I didn't want to stay in a generic chain hotel when I came to Beijing, so I ended up in a small courtyard in the alley of VueHotels & Resorts·Houhai Hotel Beijing. I originally only wanted it to be close to Houhai, but after three days of living there, I immediately carried the relaxed feeling of the old Beijing hutongs into my arms - without the rush of rushing, without the hustle and bustle of the scenic area, and even the fragrance of locust trees wafting in my sleep. This is what a stay should be like.
Follow the navigation and turn through two alleys with the fragrance of locust flowers, and the small courtyard with gray tiled wooden doors hits your eyes. Pushing open the creaking wooden door, the small courtyard paved with bluestone instantly isolated the outside noise. Several pots of roses were in full bloom, and the wicker rocking chair was placed under the shade of the old locust tree, swaying slowly with the wind. The girl at the front desk handed me a cup of warm osmanthus oolong tea, with a faint floral scent on her fingertips. She smiled and reminded me that in the evening, walking along the small alleyway at the side door, it would take only 5 minutes to reach the least crowded section of the coastline in Houhai, without crowding the main road.
I live in a special room with a small private courtyard, and the moment I opened the door, I was relieved of the exhaustion of rushing. The wooden beams of the old house have a warm and moist texture that has been accumulated for many years. The warm yellow diffuse reflection light falls on the cotton and linen bedding, without any extra internet celebrities piled up. Every detail is transparent and appropriate. The small tea table by the window is decorated with a whole set of coarse pottery tea sets. The hotel has prepared jasmine tea from old Beijing in advance. Sitting down and making a cup, the hot air is wrapped in the fragrance of tea, and the sourness of the journey slowly dissipates along the back. The most surprising thing is the texture of the bedding. The linen sheets are skin friendly and breathable, and the pillow is a buckwheat pillow with moderate softness and hardness. As someone who loves beds all year round, I fell asleep in less than ten minutes, and even the occasional pigeon whistle outside the window became the best white noise.
The attention to detail cannot be hidden. The bathroom space has undergone a complete separation of dry and wet areas, and the retro style faucet produces warm water at a particularly fast speed. After wandering the alley all day and taking a hot shower, the coldness all over the body is completely washed away. The toiletries have a light herbal fragrance, and after washing the hair, it won't become dry or tangled. In addition to the regular toiletries set, there is also a small bottle of mosquito repellent placed on the countertop. There are many plants and trees in the alley, and this small detail directly hit me. When I returned to my room at night, the butler had quietly lifted the bedsheet and placed a piece of osmanthus flavored throat lozenge beside my pillow. The autumn nights in Beijing are dry, and even my dreams are sweet.
The experience in public areas is also particularly comfortable. The public living room in the courtyard is full of old Beijing picture albums. In the afternoon, sitting under the shade of a tree, you can turn over two pages of books, and the guests next door will hand you half a bunch of Bingtanghulu you just bought. The housekeeper will also take the initiative to recommend you the secret spots in the alley: the old Zhajiangmian store that has been open for 30 years, the hand made silver jewelry shop hidden in the deep lane, and even the stargazing platform that has the least number of people at the seaside in the future.
After staying for three days, I didn't rush to many popular attractions, but I felt the softest fireworks atmosphere in Beijing. No need to rush cars or crowd people, brewing a pot of tea in a small courtyard, listening to the sound of pigeon whistles and daydreaming, this is the most worthwhile experience when coming to Beijing. Next time I come back, I will definitely return to this small courtyard as soon as possible and be a leisurely person in the alley for a few more days.Show more