly friendly. More like, "Here's your key, room is on the 8th floor, have a nice day." Which is fine. I wasn't expecting warm hugs and a welcome song. (Though a welcome song might have made the elevator ride less… awkward.)
Accessibility – A Mixed Bag:
Okay, let's talk accessibility. Wheelchair accessible? The website claims it. The elevator did seem large enough, but honestly, I didn't have a wheelchair, so I can't fully vouch for that. Facilities for disabled guests: There was a mention of them, but I couldn't exactly see a lot of clear details, which is a red flag, in my book. (More on that further down when I actually got to the rooms). The front desk staff, honestly, they seemed accommodating, but I didn’t need to lean on them that much.
The Room: Expectation vs. Reality (Or, My Constant Battle with High Hopes)
The room… well, it was a room. Air conditioning: thank goodness. Free Wi-Fi: hallelujah. Internet access – wireless: Yes, and surprisingly decent. Internet access – LAN: Yep, but who uses that anymore? Blackout curtains: Essential for fighting jet lag! Amenities: Air conditioning, alarm clock, bathrobes, bathroom phone, bathtub, blackout curtains, carpeting, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, daily housekeeping, desk, extra long bed, free bottled water, hair dryer, high floor, in-room safe box, interconnecting room(s) available, internet access – LAN, internet access – wireless, ironing facilities, laptop workspace, linens, mini bar, mirror, non-smoking, on-demand movies, private bathroom, reading light, refrigerator, safety/security feature, satellite/cable channels, scale, seating area, separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers, smoke detector, socket near the bed, sofa, soundproofing, telephone, toiletries, towels, umbrella, visual alarm, wake-up service, wi-fi [free], window that opens. Okay, that's a lot, but the devil is in the details…
The Bathroom phone?! Who uses a bathroom phone anymore?! It did work though. The slippers were… well, they were there. Kinda flimsy, but better than cold floors. The scale was a bit intimidating after all the noodles I consumed.
The "view" from my window? Let's just say it involved a lot of rooftops. One can't always get what the hotel's website claims you'll get.
I was on a high floor, which was excellent.
The Cleanliness & Safety Showdown (Because, You Know, COVID)
Alright, this is where the Hanting Hotel Beijing actually impressed me. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Double-check. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Mostly. Staff trained in safety protocol? From what I saw, yes. Hand sanitizer? Everywhere! Individually-wrapped food options? Yup, definitely. Rooms sanitized between stays? Seemed to be the case.
They are trying and I appreciate it.
Dining, Oh, the Dining… (Or, My Personal Quest for the Perfect Spring Roll)
Breakfast in room: Available, though I never tried it. Breakfast [buffet]: There was one, but I’m no early bird, so I missed it. Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: The options were plentiful -- well, in theory. I settled for a simple coffee shop experience, which was sufficient.
Room service [24-hour]: Ah, the siren song of room service! It was a lifesaver when jet lag hit. The food? Varies. Mostly okay. But the convenience was a win.
The Restaurant… (Or, The Mystery of the Disappearing Soup Spoon)
I ate a few times at the main restaurant. A la carte in restaurant: Yes. Buffet in restaurant: Yes. Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes. Desserts in restaurant: A few, but nothing that knocked my socks off, I'm afraid. Soup in restaurant: I ordered soup, and the soup was fine. The spoon, however… I'm pretty sure it vanished. One minute it was there, the next… poof! Maybe there's a spoon gremlin?
On-Site Luxuries (Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Fitness Center, Pool With View, Massages, Spa, Spa/Sauna, Body Wrap, Body Scrub)
Things to do, ways to relax. This is another area where my experience was… mixed. Fitness center: I never made it to the fitness center, so I can't give a thumbs-up, or thumbs-down. Spa/sauna, massage, sauna, swimming pool [outdoor], pool with view: I really wanted a massage, but the spa area was closed during my visit. Steamroom, Body wrap, Body scrub: Alas, those also weren't available. So the "relax" wasn't as relaxing as I’d hoped. The pool was closed to the public.
The Extras & Random Bits (Or, The Things That Make a Hotel… a Hotel)
Services and conveniences: Air conditioning in public area: Yes. Cash withdrawal: Yep. Concierge: They were there. Not super proactive, but helpful when needed. Daily housekeeping: Excellent. Elevator: Yes. Laundry service: Available. Luggage storage: Also available.
