Lodging

Location is the first thing you should consider. Chinese cities are sprawling so you want to be close to what interests you. Locally owned hotels with four stars or fewer have erratic standards both inside and outside big cities However, air-conditioning, color TVs, and private bathrooms are the norm for three to four stars, and even lone-star hotels have private bathrooms, albeit with a squatter toilet.

Apartment and House Rentals

There's an abundance of furnished properties for short- and long-term rentals in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and some other cities. There are a lot of well-located mid-range properties in new apartment blocks. They're usually clean and nicely furnished. What you get for your money fluctuates, so shop around.

Hotels

When checking into a hotel, you need to show your passport—the desk clerk records the number before you're given a room. In smaller hotels outside of the big cities, unmarried couples may occasionally have problems staying together in the same room, but simply wearing a wedding band is one way to avoid this complication. Friends or couples of the same sex, especially women, shouldn't have a problem getting a room together. It's normal for hotels to post "visitor hours" for nonguests.