the Great Wall Old Courtyard Ancient Inn

The Great Wall Courtyard calls itself a hostel because there are shared rooms, but it's more like a hotel. The "dorm" which I stayed in had three side by side beds and an en suite bathroom, which came with both hand towels AND bath towels (having stayed in a lot of hostels, this seemed impressive). The rooms are nice and chilly -- perfect for the scorchingly hot summer. The beds are incredibly comfortable and are topped with squishy pillows and duvets. The common room is comfy and beautifully-decorated, the staff are very kind, it's right next to the train station and easy to find, and the food is delicious (it's pricey, but so is all the food near the wall). The icing on the cake is the location; the hostel is only one km from the wall, which means you can get up early and be on the wall all alone before the hordes of tourists arrive; I watched the sun rise over the wall both mornings I was there, and it was stunning. Oh, and the manager gave me free beer! This place is aces all around.