0 Xijiao Hotel, Beijing, China

Located in the popular Haidian district not far from the centre of Beijing, the Xijiao Hotel is a good comfortable choice if you are trying to avoid the extremely high prices in the capital. Do not expect world class luxury; think of class, casual sophistication and a warm atmosphere.

Set in pleasant gardens, the Xijiao Hotel is a good place to stay whilst enjoying a tour of the city or even if you are here on business. Not far from the Olympic Building, the shopping centre, the Beijing Language University and the subway station, it is perfect as a base to get around Beijing.

The exterior has a distinctive Asian-meets-20th-century look to it and inside it is much the same. The reception staff are very friendly and look presentable (although management itself could take a leaf out of their books and smile once in a while), and the design continues.

The Xijiao Hotel offers 475 guest rooms and suites, all overlooking the lush blooming courtyard (in spring and summer, in winter it is a landscape of hauntingly beautiful snow and ice). Standard rooms are quite spacious for Beijing hotels, decorated in warm buttery tones and Pan-Asian mahogany furniture. They are located in the heart of the courtyard and while there are no balconies, they do have fantastic views.

The Executive Luxury Rooms are by far the best here. With top-of-the-range bathrooms with tubs you can just sink into, welcome baskets of fruit and flowers, a separate seating srea, these rooms get a big thumbs up.

The Xijiao Hotel has a restaurant to suit any craving you might have – the Xiyuan Seafood restaurant serves up anything that can be found in the sea; the Ginkgo Western brings American and Continental breakfasts to life in this sun drenched restaurant; the Dongyuan is the height of traditional Chinese cuisine; the Shanyuan is casual dining at its very best and you can relax after a hard day’s tour of the city by relaxing in the Yiyuan Coffee bar with either a coffee or a special drink.

If you don’t fancy the crowds in the city, explore what the Xijiao Hotel has to offer; you won’t be disappointed. The swimming pool is fantastic, the bowling alleys fun, the tennis courts professional and the spa facilities some of the best in the city. With both traditional Chinese and Thai treatments, you may never want to explore Beijing.

With meeting rooms that can hold up to 400 people, a banquet hall and top of the line equipment, the Xijiao Hotel certainly delivers all business expectations.