been backpacking china for 6 months now. stayed in maybe 30 hostels. here are the ones that stood out.
beijing - happy dragon hostel. near the subway. clean and quiet. the owner took us to the great wall for cheap. like $30 for transport and lunch. saved us a lot of hassle.
shanghai - mingtown youth hostel. near nanjing road. super central. the common area is small but people hang out. beds have curtains which i love.
xi'an - shuyuan international. in an old building near the city wall. very chill. met a lot of people here. they have a rooftop area.
chengdu - mix hostel. newer place. very clean. the staff took us out for hotpot which was awesome. they also have a cat.
guilin - wandering moon. near the river. small but cozy. the owner is really helpful with planning the li river cruise.
what to expect in most chinese hostels. dorm beds from $7 to $12. private rooms from $20 to $30. western toilets usually but bring your own tp. laundry around $3 to $5.
one tip. use hostelworld to find places but then check ctrip. sometimes cheaper there because no booking fee.
anyone found good hostels in smaller cities? i am heading to guizhou next.
Posted on 2026-7-11 18:32:52