Kunming · China
Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
TL;DR I slept with bed bugs. I had arrived to the hostel on Friday the 21st. I purchased a bed in the 5 bedroom dorm. I was given the top bunk. Once I got there, I noticed that the wall had lots of mold on the side. I did not feel comfortable sleeping so close to mold at that point. I went back down to reception and asked if they had another bed available. This is when they gave me a room in an 8 bed room dorm. They also gave me a free breakfast card. I was happy with the switch and made my way to the bunk. It was on the top bunk A of room 204. I did not bring much up to the bunk with me just what I was wearing and my chargers. When I woke up, I went down to the reception and asked if I could switch rooms again to something that had less people in it. I was told that I would be back in the room I had stated had mold but that I would be in the bottom bunk. I felt okay with this because my face would not be directly breathing mold in and upon inspection, there was none at the bottom bunk. I moved my things to room 202B. I went to have a shower and started exploring outside. While I was outside however, I noticed that my ankles were severely itchy. I was very uncomfortable, they had become swollen and I kept scratching. I did not make the connection and attributed the swelling to the altitude as we were 2000km above sea level and I have never been this high before. In the evening I went back to my room and inspected for bugs. At this point, I was very itchy and was becoming very uncomfortable but clueless about bugs, I brushed the issue off. I felt okay to stay in 202 because I concluded I was in a new room anyway. I woke up on Monday the 24th feeling slightly better. On my final morning I woke up to get ready to check out and that’s when I was able to see there were in fact bugs and I took a picture. I collected all my items and removed them from the bed. I went and asked for a garbage bag to put these items in. I then went down to reception and told them what had happened. They then called their manager. I explained that they had bugs not only in room 202 but in room 204 based on when I first started to have symptoms. I stated that I wanted my money back and that I was very upset. I told them that I would also need money for dry cleaning. The lady stated that she would have the housekeeper look to find them and asked for proof. I sent the photos that I took. She then stated that “I may have brought the bugs” so she was only interested in refunding for 1 night. I then explained that I had been experiencing issues from the first night I had been here but they did not manifest right away and I thought it was altitude. She said “she can help dust out my clothing and ensure that there are no bugs” I told her that she has a bug problem and that she needs fumigation as I encounter bugs in multiple rooms. After a heated exchange she asked how much I wanted for dry cleaning. I said 150 as a guess at price (ended up being 200 for my stuff to be cleaned but oh well) She then spoke mandarin to her receptionist. I managed to record some of it to translate and she stated that “I was intentionally doing this” I yelled back that this is not intentional, I’d trade this encounter for no bugs! To which I was able to get back the money for my stay and money for dry cleaning. Ps, wifi sucks, met nice people. It is an aesthetic place. Just get rid of the bugs and mold. All other employees are nice
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Vibe Analysis
The courtyard is the centre of Cloudland: leafy, relaxed, and tied into a cafe/restaurant where the hostel actually has a pulse. Ping pong and billiards give the common area an easy way to start talking, and there is also a roof terrace plus quieter seating away from the ground floor. The strongest fit is a Kunming stopover that wants comfort, useful staff, and a mellow social scene instead of a full party hostel. English-speaking reception can help with China logistics, rooms and dorms are usually clean and comfortable, and private rooms can feel unusually well equipped, with hot showers, towels, water, kettle, toiletries, slippers, and daily tidying in some rooms. Location is practical rather than postcard-perfect: Line 3 metro, Green Lake, Walmart, Zhuanxin Market, street food, and a large fresh-food market are all reachable on foot. The in-house food and drinks are a real part of the stay, with breakfast, meals, coffee, craft beer, and veggie options available, though nearby markets are a better bet for cheap local eating. The vibe can land as friendly, calm, and backpacker-ish, with enough shared space to meet people but no guarantee of a big scene. It suits people who want Kunming logistics handled smoothly, a pretty place to hang out, and a bed that usually does the basic science correctly.
Signals to check
- No elevator, and rooms may be up several floors.
- Laundry is paid and may have limited daytime hours.
- WiFi can be weak, especially on higher floors.
- AC and heating can be inconsistent; dorms may get hot or cold depending on season and staff settings.
- Social energy varies, and organized activities may be limited.
- Dorm quality may vary; bed bugs and mold were a serious recent problem in at least one dorm change.
- Lockers may not feel fully secure.