Which Hotels in China Accept Foreign Guests?

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1. Why some hotels still say no
2. How to book one that won’t turn you away
3. At check-in
4. If you’re turned away at the desk
5. Common questions

Under Chinese rules, every hotel guest is registered with the police through the hotel’s system. For Chinese citizens that means scanning an ID card. For foreigners it means entering passport and entry details, which is a different and less familiar process.

Years ago only certain hotels were approved to do this, and plenty of travelers still read that “most hotels can’t take foreigners”. That’s out of date. In 2024 the central government told local authorities and booking platforms that they should not restrict hotels from receiving foreign guests, and that hotels should not advertise that they refuse them.

Why some hotels still say no

When a front desk turns a foreigner away, the reason given is usually that the hotel “isn’t qualified”. The real reasons tend to be more ordinary:

• Staff haven’t been trained to register a passport in the system
• They worry about getting the registration wrong and being fined
• Night staff can’t reach anyone who knows how to do it
• A small budget hotel or guesthouse in a smaller city may simply never have had a foreign guest

This is less common in big cities and at hotels used to international guests. It comes up more at budget chains in smaller cities and at small guesthouses.

How to book one that won’t turn you away

1. Book through a platform that shows whether a hotel accepts foreign guests. On Trip.com, use the “Foreign Guests Accepted” filter; matching hotels also show it as a badge.
2. International chains and large Chinese chains are the safest choice. They have the systems and the training.
3. For a small hotel or guesthouse, message them before booking and get a written yes. A short message in Chinese helps:

4. If you’ll arrive late at night, tell the hotel in advance. Front desks are sometimes thinly staffed at night.

At check-in

Hand over your passport. Staff scan it and may photograph the page with your entry stamp or visa. Many hotels take a deposit, either as a hold on your card or by Alipay, which is returned when you check out.

It helps to have the hotel’s name and address saved in Chinese for the taxi ride there.

If you’re turned away at the desk

Stay calm and polite. Most refusals are about the system, not about you.

1. Ask for the manager. A senior staff member often knows how to enter a passport manually.

2. Call the booking platform’s support line. They can speak to the hotel in Chinese, and if the hotel still won’t take you, they can usually move you to another hotel or refund you.
3. Call 12367, the National Immigration Administration’s service hotline, which has English-speaking staff.
4. If it’s very late and nothing works, ask the hotel to recommend a nearby hotel that can register you.

Common questions

Do I need to register with the police if I stay in a hotel?

No. The hotel registers you when it scans your passport at check-in. If you stay in a private home, you need to register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.

Can foreigners stay in homestays or Airbnb-style rentals?

Some can register foreign guests and some can't. Check the listing and message the host before you book, and get a clear yes in writing.

Will the hotel ask for a deposit?

Many do, usually taken as a hold on your card or paid by Alipay and returned at check-out. The amount and method are normally shown on the booking.

What do I need at check-in?

The passport you booked with. Staff scan it and may photograph the page with your entry stamp or visa.

Sources we checked

• Do all hotels accept foreigners in China? (China Travel Pulse, Jul 2026)
• Trip.com app guide: the Foreign Guests Accepted filter (Wander in China, Feb 2026)
• NIA launches the 12367 immigration service hotline (National Immigration Administration)