Hostels in Yunnan, China

I am very happy and delighted to introduce this hostel. The young owner rents a mansion building in the heart of Kunming and operates it as an accommodation. First of all, he is incredibly friendly, and I got the impression that he is doing his best to run the hostel. The location is a given. It is in the best central area of Kunming, just a five-minute walk from Kunming Old Street. Although the interior is generally small, every corner is utilized effectively to create a comfortable layout for guests. The restrooms and bathrooms are not spacious, but they are kept clean to ensure guests are not inconvenienced, and amenities such as shampoo and toothpaste are fully provided. Furthermore, the view of the Kunming cityscape from the 18th-floor window is a gift comparable to that of a luxury hotel. I have never given a perfect 10 to any accommodation before, but I would give this hostel a perfect 10 for its value for money. If you are a backpacker visiting Kunming, you must go to Oli Hostel!

The apartment is very clean, it's been cleaned every day. Bed is comfortable and bedroom is quiet. Living room is beautiful. The owner is friendly, helpful and hard working woman. Location is near railway station and there is a lot of restaurants in the neighborhood. Thank you for hosting me!

We really enjoyed our stay at Lily Pad Hostel and would happily return. It offers excellent value for money and is a great base for exploring Dali. The hostel is in a good location, just a little outside the main town. It’s an easy walk, although you do need to cross some busy roads, which could be a little challenging if you’re travelling with small children. The room was clean, and the bed sheets were spotless. We also had a lovely view from the landing. There were some friendly resident bunnies wandering around, and we enjoyed having a ping pong table to use during our stay. The only minor downside was that the shower temperature was a little inconsistent, switching between hot and cold. Aside from that, we were very comfortable and really enjoyed our stay. We would thoroughly recommend Lily Pad Hostel to anyone visiting Dali and would definitely stay here again.

The room is clean and exactly as shown in the pictures. The staff is very friendly and helpful and even gave us some extra bottles of water when we left the hostel the next day. The location is perfect to go for some sightseeing in the old town. There are also many restaurants and small supermarkets nearby.

The room type was pretty good, and there were fellow travelers to team up with in the group chat. The hostel had good soundproofing, and the front desk offered free earplugs. It's located within Dali Ancient City, making it very convenient for walking around, and transportation is easy. The scenery is also nice, and there are cats at the property. You can even use the owner's computer to transfer photos, which is a great service. There are many beautiful hydrangeas planted at the entrance.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding Stay at Tiger Leaping Gorge Our family had an amazing stay at Tina's Youth Hostel during our visit to Tiger Leaping Gorge. The location is excellent, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and easy access to the gorge's famous hiking trails. Waking up to such beautiful scenery was one of the highlights of our trip. The staff were incredibly friendly, professional, and helpful throughout our stay. What impressed us the most was that the receptionist spoke excellent English, which made communication very easy for international travelers. She was always patient, cheerful, and willing to assist with any questions we had . She was also exceptionally lovely and caring towards our children. From the moment we arrived, she made our kids feel welcome and comfortable, which meant a lot to us as a family. Her warm personality and genuine kindness created a very pleasant atmosphere during our stay. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. After a long day of exploring and hiking, it was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The restaurant served delicious food at reasonable prices, and the hostel's transport arrangements were very convenient for continuing our journey to Shangri-La and other destinations. Tina's Youth Hostel offers much more than just accommodation—it provides genuine hospitality and a memorable experience. We highly recommend it to families, hikers, and anyone visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge. A special thank you to the wonderful English-speaking receptionist for her kindness, professionalism, and the way she cared for our children. She truly made our stay unforgettable. We will definitely stay here again when we return to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

This was my first time staying in a youth hostel, and the room was quite nice. The window offered a view of Cangshan Mountain. Both the owner and the other guests were very warm and friendly, even inviting me to join them for a BBQ and beer. However, I wouldn't recommend it for those who prefer a quiet atmosphere over a lively one.

Location was great that it was a walk away from the Kunming Railway Station where I needed to be to leave the city. I liked how it was near a lot of food places! The volunteer Evens was an interesting person to talk to when I learned about his background in what he does as an occupation and where he is originally from in China. The owner Winni was a nice person as well and I appreciated and enjoy her and some of the other guests that cooked for us the night that we had a big dinner. Thank you for being part of the chef crew Winni. Everybody who stayed at the place was respectful and considered towards one another in the way that they conducted themselves. Was able to go along with the rules of this hostel because it fit my daily habits. Nobody had any habits that bothered me. Not really into the hostel type of stays, due to lack of privacy. Was just happy to stay at this place since it was pretty much right at the doorstep of the Kunming Railway station where I can catch my train on time where I wouldn't end up getting lost in the city which in turn would end up missing it. The only negative thing that I didn't like was that the bathroom did not have bath towels and just regular hand towels where I would not be able to dry myself very well after showering. Because of this I didn't want to take a shower at this place and the fact that these towels were used repeatedly from other guests, which made me feel uncomfortable wanting to use it. Would come back to this Hostel again if I happen to have to come back to Kunming again where I needed to be near this train station to catch at train there.

Such a lovely place to stay in Kunming. The staff speak English, and the location is perfect, everything is easily accessible, from the lake to Kunming Old Street, Nanping Pedestrian Street, and even a local fresh market nearby. What I really loved is that it’s a mix of both Chinese and international travelers. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll probably make friends here in no time. I was genuinely surprised to see people of all age groups just hanging out and having a great time together. One small thing to note, there’s no elevator. So if you’re carrying heavy luggage, getting to the top floor can be a bit of a task. Smoking in allowed in the common area, a warning is that you will be passive smoking. My favorite part has to be their cafe and restaurant. After a long day, it was so comforting to not worry about finding food outside. They’re open until 11 pm, and the food is genuinely good. Morning coffee was sorted too. I already miss my favorite Oreo drink, both mocha and chocolate milk, please share the recipe😭. We only stayed here on our arrival and departure days, but ended up eating at their cozy restaurant most of the time. They also have some nice vegetarian options. If I ever come back, I would definitely stay here again. I absolutely loved the place, the vibe, and the people. I was also really curious about the story behind the owner after reading the little note in the menu, but couldn’t find more about it. Wishing you good health and happiness.🌷

I had a fantastic trip there! The place is lovely, built all in wood, with plants and cats all around, and a nice rooftop with a view on the mountains. Everything is clean and it's very silent at night. But the best part came from the guests, I felt like in a family. Unlike my previous hostels in Yunnan, most guests could speak English, which helped feeling closer. A lot of people are staying there for weeks because of the great atmosphere. I stayed only two nights but felt sad to leave everyone.