Cours et Pavillons Hotel in a hutong in Beijing attracts visitors by its traditional architecture and modern cuisine.[Photo by Du Juan/China Daily]
Li Jin, 50s, a Beijing entrepreneur who runs a boutique hotel, often spends her National Day holidays with her guests.
"As a local Beijinger, I feel great spending this day with my guests who come to the capital to experience the holiday by learning the culture and the history of this charming, ancient city," she said. "It's an honor for me to become a part of their memories during their stay in Beijing."
Located within Beijing's Second Ring Road in Weijia Hutong, Dongcheng district, the Cours et Pavillons Hotel is a little hard to find because of its modest entrance.
"I want it to be perfectly blended with the neighboring residential courtyards," Li said. "The guests who choose us want to experience a comfortable but totally different stay compared with five-star hotels."
Similar to many middle-class women, Li loves culture, fashion, good food and traveling.
Before the COVID-19 epidemic, Li used to travel abroad quite frequently. Her destinations were mostly in Europe.
Li Jin, general manager of the Cours et Pavillons Hotel in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"My favorite countries are Italy, Britain and France," she said. "I like visiting old castles in those countries, where I could always get many inspirations."
Li likes visiting museums and art galleries during her stay in Europe. Instead of staying in five-star hotels, she likes to choose private mansions in order to get closer to local life and cultures.
"I want to bring those feelings back to Beijing. Five-star hotels are of course good, but they are too similar and standardized. I hope people can have unique experience of Beijing life when they visit this city," she said.
In 2014, the Cours et Pavillons Hotel was officially opened making Li's dream come true.
The hotel has been converted from a traditional Beijing courtyard house into a hotel. It has only four rooms measuring between 50 and 115 square meters, it can only accommodate up to eight adult guests at the same time.
In the courtyard, there are two large ceramic goldfish ponds decorated in the lustrous blue glaze style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In one of the hotel rooms, a beautiful antique carpet imported from Nepal around 150 years old adorns the floor.
Hotel guests can sit at a table made from a precious wood dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These objects are not just decorative or historical relics put on display. People can actually use them.
"I hope people from both overseas and other parts of China, can feel the taste of the city of Beijing in this place," Li said. "I really love Beijing. It's both ancient and modern, quiet and vibrant, noble and local."
By feeling the ancient atmosphere of Beijing, people can also try the modern French cuisine.
"The hotel is much like me－a mixture of Chinese and western cultures. But all in all, the pursuit of beauty is something we all have in common."
For this National Day holiday, Li has prepared something special for her guests.
Since the hotel is located at the center of downtown Beijing, guests of the hotel can go to Tian'anmen square, the Forbidden City and Beihai Park on foot or by cycling.
"I hope to spend some time together with my guests in my hotel lobby where there is great natural sunshine and comfortable sofa," Li said. "There will be great afternoon tea for them to enjoy after they come back from flag-raising ceremony on the National Day."
Li said autumn is the best season during the year for Beijing and she is happy to put her enthusiasm into her job.
