Airbnb operated in mainland China for several years and withdrew its domestic listings in 2022, citing the cost and complexity of the market. Any guide recommending "an Airbnb in Beijing" predates that decision.
What to use instead#
Trip.com is the practical default. It lists the domestic hotel chains that international platforms under-index, prices them lower, and — importantly — filters for properties licensed to accept foreign passports.
Booking.com and Agoda both work and both list predominantly foreigner-friendly properties, which is a useful filter in itself.
Chinese homestay platforms — Meituan, Tujia, Xiaozhu — carry the minsu (民宿) inventory that most resembles what Airbnb offered. They are Chinese-language, payment runs through Alipay or WeChat, and foreign-guest registration is patchier.
The reason hotels are simpler here#
Every foreign visitor must be registered with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. A licensed hotel does this automatically at check-in — it is what the passport scan is for.
In a private apartment, you must go to the neighbourhood police station in person with your host and proof of the address. It is free and takes twenty minutes, but it requires a cooperative host and it is one more thing to arrange in a language you may not speak.
That single administrative difference is why most short-trip visitors to China end up in hotels even when they would default to apartments elsewhere.
What the hotel market actually offers#
The mid-market domestic chains are the discovery most visitors make late: Atour, Ji Hotel, Hanting, Orange, Lavande. Modern, spotless, reliably licensed for foreigners, and ¥250–450 a night — a third of what an international brand charges for a comparable room.
At the other end, China's hostel scene is genuinely good and under-appreciated: restored courtyard houses in Beijing's hutongs, old-town buildings in Pingyao and Lijiang, private rooms as well as dorms, English-speaking staff and useful travel desks.
Hong Kong and Macau#
Separate jurisdictions, separate rules. Airbnb operates in both, the police registration requirement does not apply in the same way, and your ordinary contactless card works everywhere.
Full detail on booking, chains and what to expect in a Chinese hotel room is in our accommodation guide.