The
Friendship Hotel, located in the
Haidan District of
Beijing, is one of the largest "
garden style" hotels in Asia. It is over 330,000 square meters, 250,000 of which are outdoors, covered with plenty of trees, grass, and other
vegetation. Designed using traditional
Chinese architecture, it consists of several 7 story, typical hotel buildings, and many more
apartment-style buildings, home to tourists, businessmen, and sometimes even the businesses themselves. The apartment-style residencies are fairly spacious, and include color
television,
air conditioning, and basic kitchen conveniences.
The on-site
amenities are quite expansive, ranging from swimming pools and gyms, to bowling lanes and
driving ranges for those wanting to work on their golf. Shops and restaurants are plentiful as well, including an
American-styled
T.G.I. Friday's. There is also a "
guest coach" in which residents can ride, as a method of getting place to place, or just to enjoy the scenery.
Perhaps one interesting thing to note about the Friendship Hotel -- or most anything in Beijing containing the word "
friendship" -- is something generally not told to
tourists and visitors. That is, "friendship" is a term used primarily during the
Cold War, and represented
facilities (lodging, stores, restaurants, etc.) catering to
Soviet dignitaries who were in Beijing at the time. Indeed, the Friendship Hotel itself used to be just that -- lodging and
office space for Russian
ambassadors,
diplomats, and scientists!