Beijing Pagoda Light International Youth Hostel

The location was handy, about a five-minute walk from a Line 2 metro station. My bed was really comfortable, and the rooms were a decent size. Each bed had a curtain for privacy, and you needed a key card to enter the room. The staff were fine too.

It's easy to reach by subway, even though it's outside the old town. The place felt new and modern, and was cleaner than most hostels like it. Good value for the price. The main downside was the overpriced food at the bar, though there were some nice food stores nearby.

Even though I got there late at night, the staff were warm and helpful. I was hungry, and their suggestion of a Sichuan restaurant that stayed open late really saved me. The dorm was comfortable enough for a good night's sleep, and the amenities were well prepared. My family likes Sichuan food too, though the restaurant was really busy.

The location is excellent, but the price is hard to square with the youth hostel label. A dorm room costs over 400 RMB, much more than a regular youth hostel, and I expected the place to feel more like one. Upstairs, Lotus Cafe used to be on the top floor. After its lease wasn't renewed, they opened their own cafe. The coffee and food aren't as good as Lotus Cafe's were, and the location seems to be all it has going for it. Honestly, it feels a bit cheap.