China's hotel industry runs from ¥40 hostel beds to ¥2,000 five-star rooms. Almost all hotels accept foreign guests, but it's worth confirming before you book.
Platforms: internationally, Booking, Agoda and Trip.com work fine; locally, Ctrip (Trip.com), Meituan and Feizhu offer the same rooms 10-20% cheaper — most have English modes.
Types: star-rated and international chains are the most hassle-free; boutique guesthouses (especially in Lijiang or Dali) add charm; hostels suit backpackers and make meeting people easy.
Check-in: hotels register guests with the original passport, one registration per person. Some apartment-style listings don't accept foreigners — filter by "foreigner friendly" when booking.
Cancellation: most rooms are "free cancellation until X"; watch for non-refundable deals. Prices double and availability collapses during Golden Weeks — book 1-2 months ahead.
