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AirBnB in China: The Complete Guide for Foreigners

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AirBnB in China

AirBnB in China – Index

  1. Is Airbnb legal in China?
  2. Can foreigners stay in Airbnb in China?
  3. Getting a tourist visa with an Airbnb booking
  4. Registering with the police (PSB) when using Airbnb
  5. What happens if I don’t register with the Chinese police?
  6. What’s the equivalent of Airbnb in China? (Tujia and Xiaozhu)
  7. Other competitors to Airbnb, Xiaozhu, and Tujia in China
  8. Should I use home-staying websites or just go for a hostel or hotel?

Airbnb and other Chinese home-staying websites become increasingly popular in China. Even if Airbnb’s current market share is as little as 7%, China will be its biggest market by 2020.

Truth be told, you don’t need a big slice of the pie in a country with 1.4 billion people.

Still, the Chinese authorities have put more pressure on home-staying websites with requirements to ensure safety and to disclose information about tenants. Simply put, it’s not like it used to be a couple of years back.

As such, it’s important that you understand how it works when staying on Airbnb in China, if you can even get a tourist visa when staying with Airbnb, what other options you have, and more. Let’s start and see if Airbnb is even legal in China.

Is Airbnb legal in China?

Airbnb is still legal and becomes increasingly popular. In 2018, there were more than 3.3 million guest arrivals in the local market alone, which speaks for itself. Still, the website has been under scrutiny by the Chinese authorities recently.

To make a long story short, it’s been forced to comply with local regulations, that hostels and hotels have followed since long back.
After long discussions, Airbnb finally decided to comply with the Chinese authorities’ demands and has started to hand over the following guest details since March 30th, 2018: [Read more…]

The Best Hotels in Beijing, the Capital of China

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best hotels beijing

Beijing is an enormous city with more hotels that you can count, which may make choosing where to stay extremely difficult. This guide is a selection of the best hotels in Beijing, whatever your budget may be.

Best Hotels in Beijing – Index

  1. Things to consider before booking a hotel in Beijing
  2. Best hotels near the airport
  3. Best hotels in the city center
  4. Best hotels near the Great Wall

Things to consider before booking a hotel in Beijing

In Asia, we recommend booking hotels on Agoda because, in our experience, it is the agency with the best prices and a has great selection of hotels. You can click here to see all the hotels in Beijing or here to read our general recommendations on booking hotels in China. [Read more…]

The Best Hotels in Zhangjiajie and the Scenic Area of Wulingyuan

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Zhangjiajie and the Scenic Area of Wulingyuan is one of the most impressive national parks in China and to explore it you’ll need to spend at least one night there. This guide is a selection of some of best hotels in Zhangjiajie municipality, whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general recommendations on booking hotels in China you can click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Zhangjiajie

Harmona Resort & Spa Zhangjiajie


Harmona Resort & Spa Zhangjiajie is a beautiful hotel with 246 rooms, 5 restaurants and spa providing the guests with impeccable services and facilities. Each room is done up beautifully in bright furnishings with some of them overlooking the gorgeous mountains. The hotel offers services like car park, car rental, shuttle service, airport transfer, express check-in check out, free Wi-Fi in every room and public areas. To keep the guests entertained, the hotel features a fitness center, garden, hot tub, tennis court, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, karaoke, and massage services at the spa. When it comes to eating and drinking, guests have the option to eat out at its five restaurants. For babies and younger guests, the hotel offers cribs/infant beds, roll-away extra beds, and supervised childcare activities. The hotel’s location makes popular attractions like Ancient Site of Western Zhou Dynasty only 6.4 Km away and Tiyun Pagoda 17.7 km away. Conversing with the staff in English is easy as the hotel staff is proficient in speaking English

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The Best Hotels in Huashan Scenic Area, Weinan City

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The Mount Hua (or Huashan) is one of the mandatory visits when you are travelling to Xi’an. The Mount Hua is located 120 kilometres from Xi’an so if you want to enjoy a visit without hustle you may want to spend a night or two in Weinan, a small city located in the base of Huashan Scenic Area. This guide is a selection of some of best hotels in Weinan, whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general recommendations on booking hotels in China you can click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury hotels in Huashan

Huaxin International Hotel


Huaxin International Hotel is a luxury hotel located close to some of the popular tourist attractions in Huayin, Weinan. This hotel is in the close vicinity of the famous Yuquan Courtyard and Xi’an Yuquan Yard of Huashan. The City Center is only a 10-minute walk away. The hotel has 116 rooms in different categories ranging from Deluxe Twin to Standard Twin to Family Suite. Each room features facilities that include a television, safe, mini bar and private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer. The 24-hour front desk, 24-hour room service and free parking are other facilities provided by the hotel that will surely delight the guests. The staff is friendly and is always prompt in helping the guests but somehow struggle with English language.

