Beijing Downtown Backpackers Accommodation - Review from Jocelyn Huang

Peking Downtown Backpackers Accomodation can't be beat for a budget place to stay in Beijing! :) I spent 5 days there and I was so sorry to leave, I wish I could've stayed longer. The website tells you everything you need to know about it, but I'll just highlight a few points here... - The hostel is located at 85 Nan Luogu Xiang (NLX), within the 2nd Ring Road in Dongcheng District. This is a preserved hutong area and a stone's throw south from the Drum Tower. - Room prices include a free Chinese/Western breakfast in the adjoining cosy cafe. Western breakfast consists of toast and butter, side salad, jam, fried egg and orange juice. The cafe also has a great selection of books, both travel and otherwise. - They offer free pick-up from the train station if you inform them in advance, and also airport pick-up for a small fee. Look on their website for more details. - For great Peking duck, the nearest branch of Tianwaitian is about 10 mins walk away. Walk south along NLX, turn right (west) into Mao'er Hutong and walk till the hutong intersects with Di'anmenwai Dajie, and the restaurant is just on your left (no need to cross the road). I really loved my Peking duck there! - For film, walk north along NLX until it intersects with the main road and there's a Kodak shop on your left (no need to cross the road again). - A load of washing costs 15 RMB, they provide the washing powder et al, and deliver the dry, clean clothes to your room. - Internet access in the basement costs 10 RMB per hour, printing and burning of CDs is available too. Oh, and if you need help booking train tickets and other travel stuff, the nice travel guy there will help too! - The rooms are clean and tidy, with crisp sheets and heating. Attached washing facilities are sparkly clean and they don't smell at all! Hehe... :P Oh, and there's 24-hour hot water. - The daytrips to the Great Wall (Jinshanling to Simatai) run every other day, IIRC. The cost is 90 RMB for transport (from hostel to Jinshanling, and then from Simatai to hostel), 30 RMB for Jinshanling, 30 RMB for Simatai, 5 RMB for Simatai suspension bridge. - They also offer to take you to evening performances of kungfu, Chinese acrobatics and Chinese opera. Although I didn't go, my 2 travel companions gave the 2-thumbs-up for their choice of performances! Most importantly, the staff is unbelievably friendly and ultra-helpful with anything that you might need. They helped to call up places and answered all kinds of questions from us when we stayed there. Staying there was almost the best choice I've made in Beijing (the decision to go on their Great Wall trip is the best!) and without them, I wouldn't have enjoyed my Beijing stay so much. I'd have regretted it if I stayed anywhere else!