Must-see hotels in Xinjiang

  • Zabay Guest House

    Xinjiang

    It's quite extraordinary to find this great hostel in fairly remote Kuqa. Run by a young, friendly English-speaking team, it's inside a converted…

  • Turpan Silk Road Lodge

    Turpan

    To call it boutique might be a slight stretch, but the Silk Road is definitely one of the most atmospheric and charming accommodation options in Xīnjiāng…

  • Dap Hostel

    Turpan

    Set in an atmospheric and traditional-style Uyghur house whose courtyard boasts carpet-covered beds for socialising on, a small garden and a plenty of…

  • Super 8 Hotel

    Kashgar

    Ironically, it's a new Chinese-run hotel that gets our vote as the best midrange place to stay in Kashgar's Old Town. This low-slung new build has a faux…

  • Doppa Youth Hostel

    Xinjiang

    This excellent hostel is housed in a charming old mansion and has tons of Uyghur atmosphere, friendly English-speaking staff and a charming gazebo in the…

  • K2 Youth Hostel

    Xinjiang

    Housed in a huge warehouse space overlooking Tashkurgan's busy main pedestrian shopping street, this friendly hostel is run by a young English-speaking…

  • West Lake Yín Dū International Hotel

    Xinjiang

    This plush and excellently located hotel is generally considered to be the best Hotan has to offer. Rooms are big, with desks, fridges and glass-walled…

  • White Birch International Youth Hostel

    Ürümqi

    There's usually at least one English-speaking staff member at this hostel who can help with local tips and onward transport. The hostel is a bit out of…

  • Sheraton Ürümqi Hotel

    Ürümqi

    There is no shortage of luxury accommodation in Ürümqi these days, but all in all, the Sheraton's offerings are the best in town. The property has a prime…

  • Bǎiyuè Boutique Hotel

    Xinjiang

    This recently opened hotel projects a very Chinese vision of what a boutique hotel should be: specifically lots of marble, LEDs and enormous dark-wood and…

  • Tarim Hotel

    Xinjiang

    The lobby at this strongly Uyghur influenced place is a symphony in marble, though the initially rather garish impression gives way to far more neutral,…

  • KKH Breeze Hostel

    Kashgar

    Expertly run by English-speaking Rita and her husband, this new addition to Kashgar's hostel scene is outside the Old Town and inside an apartment block,…

  • Jǐnjiāng Inn

    Ürümqi

    This small and rather under-the-radar place is nevertheless a real find – it's in the heart of Ürümqi and has spotless (if rather functional) minimalist…

  • Yudu Hotel

    Xinjiang

    The three-star ‘Jade Capital’ is the best value in town, and offers spacious, clean and modern rooms, with a useful location on the west side of the main…

  • Burqin Tourist Hotel

    Xinjiang

    Burqin's main hotel is centrally located and has a choice of two-, three- and four-star blocks. The biggest and best block has spacious and well…

  • Pamir Youth Hostel

    Kashgar

    With an outdoor terrace that overlooks the beautiful Id Kah Mosque, this hostel has quickly become a popular base for exploring the city and its…

  • Tiānyuán International Hotel

    Kashgar

    This smart place overlooking the Old Town and the city's main square is one of Kashgar's better midrange hotels. The rooms are clean and well maintained,…

  • Crown Inn

    Xinjiang

    This friendly and modern Singaporean-run hotel offers comfortable, bright rooms centred on a pebble garden courtyard. Rooms are bright, if somewhat sparse…

  • Kūnyù Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    The best midrange option in town, this hotel has an impressive lobby that gives way to far less polished areas, but by the time you reach the rooms is all…

  • Chini Bagh Royal Hotel

    Kashgar

    Immortalised in William Dalrymple’s travelogue In Xanadu and located on the grounds of the former British consulate, the Chini Bagh is today an upmarket…

  • Sèmǎn Hotel

    Kashgar

    There are three separate blocks in this enormous hotel. The main block is ornate and features rooms decorated in traditional Uyghur style, which is…

  • Yīlí Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    Yining’s former Soviet consulate is just one part of this massive hotel complex in the heart of the city. A golden bust of Lenin greets you at the…

  • Hāmì Hotel

    Xinjiang

    This enormous hotel complex is Hāmì's tourist mainstay. Set in verdant grounds in the centre of town, it's focused on a fancy high-rise building with a…

  • Eden Hotel

    Kashgar

    Right on the cusp of the Old Town, the Eden isn't quite as paradisaical as its name suggests, but it's actually one of the better-value midrange options…

  • Xīnjiāng Yìzhàn Hostel

    Xinjiang

    This unexpected find is a little tricky to locate; it's down a small side street off Liqun Lu. However, it's well worth the effort, whether you're looking…

  • Hóngzǎo Shāngwù Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    Slightly worn though spacious rooms are on offer at this place next to the bazaar, though some bathrooms are cleaner than others, and many of them are…

  • Màitián International Youth Hostel

    Ürümqi

    On the east side of the Parkson Shopping Mall, the excellently located Màitián has simple doubles and dorms, some with private bathrooms, and a chilled…

  • Tǔlǔfān Bīnguǎn

    Turpan

    This rather aged place is nevertheless good value, and the wonderfully eccentric Arabian Nights–style lobby certainly has its own curiosity value. Things…

  • Thunderbird Hostel

    Ürümqi

    Excellently located, the Thunderbird is right at the central Hóngshān Intersection in a small alleyway to one side of the Southern Airline Pearl Hotel. It…

  • Jiāotōng Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    This modern and clean hotel next to Tashkurgan's tiny bus station has fresh and spacious rooms, even if the bathrooms are rather on the small side. Bus…

  • Délóng Hotel

    Xinjiang

    This hotel is the only one in town that seems totally happy lodging foreigners. The plush and even rather stylish lobby leads to two floors of well-sized…

  • Super 8

    Ürümqi

    The best of the budget chain hotels, the Super 8 offers good value with its spacious – if rather dark – rooms, modern bathrooms and useful central…

  • Jiǔchóngtiān Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    Despite its fairly high rack rates, rooms can cost as little as ¥150 here, which makes it a terrific bargain – and what's more, staff spoke English on our…

  • Pigeonhouse Youth Hostel

    Xinjiang

    After a break of some years, the Pigeonhouse Youth Hostel was due to reopen in mid 2016. It's a great option for budget travellers, but it's a good idea…

  • Rashit Yurt

    Xinjiang

    English-speaking Rashit is a popular host for backpackers and has several yurts available by the lakeside, a great way to experience the local nomadic…

  • Xīzhōu Dàjiǔdiàn

    Turpan

    This business hotel is centrally located and has clean and modern rooms. There's no English spoken, however, and it's rather lacking in charm, but does…

  • Kùchē Bīnguǎn

    Xinjiang

    Kuqa’s main tourist hotel has ageing rooms with springy beds, but is otherwise a perfectly decent place to stay. The included breakfast is surprisingly…

  • AHA International Youth Hostel

    Xinjiang

    This rustic wood-cabin hostel in Hémù, at Kanas Lake, makes a comfortable base for exploring the village and nearby mountains.

  • Yambu Hotel

    Kashgar

    A good bet for affordable, modern and spacious midrange comfort – but check a couple of rooms, as standards vary. As ever, the back rooms are quietest.

  • Turpan White Camel Youth Hostel

    Turpan

    This place has a great central location, but in all other ways it's only useful as a fallback. Housed in a warehouse that looks as likely to house an art…

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