We had to endure 4 nights at this shabby so-called 5-star hotel ( hardly worth 3-star), as the first stop in a 2 week China tour arranged by China Direct. As other reviewers have pointed out, its well out of date, and fails in most departments.
1. The beds are made of solid granite......even sleeping on two layers of blankets wont make any difference.
2. The staff hardly speak any English
3. There was a lot of confusion when they couldnt explain how they were going to return 2000RMB taken from my credit card at check-in. Im still waiting.
4. The location is awful. Miles from anywhere and not in a particularly pleasent area.
5. Not a lot of choice for dining out near-by and their own restuarant is abysmal....the menu dates back to the early eighties,and is over-priced.
Finally, the buffet breakfast is adequate...about the only decent point I can make for this worn-out place.

Really, the rock-hard beds are the worst thing about the hotel. The room was fine, the lobby opulent, the food was an amazing variety of Chinese and western, and the staff helpful. The concierge was kind enough to book me a taxi for 4AM to go to the flag-raising ceremony at Tienanmen. The hotel is located close to the Huawei Rd Overpass on the 3rd Ring Rd, which is very helpful to know, since none of the taxi drivers I encountered in Beijing recognize the address the hotel provides. Unfortunately, this also means the hotel is far away from any notable sights, and you should not plan on a brief walk to anywhere but a supermarket, hospital or roast duck restaurant (all of which I easily found on a short walk through the neighborhood). But there is a nice (if overpriced) bar on the 27th floor that has lovely views of the city. If you sit on the left and stretch your neck, you can just see the lights of Tiananmen Square at night.

The Chang An (formerly Beijing - Days Inn ) is a nice 3 star (China 4 star) hotel with hard mattresses (we brought a sleeping pad) and poor quality towels. Location of hotel was adequate but long walks and some cab rides that would not be necessary in other locations. Hotel was booked as part of a China tour - CITS tour. Internet was available in room but for those without a laptop, it was 10 yuan for 30 minutes at business center. Shower head needed replacement (repaired first day after request). Alarm clacks - faulty made in China alarm clocks through out hotel, set 2 to 5 hours ahead?? - garbage.

We stayed here as part of a tour with china direct. It is in a poor location miles from the attractions and with the traffic so bad in Beijing we spent a considerable amount of time travelling to and from the centre. The room was not clean. Stains on the carpet and mould round the bath. Not what you would expect to find in a 5* hotel. Very few clothes hangers in the wardrobe but didnt fancy putting my clothes in there anyway. Pllenty of toiletries in the bathroom. Tea and kettle in the room, no coffee or milk. Very inconvenient lighting arrangement. Only able to operate bedside lights from one side of the bed and the wire had tape on it, dangerous.
We were unable to sleep on the rock hard bed. It was like lying on a slab of concrete.
The worst thing was when we came to check out. We were accused of stealing a teaspoon from our room, which we certainly didn't, and were only able to leave the hotel when the tour guide came to our rescue. The staff were most unfriendly.