Lonely Planet Review

Apart from the cheap rooms, the main reason to stay here is for the great student vibe. There are numerous small shops and restaurants in the surrounding lanes, in addition to plenty of friendly faces. Hotel floor staff communicate with the front desk via walkie-talkie - very retro.

This is a standard Chinese hotel with little character, but is well maintained, spotless and reasonably comfortable. Across from the former Pink Palace (Yun Da's Centre for Chinese Studies), this is obviously a favourite choice with visiting researchers. But even if you are not of an academic bent, the surrounding area is one of the more pleasant neighbourhoods in the city. Nearby perks include a bookshop with imported English-language magazines, a variety of Asian restaurants (Korean, Japanese and Thai) as well as cheap clothing boutiques with bargain-priced sandals.