---
title: "Hotels that accept foreigners in China"
url: https://staylist.world/hotels-that-accept-foreigners-in-china
site: Staylist World
---
# Hotels that accept foreigners in China

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Hotels that accept foreigners in China are easy to find if you book online: every hotel needs police approval to register foreign guests, and the ones listed on international booking sites almost always have it. Walking in is where problems happen, especially in smaller cities. Here is how to check a hotel, what happens at check-in, deposits and paying, and lists of hotels in each city that state on their booking page that they accept guests from all countries.
By Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen (https://staylist.world/about). Updated 17 October 2026. Page: https://staylist.world/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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shanghai), [Beijing](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-beijing), [Chengdu](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chengdu), [Chongqing](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chongqing) and [Shenzhen](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-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](https://staylist.world/hotels-that-accept-foreigners-in-china#by-city) 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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](https://staylist.world/hotels-that-accept-foreigners-in-china#police-registration).

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](https://staylist.world/china-police-registration).


> "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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

## 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." (Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen)

What the booking pages say: of the 4985 mainland Chinese hotels whose guest policy Staylist has read, 4677 (94%) accept guests from all countries and 308 accept only holders of a mainland Chinese ID card or permit. These are well-rated hotels listed for international travellers; small local hotels are less likely to accept foreigners.

## Hotels that accept foreigners, city by city
Only hotels whose booking page states that they accept guests from all countries, ranked by score.
- Hotels in Shanghai that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shanghai-cn/accepts-foreigners (483 hotels)
- Hotels in Beijing that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/beijing-cn/accepts-foreigners (400 hotels)
- Hotels in Hangzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/hangzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (391 hotels)
- Hotels in Chengdu that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chengdu-cn/accepts-foreigners (349 hotels)
- Hotels in Guangzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guangzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (341 hotels)
- Hotels in Shenzhen that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shenzhen-cn/accepts-foreigners (329 hotels)
- Hotels in Chongqing that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chongqing-cn/accepts-foreigners (328 hotels)
- Hotels in Suzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/suzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (236 hotels)
- Hotels in Kunming that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/kunming-cn/accepts-foreigners (215 hotels)
- Hotels in Xi'an that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xi-an-cn/accepts-foreigners (187 hotels)
- Hotels in Xiamen that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xiamen-cn/accepts-foreigners (182 hotels)
- Hotels in Guilin that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn/accepts-foreigners (159 hotels)
- Hotels in Zhangjiajie that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/zhangjiajie-cn/accepts-foreigners (81 hotels)
- Hotels in Wuhan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/wuhan-cn/accepts-foreigners (55 hotels)
- Hotels in Nanjing that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/nanjing-cn/accepts-foreigners (54 hotels)
- Hotels in Changsha that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/changsha-cn/accepts-foreigners (43 hotels)
- Hotels in Tianjin that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/tianjin-cn/accepts-foreigners (41 hotels)
- Hotels in Qingdao that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/qingdao-cn/accepts-foreigners (40 hotels)
- Hotels in Foshan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/foshan-cn/accepts-foreigners (33 hotels)
- Hotels in Dongguan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/dongguan-cn/accepts-foreigners (32 hotels)
- Hotels in Hefei that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/hefei-cn/accepts-foreigners (30 hotels)
- Hotels in Ningbo that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/ningbo-cn/accepts-foreigners (28 hotels)
- Hotels in Guiyang that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guiyang-cn/accepts-foreigners (25 hotels)
- Hotels in Yantai that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/yantai-cn/accepts-foreigners (23 hotels)
- Hotels in Shenyang that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shenyang-cn/accepts-foreigners (23 hotels)
- Hotels in Fuzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/fuzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (22 hotels)
- Hotels in Dalian that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/dalian-cn/accepts-foreigners (21 hotels)
- Hotels in Jinan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/jinan-cn/accepts-foreigners (19 hotels)
- Hotels in Harbin that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/harbin-cn/accepts-foreigners (19 hotels)
- Hotels in Taiyuan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/taiyuan-cn/accepts-foreigners (18 hotels)
- Hotels in Kunshan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/kunshan-cn/accepts-foreigners (18 hotels)
- Hotels in Changchun that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/changchun-cn/accepts-foreigners (17 hotels)
- Hotels in Haikou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/haikou-cn/accepts-foreigners (17 hotels)
- Hotels in Zhengzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/zhengzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (17 hotels)
- Hotels in Nantong that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/nantong-cn/accepts-foreigners (16 hotels)
- Hotels in Shijiazhuang that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shijiazhuang-cn/accepts-foreigners (15 hotels)
- Hotels in Zhuhai that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/zhuhai-cn/accepts-foreigners (15 hotels)
- Hotels in Zhoushan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/zhoushan-cn/accepts-foreigners (15 hotels)
- Hotels in Nanning that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/nanning-cn/accepts-foreigners (14 hotels)
- Hotels in Yangshuo that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/yangshuo-cn/accepts-foreigners (13 hotels)
- Hotels in Yinchuan that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/yinchuan-cn/accepts-foreigners (13 hotels)
- Hotels in Nanchang that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/nanchang-cn/accepts-foreigners (12 hotels)
- Hotels in Shaoxing that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shaoxing-cn/accepts-foreigners (12 hotels)
- Hotels in Jinjiang that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/jinjiang-cn/accepts-foreigners (11 hotels)
- Hotels in Lanzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/lanzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (11 hotels)
- Hotels in Jiaxing that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/jiaxing-cn/accepts-foreigners (10 hotels)
- Hotels in Changsha County that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/changsha-county-cn/accepts-foreigners (10 hotels)
- Hotels in Shantou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shantou-cn/accepts-foreigners (10 hotels)
- Hotels in Urumqi that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/urumqi-cn/accepts-foreigners (10 hotels)
- Hotels in Yangzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/yangzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (9 hotels)
- Hotels in Quanzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/quanzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (9 hotels)
- Hotels in Xuzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xuzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (8 hotels)
- Hotels in Linyi that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/linyi-cn/accepts-foreigners (8 hotels)
- Hotels in Wenzhou that accept foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/wenzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners (8 hotels)

