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Inspired by capsule hotels for the unemployed in Japan, Huang Rixin developed the mainland's first capsule hostel based on his own patent technologies at a rented premises on the outskirts of western Beijing. The 78-year old retired engineer said that the capsule hostel should provide a viable solution for struggling young professionals and  college graduates wanting to settle in big cities where housing prices are sky-rocketing.  
Tell me a bit about the capsule hostel you've built. 
I rented three rooms in a three-storey farm house in Liu Langzhuang. I divided each room into small compartments of around two-square-meters. In each of these compartment, or capsule, I have installed a television and internet access is available. I chose Liu Langzhuang because it is closer to downtown areas than Tangjialing, the popular neighbourhood for college graduates needing  cheap accommodation.  
How much is the rent? 
It's 250 yuan (HK$283.77) a month per compartment and it is cheaper than the crammed farm houses in Tangjialing, not to mention a higher standard of hygiene and amenities tenants can enjoy here.  
How much did it cost you to build the compartments? 
I've spent a total of 30,000 yuan to  renovate eight capsules and I've paid the rent for a whole year for  the three rooms. They cost 650 yuan a month each. I'm prepared to cover all the costs myself for the first year. Actually I could have charged 350 yuan a month for each capsule and then I could recoup all the expenses in three years. But I decided to price each capsule at 250 yuan a month, which means I can recoup the investment in eight years at the earliest. I'm 78 years old already, so I'm not expecting any return. The investment is not a big deal to me as every month my wife and I receive pension payments totalling 5,000 yuan.  
What has prompted you to take on such a project? 
I was deeply disturbed by media reports of what many  college graduates are going through in Beijing and other big cities  because of  soaring housing prices. They live in cramped conditions in slums  far  from downtown business areas and  are forced to commute hours to get to work.  I originally planned to call the premise Ant Tribe Hostel. But I changed the name to 'Capsule Hostel' as I was later told that the authorities do not encourage the use of the term 'Ant Tribe'. It is a term coined by a Chinese scholar Lian Si  in his book of the same title referring to  graduates and young professionals. The authorities fear the term may insult them and I totally understand the concern.  
How the public has reacted to the project? 
Most people like the idea and support my experiment. But there are some criticisms. Some internet commentators  said the capsule hostel looked like a prison cell inside US Guantanamo detention facilities and taunted me for not living here myself. I think some have criticised me because such hostels are not what property developers want to see. What I can say is  one does not need to live here as long as he has enough money to afford something else. But a lot of young migrants  cannot afford a proper place because they don't earn much. I think the capsule hostel is a better choice compared to the cramped farm houses on the city's outskirts. Whether a capsule hotel is comfortable or not depends on one's financial strength. I am more than happy to see my tenants leave once they earn more.  
Did you expect the attention when you first started the project? 
Not at all. If the plight of migrant populations in major cities were not a hot social issue attracting so much public attention, my hostel may never have been a public focus. At first I was quite perplexed by the public fuss over it until one day a couple of students from Communication University of China came to check out the facility. They told me people cared about the capsule hostel because they were concerned about the widening wealth  gap. I totally agree. In China, the rich can squander millions on a house which cost over 30,000 yuan per square metre. But many others are struggling for a place to live.  
How has the hotel been received? 
Not very well. I only have one tenant so far and I have done little promotion. But I think the prospect is very promising as the migrant population needs a decent and affordable place to live.  Some people also say I should improve the design to attract more tenants.  
You only have eight capsule rooms. What will you do if there are more than eight tenants? 
All I can do is to provide one of the many possible solutions to help migrant young people to settle. But I'm hoping to work with some property developers to build more such hostels for  low-income groups. But in the end it will be up to the government to help these people. So far I haven't seen many initiatives from the government. 




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Capsule hostel provides bolt-holes for the poor