Hostels in Xinjiang, China

Whenever I return to Yining, this hostel is always my first choice. You can easily team up with other guests to explore, and the host even organizes excursions. It's perfect for students, backpackers, or long-term travelers on a budget, allowing you to save money that can be spent on richer travel experiences. The front desk's chalkboard or their WeChat group is regularly updated with real-time travel info, which is far more practical than any guidebook.

The location is excellent, just 1 km from Urumqi Railway Station and directly opposite Wanda Plaza. The beds are very spacious, and the entire place is impeccably clean. They provide slippers, towels, and disposable toothbrushes. The rooms are equipped with an en-suite bathroom and a washbasin. Plus, you can pet two adorable, chubby cats in the lobby – how fun!

We had an amazing time in Kailash Hostel! It is pretty close to Illi Bus Terminal. It has a really nice common area with lots of details. The owner Toni is a really open and kind person! He welcomed us with open arms, made very good coffee and even invited us for breakfast. You can see that he really wants his guests to have a good time and he also connects people in the hostel. We would totally recommend staying here!

Clean and cozy hostel. It is located in the private sector, 15-20 minutes' walk from the bus station, where buses to Almaty depart from. It is not marked quite clearly on the map - it seemed to me that it was located on the next street. Only one guy speaks English (a little), so use a translator. If you go down a little lower (10 minutes), you will come out onto a street where there are many grocery stores and catering establishments. Of the minuses: there was no European plug near the bedside socket. In the morning it turned out that the electronic key to the locker did not work. I had to wait for someone to come to the counter and get ready in a hurry. Overall, I liked the hostel. I will probably stay here again next time.

Nice location which is 4 min walk from the West gate (cars are not allowed in the ancient city area so being close to the gate would be an advantage). A lot of shops and restaurants just downstairs where you can get everything you need. Easy to wander around the ancient town as well. The dormitory bed and the bathroom is nice and clean. There is activity at night to socialise. Staff are nice and helpful. Will recommend this!

Great hostel to stay at for a short trip to Kashgar! It’s close enough to the Ancient City (about a half hour walk) and easy to get to both the railway station and airport by bus. The amenities here are great with good lounge areas, free laundry, place to hang laundry, and a kitchen! The bathroom situation isn’t great thought because the shower is right over a squat toilet. Also this isn’t the cleanest tidiest hostel with rubbish overflowing and and luggage strewn around the reception area. It’s not a big issue but be aware the hostel is definitely not as nice as the photos!

Ella is a conscientious and gracious host who has cultivated a warm and fun environment. I had a great experience sleeping in the comfortable dorm which was a very fair price by China standards as well. Facilities are new and clean. I slept well on a comfy bed in a relatively quiet neighborhood that’s still very close to the ancient city. Also you can take a taxi directly to her Homestay whereas in the ancient city you have to carry your bags at least a few hundred meters from taxi drop off. Ella was patient and answered all of my touristic questions while caring for the other guests too. Also she often prepares a potluck meal for a fair price. I met many interesting travellers here too so if you are looking for a good base to rest that meets your social and touristic needs as well Ella’s home is the place for you. Probably my favorite hostel in my month in China. Shame I have to leave. The private rooms look quite cozy as well

My trip to Yining was a last-minute decision, so the accommodation booking was quite rushed. Initially, the photos looked good. Let's get straight to the pros and cons! Pros: The price was reasonable, and the location on Liuxing Street is excellent. Although there's no elevator, the front desk staff were very helpful with luggage, and since it's not many floors up, climbing wasn't strenuous. There's a large terrace upstairs, which was very convenient for drying clothes. The water heater provided quick, strong water flow. Despite facing the street, it was surprisingly quiet. Cons: The first room we were given had dirty bedsheets, and the drawers contained dust and hair. The owner attributed it to oil from a previous guest's takeout and promptly moved us to another room. It's baffling why a room, if not properly cleaned, would be offered to a new guest, regardless of the mess's origin. The bed in the new room was clean, and while there was still some dust in corners, it wasn't too bothersome. However, at night, I noticed the toilet paper dispenser was full of white powdery dust, which was quite off-putting. The guesthouse itself is quite new, and the location is excellent. However, the owner seriously needs to get on top of the cleaning!

I stayed here alone for four nights (August 27-30, 2025) while participating in the Urumqi Marathon. Each room features 3 to 4 single bunk beds. Rooms and shared bathrooms are separated by gender. The beds were clean, with fresh linens provided for each guest. There's also a common area. Seeing I was an older guest, the staff thoughtfully assigned me a lower bunk and even helped me connect my phone to the Wi-Fi. Due to its affordable price, this hostel attracts many guests; it was fully booked, especially on the night of the 30th. On the afternoon of the 31st, I returned late and still needed to shower, but the staff was very accommodating. Thumbs up for C'est La Vie Youth Hostel! If I have the opportunity to visit Urumqi again in the future, I wouldn't hesitate to stay here.

A very satisfying stay. The people who stayed with me were of high quality. The transportation was convenient. It was right at the north gate of the ancient city of Xigu. The bus stop was also close. It was also convenient to go to the railway station via bus 28.