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The Best Hotels in Luoyang, Cradle of Chinese Civilization

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Luoyang located in the Chinese province of Henan is one of the cradles of Chinese Civilization and one of the ancient Capitals of China and it is a famous touristic spot within China. However, it isn’t a famous place to visit by international tourists. This is the reason why choosing a good hotel in Luoyang, can be a difficult task because most hotels can not host foreigners, don’t meet international standards and/or their stuff can not speaking English. In this article, you will find a review of some of the best hotels in Luoyang, whatever your budget may be.

If you want some general tips about how to book hotels in China, you can read our general article here.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Luoyang

Yaxiang Jinling Hotel


Yaxiang Jinling Hotel is one of the centrally located hotels in the Luoyang area that offers convenient access to the main attractions of the city. Some of the nearby attractions include Yishu Jie, Tang Dynasty, ZuoAn Heluo, and Ruins of Sui. The hotel features a stylish décor and 417 comfy rooms with modern amenities for a relaxed stay. In addition to this, the hotel also provides the guests with a fitness center, tennis court, game room, karaoke rooms, coffee shop, spa, casino, and Wi-Fi in public areas. The front desk staff speaks English and is warm and friendly enough to make the guests feel at home. The hotel is located 18 km away from the airport. The hotel offers great value for money and is ideal for travellers who are looking for a luxury stay at not-so high prices.

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The Best Hotels in Haikou, the Chinese Caribbean

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Haikou is the capital of the Hainan island, one of the top touristic destinations in China. Here you will find a selection of the best hotels in the city, covering all kinds of budgets. Just choose one and relax in this beautiful island!

If you want to know more about booking hotels in China, you can read our tips here.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Haikou

Mission Hills Resort Haikou


The Mission Hills Resort Haikou is an enormous hotel that houses over 500 rooms. Located in the heart of the Longhua, this hotel is a perfect place to enjoy the close by attractions and modern amenities. The rooms offer free Wi-Fi internet connectivity and the same is offered in public areas of the hotel. It is only 40-minutes away from the West Seaside and Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark, and merely 5 minutes from the Mission Hills-Huayi-Feng Xiaogang Movie Town. The hotel provides you with a wide range of recreational activities and services that include a fitness center, games room, indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, airport transfer, shuttle service, and much more. Guests can indulge in mouthwatering cuisines offered in 6 different restaurants. The staff members are fluent in English, Korean and Chinese, so you will not have any problem in communicating with them and getting things done.

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The Best Hotels in Fuzhou, the Banyan City

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Choosing a hotel in Fuzhou, the capital of the Fujian province, can be a time consuming task. In this article we carefully selected the best hotels in the city considering different budgets, so don’t lose time checking thousands of hotels, just select the most suitable for you from this list and enjoy your stay!

If you want to know why we suggest you to book the hotels in China using Agoda or Booking, check out this article.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Fuzhou

Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou


The Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou is a luxurious hotel with tons of amenities and services designed to ensure that all the guests enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The hotel is located just 45 minutes away from the Fuzhou Changle International Airport and enjoys close proximity with Wuyi Square, Fujian Normal University and Xihu Park. Some of the many services offered by the hotel include free Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas, fitness center, airport shuttle, a dedicated smoking area and more. The staff speaks excellent English and guests would face no problem in communicating with them. It features restaurants serving Cantonese dishes and Korean dishes while the eZ café serving a variety of desserts and pastries with western dishes.

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The Best Hotels in Tianjin, the Forgotten City

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Tianjin is the third Chinese city, thus finding accommodation here can be a difficult task due to the huge number of hotels, here we selected some of the best hotels in the city for different budgets, just choose one and enjoy your stay.

If you need more information about how to book a hotel in China, click here.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Tianjin

Shangri-La Hotel Tianjin


The Shangri-La Hotel Tianjin on the Haihe River in Hedong District, is connected to a shopping mall with dining and entertainment options for those wanting to spend time in the locality. There is free Wi-Fi with businessmen having a center and meeting room facilities. Guests will find a 24 hour English speaking front desk happy to help with airport transfers, car hire and general queries. The Hotel has a bar, coffee shop and restaurant while there is also room service. Families are welcome and a babysitting service is available. This disabled friendly hotel offers luggage storage, laundry and safety deposit boxes. There is a fitness center, indoor pool, spa, sauna and massage. Most guests agree that this hotel is one of the best in Tianjin.

