How to Book Hotels in China as a Foreigner: Rules and 7 Checks

The 7 checks I make before paying

1. The area and the real walk to the metro

In big Chinese cities the area matters more than an extra star. Check the walking route to the actual metro entrance. For a first trip, see where to stay in Beijing and where to stay in Shanghai.

2. Fresh reviews and guest photos

Sort reviews by date and look for repeated complaints: cigarette smell, noise, construction, no window, an old bathroom, a hard-to-find entrance. One emotional review proves nothing. Five similar ones are a signal.

3. The room type and the window

One hotel can sell standard rooms, rooms without windows and rooms in an inner building at the same time. In dense cities, cheaper rooms often face inside the building. Read the name of the room type carefully:

What it says	What it may mean
No Window / Windowless Room	No window
Inner Room / Interior Room	Room inside the building; ask whether there’s a real window
Artificial Window	A light panel or decorative screen, no daylight
Corridor Window	The window may face the corridor, not the street
City View / Street View	Usually a real outside window, but check the photos

It happened to me in Shanghai: a beautiful, very clean women’s hostel with a dining area and a big mirror zone for doing makeup. We loved almost everything, except that the dorms and the dining area had no windows. If the wording is unclear, ask the hotel or support: «Please confirm this room type has a real external window facing the street.» Save the answer in your booking.

4. Late check-in and front desk hours

Arriving late? Send the hotel your arrival time and booking number, and ask whether the room is held after midnight. Keep a screenshot of the reply. For a 6 a.m. flight, compare an airport hotel with a night taxi and lost sleep.

5. Payment and deposit

Paying on the platform doesn’t always mean nothing to pay on site: there may be a deposit or extra services. The Chinese government’s travel guidance advises checking in advance whether a specific hotel accepts international cards. Set up Alipay and keep some cash as a backup.

6. Cancellation and date changes

On a multi-city trip, a small saving on a non-refundable room can cost more if your train or flight changes. Note the free cancellation deadline: it matters more than the word «refundable.» Refunds go back to the payment method you used, and timing depends on your bank.

7. The address in Chinese

I always save the hotel’s Chinese name, full address, phone number and a pin in Amap as screenshots. It helps the taxi driver and works even without signal. See China travel apps.

What to save on your phone before you fly

• Booking confirmation.
• Hotel name and address in Chinese.
• Front desk phone number.
• Route from the airport or station.
• The hotel’s reply about late check-in.
• Cancellation and payment terms.

Problem at check-in?

1. Show your passport, booking and the hotel’s address in Chinese.
2. Open the platform’s support and ask them to call the hotel in Chinese.
3. Don’t cancel the booking yourself until support has logged the problem and offered a replacement or refund.

Wondering whether Trip.com itself is reliable? See is Trip.com legit.

FAQ

Do foreigners need to register with the police when staying in a hotel in China?

No, the hotel registers your stay. If you don’t stay in a hotel, you must register within 24 hours.

Do I need a hotel with a special license for foreigners?

No. Since July 2024 hotels and booking platforms must not refuse foreign guests for lacking such a qualification.

Can I pay for a hotel in China with a foreign card?

Most platforms take international cards for the booking, but payment on site and deposits depend on the hotel. Check before you go.

Why do Chinese hotels have rooms without windows?

In dense cities some cheaper rooms face inside the building. Check the room type name and guest photos.

What does «artificial window» mean?

A decorative panel or screen that looks like a window but gives no daylight or view.