Desti Youth Park Hostel Xi'an Bell Tower
by the TopOfHotel team
A backpacker hostel inside the city wall with a 500-plus square metre common area and a 9.8 location score — scored 8.9.
A backpacker hostel inside the city wall with a 500-plus square metre common area and a 9.8 location score — scored 8.9.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
This is a flashpacker place built for younger travelers, and the rooms are simple and functional rather than a selling point — you come for the building, not the bedroom. The standout is the common area of more than 500 square metres, done up like a modern take on an old inn hall: high ceilings, exposed brick walls, soft sofas and warm lighting that feels more like a European café than a hostel lobby.
Food and amenities
Plenty of reviewers say they spent more time in the common area than in their rooms, and it's easy to see why. There's a bar pouring local Xi'an craft beer from about $3.60, Yunnan-bean drip coffee at roughly $2.60, a big screen showing Chinese and Hollywood films every evening, plus a pool table, ping-pong, a board-game corner and a shelf of travel books from around the world. Remote workers are covered too, with fast Wi-Fi and desks — handy if you're in Xi'an for several days.
Location and getting there
Location is the second highlight after the common room. You're inside the city wall, about 9 minutes on foot to the Drum Tower and another 3 minutes to the edge of the Muslim Quarter. It's a 5-minute walk to the Bell Tower and Zhonglou metro station on Lines 1 and 2, from where you can ride out to the North Railway Station and catch high-speed trains across China. From about $20 a night, that's hard to beat for this kind of position.
Things to know before booking
The rooms are plain hostel rooms, so skip this one if privacy matters a lot to you. The common area is social and can get loud, which is the draw for some and a deal-breaker for others — go in knowing which camp you're in. And because the rates are so low, rooms fill fast in high season; lock in your dates early.
Our take
Desti Youth Park Hostel Xi'an Bell Tower is best for backpackers, digital nomads and solo travelers who want a central base with a social buzz at a budget price. We give it 8.9 — a hostel where the location and the common area outweigh everything else.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A backpacker hostel with a common area of more than 500 square metres — far bigger than you'd expect at this price.
- That common area comes loaded with craft beer, coffee, movie nights and a pool table, so the social vibe is real.
- You're inside the city wall, about 9 minutes on foot to the Drum Tower, with the Bell Tower close by.
- The location category on Trip.com scores a sky-high 9.8 — the highest of any hotel in this guide.
- Rates start around $20 a night, and the overall guest score lands near 9.5.
- Rooms are simple and hostel-plain, so this is not the place if you need a lot of privacy.
- The social common area gets lively, which won't suit you if you want somewhere quiet.
- Rooms fill fast in high season, so book ahead if your dates are fixed.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Xi'an
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Xi'an — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Use the common area to meet other travelers — that's the whole point of staying here.
- Walk 9 minutes to the Drum Tower and carry on into the Muslim Quarter for the night markets.
- Book well ahead — the rates are very low and the rooms go quickly.