A hotel deposit in China is a standard hold against incidentals, taken at almost every property whether you prepay the room or not. For foreign guests the wrinkle is the pre-authorisation on a foreign card, which can tie up funds for several days after checkout. Here is how deposits actually work, how long they take to clear, and the simple ways to avoid the wait.
Paying for a hotel in China with a foreign credit card is usually straightforward at international and mid-range hotels, but it is not guaranteed. Some properties can only take local cards or cash, and card machines occasionally reject foreign cards even when they should work. The safe play is to confirm card acceptance when you book and always carry a backup form of payment.
When you arrive at a hotel in China, the front desk will scan your passport into a government registration system before you get a room key. That scan is not optional paperwork — it is a legal requirement for every foreign guest, and it is the exact moment that decides whether a property is allowed to host you. Most international and mid-range hotels finish it in seconds; some budget places cannot do it at all, which is why they turn foreigners away.
Yes — foreign passport holders can absolutely stay in Chinese hotels, and millions do every year. The catch is not the law; it is the licence. Not every property is authorised to register foreign guests with the authorities, so the real question is not “can foreigners stay in China?” but “is this specific hotel allowed to take me?” Once you know how to pick the right property, staying in China is as straightforward as anywhere else.