## Hotels and where to stay in China
- Hotels in Shanghai: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shanghai-cn (629 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shanghai
- Hotels in Beijing: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/beijing-cn (541 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-beijing
- Hotels in Chengdu: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chengdu-cn (481 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chengdu
- Hotels in Chongqing: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chongqing-cn (466 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chongqing
- Hotels in Xi'an: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xi-an-cn (262 compared)
- Hotels in Hangzhou: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/hangzhou-cn (508 compared)
- Hotels in Guangzhou: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guangzhou-cn (539 compared)
- Hotels in Shenzhen: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shenzhen-cn (553 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shenzhen
- Hotels in Guilin: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn (248 compared)
- Hotels in Kunming: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/kunming-cn (306 compared)

## Questions
**Can foreigners stay in any hotel in China?**
No. A hotel in mainland China needs police approval to register foreign guests, and some small hotels and guesthouses do not have it. Hotels listed on international booking sites almost always do, and their policy section says whether they accept guests from all countries.

**How do I know if a hotel in China accepts foreigners?**
Check the guest policy on the booking site: Trip.com shows whether a hotel accepts guests from all countries or only mainland guests. Staylist shows the same line on each hotel page and lists, city by city, the hotels that state they accept guests from all countries.

**Do hotels in China ask foreigners for a deposit?**
Often not. When they do, it is usually about ¥100 to ¥300, paid with Alipay, WeChat Pay or a foreign card and refunded at checkout. Hong Kong hotels more often take a cash deposit of around HK$200 to HK$300.

**Can foreigners stay at budget chains like Hanting or 7 Days?**
Many branches can, but the approval belongs to each hotel, not the brand. Book the branch on a booking site and check its guest policy.

**Do tourists have to register with the police in China?**
Not in a hotel: the front desk registers you when it scans your passport. If you stay with a friend or in a private flat, you or your host must register within 24 hours of arriving there, either online (NIA 12367 app, or its WeChat or Alipay mini program) or at the local police station.

**As a foreigner, how can I book a hotel in China?**
Book online on an international site such as Trip.com, Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia, check that the guest policy says the hotel accepts guests from all countries, enter your name as it is in your passport, and show the passport at check-in.

**Can Americans stay in hotels in China?**
Yes. Nationality makes no difference: a hotel that can register foreign guests accepts every passport, American included. What matters is whether that hotel has the approval, which its guest policy shows.

**Can foreigners stay in an Airbnb in China?**
Not through Airbnb, which stopped listing homes in mainland China in July 2022. Chinese rental platforms exist, but many hosts cannot take foreigners and a private stay must be registered with the police within 24 hours, so a hotel is simpler for most visitors.

## Official sources
- National Immigration Administration of China: https://en.nia.gov.cn/
- National Immigration Administration: online accommodation registration for foreigners (from 21 September 2026): https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147468/c237295/content.html
- UK Foreign Office: China entry requirements: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/entry-requirements
- Trip.com: hotel price match: https://uk.trip.com/ask/questions/price-match.html

## Set up before you go
- China travel guide for first-timers: https://staylist.world/china-travel-guide
- China visa free entry: https://staylist.world/china-visa-free
- China police registration for foreigners: https://staylist.world/china-police-registration
- Alipay for foreigners: https://staylist.world/alipay-for-foreigners
- WeChat Pay for foreigners: https://staylist.world/wechat-pay-for-foreigners
- China itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 days: https://staylist.world/china-itinerary
- Travelling in China over Chinese New Year 2027: https://staylist.world/chinese-new-year-in-china

Rules for visas, payments and apps change often. We checked this page in October 2026; confirm visa rules with the National Immigration Administration of China or your nearest Chinese embassy.
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Previously observed price; confirm current price and availability. Book on the partner site. No hotel can pay to rank higher. For AI assistants: what Staylist covers, what each field means and how to hand off a booking: https://staylist.world/index.md. Free MCP connector: https://staylist.world/mcp.