I stayed for the weekend at Bamboo Garden and highly recommend this to travelers wanting a
real Chinese hotel in a traditional Beijing neighborhood. The hotel is a short walk from the Guoloudajie (Drum Tower) subway stop and less than 15 minutes walk from the Houhai/Lakes area. Staff are friendly, Wifi worked well, and there is a western breakfast served every morning. The hotel buildings are set in a walled courtyard with bamboo groves and fish ponds.
I think it used to be the private home of a senior government official before the revolution.
Bamboo Garden works well if you are in the mood for an authentic Chinese hotel experience in a traditional 'hutong' neighborhood.

I booked the Bamboo Garden twice in 2011. First time for touring with with two grown daughters and a granddaughter. Its central location in Beijing is important from a tour standpoint. Second stay was with another adult.

Both times, our suite was located on th first floor, facing the hutong alley. It was perfectly acceptable to us, as we spent little time in the room awake. No hutong noise bothered us while we were in the room, either. The room and bath have western-style amenities. When we had time, we walked around the beautiful courtyard. The morning breakfast buffet was wonderful, and the restaurant opened in plenty of time to get a full day of sightseeing in. Check in and out were simple and efficient.

The Bamboo Garden has a unique history in Beijing lodgings...surf the 'net to learn about it! It is not a western hotel. And walking in the neighborhood was a wonderful experience, too. That's the best part of traveling, isn't it?

I stayed here for a couple nights at the end of a trip in China. The location is very good; a short walk from the subway, nearby the Bell and Drum tower and shops and restaurants, and close to the highway to get to the airport or out of the city. The room was very nicely furnished and had a computer connected to the internet. However it was difficult to sleep at night; there was a small open room or office for staff around the corner, and someone was up late talking loudly and smoking alot. The room had no real window- it faced a wall, and was not close to the lovely garden at the center of the hotel. Room choice seems pretty important to enjoying your stay here. I had breakfast at the hotel, which was fine, but ate out other meals. Getting to the hotel was a bit difficult; the taxi driver could not make heads or tails of the print out suggested by the hotel, and he turned into the first drive off the hutong instead of heading much farther down.

I stayed 4 nights in this hotel. It's north of the Forbidden city near the Guloudaije subway station (5 min walk).

Although it's in the middle in the capital, the place is very quite. I got room 104, wich was great. It was clean, extra weather service, newspaper, local calling for free, private Pc in the room and Wifi. Though connection was sometimes a bit slow. Als a big lcd tv and a minibar with very reasonable prices. The room is beautifull decorated and has a kingsize bed.

The hotel consists of several very old buildings spread around a (bamboo) garden. Restaurant is sufficient (I only ate breakfast there).

For 4 euro's you can rent a bike for 8 hours at the hotel, it's a perfect way to get around (together with cheap taxis and metro).

In the direct vicinity you'll find lots of shops and restaurants.

If you like a more chinese traditional hotel, choose this one.