This was my first time staying in a youth hostel, and I was surprised by how good the experience was. I originally planned to stay for only one day, but the cleanliness and environment were excellent, so I extended my stay for another day. Sometimes, though, it's a matter of luck. On the second night, a woman snored in the bunk above me. Luckily, I had earplugs.
1. Impressive details: When checking in, the hostess provided a protective cover for my ID card if I didn't have one. She also explained the location of the washing machine upon check-in.
2. Comfortable environment: For just over 70 yuan, during peak season, there's a large courtyard, and the cleanliness is excellent. I preferred to stay in the courtyard most of the time. I have to say that the cost of living in Yili is not that high. During peak season, hotels of the same price are much better than those in mainland China.
3. There's a cat: There's a cat in the courtyard. It's very affectionate, greets people, and is very pleasant to pet. It was half the reason I decided to stay an extra day. I plan to stay in every youth hostel with cats in the future. There was also a rather shy Jianzhou cat. It ran away the first time it saw me, but the second time it actually followed me and acted cute. It's a shame I didn't bring any cat food.
4. Extended stay discount: You can ask the staff for extended stays, which are usually better than online rates.
Cons: There's not much food nearby, so you'll need to order takeout or walk a bit further, and the options are quite limited. Avoid taking taxis during rush hour, as the traffic is so bad it's unbearable throughout Yining. Use taxi apps to hail taxis, as they're hard to find in the deep alleys.
Also, I hope you don't run into any group of more than two people, as groups of three will start chattering, which can be a bit unfriendly to those who are already asleep. But that's how youth hostels are, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Overall, the youth hostel is excellent; the environment is comfortable, clean, and hygienic, and the cleaning is done promptly. My next stop is Kashgar, and I'm planning to stay in Gumaoning again.
"This was my first time staying in a youth hostel, and I was surprised by how good the experience was. I originally planned to stay for only one day, but the cleanliness and environment were excellent, so I extended my stay for another day. Sometimes, though, it's a matter of luck. On the second night, a woman snored in the bunk above me. Luckily, I had earplugs.
1. Impressive details: When checking in, the hostess provided a protective cover for my ID card if I didn't have one. She also explained the location of the washing machine upon check-in.
2. Comfortable environment: For just over 70 yuan, during peak season, there's a large courtyard, and the cleanliness is excellent. I preferred to stay in the courtyard most of the time. I have to say that the cost of living in Yili is not that high. During peak season, hotels of the same price are much better than those in mainland China.
3. There's a cat: There's a cat in the courtyard. It's very affectionate, greets people, and is very pleasant to pet. It was half the reason I decided to stay an extra day. I plan to stay in every youth hostel with cats in the future. There was also a rather shy Jianzhou cat. It ran away the first time it saw me, but the second time it actually followed me and acted cute. It's a shame I didn't bring any cat food.
4. Extended stay discount: You can ask the staff for extended stays, which are usually better than online rates.
Cons: There's not much food nearby, so you'll need to order takeout or walk a bit further, and the options are quite limited. Avoid taking taxis during rush hour, as the traffic is so bad it's unbearable throughout Yining. Use taxi apps to hail taxis, as they're hard to find in the deep alleys.
Also, I hope you don't run into any group of more than two people, as groups of three will start chattering, which can be a bit unfriendly to those who are already asleep. But that's how youth hostels are, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Overall, the youth hostel is excellent; the environment is comfortable, clean, and hygienic, and the cleaning is done promptly. My next stop is Kashgar, and I'm planning to stay in Gumaoning again."