Lonely Planet Review
The Huafeng dates back to 1905, but other than the turn-of-the-century exterior and marbled lobby, the design seems stuck in the '70s. Forget about scoring some style on the cheap. You're paying for bare-bones here and that's just what you're going to get.
The Huafeng would like you to believe you're taking a walk down memory lane (just read their brochure), but while it once was the famous Grand Hotel des Wagon-Lits, witness to the turning tides of Beijing's history, it isn't anymore. It's a bland mid-range business hotel, and your room will have a firm bed, functional fixtures, a decent bathroom and a long counter to line up your souvenirs. Certainly in its favour is the neighbourhood, the former Foreign Legations. It's a pleasant district with broad tree-lined streets, wide sidewalks and a number of historic buildings. The train station is just a short distance away to the east, and Tiananmen Square is just to the west. For travellers coming or going, it's good and central.
Review by author
Robert Kelly