Dazhaotun accommodation

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.