| Photojournalist Tom Carter goes inside the craziest | | | | Medieval Latin hospitium, it has been co-opted by over |
| youth hostel in Communist China. | | | | 80 different countries, beginning in 1912 Germany |
| The Stir-Fry, China's Wildest Youth Hostel! by Tom | | | | whence originated the idea of the modern youth hostel. |
| Carter | | | | Yet in spite of its global popularity, hostelling has |
| As a veteran backpacker of both hemispheres | | | | continued to remain a relatively underground |
| currently traveling extensively throughout all 32 | | | | experience. |
| provinces of the People's Republic of China, this writer | | | | Budget backpackers, considered at once hipsters and |
| has come to depend heavily on hostels. Without them I | | | | hobos, rely on hostels for their comparatively |
| could not financially (or emotionally) last the 10 months | | | | affordable accommodations. But youth hostels are |
| I'm expected to be on the road. As such, I've brooded | | | | also a retreat from the road; a refugee camp for |
| on the etymology of the word.Hostel: a term that has | | | | foreigners journeying abroad. |
| become synonymous with world travel. From the | | | | |