Vue Hotel

Beijing


In its own private compound, this trendy lakeside sanctuary has 80 designer guest rooms tricked out with music players, capsule coffee machines and open-plan bathrooms – the more expensive digs include hot tubs and balconies. Taxi access is tricky; it's a 1km walk through the hutong to the subway.

The Pink Rabbit, a warehouse-like Mediterranean tapas restaurant, is also the setting for breakfast. The lakeside terrace bar with DJ booth and posing pool was closed at time of research, possibly related to a change of hotel ownership.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Beijing attractions

1. Houhai Lake Scenic Area

0.2 MILES

A grand sweep of willow-lined waterways enclosed by invitingly maze-like hutong lanes, this trio of lakes is one of Beijing's best-loved outdoor spots,…

2. Song Qingling's Former Residence

0.3 MILES

Set in well-tended gardens on the north shore of Houhai Lake, this is the mansion of Madam Song, venerated by the Chinese as the wife of Sun Yatsen, first…

3. Prince Gong’s Mansion

0.37 MILES

The sprawling residence of Prince Gong (1833–1898), half-brother of the Xianfeng emperor, is most notable for its marvellous gardens, which feature…

4. Mei Lanfang's Former Residence

0.46 MILES

A place of pilgrimage for Peking opera aficionados, this sleepy sìhéyuàn (courtyard mansion) belonged to Mei Lanfang (1894–1961), acclaimed as the 'queen…

5. Silver Ingot Bridge

0.54 MILES

Tourist bottleneck and historic view, this stumpy bridge (rebuilt several times), divides Houhai and Qianhai lakes. On a perfectly clear day looking west…

6. Deshengmen Arrow Tower

0.62 MILES

A monumental landmark along the 2nd Ring Rd is this surviving hulk of Beijing's dearly departed ramparts. A jiànlóu (arrow tower), it would have stood in…

7. Bell Tower

0.65 MILES

The restrained, grey-stone edifice of the Bell Tower (Zhonglou) is arguably even more charming than its resplendent other half, the Drum Tower (Gulou),…

8. Drum Tower

0.65 MILES

Venerable bastions of time-keeping, the Drum Tower and its counterpart the Bell Tower were for centuries the tallest buildings in Beijing, lording it over…