Hangzhou Hofang International Youth Hostel

Rooms and decor

The building is an old townhouse done over but kept in its original brick-and-timber tones, and the rooms follow suit: simple, not large, around 12-18 sqm. There is a choice of 4-to-8-bed dorms (from about $14 a night) and private doubles (around $37). What reviewers point to is that every room gets a wide window and a few have a small balcony. Open the window in the morning, guests say, and you hear the Hefang market waking up below, which feels like a scene from a Chinese film.

Food and amenities

The lobby and common area are built as one large lounge with a bar serving drinks and simple food, open until midnight, plus a pool table and board games. Travelers from Europe, America and Australia pile in and the place gets lively. The hostel runs a walking tour around Hefang Street and collects a small City Tax, the staff speak good English and are easygoing, and there is free luggage storage between check-in and check-out, useful if you arrive early or fly out late. Free Wi-Fi rounds it out.

Location and getting there

This is the draw. The hostel sits inside the Hefang Street pedestrian strip in the old town, just 600 metres from Wushan Square. Step out the door and the lane is packed with antique shops, Chinese calligraphy-brush stalls, Longjing tea sellers and street food. There is a public park nearby too, and it is about a 15-minute walk to West Lake. Sleeping in the middle of an old quarter like this is something you simply do not get from a hotel out in the business district.

Things to know before booking

These are hostel rooms, so keep expectations realistic: they are simple and on the small side at 12-18 sqm. West Lake is not on the doorstep either, so plan on a 15-minute walk to reach the water. And because it is the cheapest pick on the list, rooms go fast in high season, so book ahead. One more thing worth knowing: this is a swap for the former #10 hostel, Wushanyi International Youth Hostel, whose booking page was unreachable, so we put in this comparable sibling on the same street.

Our take

Hangzhou Hofang International Youth Hostel is the budget closer, best for backpackers, solo travelers and thrifty couples who love Chinese culture and old-market wandering, at roughly $14 to $40 a night. Real guests rate it around 8.8, which is high for a hostel. We close the list with the most charming option in the budget tier, a fitting end to a Hangzhou trip.