Empark Prime Beijing Review: Value 5-Star Hotel Stay
Looking for an affordable 5-star hotel in Beijing? Read our honest review of the newly renovated Empark Prime Hotel Beijing near Wangfujing.
When planning a trip to Beijing, finding the perfect place to stay can be surprisingly tricky. Because of the unique travel landscape in China, reliable English reviews for local boutique luxury spots are hard to come by. As someone who obsessively researches hotels, I spent hours searching for the right spot.
That is how I ended up booking the Empark Prime Hotel Beijing (also known as the Beijing Huaqiao Tower Ruishi Hotel). Here is my completely honest, unfiltered review of this hidden gem.
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Locals refer to it as the 'Huaqiao Dasha' (Overseas Chinese Mansion). Don't confuse it with other Empark properties in Beijing—this specific one is located in the vibrant Dongcheng District.
The hotel underwent a massive, top-to-bottom renovation in 2021. If you look up older reviews, you will see a lot of complaints. However, the post-renovation experience is night and day. It easily deserves much higher than its current 3.9 Google Maps rating.
We booked a weekday stay, which kept the rates incredibly reasonable. For a 4-night, 5-day stay, we paid approximately $610 USD (around 4,393 CNY).
The actual room looked exactly like the official photos. Read to the end for a breakdown of the pros and cons!
The Grand Lobby
The lobby is grand, combining sleek modern design with traditional Chinese cultural elements. It features a grand piano, striking art installations, and a beautiful water feature with a bronze bull statue.
While we skipped the hotel breakfast, the ground floor houses the main restaurant, a chic bar, and a cafe serving a gorgeous, imperial-themed afternoon tea.
The pastries at the cafe are works of art, inspired by Chinese imperial motifs. If you enjoy aesthetic high tea experiences, this is definitely worth booking.
The exterior architecture also received a beautiful facelift during the 2021 renovation, blending seamlessly into the historic Dongcheng district.
Upon check-in, we were assigned to a high floor, and the staff kindly helped carry our luggage directly to our room.
Deluxe King Room (Room Only)
Check-in: 2:00 PM | Check-out: 12:00 PM
As you enter, the bathroom, shower, bathtub, and vanity are situated on the left, with a spacious closet on the right. The room opens up into a bright, airy space featuring a plush king bed, a cozy sofa, and a large window.
A convenient sliding wooden door separates the bathroom area from the bedroom, allowing you to close it off for privacy or a cozier feel at night.
My mother’s room on the 7th floor had a slightly different layout, with a completely separate shower stall and bathtub.
The room is fully loaded with high-quality amenities: a Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, kettle, capsule coffee machine, and wine glasses. They also provide plenty of complimentary bottled water daily (the minibar is paid).
Our room directly faced the National Art Museum of China, offering a stunning cultural view. The window is equipped with convenient automatic black-out blinds.
The TV offered a surprisingly eclectic mix of global channels, including networks from Russia and Cuba! The cozy seating area by the window was our favorite spot for enjoying local takeout, fresh fruit, and late-night snacks.
Just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, we found an incredible local breakfast spot. We feasted on fresh Jianbing (savory Chinese crepes), cold chewy noodles, and surprisingly delicious chicken skewers. Honestly, skipping the hotel buffet to eat like a local is the best way to experience Beijing!
The Indoor Swimming Pool
Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (3rd Floor)
The indoor pool is pristine. While there isn't always a lifeguard on duty, it's incredibly quiet. We squeezed in a relaxing swim on our final night just 40 minutes before closing.
Though not massive, the pool area is exceptionally well-maintained. Each lounge chair is stocked with freshly rolled towels and bottled water, and the changing rooms are equipped with premium shower amenities.
The Pros
1. Great Location: Just a 15-minute walk (about 0.6 miles) from the bustling Wangfujing shopping street. It is quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by authentic local restaurants.
2. Modern Chinese Aesthetic: The 2021 renovation beautifully blends sleek modernity with classic Chinese luxury.
3. Great Amenities: Clean rooms with high-quality, refreshing grapefruit-scented toiletries.
4. Unbeatable Value: 5-star service and facilities at a fraction of the cost of other luxury hotels.
5. Helpful Staff: Super friendly staff who go out of their way to assist foreign travelers.
6. Quiet Rooms: Excellent soundproofing, double blinds, and sliding doors ensure a peaceful night's sleep.
The Cons
1. Average Hotel Food: The breakfast is reportedly basic Western fare, and the room service menu leans heavily towards Western and Southeast Asian dishes. We highly recommend ordering local delivery (Waimai) or eating out.
2. Walking Required: You will need to walk about 15 minutes to reach the heart of the Wangfujing shopping district.
3. Slight Dust: A common issue in Beijing hotels, though very manageable here.
4. Shower Drainage: The shower floor design causes water to overflow easily into the bathroom area.
5. Confusing AC: The climate control panel is not very intuitive to operate.
The Verdict: Would I stay here again? Absolutely! It strikes the perfect balance between luxury, local charm, and affordability. It is an excellent choice for a relaxing staycation in Beijing.
If you take a stroll straight down the road from the hotel, you will reach the legendary Wangfujing Shopping District in about 15 minutes.
Wangfujing has evolved so much over the last few years! It is no longer just a tourist trap; it has transformed into a vibrant hub with trendy weekend markets, amazing shopping, and local culture.
The weekend pop-up markets feature beautifully crafted, traditional Beijing pastries. Be sure to also check out the massive Wangfujing Lego Store!
It's filled with incredible, larger-than-life Lego sculptures of Chinese dragons, pandas, and historical figures. It is definitely worth a quick visit!
Even if you aren't a massive Lego fan, the detail on the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) sculpture is mind-blowing.
For another authentic breakfast experience, we visited a highly-rated local spot nearby.
We tried *Tangyoubing* (a delicious sweet-topped fried dough), which is a classic Beijing breakfast staple. While ordering can be a bit challenging if you don't speak Chinese, the food is incredibly comforting.
Zengshengkui Snack Bar · Dongcheng, Beijing
The shop has a cozy, shared-table vibe where locals and travelers sit together, creating a warm, community atmosphere.
We also spotted *Yangmei* (waxberry/Chinese bayberry) at a local fruit stand. It has an incredibly short season, so we had to try it. Personally, it tasted like a slightly berry-scented broccoli—perhaps we just got an unripe batch, but it was a fun culinary experiment!
If you're planning a trip to Beijing in 2026, don't sleep on this fantastic hotel!
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