Eating | Sleeping | Getting around | Top things to do
Accommodation in China runs the gamut from simple youth hostels to boutique hotels and international, luxury chains. Our travel style includes backpacks and small budgets, and we found great (bust basic) accommodation options in the network of hostels throughout the country.
Budget accommodation and youth hostels
It may come as a surprise that China has so many youth hostels, but there are always a number of options in any touristed city, often located in historic neighbrohoods, in tradtitional-style buildings. Hostels are particulary valuable in China for independent travelers because of the community aspect they offer. Most hostels have communal spaces, internet access, laundry facilities, English-speaking staff (all of them young students), self-catering facilities, and restaurants with Western food, great for the times when you're jonsin' for spaghetti or a sandwhich. Families like them for their easy, comfortable, at-home atmosphere. Contrary to popular belief, youth hostels are open to all and are often filled with people much older than the clientele inferred by the name.
Hostels are where independent travelers pick up travel tips and suggestions, as well as companionship... speaking with other Westerners becomes more important than you'd imagine after spending some time in China, where it's easy to feel isolated. They're also a great place to make travel arrangements to your next destination–most hostels offer tour and travel services.
Places where we stayed
Beijing Far East Youth Hostel | Beijing
Xi'an Shuyuan International Hostel | Xian
Dragon Town Guesthouse | Chengdu
Sam's Guesthouse | Chengdu
Monkey Jane's Guesthouse | Yangshuo
Hong Kong Budget Hostel | Hong Kong
Boutique and luxury hotels
While we didn't stay in anything outside of the budget range, we've discovered a number of interesting looking places to dream about for our next trip to China (that is, with a fatter wallet). We have no personal experience with the following hotel listings, but from afar, they look pretty cool:
4 Banqiao Courtyard Guesthouse
Beijing Sihe Courtyard Hotel
Commune by the Great Wall
Côté Cour
Hotel Kapok
Red Capital Residence
Monastery stays
It's possible to stay overnight in Buddhist monasteries–many people do this when climbing the stairs up Emei Shan in the Sichuan Province. Accommodation is basic, and vegetarian meals are available. We found a little-known Kung Fu monastery in Dali that offers week-long stays with training and very simple facilities–no hot water, or electricity. |
