This hotel has seen better times, but it is still a good choice for those wanting to use the National Library, which is just across the street. As mentioned by other reviewers, the room carpets are quite old and dirty, and in the corridors there is a pervasive tobacco smell. Otherwise the facilities are fine, except that in my room (4th floor, so-called deluxe kingsize room) the WiFi signal was not strong enough, so I had to use the ultra-short broadband cable instead.
The online booking through Expedia went well. I did not have to pay a penny to the hotel. They did ask for a 200 yuan deposit on arrival (rather than take a credit card deposit as most hotels would do). When you pay the deposit they give you a yellow receipt slip that you have to keep with you and show to them when you check out, otherwise they won't return the 200 yuan to you (even though they keep a copy of the receipt as well). They don't tell you this at check-in, so beware!
There is a decent UBC coffee shop across the street and a little bit to the left. If you cross the street and walk North past the Minzu University, and then turn left into Weigongcun street, there are lots of restaurants. The National Library metro station is only a few minutes walk South from the hotel. On the way to the metro station you pass a reasonable fast food place, as well as a small supermarket where you can stock up on bread rolls, yogurt, milk etc. (so that you don't have to eat the Chinese breakfast in the hotel).