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Sitting on the City Walls (Beijing) Courtyard House, Beijing, China
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Address: No.57 NianZi HuTong, JingShanHouJie, DongCheng District
Address: No.57 NianZi HuTong, JingShanHouJie, DongCheng District (17 votes)
Ranked #5 out of 453 in Beijing
Reviews
Rick & his team are a fun and helpful lot. My friend and I initially booked to stay for 3 nights for our entire 14 days trip, but end up staying at this hostel for the entire duration. This hostel is easily accessible as its located at nearby Tianamen/Forbidden City area. The atmosphere is very welcoming, friendly, clean and Rick is very accomodating. He and his team helped us find our way around the city and recommended good places to try out the local food. Definitely an awesome host
We arrived on Dec 7, 2008 in the middle of the freezing night. The taxi had trouble to find the way as there are funny zic-zac alley leading to the hostel. Location is fantastic, by walking distance to the Jinghans park and Forbidden City + bus #5, 810 etc...are available all the time. The staff with Rachel & Rick were very helpful and friendly, rooms were clean and my kids loved their "sweet & sour chicken" and cute dumplings. Even my ex-husband enjoyed the food very much. I loved their grapefruit tea. We had great time and I would surely recommend the hostel to my friends.
Keep the good work. Dana (Slovakia), Wardah+Saad+Nafel (Bahrain)
We stayed at Sitting on the City Walls Courtyard house for 7 nights.
The hostel is more like a boutique hostel, and it is a bit more expensive than other hostels in Beijing but we really felt that it was worth it.
The hostel is located in a hutong alleyway just behind Jingshan park very close to the forbidden city. The location is excellent and really easy to get to most of the main atrations from. It also helps that upon arrive you are provided with a little info pack telling you how to get around and there is always someone close on hand to make sure that you know how to get to and from your destination. The pack also recommend restraunts, sights, and markets and even gives you advice on how to handle to bargaining at markets.
Walking into the courtyard from the alley is such a nice surprise and there is a really nice vibe hanging out in the common area.
We had a private double and after travelling for almost a year would be one of the nicest rooms and cleanest bathrooms we have had the pleasure of staying in.
Would absolutely recommend this hostel for anyone who needs somewhere a bit cheaper and more social than a hotel but a bit nicer than an ordinary hostel.
I had absolutely the best stay at Sitting on the City Walls Hostel. The staff was so incredibly helpful - they really went above and beyond to make sure the stay was enjoyable. Great friendly environment and many convenient services from CD burning to Internet/printing to tours. Easily the best hostel I've ever stayed at.
This is a very nice hostel situated in the middle of a hutong(traditional chinese neighbourhood) with a great location not far away from the Forbidden City. Staff is extremely helpfull and friendly.
This place is awesome. I wish I lived there!
Very nice people working there!!!! Really really nice!
More like a boutique hotel for the price of a hostel, the City Walls was a great base for a week exploring Beijing. Its hidden down a dusty old hutong alley, and very close to the Forbidden City. Rick offers good, friendly advice on how to tackle Beijing by foot and by bus, and the rooms are spotless. The whole atmosphere is very calm and tranquil, which you need after a day seeing the sights and dodging the street sellers. Highly recommended.
This hostel was great. Friendly english speaking staff, free internet and great food! The rooms all opened into a central inside courtyard area which had a really nice relaxed but quietly sociable feeling. Would definitely go back and recommend to others.
Sitting on City Walls was by far one of the best hostels we stayed at in China. The staff is very helpful and the location is excellent you can walk to many main attractions or take the bus. We booked our Great Wall trip with the hostel as well and it was fantastic. The hostel is very clean and hot showers are always available!
it was not good, it was bloody amazing!!! best hostel i have ever stayed at!!!
Couldn't really fault this place. Clean spacious dorms, really helpful staff, private lockers for valuables etc. Top place with a really nice chilled out vibe.
An amazing find! The best hostel I have ever stayed at. Beautiful courtyard and bed rooms, good food available, clean, superb location. I would definately stay here again; this is how all hostels should be!
For many years I have traveled all over the world. Stayed at hundreds and hundreds of different hotels/hostels - or whatever they are named. But what I found here in Beijing is a hidden gem. In the center of a "Hutong" - in the center of Beijing. Run by two very professionals: Rick and Rachel. Professionels who are able to build up an atmosphere of awareness and well-being. It is mostly young people you meet at this place - but belonging to the next generation I also felt myself very welcome. After walking around in Beijing , my daughter often said: Time to go home? "Home" was the hostel. Check in here - you will never regret it.
I recently stayed at City Walls (which is listed as a hostel) and it was a great experience. The staff were excellent and friendly, the rooms were very clean and extremely comfortable and all round it was a highlight of our trip.
You will find the owner, Rick, most pleasant and always willing to help out. And the courtyard (which is covered) is a great place to hang out and get information or use the internet, etc......
I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for cheap and pleasant accomodation. Not to mention it is in a good location (though a little hard to find at first) but easy travel to all the sights.