Thousands of tourists are beginning to arrive in Beijing for the Olympics. And the city's hotels are poised to benefit from a huge surge in business. Over 100 official Olympic hotels are providing top of the range accommodation, but there are options to suit all budgets and tastes.
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This hostel is built in the style of the traditional Beijing courtyard house, with grey-tiled roofs and red wooden window frames. |
"A large proportion of foreign visitors would like to experience traditional Chinese culture during the Games. Alleyways like this one, or in Chinese, we call them Hutongs, make it easy for foreign guests to have a taste of life in Beijing. There's quite a number of hostels in these lanes. Let me show you what they're like and why they're very popular among visitors."
This hostel is built in the style of the traditional Beijing courtyard house, with grey-tiled roofs and red wooden window frames.
The garden provides a tranquil retreat from the soaring high-rises and busy streets.
Most of the people who stay in this courtyard hostel are young foreign travellers. Some are fascinated by its unique architecture, while others find it a way to connect with local life.
Kathy, one US tourist said "They are friendly and helpful. The first day I walked around the baby streets, I felt I'm in the community. You feel more connected. This is the 4th Games I've been to (U.S. and Athens). Beijing has beautiful flowers. The city is pretty."
Courtyard hostels like this are easy to find on the Internet. Owner Bobby Zhang says his hostel is almost fully booked during the Games. He hopes to use this unique chance to promote traditional Beijing culture.
Bobby Zhang, Proprietor of Templeside House Hostel said "You can find modern buildings everywhere in the world. But the courtyard, you can only find in Beijing...very special. Olympic is a big event...lots of foreigners...They'll talk about Beijing. Our job is to present them..."
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This hostel is built in the style of the traditional Beijing courtyard house, with grey-tiled roofs and red wooden window frames. |
"For most tourists, the high-priced official reception hotels are out of range. They are trying to find reasonably-priced hotels during the Olympics. And budget hotels become a popular choice."
This budget hotel provide bicycles to its customers. The manager says it's convenient to cycle around the city. And more importantly, it's environmentally friendly.
Kevin Li, General Manager of Jinjiang Inn Co. said "We provide English service to our customers. And to promote the concept of the Green Olympics, we provide bicycles free of charge. We don't buy single use bathroom products, so we can save resources."
Prices for a budget hotel like this range from 300 hundred to 1,500 yuan per night, depending mostly on location. In the lobby, visitors can find Olympic-related information, such as daily weather forecasts, event details and public transport maps.
The Internet has become an inseparable part of modern life. In almost all of Beijing's budget hotels, 24 hour Internet access is free. And at this hotel, there's also an on-line computer in the lobby.
The Olympic host city offers a wide range of accommodation options and a chance to experience the real Beijing and a changing China.
(CCTV July 31, 2008)
