Beijing 161 Wangfujing Courtyard Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
A genuine siheyuan courtyard in a 700-year-old hutong, with a planted terrace and goldfish pond — old-Beijing charm you can't fake. Score 9.2.
A genuine siheyuan courtyard in a 700-year-old hutong, with a planted terrace and goldfish pond — old-Beijing charm you can't fake. Score 9.2.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Beijing 161 Wangfujing Courtyard Hotel hides behind a red double-door in Lishi Hutong, an alley over 700 years old, ringed by grey-tiled old houses. Inside is a restored siheyuan — a four-sided courtyard house — built around a central yard paved in old grey stone, with bonsai pots, a small goldfish pond, wooden chairs for tea, and a red lantern under original red roof beams. Real guests score it around 9.2/10. The 25 sqm Deluxe Courtyard opens straight onto that yard: a king bed with soft linens, old brick walls paired with new joinery, a strong rain shower, fresh green-tea soap, free Wi-Fi, and a 32-inch flat TV.
Food and amenities
Breakfast is cooked to order. Reviewers describe a morning spread of hot chicken congee, fried youtiao dough sticks, a boiled egg, and warm fresh soy milk — about $8 per person — served at a table in the courtyard with birdsong overhead. In the evening staff brought a pot of pu'er tea on the house, and sipping it to the sound of the alley genuinely takes the edge off a long day. The 9.4 guest rating comes from service that isn't large but remembers every name, sorting out sightseeing tickets and calling a Didi whenever you ask — the kind of attention chain hotels rarely manage.
Location and getting there
It's about a 3-minute walk out of the alley to the main road, then 3 more to Dongsi station (Lines 5 and 6). Ride Line 5 to Dongdan, change to Line 1 for Tiananmen East, and you're there in roughly 15 minutes total; or walk 10 minutes to Wangfujing and another 15 to the Forbidden City. Many reviewers prefer the public bikes: scan a Hello Bike QR through WeChat (first 30 minutes free) and pedal to Nanluoguxiang and the Lao She Museum in about 10 minutes — far more fun than the subway.
Things to know before booking
This is a small place with only 46 rooms, so it books out fast in high season — reserve well ahead. Being a centuries-old house, it carries a few quirks: uneven floors and walls that pass sound between rooms. There's no pool, gym, or full restaurant on site, so it trades resort facilities for location and character. None of that is hidden; it's simply the deal you make to sleep inside a 700-year-old hutong.
Our take
This one is for couples who want something romantic and a little unexpected, history lovers who'd rather wake up inside a 700-year-old courtyard than a tower, and travelers chasing real Beijing over a branded lobby. We loved the easy, name-remembering service and an atmosphere no modern hotel can manufacture — and at around $63 a night to start, it's a rare bargain on character.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A genuine siheyuan (four-sided Chinese courtyard house) set inside Lishi Hutong, an alley with over 700 years of history — the kind of stay a modern hotel simply can't replicate.
- The central courtyard is paved in old grey stone with bonsai pots, a small goldfish pond, and wooden chairs for sipping tea under a red lantern and original red roof beams.
- Dongsi station (subway Lines 5 and 6) is a 6-minute walk, and Wangfujing shopping street is under 10 minutes on foot, so you barely need a taxi.
- All 46 rooms are clean and thoughtfully decorated; the 25 sqm Deluxe Courtyard has a king bed, a strong rain shower, green-tea soap, free Wi-Fi, and a 32-inch flat TV.
- Breakfast is cooked to order — congee, fried dough sticks, soy milk — served in the courtyard, and staff who remember your name will book tickets and call a Didi for you.
- It's a small property with just 46 rooms, so availability tightens fast in high season and you'll want to reserve well ahead.
- This is a centuries-old house, which means a few structural quirks come with the charm — uneven floors and walls that carry sound between rooms.
- There's no pool, gym, or full restaurant on site, so it leans on its location rather than resort facilities; not the pick if you want hotel amenities to fill a day.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Beijing
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Beijing — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in BeijingAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Walk the length of Lishi Hutong itself before you leave — the 700-year-old alley is an experience in its own right, well beyond being your way to the door.
- Ask staff for a pot of pu'er tea and take it to the courtyard terrace in the late afternoon when the alley noise quiets down.
- Skip the subway for short hops: scan a Hello Bike QR through WeChat (first 30 minutes free) and ride to Nanluoguxiang and the Lao She Museum in about 10 minutes.