Lonely Planet Review
The 'friendship' in this hotel's name marks a time in the communist past when this sprawling garden-style hotel was used to house foreign experts. Today the stately grey brick buildings see a steady stream of visitors from all walks of life and from all over the world.
When we said 'sprawling garden style hotel', we meant sprawling. The hotel grounds cover 335,000 sq m, much of it comprising wooded gardens, hidden pavilions, outdoor cafes and beer gardens, and recreational facilities like tennis courts, a fitness centre and swimming pools (there are two). Each of the four main buildings has its own check-in counter, restaurants, cafes and shopping. Few rooms, unfortunately, have a good garden view, or much style for that matter. Still, the low price gets you access to more amenities than all but five-star hotels can provide. The Friendship is quite a distance from downtown, but it is close to the Summer Palace.
Review by author
Robert Kelly