Accommodation & Registration

A. Hotels may refuse you for "no foreign guest license"

Before 2024, some small inns, budget hotels and homestays often refused foreign guests on the grounds of "we are not licensed to host foreigners". In 2024, the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Commerce and National Immigration Administration explicitly required: hotels may not refuse foreign guests on the grounds of lacking a foreign reception license.

If you still encounter a hotel refusing you: 1) Ask the duty manager to contact the local police station for registration assistance; 2) Call 110 or 12345 government hotline to complain; 3) Book through platforms like Trip.com or Booking.com that clearly label "accepts passports/foreign guests".

B. You must show your original passport at hotels

Chinese law requires hotels to check your original passport and upload it to the public security system within 2 hours. Digital passport photos or photocopies are usually not accepted. Please carry your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in the hotel safe overnight.

C. Homestays/friends places: register at police station within 24 hours

If you are not staying at a regular hotel (e.g., homestay, Airbnb, staying with friends), you or your host must register your temporary accommodation at the local police station within 24 hours of check-in. Since 2026, some cities have opened online registration via the National Immigration Administration mini-program/official account, so you no longer need to visit a police station. Failure to register can result in a warning and a fine of up to ¥2,000.

D. Booking tips

• Prefer international chain hotels (Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, etc.) or hotels with the "foreign guest friendly" badge on Trip.com/Ctrip.

• Confirm the hotel accepts foreign passports when booking; family inns in remote small towns or counties may still be unable to process foreign passport registration.

• Keep a hotel business card: Chinese address + phone number, show it to taxi drivers when riding.