Hotels in China

Sleeping accommodations for tourists are widely available and can vary in quality from shared dorm rooms to five-star luxury hotels. For the most part, laws in China restrict or ban foreigners from the cheapest hotels, forcing foreign tourist to book rooms in much more expensive accommodations than locals can get into, many of which are still state-run and haven't changed much since the Mao era. That being said, there's a dizzying number of sleeping options in most Chinese towns and despite language and law barriers you should be able to find something in your budget and comfort range.
Looking for a hotel upon first arriving in a Chinese city can be a daunting task: a mob of passengers are pushing to disembark from your train or bus, touts are tugging at your arm and screaming in your face to come with them, everything is in incomprehensible Chinese and you are just looking for a place to put down your bag. It doesn't get any better once you get in a cab because the driver doesn't speak any English and every hotel in your guide book is full or closed! This can be the experience for many travelers in China, but the pains of booking a hotel room can be avoided if you know where to look and what you're looking for.
If you're willing to pay $30 or more for a room, then you'll probably have little problem finding a room. But if you want a cheap yet comfortable room, you'll have to be armed with a bit more knowledge than what can be had in many guide books. The cheapest options include hostels, dorms and extra rooms called zhusu, and there are plenty of hotels charging ?150 and up available in every city. Sleeper trains and sleeper buses can also be a decent option; see the "Get Around" section of this page for more information. If you're in a town and you can't find a hotel try looking near the bus or train station, an area that typically has a larger selection of cheap hotels. Hotels that are not licensed to accept foreigners can be heavily fined if they are caught housing foreign occupants. But enforcement of this law appears spotty and many hotels unlicensed to accept foreigners will find you a room. In the cheapest range of hotels it is important to ask if there is 24 hours of hot water - and check if the shower, sink and toilet in fact work. It is also advisable that you avoid checking into a room next to a busy street as traffic may keep you up late and wake you up early. If you do plan on just showing up in town and looking for a place to sleep it is best that you arrive before 6-7:00 p.m. as the most popular places will be booked for the night.
One secret to keep in mind when booking a room in China is that prices are often negotiable. A sharp reduction from the price listed on the wall can be had by just asking "What's the lowest price?". Note this doesn't work during the busy Chinese holiday seasons, when prices skyrocket and rooms are hard to get.
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