Citytel Inn
by the TopOfHotel team
Citytel Inn is a 3-star hotel with a prime Wangfujing address, the subway 200 m away, and rates that undercut everything around it — and a guest score that lands higher than you'd expect at 9.2.
Citytel Inn is a 3-star hotel with a prime Wangfujing address, the subway 200 m away, and rates that undercut everything around it — and a guest score that lands higher than you'd expect at 9.2.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The 22 sqm Standard Double runs about ¥298 (~$42) a night, and while it isn't large, everything fits. The queen bed wears crisp white cotton with a faint fresh-linen scent, the Gree air-con cools fast and runs quiet, and the 32-inch LCD TV carries domestic channels. Free Wi-Fi is quick enough to run a Zoom work call without stutter. The bathroom is small but spotless, with a strong warm shower, a kettle with free Chinese tea bags, and disposable soap and shampoo. Reviewers keep noting there's no carpet — which is exactly why the room feels clean and never stuffy.
Food and amenities
The lobby lounge bar stays open 24 hours, with machine coffee at ¥15 (~$2) or a hot bowl of instant noodles when you roll in late. Front-desk staff speak basic English but try hard — ask for a map and they'll print one with the Chinese station names written in by hand. Free luggage storage after checkout is handy before an airport run, the underground parking is free, and laundry runs about ¥30 (~$4) a piece, dropped in the morning and back by evening. The Trip.com 9.8 and Agoda 9.0 scores really do trace back to how much the team pays attention.
Location and getting there
Location is the second reason to book. It's a 10-minute walk to Wangfujing station on Line 1, then one stop to Tiananmen East and straight into the Forbidden City. Walk five minutes the other way and you hit the Wangfujing pedestrian street, where the original Quanjude roast-duck house does set menus from about ¥168 (~$24) a person. The Wangfujing night market is roughly three minutes on foot, with zhajiangmian noodles around ¥25 (~$3.50) a bowl — cheap and genuinely good.
Things to know before booking
This is a 3-star property, so set expectations: there's no pool, no gym, and no spa, and the amenities are basic. The rooms and bathrooms are compact next to the 5-star options on this list, so two travelers with big suitcases will feel the squeeze. And because the scores are high and the rates are low, it books out fast in high season — reserve well ahead or you'll miss the price.
Our take
Citytel Inn fits solo budget travelers, backpackers chasing a prime address, working couples who are out all day and only come back to sleep, and short-trip business travelers who don't need anything fancy. At ¥298 (~$42) a night in the middle of Wangfujing, this is a deal that's genuinely hard to find in the capital — no question the best value on the list.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Prime location right in the heart of the Wangfujing shopping district, with the pedestrian street a 5-minute walk away.
- About 200 m (a 10-minute walk) to Wangfujing station on Metro Line 1 — one stop from Tiananmen East and the Forbidden City.
- Rooms come with air-con, a 32-inch LCD TV, and fast internet; both Wi-Fi and the underground parking are free.
- Real guest scores are unusually high for the price point — around 9.8 on Trip.com and 9.0 on Agoda.
- Starting rates near $43 a night make it the cheapest room on this entire list, in an address that normally costs far more.
- This is a 3-star property, so the amenities are basic — there's no pool, no gym, and no spa.
- The 22 sqm rooms and small bathrooms feel tight next to the spacious 5-star hotels elsewhere on the list.
- High scores plus low rates mean it books out fast in peak season, so you'll want to reserve well ahead.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Walk the Wangfujing pedestrian street and the night market from the door, then use Line 1 for everything farther out.
- Book early — the combination of high scores and low rates fills rooms quickly.
- Ask the front desk to print your sightseeing stops with the Chinese station names written in; they do it without being asked twice.