Getting Around (Or, Surviving Beijing Traffic)
Airport transfer: Yes. Taxi service: Available. Car park [free of charge], car park [on-site]: They had options. I mainly took taxis, but the parking options were handy.
The "For the Kids" Section (Which, Frankly, I Didn't Need)
Babysitting service: Available. Family/child friendly: Seemed to be. Kids meal: Apparently available.
The Big Picture: Would I Stay Again? (The Million-Dollar Question)
Look, the Hanting Hotel Beijing isn't the Ritz. But for the price, and the convenience, and the fact that I didn’t get food poisoning, it’s a solid choice.
Pros:
- Cleanliness and safety protocols are on point.
- Free Wi-Fi is a blessing.
- Location is decent (though "near Tiananmen Square" is up for debate).
- Room service is a lifesaver.
- Generally, the staff were helpful
Cons:
- The "unbelievable view" is… optimistic.
- The spa was closed. (My greatest disappointment!)
- Ambience. It’s functional rather than fancy.
- The vanished soup spoon. (Still haunts me.)
Final Verdict:
If you're looking for a budget-friendly, safe, and clean hotel in Beijing, the Hanting is a decent option. Just don't go expecting a five-star experience. Pack your own spoons, and maybe a pair of binoculars. And embrace the adventure, because sometimes, the imperfections are what make the trip memorable.
So, yeah, I'd go back to the Hanting Hotel Beijing. Maybe. If I could snag a better view and the spa was open. And I'd bring my own spoon. Just in case.
Varna Beach Bliss: Stunning Studio 150m Away!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because you're about to get the raw, unfiltered, probably-slightly-over-caffeinated-at-the-moment truth about my "trip" (and I use that term loosely) to Beijing, specifically, the Hanting Hotel Tiananmen, bless its budget-friendly little heart. Forget those polished, pre-packaged itineraries. This is the real deal, folks. Prepare for whiplash.
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Wall (Sort Of) – AKA, Jet Lag vs. Epic Vistas
- 6:00 AM (ish) - Arrival in Beijing. The Airport Shuffle. Okay, so I land. My brain is basically oatmeal. After a connecting flight from a place, and barely any sleep, I wander around, dodging rogue luggage trolleys and the ever-present feeling that I'm about to spontaneously combust. Successfully (and miraculously) find my way to the taxi queue. I should have downloaded the translation app before I left, because the driver just smiled at me and said something that was probably very important, in a language I do not speak.
- 7:30 AM - Check-in at Hanting Tiananmen. The Room Revelation. I think I envisioned a charming, slightly-dirty-but-good-value-for-money room, but what I got was… well, the room. The room was functional. It had a bed, a surprisingly clean bathroom, and a view of… a wall. A wall that I suspect was there before the hotel even opened. The air conditioning sounded like a dying robot hamster. But hey! It was clean, and the bed looked comfy.
- 9:00 AM - The Great Wall (Part 1 - Badaling Section) – Ambitious, Much? Right. So, let's get this out of the way. "The Great Wall." I'd seen Mulan (duh), so I was basically an expert. First, that taxi to the Badaling section was a saga in itself. My Mandarin is… nonexistent. I pointed, I gestured, I generally acted like an overly-enthusiastic mime. Somehow, it worked. The wall itself? Majestic. Terrifying. The crowds, though? Hoo boy. Think Black Friday, but with more selfies. I spent more time dodging camera-wielding tourists than actually appreciating the history. My shoes were already feeling the heat. I was not prepared, at all. Took some pictures, ate some snacks.
- 1:00 PM - Temple of Heaven. So many people! So many stairs. This place was quite nice, but I have to admit, I was more interested in food, and the bathroom situation, than the history.
- 3:30 PM – Back to the Hotel. The Nap of Redemption (or Doom?). Jet lag, my archenemy, had its claws in me. "I'll just rest for an hour,” I thought. Cut to waking up at 8 PM, disoriented, and wondering where the day had gone. The “hotel restaurant” seemed to have closed. I was starving.
- 8:30 PM – Scavenging for Food. The Convenience Store Conquest. Managed to stumble into a late-night convenience store. The sheer volume of unfamiliar foods was overwhelming. I ended up with a bag of something suspiciously bright green, a carton of questionable-looking juice, and a bag of chips with a picture of a cartoon dragon on it. Desperate times, etc.
