University guesthouses and “academic bars” are attracting young Chinese urbanites seeking knowledge and deeper cultural experiences.
By Fan Yiying and Fu Xiaoqing
When web editor Yang Xiaomai traveled to Beijing in December for a conference at the prestigious Renmin University of China, instead of booking a chain hotel nearby like she normally would, she decided to stay at the guesthouse on campus.
She says the move turned a standard work trip into an immersive cultural experience, entirely redefining her perspective on travel.
“The room had university brochures, historical materials, and even a detailed campus map,” said the 25-year-old, who lives in the southern city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province. She also enjoyed breakfast in the Professors’ Dining Hall, which is usually reserved for faculty and senior staff members only.
However, the best thing about this kind of accommodation, she said, is that it provides an opportunity to dive deep into campus life. During her stay, she visited an art exhibition, wandered through the university’s historic buildings, and explored its vast library.
“For someone like me who has already graduated from college, it was a special experience to return to campus and feel the university’s culture,” explained Yang, who paid 400 yuan ($55) a night for her room, a reasonable rate for central Beijing. “Compared with hotels in the same price range, university guesthouses offer not only accommodation but also a deep cultural experience, which is more valuable.”
Photos of the Shaoyuan Guesthouse at Peking University. From Xiaohongshu
Yang represents a growing demographic of Chinese travelers who are embracing so-called “academic hotels” — university-affiliated accommodations that blend functionality with intellectual ambiance.
Often overlooked by conventional booking platforms and sometimes carrying obscure names like “Academic Exchange Center,” finding these properties can require insider knowledge.
For some places, it is possible to make a reservation via travel apps, while others take phone bookings or accept reservations only from people working or studying at the university. Prices range from 100 to 200 yuan a night in smaller cities and about 400 yuan in major metropolises — and unlike commercial hotels, these accommodations operate without star ratings.
Ratings for “academic hotels” on a hotel booking app. From Xiaohongshu
Last year, Zhao Han, an undergraduate student at Beijing’s top-ranking Tsinghua University, booked to stay in its Ziqing Building, which has guestrooms along with spaces for meetings and conferences, paying about 600 yuan a night. Reservations can be made by calling the campus service center, but all guests are required to register with a valid student or staff ID.
The college was hosting a forum during her stay, meaning the building’s lobby was filled with professors and other experts, which “enhanced the scholarly ambiance,” Zhao said.
As city landmarks, universities often carry deep cultural symbolic significance. Hence, the trend toward academic hotels demonstrates the deep desire among young people in China to experience culture in ways that go beyond sightseeing, according to Shi Yuanyuan, an associate professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University whose research focus includes the consumer psychology of tourism.
“By staying at a university guesthouse, they achieve a kind of role-shift: even if they’re not actual students, they can briefly ‘play the part’ and participate in campus life,” she said. “Unlike a luxury hotel, the symbolic cultural meaning and intellectual identity conveyed by this experience make it far more appealing.”
Fountain of knowledge
Some observers have associated the phenomenon with the emergence last summer of “academic bars,” a concept that initially gained traction in Shanghai before spreading to other major cities. Combining the laid-back feel of a cocktail bar or late-night café with intellectual rigor, these events bring together young urbanites for talks and presentations on philosophy, literature, social sciences, and much more.
In September, a series of such activities was hosted over two days at a two-story Sichuan restaurant in Shanghai. On the first floor, guests could buy themed cocktails and other drinks, with each coaster bearing a tidbit of trivia, while upstairs was an area for lectures and discussions on various topics, with speakers ranging from professors and industry experts to stand-up comedians.
“We paid special attention to the balance between the depth of knowledge and entertainment,” said He Xin, a Shanghai university student who helped plan the events.
Shi believes academic bars and academic hotels both reflect young Chinese people’s “craving for cultural identity and social interaction,” allowing them to indulge their interests and share their perspectives. “The satisfaction brought by these immersive experiences is something traditional classrooms can’t provide,” she said.
Kang Jia, an engineer based in Dali, in the southwestern Yunnan province, has taken part in several late-night salons on artificial intelligence and other tech-related topics.
“We’re in a relaxed bar atmosphere, enjoying wine while listening to experts. The informal environment makes it easier for people to communicate with industry veterans face to face,” she said, adding that she now hopes to visit academic bars in other cities.
Reviews about the accommodations at Tsinghua University. From Xiaohongshu
Huang Siyi, who is working toward a Ph.D. in sociology at Tsinghua, described the activities as a “form of cultural consumption that allows people to find breathing space in their busy lives,” helping address modern anxieties and broaden horizons.
“This isn’t in the pursuit of advanced knowledge, but to avoid being overwhelmed by the flood of knowledge and to experience self-improvement,” Huang said.
Shi explains that the growing interest in such academic activities is also part of a broader generational shift, as young people are keen to break free of the inertia of daily life, seeking profound experiences through fresh combinations, novel perspectives, and personalized expressions.
“They’re not satisfied with superficial encounters, but rather value what is truly inspiring — experiences that provoke thought,” she added. “What they pursue is a sense of intellectual engagement and authentic presence, searching beyond ordinary life for a possible world in which they might be an extension of the possible self.”
For Yang, staying at the Renmin University of China reshaped her travel philosophy. She now seeks out campus accommodation when she visits a new city. “It’s not just about visiting attractions, but to deeply understand somewhere through special means, like academic hotels,” she said.
In addition to enjoying her stay at Tsinghua’s Ziqing Building, Zhao also recently attended an academic bar event themed on moral dilemmas.
“You never know what kind of ideological collision the next clink of a glass will bring,” she said.
Additional reporting: Xu Ningjia; editor: Hao Qibao
(Header image: From Xiaohongshu)