Our Family’s Secret Garden Escape at ZhiResort Hotel

When my husband secretly booked a weekend stay at ZhiResort Hotel (北京在之禾酒店), I admit my expectations were low. It’s a local hotel that many have never heard of, but this hidden gem nestled within Ziyu Park – sandwiched between Beijing’s Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads – completely rewrote our definition of urban family retreats.

The hotel shares its grounds with views of the Olympic Tower and direct access to Ziyu Park’s sprawling greenery. Three things to note:

Day visitors are allowed from 10am to 4pm (with clearance starting at 3.30pm). We arrived at 2pm and shared the park with outside guests for an hour.
Upon reaching the gate, you need to provide the reservation name for entry.
Hotel guests enjoy exclusive free parking – a rare perk in Beijing!

Animal Encounters Beyond Zoos

The park transforms into a private wonderland after 4 pm when day visitors depart:

Free-roaming friends: Alpacas graze freely (though we missed the sika deer’s appearance).
Feathered performers: Peacocks compete in impromptu feather displays.
Curious residents: Capybaras, monkeys, foxes, and ostriches observe guests from their enclosures.

Feeding guidelines

You can purchase feed from vending machines if you want to feed the animals. There’s no outside food available, so you need to buy it there. They’ve got different selections for different animals, like seed mixes for the birds, carrots for the alpacas and deer, and jerky for the dogs and foxes. However, there’s a strict no feeding rule when it comes to the capybara.

Hotel Highlights for Families

The property balances functionality with subtle luxury:

Bike adventures: Parent-child bicycles feature clever child seats mounted on adult frames.
Water play: The outdoor pool connects to hot springs. We recommend changing in your room first (no changing room in pool area).
Thoughtful touches: Child-sized toiletries, simple but nice afternoon tea, free mini-bar with soft drinks and beer, and fresh mulberries so sweet they might’ve been picked from the hotel’s own trees.

Pro Tips:

Bug defense: Arm yourself with plenty of mosquito repellent. There’s plenty of greenery there, which means you’ll need to fight off those pesky bloodsuckers.
Mealtime hacks:
- Breakfast (served until 11am) offers congee, noodles, Cantonese dim sum, salad, baked food, and coffee.
- Order delivery to the gate. Staff will happily drive you there via golf cart to pick up your food.
- Explore off-property dining options for better value.
Golden hour magic: Stroll the forest boardwalks after 4pm for some peace and quiet.

The Price of Exclusivity

While standard rooms start around RMB 1,500/night (private hot spring rooms may double this), the cost buys what money rarely can in Beijing, which is an unforgettable child-friendly playtime with animals without zoo crowds, space to breathe (literally – the air smells like proper countryside), and the luxury of watching your kids chase alpacas instead of iPad screens.

In a city of cookie-cutter luxury hotels, ZhiResort delivers something different. Relish serene and pleasant leisure time. Parents rediscover quiet moments, and children learn nature’s rhythms from creatures who’ve never known cage bars. I’m not saying it’s a perfect hotel. Their rooms lack the five-star polish you can come to expect from international luxury chains, but when golden light filters through the park’s mist at dusk, you’ll forget you’re still inside the Fifth Ring Road.