Day 2: Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City – Where the History Hits You (Literally, Maybe)
- 9:00 AM - Waking up. The Great Search. I was hungover. Not physically, but mentally. The jet lag was in full force, and my brain was still processing the previous day. I also forgot to get breakfast.
- 10:00 AM - Tiananmen Square – The Monumental Letdown. Okay, the scale of Tiananmen Square is undeniable. It's HUGE. But honestly, I was expecting… more? Maybe I was jaded from the Wall, or maybe it’s the sheer emptiness of this place. It felt a bit sterile, a bit… empty. The crowds were intense, the security was tighter than a miser's grip on his gold, and I felt a bit like a tiny ant in a colossal sandbox. And, the traffic…
- 12:00 PM - Forbidden City – Lost and Slightly Overwhelmed and Hungry. This place is a maze. Seriously. I wandered around, getting lost in a sea of red and gold and tourists. The architecture is mind-blowing, the history is rich, but the sheer size of it is… exhausting. I got separated from my… "group" (aka, me). I was hungry. I should have eaten that bag of chips I bought last night.
- 2:00 PM - Finding Food Stumbled upon a dumpling place. Amazing.
- 5:00 PM - A Bit of Shopping. Found a shopping district, and bought some things. Then got lost and tired again. Dinner at a restaurant, and then back to the hotel.
- 7:30 PM - The Day's Conclusion So, back to the hotel. I may or may not be getting sick, and the air conditioning, still sounds like a dying robotic hamster.
Day 3: The Hutongs & Back to Reality (With a Side of Regret)
- 9:00 AM - Hutong Exploration (Attempted) – Smog & Souvenirs. The Hutongs are supposed to be charming, right? Well, maybe. They're certainly… different. I wandered through a few, dodging scooters and trying not to get overwhelmed by the chaos. Found a little shop selling… things. Bought a small, awkwardly-shaped ceramic cat. I feel like I’m missing out on something, but I don't know what.
- 11:00 AM - The Temple of Heaven (Round 2 - Because I missed it the first time?). No, wait. This was a different temple, wasn’t it? I went to a temple, again. I’m starting to think I'm losing track of what day it is, and what I've seen. I think this whole trip has been a blur.
- 1:00 PM - Packing and preparing to leave. That's it, right?
- 3:00 PM - Check out and go to the airport.
The Verdict: Beijing? It's a lot. A lot. Beautiful, chaotic, overwhelming, and strangely captivating. The Hanting Hotel? Functional. A home base. It served its purpose. Would I go back? Probably. Would I do things differently? Absolutely. Would I actually learn some basic Mandarin before I go back? You bet your life. Would I recommend it? Well, bring comfortable shoes, a sense of humor, and a tolerance for crowds. And maybe some Pepto-Bismol. You'll need it. Goodbye, Beijing. You wild, wonderful, confusing place.
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Unbelievable Tiananmen Square Views: Your Hanting Hotel Beijing Adventure Awaits! - Uh… Yeah, About That...
Okay, the "unbelievable views"... are they *really* unbelievable? Like, should I pack a camera that can also see the future?
Alright, let's be real. "Unbelievable" might be stretching it just a *little* bit. They're good views. Solid. You see Tiananmen Square. You see the flag raising (if you're up at the crack of dawn, which I wasn't the first day. Or the second.). You see... well, you see Tiananmen Square. It's not like you'll witness a meteor shower from your window, but it's definitely a *better* view than staring at a brick wall. I was kinda expecting to be able to see into the Forbidden City, and... nope. But hey, the *potential* for a good view is there. Just don't set your expectations sky-high like… like I did. (Side note: I *did* pack a decent camera, though. And I'm *still* figuring out the settings. Don't judge.)
What's the actual process of getting to the Hanting Hotel? Should I brace myself for a stressful battle?
Getting there… okay, picture this: me, jet-lagged, clutching my phone like it's a life raft, trying to navigate the Beijing subway system. Honestly? Not *that* bad. Google Maps mostly worked (bless its algorithms), but the signage… well, let's just say my Mandarin is currently limited to ordering dumplings. I nearly ended up riding the wrong line *twice*. And on the way back, I'll admit I had a slight… disagreement… with a particularly boisterous group of tourists about who got to the elevator first. I mean, *I* had luggage! But I survived! Overall, it’s doable. Just download the subway map *before* you arrive, learn a few basic Chinese phrases, and maybe pack some patience (and earplugs… for the aforementioned boisterous tourists). My advice? Get a taxi *to* the subway station at least. The initial walk out the airport is a beast. I think I aged a decade.
