Book Dazhaotun hotels

The manager of the hotel spoke good English and ran to intervene when we had trouble communicating. He gave us very useful information about local sites and arranged a taxi for us to go to one of them. The hotel lies on a road that runs near the former location of the Great Wall. Thus, this road runs in a line from the Great Wall at Jiaoshan to the First Pass to the Old Dragon's Head, all along this same road, though a detour is needed near Jiaoshan. Another advantage is the hotel's "family rooms." Though small overall, these rooms provide a separate, full twin bed for a child--no rollaway required. I wish more hotels would do this (maybe it's more common at Chinese hotels than in the west). Downsides: very basic bathroom with pipes visible under the sink; the sink needs a cover underneath. Though not a criticism, note that there is no shower stall, with the shower, sink, and toilet all in one unit combined; however, this is common in older hotels and homes in China, Korea, and Japan. The breakfast on offer, served in a dining area on the second floor, is plentiful, with some western items such as eggs, bread, and fruit available, but they do not provide any liquids--no juice, coffee, tea, milk, or even water; you have to bring your own. This hotel is good for stays of one or two nights for travelers on a budget interested in the historic sites and scenery of Shanhaiguan.