Yilan• Central Asia-Europe-Africa Ring Youth Hostel

The owner is incredibly nice, enthusiastic, and really fun. The courtyard is huge, perfect for just relaxing and daydreaming. There were a lot of people going on the same route, which made it great for finding travel companions. I'll definitely come back if I get the chance!

Stepping inside, I was immediately struck by how beautiful the courtyard was. It was a great common area for people to chat, and there were adorable cats around too! The play of light and shadow under the grapevines in the courtyard was absolutely stunning. The owner even organized a trip to Egypt – if you're interested, remember to bring your passport!

This hostel offers great value for money. It's very clean, and there are no strange smells in the rooms or communal bathrooms. The bunk beds have curtains and charging ports, providing good privacy. The owner, staff, and cleaners are all incredibly friendly. It's conveniently located, and the facilities are comprehensive. I felt very safe staying here as a solo traveler. Highly recommend!

As a long-term guest here, I genuinely feel this is a charming hostel with a lot of character in Yining. The entire courtyard is a renovated old traditional compound, and my absolute favorite part is the outdoor area. Blue steel trellises are covered with grapevines, providing excellent shade even under the strong sun, so you won't feel uncomfortably hot. White drapes are hung everywhere, gently swaying in the breeze, and there are many rustic wooden tables and chairs. When I have some free time, I just sit here, enjoy the breeze, and daydream. Sometimes I chat casually with guests from all over, discussing their travel experiences along the Xinjiang loop. You don't even need to go sightseeing; you can feel the relaxed vibe of Yining right in the courtyard. The main building is a retro-style house with a stone foundation and light-colored exterior walls. There are many large trees in the courtyard, their branches and leaves partially obscuring the house, giving the whole place a very serene feel. The long, blue arched corridor has a wonderful ambiance with layers of drapes hanging down. You can park directly in the courtyard, which is very convenient for those driving. The walls are covered with thick ivy, and the main gate features interesting hand-painted graffiti. It's a great spot for casual photos. The hostel also has a black and white cat that often roams around the courtyard and common areas. Playing with the cat adds a lot of small joys to the otherwise simple travel life. Most of the guests here are backpackers on the Xinjiang loop, volunteers, and young travelers. There's plenty of common space for resting and exchanging travel tips. It's not as neat and refined as a chain hotel; it has the authentic, lived-in feel of an old courtyard. Here, you can truly experience the local atmosphere of Yining. If you enjoy a slow pace, want to meet fellow travelers from different places, and wish to experience a genuine local courtyard atmosphere, this place would be an excellent choice.

This hostel has an amazing vibe! It boasts a huge courtyard with lots of fruit trees like grapevines, jujube trees, mulberry trees, and roses. It's perfect for lounging in a hammock under the grapevines and contemplating life. The owner is super friendly; you can even share a meal and chat about old times with them. Plus, there are affordable lamb skewers and interesting local homes to explore nearby. Very comfortable indeed!

The owner is incredibly nice! Even though he looks a bit wild on the outside, he's incredibly thoughtful and super enthusiastic on the inside. The courtyard is exactly what I imagine a typical Xinjiang courtyard to be – it really has grape trellises and various fruit trees. I was lucky enough to be there when the grapes and walnuts were ripe, and I ate so much of them. There's a black and white cat named ** in the courtyard, who's super quirky and loves other people's wives – it's such a fun little cat. The owner's cooking skills are out of this world. I was lucky enough to try his homemade pear juice Americano, which was delicious. I also got to experience him making pilaf in a huge pot; it smelled absolutely amazing, and his cooking is fantastic, even though he always says he's not good at it. When I visited, there were volunteers there, and the young ladies were all super enthusiastic and wonderful. There's also parking available in the courtyard, and a huge mural painted by a ********* volunteer at the entrance, perfect for a photo op, it's very beautiful. And even though it's a hostel, the accommodation and all aspects are excellent, and there's a kitchen available for use. Summary: If I ever get to visit Yining again and the owner is still open, I will definitely choose to stay here again!!!!

Located in the old town, the facilities are quite old, but there's parking available! The biggest issue is that the room was leaking, both in the main area and the bathroom!