The reviews mention “small rooms.” How small are we talking? Do I need to downsize my luggage, or my expectations of personal space?
SMALL. Tiny. Cozy, even, if you're feeling generous. My first thought when I walked in? "Well, this is efficient." My *second* thought? "Where am I supposed to put my *stuff*?!" Seriously, I'm pretty sure the bathroom was smaller than my shoe closet back home. But hey, you're not there to live in the room, are you? You're there to *see* Beijing. And the bed… well, it was comfy enough, though turning over required a precise maneuver. I’d definitely recommend only bringing the essentials (and maybe a strategically placed suitcase to act as a chair). And maybe embrace your inner minimalist. Or, you know, learn to live amongst chaos. I'm still working on it.
What's the deal with the breakfast? Is it worth the extra Yuan? Or should I grab something on the street?
Ah, breakfast. This is where things get *interesting*. The reviews are all over the place. I tried it once. Once! Okay, look, the "Western-style" options (think toast and questionable jam) were… well, let's just say I'm not sure what I ingested. The Chinese options? They were... authentic. And by "authentic," I mean utterly baffling to my Western palate. There were… textures I wasn't prepared for, and flavors I didn't recognize. I actually asked a friendly looking local what something was, but my rudimentary Mandarin failed me and I just walked away. That felt like victory. I then walked straight to a street vendor and ate a delicious, mystery meat-filled (probably) pancake. So, is it worth it? Personally? No. Hit the streets. Embrace the chaos. It's a much better adventure. And besides, you won't be *that* full to keep you in bed all day.
How's the WiFi? Is it a reliable companion for my constant Instagram updates?
The WiFi... It's there. Sometimes. Sometimes, it's blazing fast. Other times, it's slower than a snail on sedatives. I spent a good hour one morning just trying to upload a photo of a dumpling. A *dumpling*! I almost lost it. I nearly threw my phone out the window. I considered paying the exorbitant rate that was printed on the reception desk. So, if you're reliant on constant connectivity (like me, obviously) for work or for bragging rights, consider getting a local SIM card. Or, you know, just accept the fact that you might be temporarily disconnected from the internet. Embrace the digital detox. It might actually be good for you. (Don't tell anyone, but I *did* secretly check my Instagram once I was finally connected. The dumpling photo was worth it.)
I've heard tales of the hotel's proximity to the square causing...security concerns. What are your thoughts? Was it scary? Did you see anything weird?
Okay, buckle up. This is where it gets *real*. Proximity to Tiananmen Square? It's… intense. You're walking a few hundred feet from a place that represents *a lot* of history (and controversy). There's a heavy police presence. And I mean *heavy*. Uniformed, plain-clothed, the whole shebang. On my first day, I was walking back to the hotel and got... checked. Yeah. Checked. I honestly think they targeted me based on my general "tourist" look. Sunglasses, fanny pack (yeah, I know!), and the slightly bewildered expression I seem to permanently wear. They asked for my passport, gave me a once-over, and gave me the nod. It wasn't scary, per se, but it was definitely… a moment. It made me realize how carefully everyone's being watched. It makes you think. And while I didn't see anything overtly weird, you definitely get the feeling of being *observed*. You just know there's a whole infrastructure built up around securing this area. Makes you feel… insignificant? Intriguing? Mostly… a little discombobulated. Be respectful. Be aware. And maybe leave your questionable fanny pack at home.
Alright, overall, would you recommend staying at the Hanting Hotel Beijing? Be honest!
Okay. The truth? For the price and the location… yeah, I'd recommend it. With caveats. You're not getting luxury. You're getting functional. You're getting convenience. If a *slightly* cramped room and the potential for a questionable breakfast don't terrify you, then go for it. It’s a base of operations. A place to sleep, shower, and maybe... just maybe… contemplate the history you are surrounded by. And hey, you'll be close to Tiananmen Square. Whether the views blow you away or not, it's an experience. And you'll have a story to tell. And that, my friends, isCozy Stay Spot
