Hangzhou Hostels

Last week I saw that the weather in Hangzhou was good, so I set off immediately. I saw this very affordable hotel the night before and decided to check it out. The hotel is about two to three hundred meters north on the northeast side of West Lake, and it is very convenient to travel by bicycle. Although the room is small and well-equipped, you can take a comfortable bath after a day of running around. The water pressure is high and the water temperature is suitable. However, the high humidity in the room that other guests have mentioned is unavoidable. It is recommended to turn on the air conditioner for a few hours to dehumidify when going out to play or eat. There are many scenic spots around the West Lake, but they are relatively scattered, and bicycles are prohibited on the lakeside. After more than two days of sightseeing, I still haven’t visited them all. But it’s worth taking a walk along Gushan Road-Baidu Line in the evening.

This place is okay but I had slightly higher expectations to be honest. Cleanliness is alright, they give you a bag with a small towel upon request, both to be returned. Has free water dispensers, toiletries and a microwave. Common areas don't have a vibe but you can prepare and have your food and play video games as everyone else. The biggest common area is to the right side of the reception, which, as per usual, they don't tell you. There is that Olympic Stadium nearby, but the city center is actually on the other side of the river. From here you will either need to take public transportation or a cab to West Lake or other interesting parts of town. Walking to the light show on the other side of the river bank took more than 1.5 hrs and it is not supposed to be walked. There are no useful signs on the building but the way to get here is to use the ”hotel entrance” and use the single elevator straight ahead. Do not turn right to use the elevators in the elevator room. If you do, only the very right one brings you to the 5th floor where you will check in. Very confusing and no signs to help you. It also might take a bit until the right elevator arrives. The shoe rack was inside the room, which resulted in a very smelly room. Guitar with old strings, barely playable. If I came back, I'd rather try out another place.

Close to the station, more convenient

I stayed at this hostel during my backpacking trip, and the atmosphere was incredibly cozy and welcoming. The common lounge is beautifully decorated – a great spot to read or swap travel stories with fellow travelers from around the world. The cleanliness was impeccable; even often-overlooked spots like corners and shelves were spotless. It's super convenient for transport, with taxis, bus stops, and the metro all nearby. The owner was really helpful with all my travel questions, and the price is budget-friendly. Perfect for young solo travelers!

Once you've stayed here, you'll understand the phrase ”choosing a branch to perch on.” (This idiom means finding a good place to settle). The bedding is changed for every guest, and the duvet is soft with a clean, laundry-detergent scent. The shower is separated from the toilet, and the water pressure is great – you don't have to wait for the floor to dry before going in. The smart toilet is a game-changer for a hostel; once you sit down, you won't want to get up. 🎸 In the evening, someone plays guitar in the lobby. If you're chatty, you can gather around; if you don't feel like talking, just cozy up on the sofa and listen to the music – no one will make you feel awkward. 📍 It's a ten-minute walk from West Lake, and right next to a food street, so dining and accommodation are super convenient. Next time I'm in Hangzhou, I'll definitely stay here again.

This hostel offers incredible value for money, making it my top choice for accommodation when traveling! The location is excellent, right near the subway station, so it's convenient to get anywhere, and all the essential amenities are close by. The rooms are simply furnished and practical, with plenty of space for each bed. The bed curtains provide great blackout and sound insulation, ensuring good privacy. The cleanliness is outstanding; the rooms, common areas, and bathrooms are all spotless and tidied meticulously every day, which really put my mind at ease. The common areas are perfect for socializing, where you can meet backpackers from all over and share travel stories in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The facilities are comprehensive, including self-service laundry and luggage storage, and the 24-hour front desk is a huge comfort. It's affordable and offers a fantastic experience—I wholeheartedly recommend it to every traveler!

What surprised me most about the facilities was that the toilets even had smart toilet seats! This is a feature that even top budget hotels don't usually have, yet this hostel, which costs only 30 or 40 yuan a night in the off-season, actually has it! However, since it's positioned as a hostel and caters to older guests, this seems to contradict the concept of a hostel, resulting in a rather mixed clientele and room for improvement in the overall quality of the guests.

The hotel is extremely disappointed. They have a very strange policy of visiting guests, namely a total ban on visiting a room without passport registration (which requires extra payment). My friend wanted to help me to get things in the room and the staff allowed her to come to us for only 15 minutes. After that we watched as other guests the staff refused to skip the guests (they friends wanted to help carry things). I had bronchial asthma and I was extremely displeased with the fact that the room and bedroom were smoked. I had several asthma attacks at night and I couldn't sleep well.

Considering it was a bustling Qingming Festival holiday, the price for this hostel was quite reasonable. The room itself was decent and felt pretty private, with a curtain on the wooden partition. It has shared bathrooms, and you have to change into slippers upstairs. It's located in an alley next to the Chocolate Museum on Hefang Street, and I almost missed it the first time. Even though it's in a commercial area, it's surprisingly soundproof; I couldn't hear any outside noise from my room. It's just a short walk to Wushan and the Hangzhou Museum, and a couple of blocks to Listening to Orioles in the Willows (Liulang Wenying), so the location is excellent. You can even take an evening stroll along West Lake.

The zoo is not far away and the bus station is within walking distance. The facilities are pretty good. You can refer to the pictures.