Tuding Hostel Nanjing Confucius Temple Qinhuai Riverside
by the TopOfHotel team
Tuding is a hostel in a renovated Jiangnan courtyard house right on the Qinhuai riverside, a 5-minute walk from the metro and the cheapest bed on the list — score 8.5.
Tuding is a hostel in a renovated Jiangnan courtyard house right on the Qinhuai riverside, a 5-minute walk from the metro and the cheapest bed on the list — score 8.5.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Tuding is not a modern tower — it is an old Jiangnan house with a gray-tiled roof, renovated into a 3-floor hostel with a small Si He Yuan stone courtyard at its center. The Private Single Room runs about 12 sq m with a single bed, a side table, a lamp and a small wardrobe; the bathroom is shared at the end of the hall, kept clean, with 4 showers and 4 toilets and hot water that runs strong all day. There are also 4-bed and 6-bed dorms at around $11 to $17 a bed, with solid-wood bunks that each have a reading light, a privacy curtain and a locker. A double room goes for about $26, with a soft-enough Sleemon mattress and fresh linens changed daily — real guests rate it around 8.5, better than your average hostel.
Food and amenities
The common area has a long wooden table where travelers actually talk to each other, free Wi-Fi, and a coin coffee machine that pours a cup for about $0.40. Nearby, late-night local spots serve Yan Shui Ya salted duck, Ya Xue Tang duck-blood soup and Tang Yuan dessert for roughly $2 to $4 a dish — cheap and good. Owner Xiao Zhang is a Nanjing local who speaks good English and steers guests to the traditional salted-duck shops tourists never find, plus the 3-kilometre riverside walk that looks its best in the evening.
Location and getting there
Location is Tuding's real selling point. Turn right out the door and it is 2 minutes to the Qinhuai riverside, then an 8-minute walk along the water to the Confucius Temple gate; carry on to Wuyi Lane in the evening to see the red lanterns reflected on the river. Sanshanjie metro on Line 3 is a 5-minute walk — 3 stops to the Presidential Palace and 7 stops to Lukou Airport. The hostel is also about 200m from the Qinhuai River-cruise dock.
Things to know before booking
This is a hostel, so set expectations accordingly. Rooms are simple and built for function, not privacy — the private singles share bathrooms down the hall rather than having their own. Facilities are basic across the board. And it fills up fast in high season, so lock in your dates early if they are fixed. None of that is a surprise at this price, but it is worth knowing before you book.
Our take
Tuding Hostel Nanjing Confucius Temple suits backpackers, solo travelers who want to meet people, and exchange students on a tight budget. Reviewers come away charmed by the old-house atmosphere and by how warmly Xiao Zhang looks after guests. At a starting rate of about $21 a night, it is genuinely cheap for an old-town base within walking distance of three landmarks — and if you would rather not do a shared dorm, the private room at around $50 still does the job.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A budget hostel sitting right on the Qinhuai riverside, only about 200m from the river-cruise dock.
- Inside the Confucius Temple tourist district, a short walk from the temple itself — you can reach the pedestrian street on foot.
- Just a 5-minute walk to Sanshanjie metro on Line 3, with the Presidential Palace 3 stops away and Lukou Airport 7 stops away.
- Set in a renovated old Jiangnan courtyard house with a gray-tiled roof and a small stone courtyard, so it has real character rather than feeling like a generic dorm block.
- Owner Xiao Zhang is a Nanjing local who speaks good English and points guests to the salted-duck spots tourists miss and the prettiest stretch of the riverside walk at dusk.
- Rooms are simple and function-first — not the place if you want a lot of privacy or polish.
- Facilities are basic, as you would expect from a hostel; the private singles use shared bathrooms at the end of the hall (4 showers and 4 toilets).
- It fills up 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 Nanjing
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Insider Tips
- Walk the Qinhuai riverside path to the Confucius Temple to see the red lanterns lit up after dark.
- It is only a 5-minute walk to Sanshanjie metro (Line 3), so use that to get around the city.
- Hang out in the common area's long wooden table to meet other travelers — and ask Xiao Zhang where the locals eat.