Fragrant Hill Hotel in Beijing

The Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by a master architect, is quite old but still leaves a lasting impression, especially the lobby and garden. The rooms appear to have been renovated and are very clean with relatively new furniture. Overall, it's perfect for those who appreciate a nostalgic style. It's a great place to stay in all four seasons, each offering a unique experience. Parking costs 40 yuan for 24 hours, with an additional 10 yuan per hour if you exceed the 24-hour limit, up to a maximum of 40 yuan. Be mindful of your parking time.

Late autumn, with red leaves everywhere, I had initially thought Fragrant Hills Hotel would be the highlight of my Beijing trip. Ultimately, it left me with a sense of regret.

The five-star rating is for the dedicated staff, but the overall management and design behind it can only elicit a long sigh: what a pity! Such a shame!

I had originally booked for two nights. The moment I checked in on Friday, I was informed that due to the abundance of red leaves and the large number of visitors to Fragrant Hills, vehicle access to the entire scenic area was restricted from 7 AM to 7 PM. This meant that if I were to check out on Sunday at the normal time, I wouldn't be able to get a taxi to leave Fragrant Hills. The only way out was to take the scenic area's mini-train. In this situation, the hotel clearly had no special arrangements with the transportation department; they couldn't help me get a taxi nor could they use the hotel's own vehicle to take me down the mountain. Simply put, although Fragrant Hills Hotel is located within the scenic area, it has no special privileges regarding traffic control. This restriction essentially cut off access to and from the hotel, and the mini-train's boarding point was still some distance from the hotel. I quietly glanced at my two suitcases, each weighing over 20 kg, and my mother, who is over seventy, and had no choice but to cancel one night, leaving after 7 PM on Saturday. The front desk staff member was incredibly kind and agreed to let us stay until 2 PM on Saturday for check-out. I know this was the limit of his authority, and I am deeply grateful!

I specifically booked a newly renovated room. These rooms are on a split-level within the hotel, and this split-level inexplicably has no elevator! I honestly don't quite understand why, since they've been renovated, and since this part of the building itself has an elevator, why can't the elevator stop at this split-level? Again, the front desk staff member, without a word, grabbed my two huge suitcases and delivered them to my room door. If it weren't for him, this hotel would feel unlivable! The room was very spacious, and indeed newly renovated, but the design was very underwhelming. It's not terrible, this design would have been perfectly fine twenty years ago, but for 2025, it's merely at the level of a Hanting Hotel – the layout, decor, and lighting are simply uninspired. I wonder if I.M. Pei would be sad if he knew that forty years later, inside his still very stylish exterior, such a core had been installed. But that's not to say the stay wasn't comfortable. You have to appreciate this room subtly; the initial impression of mediocrity led to pleasant surprises everywhere afterward. Every single item used was excellent! The carpet, slippers, towels, bedding, amenities, and even the tea bags were worthy of the Fragrant Hills Hotel brand and its four-figure price tag. Even the cleanliness was commendable. I slept incredibly comfortably at night because it was very, very quiet – the kind of quiet with white noise. Although the courtyard outside the window and the distant mountains were unclear in the dim light, this experience of being one with nature brought a primal sense of relaxation. It was then that I truly felt the value of Fragrant Hills Hotel, and this is why, despite so many inconveniences and dissatisfactions, the overall experience could still be described as comfortable, and I am still willing to give it a five-star rating.

The next thing I must mention is food delivery. Before checking in, I had read other reviews and knew that deliveries couldn't reach the lobby, so I assumed I'd have to pick up food at the hotel's main entrance. I didn't realize how naive I was. Deliveries are left at the entrance of Fragrant Hills Park! Fragrant Hills Park! Exit the hotel lobby, then exit the hotel gate and turn right for 150 meters! It was lightly raining that day, and the thoughtful lobby staff lent me an umbrella, so I began my 'adventure' to pick up food. No exaggeration, picking up food was so thrilling! I walked across the parking lot with small puddles, exited the gate, turned right, and for the first fifty meters, there was a dim strip of streetlights at my feet. After fifty meters, I entered complete darkness. If it weren't for the guards on duty at every intersection, and if I hadn't had faith in the security of the entire Fragrant Hills scenic area, I might have chosen to give up on the delivery and just buy instant noodles from the vending machine in the lobby. Holding an umbrella, battling the wind, listening to the rustling of fallen leaves underfoot, I walked 150 meters to get the still-warm dumplings, then turned and climbed another 150-meter slope back to the hotel in the dark. As I walked, I muttered to myself: 'Why are you so greedy?'

