Tucked inside the old city of Kashgar, Gobi Desert Youth Hostel (戈壁滩青旅 gē bì tān) is the only female hostel. It actually feels like being in an isolated place while staying here. Despite a restaurant/café next to it and an evening ethnic/local dance in the restaurant, the tourist crowds passed by the narrow alley to the well-known Grandfather’s Naan shop, and yet I felt quiet in the hostel.
I asked the old city security guard, and he told me to take the left. Then I got lost again. I asked another security guard. He pointed to the busy alley. The old town of Kashgar is made up of many narrow alleys. One leads to another. The faded wooden door at the end of the street—when I walked into the hostel, the bright orange stairs combined with the Azulejos tiles took me to another world. The open space is covered by a transparent ceiling, and natural light fills the common area.
The owner and her husband run two hostels in Kashgar, and they are not natives of Xinjiang. They are in their late 40s. The hostel closes in winter as the business slows down. Through a conversation with her, I learned that she got to explore western China and a flexible lifestyle that attracted her to Kashgar. She is like a big sister to all the female travelers who want a break from big cities, with her humorous personality.
Meanwhile, summer is the best fruit season in western China—watermelon, grapes, melons, figs, peaches, etc. They are all sweet and delicious. It is either the hotel owner, a traveler, or the staff who would bring back a watermelon every day. The announcement is made on WeChat. We sat around the long table, chatting while enjoying many slices. The conversations were usually about where to get the best watermelon or the best food in the old city. Our journey to the Pamir Mountains or beyond starts from here with travel companions.
So the hostel staff manages the community through a WeChat group—similar to many hostels around China. They organize free tours, usually led by volunteer staff, to the Uyghur wedding venue, weekend farmer’s bazaar, and food tours. This is a hostel, but not everyone is a backpacker. I learned that for some women in my room, it was their first time staying in one. In Kashgar, having a female-only hostel felt especially meaningful, as it gave women a space where they could feel safe and at ease.
戈壁灘·純女生·青旅 / Gobi Desert Youth Hostel / ¥78 in 4-bed dormitory
Address: 吾斯塘博依街道吾斯塘博依社區巴格其巷4組37號, 喀什市
Amenities: hairdryer, washing machine & detergent, both squat and sit toilets, air conditioner, hot water, kitchen, and drinking water.
2-bed dormitory or a single room is available.
Is Kashgar safe for female travelers?
Absolutely. I stayed four days in Kashgar. I took public transport and taxi, and walked around the markets and streets. I found the local are, in general, friendly. Once I ate in a family-owned restaurant, I forgot to bring cash. The family did not know me, and they were fine that I paid them the next day.