The 13 Best Hostels in Beijing

This modern hostel is located in the thick of the action, a 15-minute walk from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, just steps from the Dongdan subway station that connects you to the rest of Beijing. The flower-filled garden fuses the old and the new: surviving segments of city walls dating back to the Ming Dynasty sit alongside modern decor and a trendy in-house bar.

Sleek, simple and stylish are traits you can look forward to at this central Beijing hostel, a winner of Hostelworld’s ‘Hoscar’ award for the best properties in China. Consisting of spacious double, family and dormitory rooms, Chinese Box Courtyard Hostel provides guests with free dinner, breakfast and bike rentals, and even Chinese tea ceremonies and calligraphy classes that give a taste of the local culture.

Fancy yourself as a budding Bruce Lee? Book a bed at Fly by Knight, which features a martial arts practice area as well as on-site kung fu lessons for guests. And the Chinese traditions don’t end with martial arts: this guesthouse offers authentic accommodation in a beautifully restored Chinese courtyard house.

Red lanterns symbolise prosperity in China and a stay at this top-rated hostel is sure to be good for your pocket. This traditional Chinese guesthouse is an urban oasis in the Hutong area of downtown Beijing; the main building dates back to the 18th century and is attached to the famous Zhengjue Temple. There are private and dorm rooms spread across three other locations on the same street.

Qianmen Hostel is an oldie but a goodie. Situated in a hutong minutes from Tiananmen Square, it dates back to 1875, when it was built as a gathering place for celebrities in the late Qing Dynasty. In 2016, it was turned into a guesthouse. Within the 19th-century Chinese architecture, you’ll now find modern amenities – there’s Wi-Fi everywhere. One super-cool detail is the wood-carved balconies, which overlook the bright central courtyard. Travellers can choose from more than 40 rooms, both private and shared; but, take note, this place doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles that newer hostels boast.

This hostel isn’t strictly located in Beijing, but, for backpackers planning a trip to the Great Wall of China, the Box House is the best budget option on its doorstep. In fact, the eastern wall of the property is actually part of the Great Wall. This hostel occupies the century-old Si-He-Yuan house, and provides modern dorms and private accommodation among the mountains.