Where to Stay
Chinese domestic hotel chains are modern, cheap and excellent — but not every hotel can legally accept a foreign guest, and that catches people out.
Photo: 松岡明芳 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · resized
Accommodation is one of the better bargains in China. Domestic mid-range chains built in the last decade offer rooms that would cost twice as much in Europe, and the top end competes with anywhere in the world. The one genuine complication is a licensing rule that has no equivalent in most countries.
The practical defence is straightforward. Book through international channels — Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda — which generally list only properties that accept foreign guests. If you are booking direct or through a Chinese platform, message the property and ask explicitly whether they can register foreign passports. In small towns and rural villages, ask twice.
What to book
| Type | Price (double, per night) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | ¥60–120 | Good backpacker scene in Yangshuo, Chengdu, Dali, Xi'an. Usually foreigner-licensed |
| Domestic budget chain (Hanting, Home Inn) | ¥180–300 | Clean, small, functional. Basic English at best |
| Domestic mid-range (Ji, Atour, Vienna) | ¥300–550 | The sweet spot. Modern, well-designed, good beds, reliable Wi-Fi |
| International 4–5 star | ¥700–1,600 | Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt in every major city. English guaranteed |
| Boutique / courtyard | ¥400–1,200 | Pingyao courtyards, Beijing hutong hotels, Lijiang guesthouses. Character over plumbing |
| Luxury | ¥2,000+ | Aman, Amanfayun at West Lake, the Peninsula Shanghai, Banyan Tree Lijiang |
Where to stay in the big cities
- Beijing — the hutongs around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang for character, Wangfujing or Dongdan for convenience to the Forbidden City and the metro.
- Shanghai — the former French Concession for atmosphere and walking, the Bund for the view, Jing'an for the metro.
- Xi'an — inside the city walls, near the Bell Tower. Everything is then walkable.
- Chengdu — near Kuanzhai Alley or the Wuhou district, both on the metro.
- Guilin region — stay in Yangshuo, 2 km outside town among the fields, not in Guilin city.
Things worth knowing
- Twin beds are more common than doubles in domestic hotels. Specify if it matters.
- A deposit (¥200–500) is normally taken at check-in and refunded on departure, often to the card or Alipay.
- Kettles and free bottled water are standard everywhere; tap water is not drinkable anywhere.
- Chinese-brand hotels often have no Western breakfast. It is usually excellent congee, buns and pickles instead.
- Airbnb no longer operates domestically in mainland China. The domestic equivalents rarely register foreigners.
- Smoking rules are loosely enforced in budget properties; ask for a non-smoking floor and check the room.
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