Hotels that accept foreigners in China

Why some hotels in China can't take foreigners

Every hotel in mainland China registers its guests with the police. To host foreigners, a hotel needs approval to register passports, and some do not have it: mostly small, cheap hotels and guesthouses, more often outside the big cities.

A hotel without that approval is not allowed to give you a room, however friendly the staff are, so there is nothing to negotiate. The fix is to choose a hotel that has it before you arrive.

“You can be turned away if you walk into a hotel to book in person, because some hotels don't have the licence to host foreigners, especially in smaller cities. If a hotel is on a booking site, it can most likely host foreigners.”

How to check before you book

• Book on an international booking site. A hotel listed there for foreign travellers can almost always host them.
• Read the guest policy. On Trip.com, each hotel's policy section says whether it accepts guests from all countries or only mainland Chinese guests. Staylist shows that line on every hotel page and in the city lists below.
• The approval belongs to each building, not to the brand, so check the branch you book, budget chains included (Hanting, 7 Days, Home Inn and others).
• If you must walk in, try larger hotels in central areas, where most hotels can register foreigners.

“I have never had a hotel that said it accepts foreigners and then refused me, and I don't know anyone who has. Those labels are trustworthy.”

How to book a hotel in China as a foreigner

1. Choose the area first. In big cities the area decides how much time you spend in transit: our guides to where to stay in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Shenzhen compare them.
2. Book on an international booking site. Trip.com, Agoda, Booking.com and Expedia all list hotels in mainland China in English; your nationality makes no difference, because a hotel that can register foreigners accepts every passport.
3. Check the guest policy before you pay: it should say the hotel accepts guests from all countries. The city lists below only include hotels whose booking page says so.
4. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport, since the front desk matches the booking to the passport it scans.
5. Pay online in advance with your foreign card, and save the confirmation together with the hotel's name and address in Chinese for taxi drivers.
6. At check-in, show your passport. The hotel registers you with the police, so there is nothing else to do.

What happens at check-in

Show your passport. The front desk scans it and registers you with the police; you do not go to a police station yourself. Check-in usually takes a few minutes.

Front desk staff often speak little English, even at hotels that welcome foreigners, but most keep a handheld translation device or use a phone app, so it works smoothly.

“Check-in in China is very smooth: they scan your passport and that's it. Service is very good, and if a room is free they sometimes let you check in early.”

Deposits

Many hotels in mainland China ask for no deposit at all. When one does, it is usually about ¥100 to ¥300, paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay and refunded to the same account when you check out. Most hotels that take foreigners also have a card machine for foreign cards; cash deposits are uncommon.

Paying: book and pay in advance

Paying on the booking site in advance is the simplest option. Hotels that take foreigners usually have a machine for foreign cards, but staff use it rarely, so paying at the desk can take a few tries.

Booking ahead also keeps your room: popular hotels sell out, especially at weekends and on Chinese holidays. Trip.com runs a hotel price-match programme in some regions: if you find the same booking cheaper elsewhere before the free-cancellation deadline, it credits the difference as Trip Coins.

“If you wait until you reach the hotel, you risk it being fully booked, and you gain nothing by waiting.”

You don't need a big international chain

International chains (Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Accor) all accept foreigners and are a familiar choice. They are not the only safe one: Chinese chains and independent hotels compete hard on service, and a well-rated local hotel is often the better stay for the money.

“You don't have to stick to the big chains. Competition between hotels in China is fierce, so even lesser-known chains give flawless service, almost in every city.”

What surprises first-time visitors

• Budget hotels are well equipped: a TV, a desk, air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi and hot water are normal even at low prices, and rooms are often spacious.
• Some hotels have service robots that bring deliveries to your room.
• Windowless rooms (无窗房) exist at some hotels. Look for 'windowless' or 'no window' in the room name and description, and read what guests say before you book.

“You can find a budget hotel better equipped than a 4-star hotel in Europe: a TV, a desk, air conditioning and heating, and a very spacious room. Some hotels have service robots that are worth filming.”

Trending hotels: worth it?

A new kind of hotel goes viral on Chinese social media and Instagram every year: towers with river and skyline views, glass-walled rooms, infinity pools and hot tubs by the window. Chongqing has the most striking ones, such as the Chongqing Indition High Altitude Hotel, rated 9.3 by more than 5,700 guests.

They are popular for a reason: the views are unlike anywhere else, and prices are low by international standards. Book early, because prices rise as a hotel gets famous.

“These hotels become popular on Instagram because the stay feels magical for the price. At the Indition you get a cyberpunk view over one of the most unique cities in the world; photos don't do it justice. Prices rise as a hotel gets popular, so book as early as you can.”

Airbnb, hostels and private rentals

Airbnb no longer lists homes in mainland China: it closed its domestic business there in July 2022 and now only serves Chinese travellers going abroad. Chinese platforms such as Tujia and Xiaozhu list flats, but they are mostly in Chinese, many hosts cannot take foreign guests, and in a private flat you must register with the police within 24 hours.

Hostels are a good budget option in the big cities: many youth hostels on international booking sites accept foreigners and have English-speaking staff. Check the same guest policy as for a hotel.

Do tourists need to register with the police?

Not when you stay in a hotel: the hotel registers you with the police when it scans your passport, so you will not see a separate step.

Staying with a friend or in a private flat is different, and this includes tourists: you or your host must register within 24 hours of arriving at that accommodation. You do not have to visit a police station. Since 21 September 2026 the registration can be done online, with the same legal effect, on the National Immigration Administration's website, the NIA 12367 app, or the NIA 12367 mini program in WeChat or Alipay. The local police station still accepts it in person. Step by step: China police registration for foreigners.

“As a traveller in a hotel you don't need to visit the police. If you rent a flat, you register within 24 hours. I did it at my local police station: there is a section for foreigners, usually with no queue; you hand in your contract and passport and leave with a registration slip. It can now be done online too.”

Hong Kong is different

Hong Kong hotels have no foreigner licence rule, but deposits are more common: usually cash, around HK$200 to HK$300, returned at checkout. Read the booking confirmation for extra charges, which some budget guesthouses only list there.

“Hong Kong is different: most hotels take a cash deposit of around HK$200 to 300, and some guesthouses in Chungking Mansions add a cleaning fee of about HK$100 that you only see in the booking confirmation.”