Lonely Planet Review

Away from the big-ticket attractions like the Forbidden City, but well-placed near the nightlife of Sanlitun Road, this multistorey hostel gets a good mix of Asian and western visitors. The building is attractive, albeit ageing and scuffed in places, and the rooms and amenities are all up to snuff.

There are many reasons to like this place. It's spotlessly clean, well run, serves up a cheap breakfast and has two common areas: one a reading room, the other an entertainment room with foosball and DVD/TV. Spartan dorm rooms (is there any other kind in Beijing?) come with two, four or six beds, which means you'll never feel like you're stuck in steerage on a transatlantic cruiser. Like almost every hostel in Beijing, the Zhaolong has Internet (four computers), a shop and restaurant, kitchen, bike rental, laundry and travel centre. Health-conscious travellers will appreciate the arrangement the hostel has with the nearby fitness centre for use of all the facilities, including the hotel's pool.

Review by author Robert Kelly

Map

Facilities

1. Tea and Coffee maker
2. Tour desk
3. TV in room
4. Wake up service
5. Lockers
6. Non smoking rooms

1. Parking
2. Phone/Fax
3. Room service
4. Safe
5. Facilities - Shared
6. Gym

1. Internet access
2. Kitchen/Kitchenette
3. Laundry service
4. Left luggage/storage
5. Children allowed
6. Clothing iron

1. Combination
2. Communal area - Indoor
3. Communal area - Outdoor
4. Facilities - Private
5. 24-hour reception
6. Air conditioning
7. Business center
8. Cafe / Restaurant