The Peninsula Beijing
A central Beijing hotel that opened in 1989 as China's first luxury hotel and was rebuilt in 2016 with larger rooms.
The photograph shows the region, not the hotel.
- Opened
- May 1989, as The Palace Hotel, described as China's first luxury hotel
- Names
- The Peninsula Palace Beijing from 2003; The Peninsula Beijing from 2006
- Size
- 230 rooms after the 2016 renovation, down from 525 units
- Address
- 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Beijing
- Renovation
- RMB 890 million (about US$123 million), completed in 2017, which doubled room sizes
- Dining
- Three restaurants listed
What it is
The hotel opened in May 1989 as The Palace Hotel and was described as China's first luxury hotel. It became The Peninsula Palace Beijing in 2003 and The Peninsula Beijing in 2006. A phased renovation ran from 2000 to 2004, and in 1997 the rooms were redesigned with in-room technology that was unusual for a Beijing hotel at the time.
The big change came later. A 2016 renovation, costing RMB 890 million, doubled the size of the rooms and renovated the public spaces. The number of units fell from 525 to 230, and the hotel was described as all-suite once the work finished in 2017. If you read an older review, it describes a different hotel.
Where it sits
The Peninsula is on Goldfish Lane in the historic Wangfujing area, in the middle of the city and within walking distance of the Forbidden City. That position is the main reason to choose it for a first visit: the sights of old Beijing are close, and the shopping and food streets of Wangfujing are on the doorstep.
Our China itinerary uses it for the three Beijing nights, with a driver and guide for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
Rooms: what to choose
After the rebuild, every room is a suite of some size, so the choice is between sizes and views rather than between a standard room and a suite. The rate we use, US$383 with taxes for a November night, is the lowest category listed on the site we checked, and larger suites are quoted higher.
Ask what the room faces. In a central hotel in a dense city, the view and the noise differ a good deal from floor to floor.
Who it suits
It suits first-time visitors who want a central address, a large room and a hotel with a proper sense of occasion. It works well for a three-night stay built around the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall.
It is less suited to travellers who want a small boutique hotel or a design-led interior. The pages we read do not mention a swimming pool, so check if one matters.
| Rate | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Room, from, per night with taxes (23 to 24 November stay)US$361 before taxes and fees. The listing does not show the year, and rates change with dates. | US$383 | Expedia, The Peninsula Beijing |
Published prices read on 10 October 2026. They are not quotes: rates change by date, room and availability, and may exclude taxes and service charges. Ask us for a quote for your dates.
- How large is the smallest suite, and what does each category add?
- Which rooms face the garden or the street, and which are quietest?
- Is there a swimming pool, and what are its hours?
- How far is the Forbidden City on foot, and does the hotel arrange a driver?
- What are the current rates for our dates, with taxes and service charge?
This page is compiled from the sources above. A detail they did not give is left out, not guessed.