BEIJING: China's first capsule hotel will be opened in Shanghai to attract many budget travellers with low prices, Xinhua news agency cited a Chinese newspaper's report Monday, Jan 10.

The 300-square-metre hotel, located on the north side of the Shanghai Railway Station, consists of 68 "capsules", each 1.1-metres high, 1.1-metres wide and 2.2-metres long, said a report in the China Daily.

All of the capsules are imported from Japan where capsule hotels originated, and each is equipped with independent sockets, clocks, lights, TV and wireless Internet service. The hotel also has a public lavatory, shower room, smoking room and shared guest room.

The basic rate is 28 yuan (RM12.96) per person, plus an additional four yuan an hour. The hotel also offers a package of 68 yuan for 10 hours and 88 yuan for 24 hours.

Like most of capsule hotels in Japan, the one in Shanghai is for men only.

Ta Zan, the 33-year-old owner of the hotel, said he used to stay at capsule hotels in Tokyo and worked at a capsule hotel in Japan in 2005, so he knows how they work and how to make guests feel comfortable.

When he settled in Shanghai two years ago, he decided to establish his own capsule hotel in the city.

He has also separated the capsules into three snoring zones.

"Guests who often snore can stay in the same zones so they will feel better knowing that others are not disturbed," he was quoted as saying. — Xinhua/Bernama