Lazy Gaga Hostel Guangzhou

The metro is close by, which is the main plus. For somewhere to shower, sleep, and head out for the day, it’s alright. But I wouldn’t want to spend much time here: it isn’t very clean, and most things are just okay or a bit disappointing. It felt more like a place where people live than a backpacker hostel. My Lonely Planet guide from December 2021 called it decent, but my stay felt pretty middle of the road, leaning meh.

The bunks had curtains for privacy and there were large lockers, so it worked well as a place to shower and sleep between outings. Ximenkou, a major metro station, and a big market are right nearby. I had an alright stay, though the social atmosphere was quiet, and I think I was the only backpacker there. Maybe that was because I visited in very early January. Some guests seemed to live there, which gave it a different feel from other hostels. I’m not sure what else you can get for the price in Guangzhou, and I’d stay again if I planned to be out all day.

The lounge and kitchen give guests a chance to chat and swap stories. The place is affordable, with comfortable, clean rooms, though it doesn’t offer luxurious amenities. Lazy Gaga Hostel is in Guangzhou’s historic district, close to Huaisheng Mosque and a halal restaurant, which makes it handy for Muslim travelers or anyone wanting a local experience.

Guests came from a fairly wide range of places around the world. My room was spacious enough for two or three people and had its own shower. The bathroom was roomy, the AC held the temperature I wanted, and the very soft bed came with thick, warm duvets. There were lots of windows and light along most of one wall, plus another window on a second side. The paint job looked rushed, with white spray on nearby parts of the room, though it didn’t affect anything working. It was an interesting and fairly comfortable place, if not the cleanest. There’s a kitchen with a stove and microwave, among other useful things. A heads-up about laundry: the washer is a top-loader, which seems fairly standard in China, but the dryer wasn’t working during my stay. Neither machine took cash. You need a working WeChat Pay account or someone to pay for you while you reimburse them. Depending on who’s at reception, they may or may not help by scanning a photo of the QR code.