East Lake Villas​ Awarded GSTC International Certification: State-owned Ingenuity Writes a Green Chapter for Ecological Parks

East Lake Villas Awarded GSTC International Certification: State-owned Ingenuity Writes a Green Chapter for Ecological Parks

Recently, East Lake Villas (Beijing Dongzhimen International Apartment Co., Ltd.), a high-end project under Shougang Group, has officially obtained the GSTC Hotel Standard Certification (Version 3) after rigorous review by TÜV Rheinland Greater China, an authoritative global third-party inspection, testing and certification body. With the certification number HA-TR-CN-26-00022, the qualification is valid from May 27, 2026 to May 26, 2029. This prestigious international recognition comes on top of the project’s existing certifications including ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System, and AAA Credit Enterprise Certification, marking that East Lake Villas’ sustainable operation standards have fully aligned with global top-tier benchmarks.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the world’s leading authority on formulating and governing global sustainable tourism standards. Its certification system covers three core sectors of the tourism industry: hospitality accommodation, travel agencies and organizations, and tourism destinations. Featuring stringent and comprehensive evaluation criteria, the certification assesses performance in sustainable management, socio-economic development, cultural inheritance and environmental protection. The successful GSTC certification fully validates East Lake Villas’ outstanding achievements in green operation, ecological conservation and cultural heritage preservation. It positions the project as a benchmark for sustainable development in China’s high-end hospitality industry and sets an exemplary model for the internationalization and green transformation of state-owned cultural and tourism projects.

Empowering Green Operations and Consolidating Low-Carbon Development Foundations

The acquisition of GSTC certification is a powerful testament to East Lake Villas’ long-term commitment to sustainable green operations. As a high-end international residential community, the project has embedded low-carbon and eco-friendly concepts into every aspect of daily operation, establishing a comprehensive and refined green operation system that integrates hardware ecological upgrading and soft service optimization.

In daily management, East Lake Villas strictly implements low-carbon and energy-saving norms by promoting refined waste classification, turning off non-essential lighting, and optimizing energy consumption control to reduce resource waste in every detail. Embracing technological empowerment, the project has introduced intelligent recycling cabinets to boost resource recycling and circular economy practices. Transforming green concepts into tangible daily practices, the all-round green operation model effectively cuts carbon emissions and energy consumption. It also translates international high-standard environmental requirements into an immersive and high-quality ecological living experience, laying a solid foundation for adhering to global ESG concepts, serving multinational corporate clients, and advancing international operational development.

Polishing Ecological Advantages to Build an Urban Oasis

East Lake Villas boasts distinctive ecological charm and exquisite landscape aesthetics that distinguish it from peer properties. Designed with the classic artistic conception of Suzhou-style gardens, the community features delicate stacked stones, winding water landscapes, and well-arranged pavilions and terraces. Boasting a high green coverage rate, it forms a natural ecological barrier in the core urban area. Strategically located in the embassy district on Beijing’s Second Ring Road, the project stands as a rare urban oasis and natural oxygen bar in the bustling city center.

Adhering to the philosophy of ecological priority, East Lake Villas continuously renovates and maintains its garden water systems and natural ecological environments. The well-preserved ecosystem fully protects regional biodiversity, attracting wild water birds such as mandarin ducks and night herons to inhabit all year round. The harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature endows the community with enduring vitality and provides solid ecological support for sustainable development, fully meeting the core ecological protection requirements of GSTC international standards.

Inheriting Cultural Heritage and Building a Bridge for International Exchange

Beyond ecological operation, GSTC certification attaches great importance to cultural inheritance and social humanistic value. East Lake Villas deeply integrates the inheritance of excellent traditional Chinese culture with international community operation, enabling intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and Eastern aesthetics to be dynamically inherited and communicated globally.

The iconic archway in the community is constructed with traditional Chinese mortise and tenon craftsmanship without a single nail, serving as a living heritage that embodies the essence of ancient Chinese architectural art. The project regularly hosts diverse ICH experience activities to break the barriers of traditional cultural dissemination. A series of immersive cultural events, including central axis cultural cycling, traditional fan calligraphy during the Little New Year, and parent-child tie-dyeing activities on Children’s Day, allow international residents to experience the unique charm and warmth of Chinese intangible cultural heritage firsthand.

Rooted in local culture and oriented toward international communication, the project’s cultural operation practices fulfill the cultural responsibility of state-owned enterprises and enrich the humanistic connotation of sustainable development. Serving as a vital bridge for Sino-foreign cultural exchanges, it enables Eastern lifestyle aesthetics to take root and thrive in an international community.

Upholding State-owned Enterprise Responsibility to Lead Industrial Benchmark Development

As a high-end international cultural and tourism project under Shougang Group, East Lake Villas has always integrated social responsibility into its core development philosophy. Adhering to standardized, international and ecological development strategies, the project has achieved dual upgrades in operational management and sustainable development. Taking Suzhou-style gardens as its unique carrier, East Lake Villas integrates green development, cultural inheritance and high-quality services. Supported by GSTC international certification, it has completed the transformation from traditional property management to modern, international ecological tourism operation, achieving comprehensive breakthroughs in management quality, ecological construction and cultural empowerment.

Recognized for its premium service quality and outstanding operational strength, East Lake Villas has won numerous prestigious industry honors, including the 14th CHA China Hotel Awards for Best Serviced Apartment of the Year, the 19th China Cultural & Tourism Starlight Awards for Hotel-style Apartment of the Year, and the 2024 Enjoyble Star List Award for Premier Serviced Apartment of the Year.

Looking ahead, East Lake Villas will take the GSTC international certification as a new starting point. Upholding the development philosophy of “Green Living, Harmonious Humanity”, the project will continue to advance low-carbon sustainable operation, refine ecological garden maintenance, revitalize intangible cultural heritage inheritance, and upgrade international high-end services. With state-owned enterprise ingenuity and green development concepts, East Lake Villas will strive to build a world-class high-end residential model featuring ecological beauty, profound cultural heritage and international standards, and compose a new chapter for the sustainable development of urban ecological parks.

Project Address: No.35, Dongzhimen Outer Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing