InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun — Open the Door and You're in Taikoo Li, in the District That Never Sleeps
Picture this: you wander out for breakfast in the morning, and by evening you're at a rooftop bar across the street — without hailing a single taxi all day. That's the life InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun (北京三里屯洲际酒店) hands you. This IHG 5-star sits directly opposite Taikoo Li, in the middle of Sanlitun, Beijing's liveliest district for shopping, dining and nightlife. Score 9.3/10 from around 5,443 real guest reviews. It opened in 2016, the rooms are fresh and boldly styled, and frankly, if your trip leans more toward shopping, food and after-dark fun than temple-and-palace walking, this address could have been written for you.
Here's what sets this place apart from the luxury names over in the old city: you step out the door and everything is right there. The hotel stands at Building 1 on South Sanlitun Road, in Chaoyang District, directly across from Taikoo Li Sanlitun. It's about a 9-minute walk to the designer shops, restaurants and the hundreds of cafés clustered there. Come evening, the Sanlitun bar street and the city's best-known rooftop bars are within walking range too. Plenty of guests say this is the hotel that meant they barely needed a taxi the whole trip.
The building opened in 2016 with 299 rooms, and the interiors are far more characterful than your average chain hotel. The lobby's signature is a pair of tall red lacquer doors paired with a blue glass chandelier — a corner that ends up on a lot of guest photos. Rooms start at around 45 square metres, which is roomy for a city hotel, with a separate sitting area, a writing desk, a flat-screen TV and a mini-fridge. Many reviews describe the rooms as 'new, clean and better decorated than expected' — especially for anyone who assumed all chain hotels look the same, this one tends to change their mind.
One guest recalls: "Best location I've ever had in Beijing — right in front of the Sanlitun mall. The room was super new, comfortable and beautifully decorated, the staff looked after every detail, and the breakfast was genuinely spectacular."
The food earns particular praise. The breakfast buffet comes up most often — guests call it both wide-ranging and high quality, with Western, Chinese and Asian options, plus halal and vegetarian dishes. The in-house Cantonese restaurant is well regarded for its cooking too, and the feature many guests happily pay extra for is Club InterContinental on the 22nd floor — a lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass and panoramic views over Sanlitun, with food and drinks served throughout the day. If you land a Club Floor room, most say the view and the calm are worth it.
On getting around, the nearest metro is Tuanjiehu (Line 10), about 590 metres away — an easy walk — while the Workers' Stadium station sits around 430 metres off, and Dongsishitiao (Line 2) is a short hop beyond, so you can reach Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City by metro before long. Be clear on one thing though: this is not a walk-to-the-old-city hotel. If your main goal is exploring temples and palaces every day, somewhere in Wangfujing will suit you better. But if you want shopping, dining and nightlife with the occasional metro ride into the historic core, Sanlitun is the sweet spot.
A score of 9.3/10 from around 5,443 real reviews shows how consistently guests come away pleased — the recurring praise is the location, the new and spacious rooms, the breakfast, and the attentive service. The criticisms worth knowing before you book are real, too. First, it's far from the historic sights, so you'll be taking the metro or a taxi into the old city. Second, some reviews note that rates climb quickly in high season and the better rooms sell out fast — if you're coming over a long holiday, check a few dates and book ahead.
Standard rates start at around ~¥1,500 (฿7,500) per night, with a typical range of ฿7,500–13,000 depending on season and room type. China's Golden Week (October 1–7) and Chinese New Year are the periods where rates climb and rooms fill fast, so book ahead and take a free-cancellation rate to keep your options open. On the whole, compared with the much pricier 5-star names over in the old city, InterContinental Sanlitun delivers genuine luxury at a more accessible price — and a more fun location to boot.
The honest summary, friend to friend: InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun is for travellers who come to Beijing for shopping, good food and nightlife more than temple-and-palace walking. If you want to wake up to Taikoo Li outside the door, fresh roomy rooms and a great-view lounge at a price you can actually justify, this is excellent value. But if your main aim is the Forbidden City every morning, look at the Wangfujing hotels in our Beijing list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central Sanlitun location, opposite Taikoo Li — walk to shops, food and bars
- ✓ Fresh, modern rooms from around 45 sqm with plenty of space
- ✓ Wide-ranging, high-quality breakfast buffet
- ✓ 22nd-floor Club Lounge with panoramic views, plus indoor pool, spa and gym
- ! Far from the historic sights — you'll need the metro or a taxi
- ! Rates climb fast in high season and the better rooms sell out
- ✓ Opposite the Sanlitun mall — the best base for shopping and nightlife
- ✓ Tuanjiehu metro (Line 10) just a ~590 m walk away
- ✓ Halal and vegetarian breakfast options suit a range of travellers
- ✓ Luxury at a more accessible price than the old-city 5-star names
- ! Not a walk-to-the-Forbidden-City / Tiananmen hotel
- ! Rates spike and rooms fill fast during Chinese holidays
- 💡If your main goal is exploring the old city every day · This sits far from the Forbidden City / Tiananmen, so you'll take the metro or a taxi · Fix → see The Peninsula Beijing or Hilton Beijing Wangfujing in our list — both are walk-to-the-old-city
- 💡If your budget is very tight · Rates start at ¥1,500/night and climb over Chinese holidays · Fix → look at Hotel Éclat Beijing, or a smart Chinese design chain like Crystal Orange in our list, for a lighter price
- 💡If you're travelling during Golden Week or Chinese New Year · Rates surge and the better rooms sell out fast · Fix → book 1–2 months ahead, check a few dates, and take a free-cancellation rate in case plans change