Where to stay in China: best areas and types of hotel

Use this to pick a base and a booking window. Prices are 2026 estimates for a double room in a mid-range hotel; holiday weeks can double them.

Start with the trip, not the hotel. A first trip is usually Beijing for 4–5 nights, then Shanghai for 3–4 by high-speed rail. Stay inside the Second Ring in Beijing and near the Bund or Jing'an in Shanghai: you trade room size for walkable sights and a short metro ride. If you are adding Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin or Yunnan, give each city its own base rather than day-tripping from far away.

Then pick the hotel type. International chains are predictable and take foreign cards, but cost more. Domestic mid-range chains are the value pick: clean, central, ¥300–600. Boutique courtyard hotels in Beijing hutongs and Shanghai lane houses are the character option, with small rooms and thin walls. Hostels work well for solo travellers and cost ¥80–200 a dorm bed. Apartment rentals are common but registration rules for foreign guests vary by city, so confirm before paying.

Then check three things before you book. First, distance to a metro station — aim for under 10 minutes on foot, because taxis are cheap but traffic is not. Second, whether the hotel accepts foreign passports; most city hotels do, some small guesthouses and rural inns do not. Third, the cancellation policy, since holiday demand and prices move fast.

Finally, pay attention to dates. Chinese New Year, the first week of May and the first week of October (Golden Week) fill trains and hotels nationwide and push prices up two to three times. Book those trips 2–3 months out. Outside those weeks, 4–8 weeks is comfortable, and last-minute rooms are usually available in big cities except during spring and autumn peak.

Hotel star ratings in China are not a reliable guide to quality; read recent photos and check the opening year. Rooms are often smaller than US or Australian equivalents at the same price, and "twin" means two single beds.

Registration is automatic at hotels: staff scan your passport and register you with the local police. Keep the registration slip; you may be asked for it. If you stay in a private rental, you may need to register at a police station yourself within 24 hours.

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. Many hotels take cash, but deposits, minibars and small charges are easier by phone. Tipping is not expected. For connectivity, sort an eSIM or VPN before arrival, since some apps and sites are blocked on local networks.