Accommodation & first arrival
The smoothest first night comes from a verified property, a complete Chinese address, a realistic airport transfer and a clear accommodation-registration plan.
China now
The important difference is not “hotel versus apartment” alone—it is who will be present, who will register the stay and whether the exact entrance can be found after arrival.
Present the original passport at reception. Hotels register foreign guests and submit the accommodation information to the local public-security authority; this is a normal part of check-in, not an optional extra.
National Immigration Administration ↗National policy supports accommodation access for foreign travellers, but a small property may still have limited reception hours or little experience with foreign-passport registration. Get written confirmation before a late or contactless arrival.
State Council accommodation measures ↗An English hotel name may not identify the correct branch, gate or building. Save the complete Chinese address, a map pin, entrance photo and a staffed phone number for the driver or airport desk.
State Council practical guide ↗For a home or other non-hotel stay, the foreign guest or host must register within 24 hours. Online registration is being introduced by location; use the local police or exit-entry channel if the online route is unavailable.
NIA online-registration policy ↗After landing
The exact layout varies by airport. Keep official formalities ahead of SIM setup, cash exchange and transfer decisions, and follow the signs in the terminal.
Keep your passport, entry permission and accommodation details ready. Complete any arrival procedure requested for your flight and follow officers' instructions rather than an old screenshot or blog post.
Check the carousel and baggage status for the operating flight. Report missing or damaged baggage to the airline or airport desk before leaving when possible.
China Customs uses declaration and nothing-to-declare channels. If you have restricted, declarable or uncertain items, follow the posted rules and ask Customs instead of guessing.
Connect only after the official arrival formalities are complete. Test the address, payment method and messaging channel you need for the first transfer before leaving the terminal.
Follow signs for the airport rail link, metro, bus, official taxi queue or designated ride-hailing pickup. Confirm the terminal and pickup zone before accepting help from an individual approaching in the arrivals hall.
Airport to city
Time of day, luggage, group size, connectivity and the exact property entrance matter more than a universal “best” transfer.
Daytime arrivals with manageable luggage
Usually the clearest route where service is operating. Check the final interchange, station exits and last service for the actual arrival time.
Luggage, children or a difficult address
Join the signed queue, show the address in Chinese and keep the property telephone number available. Prepare mobile payment and an RMB cash fallback.
Travellers with working data and payment
Use a legitimate app and its designated airport pickup point. Compare the plate in the app before boarding; never rely only on a driver's verbal claim.
Very late arrivals or complex groups
Confirm who operates it, the meeting point, delay policy, contact number and complete price before travel. A booking-platform message is safer than an informal chat account.
Before booking a hotel
A 2024 multi-department measure said platforms and operators must not restrict foreign guests based on supposed qualification requirements or illegally advertise that they do not accept them. In practice, confirm that the specific property can check you in, register the stay and staff reception at the required time.
“I will check in with a foreign passport. Please confirm that reception can complete check-in and accommodation registration at approximately [local time].” Keep the written reply with the booking.
Ask before paying
Accommodation registration
Hotel
Under the official guidance, the hotel handles its required accommodation registration and submits the information to local public-security authorities. Ask for help at reception if you need proof for a later procedure.
Private home, apartment or other non-hotel stay
Confirm the required identity and property documents with the local public-security authority. The host's promise or a platform booking alone does not complete registration.
For a private home, apartment or other non-hotel stay, agree before booking whether the host or traveller will complete accommodation registration and what documents the host will provide.
Foreigners staying outside hotels, or the people hosting them, must complete registration with local public-security authorities within 24 hours after arrival at that accommodation.
From 20 March 2026, the NIA began a pilot in Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan. Elsewhere—or if the online route fails—ask the local police station or exit-entry service window.
A new hotel should handle its own hotel registration. For a new non-hotel address, do not assume the earlier registration follows you; confirm the local process for the new stay.
Deposits
Deposit amount, accepted method, pre-authorisation and release time are property-specific. Keep the receipt and do not assume the refund appears immediately after checkout.
Chinese address
Store the property name and street address in Chinese, plus a map pin and reception number. Large compounds may have several gates that are not interchangeable.
Changing stays
Present the passport again at each hotel. For each new non-hotel address, confirm the registration responsibility and local channel before moving.
Late-night arrival
A staffed, confirmed first night close to a workable transfer is often worth more than an ambitious self-check-in after a delayed flight.
Official sources
Source-linked guidance
Every guide links to official or primary sources so you can verify important details before travel.
Reviewed August 2026
