Description: In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics the face of Beijing changed completely as the authorities sought to modernize and beautify prior to the gaze of the world falling on the city. One of the most heavily-publicized aspects of this transformation was the disappearance of the traditional hutong areas of the city. For those not familiar with China or Chinese Architecture, hutongs are small tightly packed one-storey houses built around a central courtyard. Between 2005 and the lighting of the Olympic flame, vast swathes of these disappeared to be replaced by modern shopping developments, apartment buildings and office blocks.
However, there was always one area that was never going to be in any danger of going under the wrecking ball. The Qianmen district of the city, sits directly to the south of Tiananmen Square and represents one of the city's deepest mines of foreign tourist dollars. It is made up largely of hutongs and ramshackle buildings preserved to give the traditional Chinese feel and to make tourists believe they are getting a genuine authentic glimpse of China whilst they buy cheap silks and fake North face jackets. Much of the area was refurbished, re-painted and brought into the twenty-first century prior to the Olympics, but managed to stay intact – unlike areas a few kilometres to the east west and south.
Situated in the south of this area is the Far East Hotel/Hostel. Like most of the surrounding area, it's whole sales pitch is that guests get a taste of real China at close hand. Consequently, for those coming to China for the first time looking for a touristic experience, it is perfect. Not only is the location ideal for exploring the 'traditional' parts of the city, but it also offers tours to all the major sites and has a restaurant serving fantastic Chinese food – unusual for budget accommodation in China.
For those who have visited China before, or who or are looking for a slightly more authentic taste of 'traditional' China, it is not the best of choices as it has plenty of ticks in the negative column. Firstly, whilst the location is good for exploring the hutongs, it is quite a hike to Tiananmen and there are no subways or main roads close by, making it difficult to get to the rest of the city. It is also a little behind the times in terms of technology. Even in 2009 there was no wireless internet anywhere in the hotel and no connections in rooms. There were shared computers in the cafe and two cables in the lobby for laptops.
Aside from its rather romanticized location, there is not too much to recommend Far East. However, the rooms are clean and well kept, albeit slight bare. A double costs around 200rmb for the night.
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