Caravanistan

We traveled through Xinjiang in September 2018. Urumqi was booked out completely when we arrived and no hotel or hostels would allow us to stay. Even if the police officer bargained on our behalf. Usually you can ask at the reception of any "tourist designated" hotel and they will call all the others. The same happened to us in Bayingol.

Hello,
Any recent news about this topic?
I booked one night in the Maitian International Hostel and tried to contact them to confirm it but still no answer.
Have a nice day

Hi,

We stayed at jinjiang hotel a few days ago. Some hotels didn't accept foreigners, some did but very expensive. A night is jinjiang hôtel is less than 300 rmb.

Was this the big expensive Jinjiang International Hotel on S Anju Road or the smaller much cheaper Jinjiang Inn on Hongqi Road?

It was jinjiang Inn.

Ziyou international hostel takes foreigners un Urumqi.

43.807122, 87.592888

Around 50-60 yuan per night un dormitory. Available on Booking.com

I can confirm Ziyou international hostel. Perfect location. We had a 3 people tatami room with ensuite bathroom. It was good. The staff is super nice and speak English very well. But 99% of all guests are Chinese... which means it can be veeeery loud in the dorms. The common room is rather sad and you are allowed to smoke there so the lobby smells like cigarets. Wifi only in the lobby area unless you have a chinese sim card.
From Urumqi south train station take BRT bus number 1 to Hongshan. Then it's a short walk. It's on maps.me. we booked through booking.com

I booked with Ziyou and just got an email from them that the booking has been cancelled as they no longer accept foreigners. Second hotel in a week across Xinjian that has cancelled on me....

It's pricey, I know, and in not a great location, but when I ended up in Ürümqi unexpectedly (meant to be going to Turpan, my train was cancelled/delayed/who knows and had to fly) the cops at the train station suggested I go to the Hilton.

I've booked a room in Bestay Express Hotel. It doesn't look super clean, but at least it's cheap. So far they didn't cancel. Fingers crossed...