Accommodation in China is generally convenient. Whether you are in China on vacation or on business, it is not difficult to find a hotel.

Hotels range from five-star to one star-rated, inexpensive hostels, local guesthouses and roadside inns. Some hotels offer typical Chinese or local features and architecture, while others are completely modern, and of course those that are simply average.

Not all the hotels can accommodate foreign visitors, but three, four and five star-rated hotels certainly do. There are both domestically-run hotels and international chain hotels, especially in highly developed or tourist cities, where you? may find Sheraton, Shangri-la, Hilton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Four Season and so on.

Quality can also vary considerably between hotels of the same star-rating, so feedback from other travellers can be important. Standards of service and cleanliness vary in the lower star-rated hotels, as does the amount of English that is spoken.? Four and five star hotels, particularly those from international chains, have some staff who speak reasonable English, but it is not unusual to find that the majority of the staff do not speak English. ?In three star hotels the people on the reception desk can usually be relied on to speak some English.

Pay attention to at least two things when you stay in a hotel. Hotels in China are reasonably secure places, but please don't leave money or valuables lying about in your room. Take them with you or leave them in the security in the room or at the receptionist if it is available. Common check-in and check-out times are respectively after 2pm and before noon. Extra cost will be charged if you check in before 6am.

China National Tourism Administrationissued a standard to rate hotels in China from one to five stars. Occasionally a hotel may be rated at a higher level than some visitors believe is justified, so visitor feedback very important – any good travel agency pays close attention to what their customers have to say about hotels, and ensures that they do not continue to recommend or book guests into hotels that clients have complained about.??

One-Star hotels: One-Star hotels must have air-conditioning, coffee shop, dining room, and at least 20 guest rooms, cleaned daily. Of course, 75% must have private baths. They must have central heating, a lobby with information and reception desk, postal service, and 12-hour a day cold and hot running water.

Two-Star hotels: Two-Star hotels must have at least 20 guest rooms, 95% with private baths, 50% with telephones, and 16 hours of cold and hot running water, Western and Chinese breakfast must be offered.

Three-Star hotels: Three-Star hotels must have at least well-decorated guest rooms with dressing table, desk, drawers and closet; carpet or wood floor; telephones in every room with international direct dial(IDD); mini-bar and refrigerator; color television sets, in-house movies, music; writing materials; sun-proof curtains; and bed turn-down service.

Four Star hotels: Four Star hotelsshould have luxurious and spacious sound-proof rooms, low-noise toilets, and hair dryers. They should have guests and service elevators, background music, health club, swimming pool, sauna, business center, greenhouse, 24-hour doorman, reservations accepted through fax/telex, 24-hour room service, and onward reservations in China for guests. A guest reception and assistant manager should be available in the lobby 24 hours a day. Laundry should be returned by next day.

Five-Star hotels: Five-Star hotelsare usually palatial with huge lobbies, their standards not quite matching the best of Paris or New Year, but very close. Service should be better than the four-star hotels described above. See Top hotels section below.