The place I stayed in Beijing was quite special. Its predecessor was an Biaoju(Express,鏢局), which provided express deliver in ancient times!
However, in addition to delivery of normal cargoes, they also delivery some boxes of valuables such as gold and jewelry, and sometimes people. So the danger is much higher than the current express, they may encounter bandits at any time!
Therefore, who can work in an Biaoju were not normal people. Even they don’t know Wing Chun, they must know a little bit Kung Fu to fight with bandits!
Its name was called Sanyi Biaoju, was built in the Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 140 years. However, the business is not very good. Later, they switch to a hotel, and the business was more better than as a Biaoju, and then keep the hotel till now.
At that time, the land price was not as high as it is now. The owner of the Biaoju chose a very good location, the street next to the Biaoju now turn to a bustling commercial street. Therefore, a Siheyuan(四合院) hidden in the commercial street, the predecessor of Biaoju, became its selling point.
Once walked into the hotel, I felt the unique temperament with a bit of domineering in the classical, and a bit of antiquity in the fresh! Both a hotel and a historic building, the courtyard house in old Beijing makes you feel like being a guest in someone else’s house!
The hotel still retains the equipment used in the previous Biaoju. It has a sense of age. We just pays the cost of staying in an general hotel, but enjoys the experience of living in a courtyard and visiting a museum!
Rooms are also very antique, the furniture is made of solid wood. And the sleeping bed is not an general bed, but a big lounge chair like the emperor used that we usually see on TV!
But a small tea table will be placed in the middle of the chair on TV to make tea! Without the small tea table, it becomes a bed ! Round long pillows are placed on both sides, cover by classic pillowcases , more ancient feeling ! I really like the days living in this hotel !
