Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza — A Glass Tower Where the Mall Is Downstairs and the Forbidden City Is Up the Road

Start with what guests mention most — the location. The hotel sits at No. 1 East Chang An Avenue, right on the corner where Chang'an Avenue crosses Wangfujing, and it forms part of the Oriental Plaza complex that gathers a mall, offices and residences under one roof. On a bitterly cold or rainy Beijing day, that means you can ride the lift down and eat, shop or catch a film without once stepping outside into the wind. And when you do want the old city, it's about a 10–15 minute walk west to the eastern side of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. This is the address first-time visitors dream about.

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On the rooms, the full renovation (a redesign by Hirsch Bedner Associates) has given all 518 rooms and suites a far more contemporary feel, blending modern design with light touches of Chinese style. The point guests agree on is the floor-to-ceiling windows, which open up wide views over the old city, and even the entry-level rooms feel generous for a hotel in the dead centre of town. Small details quietly win people over: Bose speakers in the room, a Dyson hairdryer, and bathroom amenities from the French house Balmain served in large, eco-friendly bottles. Anyone who upgrades to a Club room for lounge access tends to say the difference pays off — breakfast, afternoon tea and an evening happy hour included.

If you'd rather take the subway, this is about as easy as Beijing gets: Wangfujing station (Line 1) connects directly into the Oriental Plaza complex, practically at the hotel door. A few stops on Line 1 brings you to Tiananmen Square and the eastern business districts, while Dengshikou station (Line 5) is within walking distance if you want to head north toward the Lama Temple or beyond. Getting in from the airport is straightforward too, whether you take the Airport Express onto the metro or grab a taxi into the centre.

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Here's something to be clear about before you book. What used to be this hotel's legendary signature is the lagoon-style indoor pool, Club Oasis — around 1,500 sqm beneath a virtual starry sky, with waterfalls, stone pillars and underwater music, one of the prettiest indoor pools in the city. During the renovation work, however, that pool is temporarily out of service. If swimming in the lagoon pool is your main reason for choosing this hotel, check the pool's status directly with the property before you book, every time, so you aren't disappointed. The Club Oasis spa and gym, meanwhile, still earn praise.

A review score holding at around 9.0/10 across thousands of guests reflects a consistently strong experience. People agree on the location, the room size after the refurbishment, the cleanliness and the attentive staff. The criticisms are the predictable ones for a big downtown hotel — peak-season and Chinese-holiday rates climb noticeably; during periods with renovation work there can be some noise or sections closed off; and because this is a large hotel hosting both tour groups and business travellers, the mood is busy rather than that of a quiet boutique. Anyone who wants total privacy may find it a touch bustling.

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On price, standard rooms start at around ~¥1,200 (฿6,000) per night in normal periods, typically ranging ฿6,000–11,000 depending on season and room type. China's Golden Week (October 1–7) and Chinese New Year are the two windows where rates climb sharply and rooms fill fast — if you're travelling then, book several months ahead and take a free-cancellation rate to keep your options open. The best value lands in spring (April–May) and in autumn before Golden Week (September to early October), when the weather is at its best and prices are gentler.

The honest summary, friend to friend: Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza is for travellers who want a city-centre base that walks to both the mall and the Forbidden City, spacious renovated rooms, and the convenience of a metro at the door. If saving travel time and ticking off the old city's headline sights matter to you, this is excellent value. But if you're coming specifically for the lagoon pool, or you want a hushed, private luxury mood, check the pool status first and compare it with the other options in our Beijing list.