If you’re planning a trip to Beijing, finding the right accommodation is crucial for a memorable experience. Our family decided to choose a hotel based on budget and location, with so many hotels on offer, spread out across the city.
We first decided on a price we were comfortable with and then narrowed it down to the ones in the best location in Beijing.
After doing the research, our choice was easy. One hotel that seemed perfect for what our family was looking for on a short visit to Beijing was SunWorld Hotel Wangfujing, located in the middle of Beijing.
The location of SunWorld Wangfujing is a tourist’s dream!
The Sun World Hotel is situated just 100 meters from the famous Wangfujing shopping street, making it an ideal base for exploring Beijing. Think the Champs-Élysées in Paris or La Rambla in Barcelona, and this is what Wangfujing is known for in Beijing.
A street lined with big brands, shopping malls, hotels and places to eat.
The hotel is not just close to shops but also the best Beijing attractions on the UNESCO-listed Beijing Central Axis. Here are some highlights of its location in central Beijing, China:
- Near to the best attractions in Beijing:
- Close to the Forbidden City (2.2km away)
- Near Tiananmen Square (2.8km away)
- Near the Temple of Heaven (4.7km away)
- Near the Drum and Bell Tower (3.8km away)
- Vibrant neighborhood:
- Plenty of shops and eateries nearby.
- Opposite the hotel, there are several good quality local restaurants that we ate at. For those wanting quick food, there is a 7-Eleven, KFC, and McDonald’s under 5 minutes walk away.
- The street is lively with cars and buses, both locals and tourists alike.
How this hotel helped our family navigate culture shock in Beijing
One of the helpful features at SunWorld that families will find is the concierge and the tour desk. The helpful and friendly staff can organize tours for you or even just give you the best information about things to see and do in Beijing.
If you want a taxi to the train station or any site in Beijing, they will order one for you ( we recommend you download the Didi rideshare app), if you want to know where a bank is or bakery they will point it out.
When the information desk is closed the staff at the 24 reception will help you. This can be essential help for first-time visitors to China.
Please read our article on What Every Family Should Know About Booking Hotels in China
What’s in the rooms at SunWorld?
When we walked into our rooms, we found them to be comfortable and modern. We stayed in a twin room as there were no doubles available.
This worked out fine as our daughters also stayed in a twin room. Our kids stayed on a different floor from us, which is fine as they are older teenagers, but the problem with this is that your room keys will only let you access your floor.
So, while our kids stayed on floor six, they could not access our room on floor seven. In one way, this was good, it was like having a holiday from our kids! But it did take some extra coordinating when trying to go out for the day or if someone forgot something!
Here’s what you can expect in your room at SunWorld Wangfujing:
- Room Amenities at SunWorld Wangfujing:
- Spacious twin beds (king singles or nearly doubles)
- Flat-screen TV
- Luggage rack and storage spots
- Bathrobes and slippers
- Walk-in shower and a large bathroom
- Air purifier for a fresh environment
- Complimentary Items:
- Bottled water
- Tea and coffee supplies
Are there any restaurants at SunWorld?
The SunWorld Wangfujing Hotel offers two restaurants onsite for you, The Sunny Cafe and the Hotpot. The Sunny Cafe is where breakfast is served daily, which you can have included in your room price when booking.
At the Sunny Cafe, you are offered a wide variety of choices, knowing they have an international clientele. We had breakfast every day at the hotel and we had a dinner buffet one night.
Quite surprisingly, if you have the Dinner buffet, free beer comes with it. When we stayed at the hotel, the cost of the buffet was 129RMB, which was quite good considering the variety and quality of the food
They have a beer tap, and you can help yourself. We recommend that you get there as early as you can for both breakfast and dinner. For breakfast, so you can get a seat as it gets quite crowded and for dinner so you can plenty of the beef and best cuts of meat.
Breakfast Buffet
Start your day with a hearty breakfast featuring:
- Variety of Foods:
- Toasts, jams, and salads
- Fresh fruits and cereals
- Steamed dishes, sausages, and eggs
- An egg station for made-to-order omelettes
- Sweet steamed potatoes and baked beans
Lunch and Dinner Buffets
The Sunny Cafe at the hotel serves a buffet for lunch and dinner at an affordable price of 128 RMB per person. Highlights include:
- Seafood Buffet:
- Prawns, mussels, and sushi
- Grilled meats, including steak and lamb chops
- Braised Japanese tofu and fried dumplings
- A chocolate fountain for dessert lovers
While staying at Sunworld, we never ate at the Hotpot. It was a more upmarket option, and it smelled really good. We were told they serve unique and popular Beijing-style cooking.
The hotel offers guests a day spa with various massage options and a fitness centre, which is a fancy name for a gym. During our visit, we went down to have a look, but the day spa was shut at the time.
Follow us on YouTube for more adventures
Only in China Moment
Out the front of the Sunny Cafe, there is a deck with chairs that guests can use, sitting adjacent to the street. It’s a shaded area and good for people watching, talking and having a drink. Well, the drink bit is not so straightforward.
We tried to order a drink at the Sunny Cafe between lunch and dinner times when making a YouTube video and we were told to go over the road to 7-Eleven, buy some drinks and just sit here and drink them. I have never had a hotel tell me to go somewhere else and buy alcohol. China never ceases to amaze me.
At times, they have a BBQ buffet out here from what we read, but there was not one on when we stayed for 4 days at SunWorld Wangfujing.
Final thoughts: A great choice for travelers
The Sun World Hotel is a fantastic choice for travellers and families seeking comfort and convenience in Beijing, China.
Its central location, excellent dining options, and comfortable accommodations offer great value for around $150 AUD per night. Given the chance, we would stay here again.
Why choose Sun World Hotel?
- Central location near major attractions
- Comfortable and well-equipped rooms
- Good dining options to suit all tastes
- A friendly atmosphere with a mix of locals and tourists.
Follow us for real-time updates on Facebook
If you’re planning a trip to Beijing, consider staying at the Sun World Hotel for a comfortable and convenient stay. It will help first-time visitors to Beijing and independent travellers to China manage the balance between Western expectations and local culture.
We hope this information from us here at Wyld Family Travel will help families have a smoother experience in China.
Our teenage daughter lives in China, so we go back and forth to China regularly. Planning travel in China can be done if you spend time researching your trip.
We hope our articles help you plan your Chinese vacation, but if you need help, Wyld Family Travel offers travel planning and consultation services. Just reach out to us at mark.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com or bec.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com
Who Wrote This Article?
