This time I came to Beijing for some personal matters and deliberately avoided the new hotel crowded with internet celebrities, choosing the Grand Metropark Yuantong Hotel Beijing in Xicheng District. I thought I was just looking for a place to stay close to the subway station, but after three days of staying, I found a rare and suitable place in the bustling city of Second Ring Road.
After walking for five minutes from Subway Line 2, I arrived at the hotel entrance. The doorman saw me dragging my suitcase and greeted me across the street. When he picked up my luggage, he reminded me that it's been windy in Beijing lately, so remember to take off your scarf and shake off the dust before entering. As soon as I walked into the lobby, I was enveloped in a warm and cozy atmosphere, without an overly luxurious cold and hard feeling. The vintage crystal lights fell on the beige marble floor, and several pots of gentleman orchids in the corner were lit up perfectly, like walking into an old friend's elegantly decorated home. The elder sister at the reception desk who checked in speaks authentic Beijing dialect and smiled and handed me the room card: "I have arranged a room away from the road for you, so you can sleep at night. The Roasted chestnuts in sugar-coated heated sand in the alley downstairs have just been cooked, and you can buy them when you turn outside."
Pushing open the door, I realized that this thoughtfulness goes far beyond just words. Double layered soundproof glass was installed near the windows of the residential area, blocking all traffic on the second ring road. The layout of the room is a conservative old-fashioned five-star hotel, without fancy internet celebrity decorations. The beige bedding is just fluffy, and the desk lamp at the desk has soft light. Organizing materials at night will not shake the eyes at all. The most surprising thing is the small cabinet by the window, which not only contains regular tea bags, but also holds a can of authentic Beijing jasmine tea. When boiling water, the room is filled with a refreshing fragrance.
Breakfast is the most visible part of the hotel's heritage. The hot air of freshly ground soybean milk floats in the restaurant. The freshly fried deep-fried dough sticks are crisp outside and tender inside. The bittern of bean curd jelly served with sauce is boiled thick, sprinkled with a small spoonful of leek flowers, and the taste of old Beijing is authentic. I got up late two days in a row. At 9:30, the steamed steamed bun was still steaming. When the aunt who made up the meal saw me, she gave me an extra sesame paste Shaobing (Baked cake in griddle) that had just been baked and said, "Girl, you have a taste. This is the specialty of our old chef".
In the evening after finishing my work, I took a walk back along the alley next to the hotel. The cleaning lady had quietly tidied up the room and placed a small dish of freshly washed hawthorn fruits at the bedside. On the day I left, I rushed to catch the early flight. The front desk helped me pack a hot breakfast bag in advance, and the doorman helped me carry my luggage onto the car. They also specifically pointed me to a shortcut to avoid the morning rush hour.
I used to think that hotels in Beijing were either too noisy or too distant, but this time at Grand Metropark Yuantong Hotel Beijing, I realized that good accommodation is never just about piling up expensive decorations, but about leaving a solid and warm place to stay in the smoke and fire of the Second Ring Road. Next time I come to Beijing, I will definitely stay here again.Show more