After checking out the next day, I took a good stroll around the hotel, and it truly was beautiful at every turn. I came to stay at the hotel with a reverence for I.M. Pei, and it was not in vain. The pond in the backyard and the two huge ginkgo trees were exceptionally beautiful, but the overall maintenance of the hotel somehow had a strange sense of desolation. Just like the room design, every individual item was of high quality, yet collectively, it felt dated. At the same time, the hotel was far too open, allowing anyone to come in for a photo op. The lobby sofas were filled with people resting, making it a bit crowded.

Overall, the living experience at Fragrant Hills Hotel was still very comfortable. Every staff member I encountered, from the front desk to the greeters to room service to the restaurant, was excellent. However, the hotel's overall positioning, commercial strategy, and macro-management are twenty years behind, still stuck at the level of hosting various conferences and providing accommodation for attendees. I have stayed at other historic hotels like the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and uniquely located ones like Amand in the Summer Palace. Fragrant Hills Hotel truly leaves a lingering feeling of regret. With the resource of mountains full of red leaves and the design legacy of Mr. Pei, it should have greater potential and infinite possibilities; it should be able to improve the living experience tenfold, twentyfold. Of course, when I think about it, at that point, the room prices might not be at this level anymore, haha~~~

This hotel is located within the Xiangshan Scenic Area, offering a superb environment. You can step right out to the Xiangshan hiking trails, and the Lizhu Tower is just across the way, making the location incredibly convenient. Our room, Qingyun, was newly renovated with good facilities. The shower water was comfortable. However, the hotel doesn't provide amenities like shower caps or combs as standard; you have to ask for them at the front desk. They also don't offer children's toiletries. Despite this, the service was better than expected; at least they weren't indifferent or dismissive.

I booked this hotel specifically for I.M. Pei's design. I couldn't get a reservation last year, so I made sure to book early this time. The hotel's design, both inside and out, exudes an oriental charm and is truly a sight to behold. The back garden is beautiful, and the autumn foliage makes for stunning photos. The hotel breakfast was decent, and the room was spacious. However, the facilities seemed a bit old and outdated. The bathroom hygiene was subpar, with several hairs visible in the bathtub (disgusting!). Only toothbrushes, small combs, and razors were provided by the mirror, which felt a bit stingy. My main reason for visiting was to see the autumn red leaves at Fragrant Hills, so staying within the scenic area was convenient, allowing me to fully soak in the atmosphere of the Fragrant Hills Hotel.

The Fragrant Hills Hotel boasts an excellent location. The rooms in the Qingyun area are newly renovated, and my stay was fantastic. A special thanks to the hotel's concierge for helping me retrieve my luggage from the park's southeast gate and bringing it to the lobby; they were so thoughtful and polite. I will definitely choose the Fragrant Hills Hotel again on my next autumn trip to Beijing.

The room was spacious and the heating was excellent. The only downside was the lack of a view from the window. However, the common areas were beautifully designed, especially for this season. It's also very convenient for visiting Xiangshan Park, and the room key directly grants access.

Amenities: The room provides toothbrushes and toothpaste. Other necessities can be requested by scanning the QR code next to the bed, but bringing your own is recommended. Getting delivery food can be a bit inconvenient as you have to walk a few hundred meters to pick it up.

Cleanliness: The cleaning felt quite thorough.

Environment: The two ancient ginkgo trees attract a lot of tourists, making it a popular photo spot. Staying at the hotel offers a slight advantage as you can monitor the crowd, though people start coming to take photos as early as 7 or 8 AM. Enjoying tea on the balcony is also a nice option. Waking up early to hike Xiangshan allows you to avoid the crowds, which is a great experience.

The room was clean and the environment was great. The overall layout and facility design, considering it's over forty years old, is quite impressive – definitely the work of a master. The location is excellent; it's only about a hundred meters to Emperor Qianlong's Hall of Diligent Government.

It's a great sorrow in life when people can't be truthful, so I always give honest and factual reviews, regardless of whether Trip.com approves them or not. What goes around comes around, and truthfulness is the only standard for verifying truth.

The hotel's software and hardware are a bit outdated and subpar; it probably would have been considered top-notch back in the 70s or 80s, giving it a retro feel.

On the first day, the front desk assigned us a corner room on the first floor. After checking it out, we switched to another corner room, at least one without a garbage collection point right outside the window.

The downsides are that the room was too damp, the air conditioning was a useless, outdated central system, and the old-fashioned switches were difficult to figure out and adjust.

To our disappointment, the swimming pool was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. As people who love to swim, this was quite a letdown.

The front desk service was quite good, though. On the second day, they moved us to a room on the third floor, and the air conditioning was much better. At least it wasn't like the first night, where I woke up feeling a bit cold and caught a cold.