Hostels in Yunnan, China

This was my first time staying at a hostel from this chain, the one near Kunming's Zhuanxin Farmers Market, and I remember it had a beautiful bougainvillea bush! I chose Qincheng Hostel again, this time picking this specific branch because it's super close to Cuihu Lake, Wenlin Street, and Yunnan University. Their restaurant offers a great variety of food and drinks, and I particularly love their curry beef rice. There are activities every day, and especially on Saturday nights, they have a concert. The singer's voice is unique and beautiful, and listening to music in their cozy bar is just the most comfortable experience. 'Hei Mu Ya' (Blackwood Cliff) is their elevated platform, nestled among huge eucalyptus trees. It's really peaceful on rainy days and nice and cool when it's hot.

Nestled in a peaceful courtyard, yet close to the action. The hostel boasts a fantastic location right by Zhuan'e Park, and it's super close to the famous Zhuanxin Farmers' Market. In the mornings, you can head to the market to soak in the most authentic Kunming local life, and in the evenings, a 20-minute stroll will take you to Cuihu Park to catch the sunset. The hostel itself is a charming earth-toned building, with a courtyard that's always bursting with seasonal flowers, and a stunning bougainvillea tree. The bar on the first floor and the ping-pong and billiard tables in the courtyard are the social hubs, where you'll meet backpackers from all corners of the globe every day – the atmosphere is absolutely incredible!

This is my second stay at Backpacker's, and Lijiang Backpacker's is still lively, but the facilities are a bit old and not well-maintained. The cleanliness of room A24 was a bit subpar. However, what really stood out was the excellent service at the front desk. Big Wang (Dawang) deserves a high rating; he was great at engaging with guests, playing Werewolf with us, chatting, and recommending nearby food. It was a very good experience overall.

The room was clean, and the front desk staff was super friendly and always ready to answer any questions. Our king-size room also had access to a common balcony, which was perfect for lounging in the sun and enjoying views of Erhai Lake. The soundproofing in the room was excellent. They also offer regular shuttle services back to the hostel. I really hope I get the chance to visit Erli Wanxiang and Dali again someday! 😁

Located right next to the core area of Xishuangbanna, the surrounding commercial environment is lively with plenty of large supermarkets and shopping streets. The bedding was relatively comfortable and clean, but many of the bathroom facilities were broken. Also, the cleanliness of the hostel's common areas could be significantly improved. Hopefully, it will get better and better!

I've stayed in many hostels across the country, but this is the first one I've truly wanted to recommend to everyone! The atmosphere is fantastic, the scenery is beautiful, it's clean and tidy, and the owner is lovely. It's especially amazing to just sit on the sofa and zone out when the sun is out. This is hands down the best value-for-money hostel I've ever stayed in. The owner even gave me a ticket to a stage play! If you love ethnic culture, you'll be absolutely thrilled! Highly, highly recommend!!!

Traveling to Dali solo, I blindly picked iYe Youth Hostel and it was absolutely the right choice! The overall vibe is fresh and healing, with a courtyard full of Yunnan charm. You can see Cangshan Mountain just by looking up – the atmosphere is just perfect. The rooms are spotless, with ample storage space, and the bathroom is well-divided, making it very convenient to use. The common areas were a pleasant surprise. Whether it was relaxing in the afternoon or chatting with fellow travelers from all over the world and sharing travel stories in the evening, it felt incredibly comfortable. The owner is easygoing and knows all the best spots in Dali, giving out niche tips that helped me avoid many tourist traps. My stay here was relaxing and happy; not only was it comfortable, but I also met many interesting people. It was a truly warm stop on my Dali trip, and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling alone!

This hostel boasts an excellent location. It's a pleasant 400-500 meter walk to the Lancang River, and Peacock Lake Park is about a kilometer away. A fresh market for fruits, along with 'Luoluo Bingwu' (a local dessert shop) and several other restaurants, are all within a kilometer's radius. You can easily rent an electric scooter right outside to visit attractions further afield. It’s perfect for both long-term stays and short trips. The hostel's common areas are very spacious. The first floor is great for working, and the second-floor terrace is incredibly comfortable – perfect for sunbathing during the day and stargazing at night. The overall cleanliness is good, and the bedding is very comfortable and clean. The four-bed and eight-bed dorms share two bathrooms, so there's never a queue. The environment is quiet, as it's located within a residential building. The owner is a warm, friendly, and very helpful sister.

During my stay at Yaju, I learned how to distinguish different types of succulents. Not because someone taught me, but because I'd go up to the rooftop every day, and when I was bored, I'd take photos with Doubao (a photo recognition app) one by one to ask about them. Everything here is slow-paced: coffee takes time, wine needs to be sampled, and a game of chess lasts half an hour. But the guests are never in a hurry; it's as if time automatically slows down a beat once you arrive. Yaju probably aims to be a place where people aren't afraid to 'waste' time.

On my way down through the rice terraces, I stopped in this town for a night. The hostel is nice, and my room was clean. The owner is very kind, and we spent a lovely evening chatting. He speaks English very well and also gave me good advice for my next trip. Since I didn't have much time to explore the surrounding area, he also kindly took me early in the morning to see the Double Dragon Bridge. It was truly a pleasant stay. Thank you!