Staying at the Orchid in Hutong

The Orchid is a concession to modernity in the narrow and ancient lanes of the Hutong walkways of Beijing. This chic and urban hotel is nestled between houses numbered 63 and 67 in the bylanes of Hutong. Reaching it can be a challenge for many first timers in Hutong.

What to expect at The Orchid in Hutong

The architectural layout of the hotel is quite pleasing to the eye. It has a tiered design with rounded passageways and a traditional roof design that curves gently. The whole structure is reminiscent of the Qin Era. Exposed beams run across the roofs of the bedrooms lending a rustic Hutong touch and yet keeping the Zen feeling intact. The hotel is run by famous cooking class teacher Joel Shuchat along with the owner of Houhai based Tao Yao Bar, Youngcall. Joel Shuchat is a Canadian tea exporter while Youngcall is Tibetan and an accountant by qualification.

Amenities at The Orchid in Hutong

This hotel has provisions for ten bedrooms. Even though the rooms are not large, they provide all modern amenities. Chinese hotels are famous for hard mattresses, which is not the case at The Orchid. Each bedroom is provided with huge beds, customized mattresses, down comforters, full access to internet and fully equipped bathrooms with western style toilets. The interiors of the rooms are decorated with traditional bamboo lanterns and some potted plants, which give it a nice blend of Chinese and Tibetan culture. Guests, who check into the upscale rooms, known as the Yin and Yang suites, enjoy the facilities of a private terrace where they can lounge around. The rooms cost between 600 Yuan and 1200 Yuan on a nightly basis.

There are quite a few rooftop decks in the hotel, which offer a view of the Drum Tower as well as the Bell Tower. The hotel is further equipped with a courtyard, a bar and a restaurant serving Fujian cuisine. The bar comfortably seats twelve people at a time and serves wheat ale, beer and several varieties of Italian wine. Guests at the bar can take their pick of snacks and cheese platters along with their drinks. The specialty of the house, however, is the types of tea brews available here. The dining room in the hotel has more of an intimate setting with the kitchen doors left open to display the new and shiny kitchen equipment.

Several garden passageways and stairwell connect the various parts of the hotel. The tree gardens in the hotel form a secluded woodsy area right in the middle of the city giving visitors a feel of living in the countryside.

Service at The Orchid in Hutong

As a boutique hotel, The Orchid enjoys a good reputation due to the quality of service and the amenities it provides. Expats as well as local people turn to The Orchid when they want a taste of luxury during their visit to the city. It is a charming hideout and a wonderful place to stay in.

So, the next time you visit Beijing on business or for pleasure, you know where to stay in order to live in the lap of traditional luxury.

Original article