Han Tang Inn Hostel — A Stylish Hostel Behind the Bell Tower, Where the World's Backpackers Crash Before the Terracotta Army
Here's the deal: if you're coming to Xi'an solo, watching the budget, but you still want to sleep in the heart of the old city and meet fellow travellers from everywhere, Han Tang Inn Hostel (汉唐驿国际青年旅舍) is the name backpackers have passed along for nearly twenty years. This international hostel hides down a lane off Beiyuanmen, just a 5-minute walk from the Bell Tower, decked out in a lovely Tang-dynasty-meets-minimalist style, with both cheap dorm beds and en-suite private rooms. Its real-guest score is a high 9.6/10 from around 543 reviews on Trip.com (plus over a thousand more on Booking). Honestly, this isn't some grubby flophouse — guests say the same things over and over: "clean, friendly English-speaking staff, free activities every night." It's a brilliant fit for solo travellers who want a warm, social base.
The first thing guests agree on is the location. Han Tang Inn sits down a small lane off Beiyuanmen in the Lianhu District, which means you're right in the middle of the walled old city. Step out of the hostel and it's about a 5-minute walk to the Bell Tower, the landmark at the city's centre, with the Drum Tower just a little further on. Best of all, the Muslim Quarter — Xi'an's famous street-food strip — is practically at the mouth of the lane. In the evening you can wander out for roast lamb skewers, biang-biang noodles, and fried persimmon cakes, then stroll straight back to bed.
One guest recalls: "Probably the most luxurious hostel we've ever stayed in. The room was spotless, the design beautiful — Chinese style mixed with minimalism — and there was free coffee, beer, and wine in the evening. The staff spoke great English and arranged our Terracotta Army tour. We met new friends on the very first night at one of their activities."
What sets Han Tang Inn apart from the average hostel is that it's a genuinely international place full of foreign travellers. The hostel says it has welcomed over 400,000 backpackers from around the world across nearly two decades. The staff speak fluent English and run a tour desk that helps book cars and guides to the Terracotta Army (兵马俑) and Mount Huashan. And the bit many people love most: there are free activities almost every night — dumpling-making, Chinese calligraphy, or simply sitting on the roof terrace with a drink and chatting. Anyone arriving solo and worried about being lonely will feel at home from the first evening.
Rooms come in two main flavours. There are dorm beds for budget travellers, including a female-only dorm and mixed rooms, each bed with its own curtain and reading light; and en-suite private rooms for couples or anyone who wants their own space. A detail reviewers repeatedly praise: the bathrooms have sit-down toilets (some rooms even have Japanese-style automatic-lid units), with strong hot water and a spotless finish — surprisingly rare for a hostel in China. The shared spaces include a handsome wood-beamed lounge, a roof terrace to hang out on, and a coffee-and-drinks corner.
Be clear about what this place is before you book — it's a hostel, not a hotel. Rooms are on the small side (the size is the most common complaint), and the mood is social: people are about, chatting and joining activities. If you want total private quiet, or you're travelling with family and need more space, this may not be your match. But if you're happy with a friendly, easygoing vibe and you want to meet other travellers, that atmosphere is exactly the charm. As for coming and going down the lane at night, guests report it feels safe, since it's in an area that's busy with people at all hours.
Getting around is easy. Bell Tower station (Line 2) is a short walk from the hostel, with onward connections to Xi'an North high-speed railway station for trips to other cities, or to buses out to the Terracotta Army. Xianyang International Airport (XIY) lies to the north-west, reachable by the airport rail link or an airport bus into town. If you're flying in and dragging your bags into the old city for the first time, save the lane's exact pin in a Chinese maps app (such as Amap) before you arrive — the lane is narrow and taxis may not find it right away.
Price is where Han Tang Inn is at its most charming — dorm beds start at around ~¥60–90 (฿300–450) per night, while en-suite private rooms run about ~¥180–260 (฿900–1,300), depending on season and room type. A small buffet breakfast is around ¥30, with fresh omelettes cooked to order. That's excellent value for a base in the very heart of the city. Over China's long holidays — Golden Week (October 1–7), Labour Day (May 1–5), and Chinese New Year — rates rise and beds fill up very fast, so book several weeks ahead if you're coming then.
The honest summary, friend to friend: Han Tang Inn Hostel is the best fit for solo travellers, budget-minded couples, and backpackers who want to sleep in the heart of the old city, walk to the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, and meet fellow travellers. If you value a friendly mood, cleanliness, and a low price over a roomy space, it's outstanding value. But if you want a larger room with full hotel facilities, compare it against the Atour South Gate branch or the JI Hotel Hui Min Street branch in our list first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Heart of the old city — walk to the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Muslim Quarter
- ✓ Fluent English-speaking staff who help arrange the Terracotta Army tour
- ✓ Very clean; sit-down toilets, strong hot water, and beautiful design
- ✓ Free activities every night and free evening drinks — easy to meet people
- ! Rooms are on the small side (the most common complaint)
- ! Social atmosphere with people about — not for those wanting total quiet
- ✓ Very low prices — dorm beds from ~¥60, private rooms from ~¥180
- ✓ Roof terrace, handsome wood-beamed lounge, and a coffee-and-drinks corner
- ✓ Both female-only dorms and en-suite private rooms available
- ✓ Safe location, busy at all hours; Bell Tower metro a short walk away
- ! Beds fill fast and rates rise over the Chinese long holidays
- ! It's a hostel, not a hotel — no full 5-star-style facilities
- 💡If you want a roomy space and total privacy · This is a hostel — rooms are on the small side and the mood is social · Fix → choose an en-suite private room, or look at the Atour South Gate or JI Hotel Hui Min Street branches in our list, which have larger rooms
- 💡If you're travelling with family or need full facilities · There's no pool, gym, or hotel-style service here · Fix → see the Hilton Garden Inn Xi'an Bell Tower or a 4-star in our list with a similar central location
- 💡If you're visiting during a Chinese long holiday · Golden Week (October 1–7), Labour Day (May 1–5), and Chinese New Year see beds fill fast and rates rise · Fix → book several weeks ahead and take a free-cancellation rate to be safe