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The Best Hotels in Lanzhou and Dunhuang, Gansu

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The Gansu province is one of the most remote and poor areas in China, so finding a quality accommodation isn’t easy. However, Gansu offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in China, thus it is an important touristic destination. In order to help you to save some time, here you’ll find a selection of the best hotels in two of the most important cities, Lanzhou, the capital of the Province, and Dunhuang, the major touristic city.

If you want to know more about booking hotels in China, you can also check out this article.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Lanzhou

Crowne Plaza Lanzhou Hotel


The Crowne Plaza Lanzhou Hotel is a luxurious hotel with 440 guestrooms offering modern facilities and views of the yellow river. At the hotel, you will find services and facilities like karaoke, massages and treatments, car park, 24 hour room service, indoor pool, BBQ facilities, terrace, currency exchange, and facilities for disabled guests. Enjoy a wide range of Cantonese dishes at the Chinatown Chinese restaurant or indulge in Halal foods of the West China region at the Persia specialty restaurant. River Café offers all day dining with International cuisine. You get free access to Wi-Fi in public areas only. Be aware that here the English between the staff isn’t a must.

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The Best Hotels in Xiamen, the New Economical Center

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Xiamen is currently one of the fast growing economical centers; if you are traveling to the city for business or leisure finding a good hotel where to stay can be a bit time consuming. Here you’ll find a short list of the best hotels in the central district of Si Ming, the famous touristic area of the Gulanyu Island and near the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.

You can also check this article about the best tips to book a hotel in China.

If you are looking for complete guide about Xiamen do not miss this excellent article.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Xiamen Si Ming District

Seaview Resort Xiamen


The Seaview Resort Xiamen is conveniently situated close to the city center, ideal for businessmen, tourists and shoppers. The ferry to Gulangyu Island in near and Xiamen International Airport 20 minutes’ away. The resort’s land includes a private hill and valley for guest relaxation. There are 465 rooms and suites with numerous ways to spend their time. There are nine pools, tennis courts in and outdoor, restaurants with a wide range of cuisine. Sauna, spa and kids’ pool and playground make it ideal for families. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout and meeting room facilities for business. The 24 hour English speaking front desk will organise tours, transfers, bicycle rental, car hire and a number of different internal services. Commonly regarded as an excellent choice.

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The Best Hotels in Qingdao, the City of the Beer

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Qingdao is one of the major touristic destinations in China with plenty of accommodation; here you’ll find some of the best hotels in the city, covering all budgets. Just remember to book in advance as this hotels get fully booked quite fast specially during the Qingdao International Beer festival.

If you are looking for more general tips about booking hotels in China, you should take a look at this article.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Qingdao

Qingdao Sea View Garden Hotel


The Qingdao Sea View Garden Hotel is a luxurious hotel with 204 guestrooms, located in the Shinan area of Qingdao. All the guest rooms are spacious and well-equipped with modern facilities, catering to singles, doubles, and big families. Because the property is located just across the beach front, some of the rooms offer beautiful sea views through the large windows. In addition to this, it features four dining options serving western dishes to Cantonese and local dishes. The outdoor restaurant has BBQ and live performance to make your evenings even better at the hotel. Pamper yourself at the salon or get a relaxing massage at the spa or take a soothing swim in its indoor or outdoor pool, the hotel has plenty to make your stay memorable. By staying at the hotel you will get services and facilities like tennis court, kids club, children’s playground, car park, valet parking, games room, and facilities for disabled. The stay at the hotel gets even more convenient with English speaking staff, who takes every little effort to fulfill your need. Stay connected with friends, family or colleagues always as the hotel provides you with free Wi-Fi access throughout the property. You can reach popular attractions in a few minutes as the Qingdao Polar Ocean World is 2.6 km away while the Book City is only 1.8 km away from the hotel. Qingdao Liuting International Airport is located at a distance of 22.7 km.

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The Best Hotels in Macau, the Ancient Portuguese Colony

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Macau, the ancient Portuguese colony, has become the biggest casino in the world and getting a good hotel to stay at a fair price isn’t easy. In this page you’ll find a selection of the best hotels in the Special Administrative Region of Macau.

