My Recommended Hotels in China: Good Value & Great Location


Stay with the chains for guaranteed quality and value.

A personally curated list of hotels that get the balance right: comfortable rooms, fair prices, foreigner-friendly check-in, and a location near the metro and the sights.


Beijing

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Atour Hotel Tiananmen Wangfujing¥350–550 / $48–76Best central location, modern rooms, great breakfastWangfujing (Line 1)
Ji Hotel Dongzhimen¥280–420 / $39–58Budget-friendly domestic chain, clean and reliableDongzhimen (Line 2/13)
Holiday Inn Express Dongzhimen¥400–600 / $55–83English staff, Airport Express nearby, breakfast includedDongzhimen (Line 2/13)
JW Marriott Beijing Central¥900–1,400 / $124–193Luxury, executive lounge, excellent English-speaking conciergeXuanwumen (Line 2/4)

Shanghai

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Atour Hotel Nanjing Road¥350–550 / $48–76One block from Nanjing Road, late-night supper, English-friendlyPeople’s Square (Line 1/2)
Atour Hotel Jing’an Temple¥380–580 / $52–80Quiet Jing’an location, late-night porridge, spacious roomsJing’an Temple (Line 2/7)
Shanghai Marriott City Centre¥700–1,100 / $97–152Nanjing Road location, excellent breakfast buffet, Bund views from upper floorsPeople’s Square (Line 1/2)
JW Marriott Tomorrow Square¥1,000–1,600 / $138–220Iconic tower, rooftop pool and gym, top-tier servicePeople’s Square (Line 1/2)
Novotel Shanghai Atlantis¥600–900 / $83–124Revolving breakfast on 50th floor, free laundry, family roomsCentury Avenue (Line 2/4)

Guangzhou

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Atour Hotel Beijing Road Tianhe¥300–500 / $41–69Pedestrian street location, reliable Atour qualityBeijing Road (Line 1)
Ji Hotel Tianhe Sports Center¥280–450 / $39–62Major Line 1/3 interchange, family suite availableTianhe Sports Center (Line 1/3)

Chengdu

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Atour Hotel Chunxi Road¥350–550 / $48–76Walking distance to IFS Mall, late check-out availableChunxi Road (Line 2/3)
Ibis Chengdu Wuhou¥200–320 / $28–44Budget Accor brand, consistent standards, English receptionWuhouci (Line 3)

Xi’an

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Atour S Hotel Bell Tower¥350–500 / $48–69New hotel, walking distance to Bell Tower and Muslim QuarterBell Tower (Line 2)
Holiday Inn Express Bell Tower¥400–580 / $55–80English staff, live dumpling breakfast, self-service laundryZhonglou (Line 2)

Xiamen

HotelPrice/nightHighlightsNearest station
Ji Hotel Zhongshan Road¥280–450 / $39–62Steps from pedestrian street, free laundry, near Gulangyu ferryZhongshan Road (Line 1)
Ibis Styles Zhongshan Road¥200–350 / $28–48Right on the pedestrian street, best budget option in old townZhongshan Road (Line 1)

Book on Trip.com for Chinese chains. Use Booking.com for international brands. Pre-pay online where possible.

See also: Booking Hotels in China for how check-in and the “foreigner-friendly” rule work.