Short answer
Most international chains, business hotels and 4-5 star properties in China welcome foreign guests. Some budget chains, small guesthouses and unregistered homestays cannot register a foreign passport, so always confirm before booking. Bring your original passport — hotels must register your stay with the local police, and this is normal.
Which hotels accept foreign guests
- Usually yes: international brands (Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, Hyatt), 4-5 star Chinese business hotels, airport hotels, and hotels near convention centres.
- Often no: economy chains (some 7 Days Inn, Hanting, Home Inn properties), small family guesthouses, and rural homestays without foreign-guest registration.
- Cities matter: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Hangzhou have deep experience with foreign travellers. Remote or newly opened destinations are more variable.
How to check before you book
- On Trip.com / Agoda / Booking.com, open the property’s policy section and look for “accepts foreign guests” or “foreign passport accepted”.
- Search the hotel name plus “foreign guest” in reviews — a single recent review mentioning a refusal is a red flag.
- Message the property directly (Trip.com chat works well) and ask: “Can you register a foreign passport at check-in?” Ask in writing and keep the reply.
- Prefer international brands or 4-star-plus for a first trip.
Check-in: what happens and what you need
- Bring your original passport and your entry stamp; photos are not accepted.
- The front desk registers your stay with the local police system online — a few minutes of typing, no forms for you.
- Keep the registration slip (usually automatic); you may need it when checking into another property.
- More than one guest in a room: everyone’s passport is registered.
- Some hotels collect a deposit by card or Alipay/WeChat Pay at check-in and refund it at checkout.
Prices, deposits and small print
- Published rates are generally the same for foreign guests, though a few properties add a small foreign-guest surcharge for handling registration.
- Breakfast is often included in 4-star-plus rates — worth checking, as it is usually excellent and saves a morning hunt.
- Watch refundable vs non-refundable: Chinese hotel inventory on international sites is often prepaid.
- Tourism tax is not a standard China-wide charge, but city-level fees appear at some properties.
Homestays, Airbnb and apartments
Short-term rentals must be registered in most cities, and hosts frequently cannot register foreign passports. If you book one, confirm registration in writing first, otherwise expect to be refused at the door with no easy refund. In practice, hotels are simpler and safer for foreign travellers, and our itineraries always place guests in properties that accept foreign passports.
Do hotels charge different rates for foreigners? Are there other options?
Some hosts who cannot register foreigners quietly quote a higher rate to cover the risk. Ignore those listings. If you want reliable, English-speaking properties with registration handled for you, private tour operators book hotels as part of the package — see our luxury private tours or how much a China private tour costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners stay in any hotel in China?
Not automatically. Hotels must be licensed and registered to check in foreign guests. International chains, business hotels and most 4-5 star properties accept foreign passports nationwide, while some budget chains, small guesthouses and rural homestays cannot register foreign guests. Always confirm before booking.
What do I need at check-in as a foreign guest?
Your passport (the original, not a photo), your visa or entry stamp and the booking confirmation. The hotel registers your stay with the local police online — this is standard, takes a few minutes, and is required by law. Keep the registration slip; you may need it at some attractions or when checking into another hotel.
How do I book a hotel that accepts foreigners?
Book through Trip.com, Agoda or Booking.com and read the property notes for ‘accepts foreign guests’, or filter for international brands. Our recommendation: for a first trip, choose international-chain or 4-star-plus Chinese business hotels in city centres — reliability, English-speaking front desk and easy foreign-guest registration.
Do hotels charge foreigners more?
Rates are usually the same; occasionally a property quotes a slightly higher ‘foreign guest’ rate because it handles the police registration. Compare the room rate and the total, and remember that some online rates are non-refundable.
Can I stay in an Airbnb or homestay in China?
Short-term rentals must be registered, and hosts in some cities are not set up to register foreign guests. If you book one, message the host in advance to confirm they can register your passport — otherwise you can be turned away at check-in. Hotels remain the safer option.
Want this handled for you? On a ShenYou private tour your driver-guide sets up payments, ordering, SIM cards and hotel check-in before you need to ask. WhatsApp us — itinerary and quote within 24 hours.