If you are looking for some general information about the best way of booking hotels in China, you may check this article.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Macau

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 Hotel


The Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 Hotel is a French hotel with over 400 rooms, ideally positioned close to historic sites such as the A Ma Temple and the Ruins of St. Paul. Its proximity to both the ferry and the airport add to its appeal. Macau is a gamblers’ paradise and guests have an on-site casino as well as fitness center, pool, spa, bar lounge and restaurant. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel with 24 hour room service and a front desk happy to arrange tours and shuttle. Facilities include luggage storage, safety deposit boxes and laundry. Families are welcome and babysitting services are available. Generally regarded as an excellent hotel with professional staff in an ideal location.

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The Best Hotels in Taipei, the Capital of Taiwan

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Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, has thousands of hotels. Thus, choosing the right one is a time-consuming task. In this article, we carefully selected the best hotels in the city to make your choice much easier. You choose the one more suitable to your budget and enjoy your stay!

If you are also visiting China mainland, here you can find some tips to book your perfect hotel.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Taipei

Caesar Park Hotel


The Caesar Park Hotel is a luxury hotel in the Zhongzheng District that features 478 guestrooms with a plethora of facilities to make your stay comfy. The guestrooms come equipped with AC, personal safe, minibar, coffee/tea making facilities and en suite bathrooms. There are over 20 room types available to suit your needs. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in all the areas, including rooms, valet parking, car park, 5 restaurants serving Chinese and International cuisine, airport transfer, business center, car hire, and facilities for disabled. The recreational facilities include massage, spa, fitness center, garden, and steam room to provide you with complete relaxation while traveling. The staff speaks fluent English and goes out of the way to help guests with their enquiries. It is ideally located close to the Taipei Metro Station, which is only a two minute walk away. The Taipei Songshan Airport is only 4.1 km away from the hotel. Popular attractions like National Taiwan Museum and Chinese Handicraft mart are located within 0.5 km from the hotel.

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The Best Hotels in Dali, the City Where You Always Come Back

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The Ancient Town of Dali is one of the most beautiful cities in China and a top tourist destination. In this article you will find a review of some of the best hotels in the city for a wide range of prices. Just choose the right one for you and enjoy your stay!

Check out this article, if you need a more general overview about booking hotels in China.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Dali

Dali Fan Ye Cangshan Resort


The Dali Fan Ye Cangshan Resort is comfortable accommodation where businessmen will find meeting room availability. The Hotel is suitable for tourists in addition with easy access to the city’s attractions. Cars are available for hire and staff will arrange shuttle and airport transfer. There is a library and a garden for relaxation. Golfers have the change of a game with a course just 3 km away. Luggage storage can be arranged while smokers have a designated area. There is a shared kitchen, lounge and TV area. Some rooms have desks though for a luxury hotel there are many facilities missing that ought to be standard.

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The Best Hotels in Hangzhou, the City of the West Lake

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Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is a quite big city and finding quality hotels isn’t always easy. Here you’ll find a selection of the best hotels in town covering a wide range of prices, you only have to choose the most suitable for you.

If you want to know more about the best way of booking hotels in China, you can click here to read our tips.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Hangzhou

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake


The Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake is 4 km from the city center providing easy access to the major attractions of the City. There is Wi-Fi in every room as well as public areas. The front desk is open 24 hours and is happy to arrange tours as well as airport transfers. Room service is also available at all times. Guests can enjoy their private pool and whirlpool bath for relaxation or perhaps stroll in the garden. The fitness center as well as sauna, spa and indoor pool are other features ensuring a comfortable stay. There is a club for kids and business guests have a center and meeting room alternatives. The hotel has a bar, restaurant and BBQ facilities. This hotel is one of the most luxurious of the city and you may find it is not orientated towards Western guests.

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The Best Hotels in Urumqi and Kashgar, Xinjiang

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Xinjiang is one of the most impressive provinces in China, but finding decent hotels to stay isn’t easy at all. Most hotels in Xinjiang can’t host foreigners and/or the quality is quite poor. Here you’ll find a selection of the best hotels in the two most important cities of the province, Urumqi and Kashgar. The hotels we selected cover a wide range of prices, this way you’ll be able to find one that suits your budget.

If you need a general overview about the best way of booking hotels in China, you can click here to read our tips.

