Who doesn't know this one?

By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-09 10:50

Lido Hotel, China's first Holiday Inn, remains a significant landmark in Beijing's skyline.

Lido is not only a hotel, but a community. A hotel may have a few gift shops, but what hotel is supplemented with banks, a post office and some 50 shops? A hotel may be joined by an office tower, but what hotel is appended with apartment buildings, schools and a country club?

No wonder it's called Lido Place, of which the Holiday Inn Lido Hotel is only one part. It holds the proud title of China's very first Holiday Inn.

Situated in the northeastern part of the city, about 20 minutes to the airport, Lido has been a fixture in the neighborhood. For many years it was the only recognizable structure in the area. Nowadays the environment has changed, with parks and apartment towers replacing wasteland, but it still enjoys the kind of quietude rare in a metropolis. The reason? It has a big compound with the hotel on the east side and another entrance on the south.

The fountain piazza in front of the office entrance is a popular hangout for expatriates. People sit outdoors, sipping tea, drinking beer and watching sports on the giant screen. Friday through Sunday, a live act goes on stage in the evenings.

You can stay within the compound for a week without having the need to venture outside. Want bowling? Go to the second floor. Want to have your suitcases repaired and cleaned? There's a shop that specializes in that. Want to have a Texas-style steak? The Texan Bar & Grill offers everything including an authentic Tex-Mex atmosphere complete with sombreros and ponchos, not to mention the juicy and tasty steaks (with beef imported from Australia).

Since it's more than just a hotel, residents outnumber guests. "Our staff treat our customers as if they are family. They know the names of those in the apartments," says Gao Lin of the administrative team. On Western holidays Gao and her colleagues throw parties for them; and on Chinese holidays they send gifts, such as mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival and zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival.

"When Lido first opened, there were not a lot of foreign-brand hotels in Beijing. Nowadays the choices are endless. But people still come here, especially European and American guests," explains Gao Lin. "Our service people may not be all young, but they have so much experience. That's why we get such loyalty from our customers."

For more information, visit www.beijing-lido.holiday-inn.com.