China Element Apartment

We were initially staying in the centre of the city but because of the May Public Holiday we were struggling to find further last minute accommodation in Beijing within our budget - after searching on the internet we came across the 'China Element' which was in the suburbs. We took a leap of faith and I'm glad we did. The China Element is great alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city - its about a 20min ride on the metro (at a very tiny cost of 2yuan, ie;less than 20p) and then followed by a nice picturesque quiet walk down the river. The entrance doesn't really do the place justice - but once your up the stairs you soon realise that this isn't a typical Beijing accommodation. Each of the rooms are tastefully decorated and are very modern, ours is french inspired with a splash of the oriental magic. Alot of thought and attention to detail has been put into each room and it certainly makes a difference. Also, the China Element has laundry facilities, constant hot water, nice showers, comfy beds and a roof terrace (some rooms over look the river too) - compared to other budget places and courtyard hotels/hostels in downtown, this is luxury. Being out of the city and in suburban Beijing has also been a great experience. The manager/owner Joan is a star - she really made us feel welcomed and has been invaluable during our stay in Beijing. She made great recommendations on where to go, helped us with transport and at times has acted as translator as her english is fantastic. We can't thank her enough.