Reviews of hotels in Urumqi

Sheraton Urumqi Hotel


The Sheraton Urumqi Hotel is located in the Shayibak District of Urumqi and features 398 well-equipped rooms with facilities for a comfortable stay. In addition to clean and spacious rooms, it has five restaurants serving Chinese and international cuisine, an indoor pool, a nightclub, salon, business center, health club, spa, and executive floor. The hotel’s staff speaks fluent English to understand and respond better to non-Chinese speaking guests. While the hotel does not provide free Wi-Fi in its rooms, you can still have free access to internet in the lobby. It also offers free parking and valet parking. The hotel is a short walk away from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum and only 2.2 km away from the Hongshan Park. Xianjiang International Grand Bazaar is about 6.6 km away from the hotel.

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The Best Hotels in Guangzhou, the Capital of Trading

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In this article you’ll find a review of the best hotels in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. All the hotels are located close to the city center or near the airport. Also, we ordered them by price, covering a wide range of budgets. If you are going to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair, you may want to click here to read the review of best hotels located near the Canton Fair Complex.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Guangzhou

The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou


TheThe Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou is located in the Tianhe District, featuring 351 guestrooms starting from the hotel’s 20th floor. The hotel is luxurious when it comes to facilities, living to its brand name. It features an indoor pool, fully serviced spa, five restaurants, business center, salon, and ATM machine. All the rooms are spacious, smoke-free and have free Wi-Fi to keep you at ease. The hotel’s staff speaks English to communicate well with guests from different countries. The hotel offers convenient access to popular attractions like Guangdong Museum, Flower City Square, Guangzhou Library, Guangzhou Opera House and Whampoa Military Academy, situated within a distance of 1.5 km only. The hotel is a 40 minute drive from the Baiyun International Airport and only 10 minute drive from the Guangzhou East Train Station.

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The Best Hotels for Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, China

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In this article we’ll only review hotels close to the China Import and Export Fair Complex (or Canton Fair Complex), which is located in the Pazhou island, Guangzhou. If you’re interested in a hotel in Guangzhou city center or near the airport, click here.

Reviews of Luxury hotels (5 Star) near the Canton Fair Complex

Shangri-La Hotel


The Shangri-La Hotel is close to the financial district and just a short walk to the International Convention Center, an ideal option for businessmen attending the City’s Fair. There is a business center and several function rooms within the hotel and the 24 hour front desk will arrange transfers to the airport, 30 minutes away. Every room has Wi-Fi and there are plenty of facilities helping guests to relax after a busy day. The fitness center, sauna, indoor and outdoor pools and spa are enticing while those with family will find plenty for children; playground, pool and kid’s club. There are bar, coffee shop and restaurants with a variety of international cuisine. The Shangri-La definitely earns points for its staff and comfort provided even if it is not cheap to stay.

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The Best Hotels in Shenzhen, the Most Modern City of China

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Shenzhen is one of the biggest cities in China and choosing where to stay can be extremely difficult. This guide is a selection of some of best hotels in Shenzhen, whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general recommendations on booking hotels in China you can click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) inShenzhen

Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel


The Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel is an imposing building and the staff aims to keep its guests impressed once inside. There is easy access to the metro and English and Korean speaking staff will happily arrange tours and transfers to the airport 30 minutes away. There is plenty of variety; restaurants, bars and lounges with free Wi-Fi in public areas. A golf course is within 3kms but internally there are indoor and outdoor pools, a games room, tennis, billiards, karaoke, a fitness center and spa. Kids are well catered for with their own pool. Businessmen have meeting room services and a business center. However it fairly expensive and some of the details need more attention.

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The Best Hotels in Pingyao, the UNESCO World Heritage City

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Pingyao has some of the most diverse hotels in China, but choosing the right one can be a difficult. In this article, you will find a short review of some of the best hotels in the city, whatever your budget may be.

If you are interested in general tips of how to book hotels in China, you can read our recommendations here.

Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Pingyao

Jing’s Residence Pingyao


Jing’s Residence Pingyao is a boutique luxury hotel in the historic town of Pingyao, with 15 guestrooms. The hotel is 30 minute drive from the Pingyao Railway Station. It provides free Wi-Fi throughout and also provides free on-site car parking. The hotel features a restaurant serving western and local dishes with a bar serving a wide selection of drinks. Additionally, the hotel provides you with other amenities like luggage storage, library, shared lounge, massage, and safety deposit boxes. The staff is warm and speaks English to handle your enquiries better. Some of the places of interest close to the hotel include North First Escort, only 50 m away and Museum of the Service Guard of China, located 200 m from the hotel.

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