Beijing Mingyuan Hotel

Pros: convenient to subway and Beijing No. 8 School, attached to a large shopping center Cons: unbelievably nasty carpet in room (I found a fork under the coffee table0 lots of mildew in shower and sink. Few people spoke English (thank goodness I had a translator with me!). The registration desk is on the third floor, so there is no lobby when you enter from the street. Breakfast "tickets" are required for the breakfast buffet; you have to obtain these daily from the front desk. The selections for breakfast are few; no coffee or juice, a little fruit, caters entirely to Chinese guests. Fortunately I wasn't paying for my room; my hosts were, but I wonder if they have ever actually been inside one of the rooms.