Hotels & booking in China
Which sites actually work for foreigners, and what to check before you pay.
What everyone needs to know
- Not every Chinese hotel is licensed to accept foreign guests — check the listing explicitly says it accepts foreign passports.
- International chains and reputable domestic brands are reliably fine; small guesthouses sometimes are not.
- Hotel registration with the police is automatic at check-in; keep the slip.
- Prices in tourist cities swing 2–3× between low and peak season.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Budget room | ¥150–350 |
| Mid-range | ¥400–900 |
| International chain | ¥800–2,500 |
| Peak surcharge | Up to 3× at Spring Festival |
Do it in this order
- Filter for properties that explicitly accept foreign guests before booking.
- Book cancellable rates where possible — schedules shift once rail tickets are involved.
- Confirm the hotel is within walking distance of a metro station if you are in a tier-1 city.
- Ask for a high floor away from the road — Chinese cities are loud.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking the cheapest listing and arriving to find they cannot register a foreign passport.
- Staying far from the metro to save ¥100 and spending it twice on taxis.
- Assuming breakfast is included — it often is not outside international chains.
Sources
Hotels & booking city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna