Hotel Check-in for Travelers to China

How foreigners register, pay, and breeze past the front desk in 2025 China.

TikTok
YouTube
Reddit
X
Tripadvisor
大众点评
小红书
✓ Real Traveler Data
✓ Up-to-date Sources
✓ AI-Collected & Human-Vetted
✓ No OTA-Oriented

🚀 Quick Start Guide

1️⃣
Book via international channel
Trip.com, Booking.com, Marriott.com; filter “Accepts foreign guests 接待外宾.”
2️⃣
Pre-check-in online
Use Alipay “Face Hotel” or Trip.com “Express” ➜ upload passport photo page + selfie ≤ 24 h before arrival.
3️⃣
At arrival kiosk
Scan QR / face-scan ➜ machine spits room key or mobile NFC key; skip desk.
4️⃣
Pay deposit
Scan blue merchant QR with Alipay/WeChat Tourist Pay (Visa/Master OK) or swipe plastic card; hold released 5-7 bank days.
5️⃣
Police upload
Hotel auto-uploads passport; no extra forms. Ask for printout if taking night train within 24 h.

📱 What is hotel check-in like in China? — 60-second primer

Legal requirement
All guests—foreign or local—must complete 公安 (PSB) real-name registration within 24 h of arrival. Hotels upload the scan instantly.
Passport & visa scan
Reception uses Police Cloud scanner ➜ reads MRZ, visa, entry stamp. Since 2024 most tier-1 hotels skip photocopies.
Payment & deposit
Standard hold ¥500–1 000 / room on Alipay/WeChat blue QR or foreign Visa/Master/AmEx; FX ≈ 1 % spread; cap ¥5 000/txn.
E-check-in options
• Alipay “Face Hotel 自助入住” mini-program (250+ chains)
• Trip.com “Express Check-in” QR
• Marriott Bonvoy app for 40 mainland properties.
Key issue for tourists
Some budget hotels (‘经济型’) still refuse foreign passports—book only those flagged “接待外宾” (can host foreigners).
Why locals still queue
Real-name upload + deposit swipe; facial recognition kiosks cut wait to 30 s.
Good to know
Passport expires < 6 mo? Front desk may refuse—bring 2nd photo ID. No health-code apps needed after Dec 2023.
TL;DR
Pick a hotel marked “接待外宾,” upload passport in the Alipay or Trip.com self-check-in mini-program, swipe a blue merchant QR for the ¥500 hold, grab your digital key, and you’re upstairs in under three minutes.

🏆 Most-Cited Success Recipe

1

Check-in after 21:00

Same-day rates drop 15 – 25 % on OTAs.

2

Use “连住免押” (no-deposit for multi-night)

Alipay offers zero-hold if Stay ≥ 3 nights, Score ≥ 550.

3

Digital key in Marriott/Trip app

Unlock elevator + room with phone—no lost keycards.

4

Ask for VPN-friendly SSID

Some hotels have unfiltered Wi-Fi “_GUEST_ABROAD”; saves your data.

Why it helps: Digital check-in, zero-hold, and VPN-friendly Wi-Fi make stays smoother and cheaper.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

🏨

May 2025: Alipay “Face Hotel” expands

Alipay “Face Hotel” expands to 253 chains / 21 000 properties; foreign-card support live.

Sources: Tiktok, Youtube, Reddit, X, TripAdvisor
📝

Jan 2025: PSB drops paper registration

PSB drops paper 临时住宿登记表 for e-signature nationwide.

Sources: Tiktok, Youtube, Reddit, X, TripAdvisor
🔑

Nov 2024: Trip.com launches CTrip-Key NFC

Trip.com launches CTrip-Key NFC in 18 cities—works with Apple Wallet & Huawei Pass.

Sources: Tiktok, Youtube, Reddit, X, TripAdvisor

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

Hotel says “No measure for foreigners”

Show OTA booking proof; if still no, move—PSB fines them, not you.

Pro tip: Show your booking and don’t argue—just leave.

Deposit hold rejected by bank

Split across two cards or pre-pay full stay; UnionPay cash preload accepted.

Backup: Try another card or pre-pay if needed.

Kiosk stuck on face scan

Switch to passport desk; machine struggles with hats/glasses.

Tip: Remove hats/glasses for best results.

Green personal QR at snack bar

Charge to room then settle at checkout via blue merchant QR.

Solution: Settle at checkout with blue QR for best FX rate.

🔄 Backup / Alternatives

🛎️

Huazhu “Foreign-Friendly” desk

Staffed 24 h in 80 % of Hanting & JI hotels.

  • • 24h staffed counter
  • • English support at most locations
  • • No police station visit needed
🏠

Airbnb “Business-travel ready”

Host handles police upload via app (passport photo page).

  • • Host uploads passport for you
  • • No hotel desk check-in
  • • App notification when done
🛏️

Youth-hostel PSB counter

YHAs in Beijing/Xi’an now have on-site scanner; still queue at peak.

  • • On-site police scanner
  • • Still need to queue at peak
  • • Valid for all foreign guests

🛠 Technical Notes

  • • Deposit holds: Backpacker ¥200 – 300 • 3★ ¥500 • 5★ ¥1 000 + .
  • • Release time: UnionPay T+0; Visa/Master 5-7 bus days; AmEx 7-10 days.
  • • Wi-Fi login: Room # + surname initial or SMS; overseas numbers receive SMS at most chains.
  • • Check-out grace: 12:00 std • 14:00 Trip.com Genius • 16:00 Marriott Plat.
  • • FX caps on blue QR: ¥5 000/txn · ¥10 000/day · ¥50 000/month; ≈ 1 % spread.