10.01.2011, 13:41 4143

Shanghai's first capsule hotel opens

The first capsule hotel in Shanghai has been opened, CNN reports.

Almaty. January 10. Kazakhstan Today - The first capsule hotel in Shanghai has been opened, CNN reports.

Already popular in Japan, the Xitai Capsule Hotel is the first in Shanghai, perhaps in response to soaring local real estate prices. Indeed it's a surprise someone did not think of this space- and price-maximizing option before now.

Located on the north side of the Shanghai Railway Station, the 300-square-meter hotel - as reported by Shanghaiist - "consists of 68 'capsules,' each 1.1m high and 2.2m long, equipped with its own lighting, pillows, bedding, alarm clock, power sockets, flat screen television and WiFi. Shower facilities are communal."

All capsules are imported from Japan, where the concept of the capsule hotels was created, and divided into three snoring zones so those who snooze loudly will not disturb others.

Ta Zan, the 33-year-old owner of the hotel, said to Chinese state media that he used to stay at capsule hotels in Tokyo when he was there as an undergraduate and worked at a capsule hotel while doing his MBA in Japan.

When Ta settled in Shanghai in 2008, he decided to establish his own capsule hotel in the city.

Rates for a capsule are RMB 88 per day or RMB 28 flat rate plus RMB 4 per hour for those who are just stopping in for less than 24 hours.

Although not cheap - Shanghaiist points out some hostels in Shanghai available for RMB 60 per night - the convenient location for travelers and the novelty factor alone might keep people knocking.

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