Accommodation
Booking a hotel as a foreigner
Most hotels in China accept foreign passports — but not all. Here's how to find the right ones, what to expect at check-in, and the registration rule every foreigner must know.
Use Booking.com or Trip.com for international bookings
Both Booking.com and Trip.com work well for foreign visitors and accept international credit cards.
Airbnb also operates in China, but the legal situation for Airbnb hosts accepting foreign guests is less clear — stick to registered hotels and guesthouses for your first trip.
Trip.com (formerly Ctrip) is China's biggest booking platform and has excellent English support. It often has better prices than Booking.com for Chinese hotels.
Check that the hotel accepts foreign passports
International chain hotels (Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.) always accept foreign guests. For independent hotels, check:
- Read the property description — it should mention international guests
- Check reviews for comments from foreign travellers
- If unsure, email the hotel directly: "Do you accept foreign passport check-ins?"
Chinese law requires hotels to be registered to accept foreign guests. Not all hotels (especially budget ones) have this registration. If you show up with a foreign passport at a hotel that can't accept you, they'll turn you away even with a confirmed booking.
What to expect at check-in
Bring your original passport — not a copy. The hotel needs to scan it for registration with local authorities.
Check-in is usually smooth at international hotels. The staff at major hotels speak basic English.
The registration rule: Hotels automatically register you with local police when you check in. This is a legal requirement — the hotel handles it, you don't need to do anything.
Take a photo of the registration slip the hotel gives you. Some transportation hubs or venues may ask to see it.
If you're staying with friends or in a private apartment
Staying with friends or renting an apartment? You must register your stay at the nearest police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) within 24 hours.
This is rarely enforced for short stays, but it is a legal requirement. Some landlords will handle this for you — ask them directly.
This is the rule most foreign visitors don't know. If you stay anywhere other than a registered hotel, you are legally required to register at a local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Bring your passport and your host's ID. Your host should go with you — the process takes 15–30 minutes.
Recommended areas to stay — Shanghai