China Hotel Deposit: How to Pay and Get It Back (2026)
Last updated: November 9, 2026 · Sources checked November 9, 2026
Quick Answer
Some hotels in China ask for a refundable deposit (押金, yājīn) at check-in, sometimes even if you prepaid the room. Others never ask. There's no standard amount: travelers report nothing at budget hotels and thousands of yuan at luxury ones, so ask before you arrive. For most visitors, a credit card hold charged in CNY is the easiest choice for larger deposits, and cash is the quickest to get back if the front desk is open when you leave. Before you pay by Alipay or WeChat Pay, check your limit and ask whether a fee applies. Whichever you use, keep the deposit receipt until the money is back.
Contents
How Much Is the Deposit?
Each hotel sets its own deposit, and no official figure applies across China. Trip.com's deposit guide gives a common range of 100 to 500 CNY, but the listings it checked in Beijing on October 15, 2026 show how wide the spread can be:
| Beijing hotel (Trip.com listing) | Deposit shown |
|---|---|
| Beijing Yizhan Youth Hostel (Liangmaqiao) | None required by the property |
| Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen | None required by the property |
| Hilton Beijing Capital Airport | CNY 1,000 per night, by credit or debit card |
Travelers on Reddit report very different experiences. These are individual reports, not a rule:
| What travelers report | Where and when |
|---|---|
| Never asked, across 200+ hotels | r/chinatravel, Aug 2026 |
| No deposit at hostels and hotels under 100 RMB a night | r/travelchina, May 2025 |
| 400 to 800 RMB, released after check-out | Same thread, May 2025 |
| 500 RMB per night at an international chain hotel | Same thread, Nov 2026 |
| 2,000 and 5,000 RMB per night at two luxury hotels | Same thread, May 2025 |
| Up to 8,000 RMB at high-end hotels in Beijing and Shanghai | Same thread, May 2025 |
The booking page may not tell the whole story. One traveler says the deposit wasn't listed for their hotels, while another says Trip.com showed it. So read the deposit policy on your booking page, then message the hotel. Ask for the amount, whether it's per night or per stay, and which payment methods it accepts for the deposit.
Prepaying doesn't guarantee you'll avoid one. Trip.com says prepaying may reduce or waive a deposit in some cases, and travelers on Reddit report both outcomes.
If the amount seems too high, it may be worth asking politely. In the same thread, one traveler says a manager at a five-star hotel in Beijing cut their family's deposit to roughly one night, and a Shanghai thread calls deposits "somewhat negotiable". Don't count on this.
Hold or Charge: The Question to Ask First
The word "deposit" can mean two different things on a card, and the difference affects how your money comes back:
Pre-authorization (预授权): a hold
The amount is reserved, not spent. At check-out, the hotel takes what you owe and releases the rest. It can still appear in your banking app as a pending charge.
Direct charge (直接扣款): a payment, refunded later
The money leaves your account, and the hotel has to send it back. On a foreign card, you may not get back exactly what you paid. DBS, for example, warns that refund amounts can differ from the original because of exchange rates and fees. Check how your own bank treats refunds.
When you can choose, a hold usually carries less currency risk than a direct charge.
Card, Cash or App: Which to Use
China's official living guide says hotels may take RMB cash, bank cards, Alipay and Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), and tells visitors to ask in advance whether Mastercard, Visa or other international cards are accepted. A 2024 government circular says three-star and above tourist hotels should accept domestic and overseas cards. Even so, a hotel may handle its deposit differently from the room bill, so ask about the deposit specifically.
| Method | Works best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card hold | Larger deposits at hotels that take your card | Uses your credit limit until it's released, which can take a while |
| Debit or multi-currency card | Travelers without a credit card | Can tie up your spending money until the hold clears |
| Cash (RMB) | Smaller deposits, and getting your money back at check-out | Keep the receipt. Someone must be at the desk when you leave |
| Alipay or WeChat Pay | Smaller deposits at hotels with no card option | Transaction limits, and a possible 3% fee if it's processed as a payment |
If the card terminal asks for a currency, choose CNY
Paying in your home currency uses dynamic currency conversion (DCC). HSBC Singapore advises paying in the local currency and calls the DCC rate more expensive. Check the currency on the screen or slip before you approve it.
Alipay and WeChat Pay: Limits and Fees
Two things catch people out when a deposit goes through a payment app with a foreign card:
1. A large deposit may be over your limit
WeChat's help center lists a limit of ¥6,500 per transaction, ¥50,000 per month and ¥65,000 per year for international cards. So a ¥5,000-per-night deposit for two nights wouldn't fit in one WeChat Pay transaction. China's government payment guide gives US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year for visitors on payment platforms, which is what Alipay applies once your passport is verified. See our limits guide.
2. A deposit processed as a payment may carry a fee
Tenpay's rules for WeChat Pay charge no international-card fee at ¥200 or less, and 3% of the whole transaction above that, so a ¥1,000 payment would cost ¥30. WeChat says the fee is refunded in proportion when the transaction is refunded. Alipay uses the same ¥200 threshold. Check the fee on your payment screen before you confirm.
Alipay's documentation describes a hotel pre-authorization that freezes funds at check-in and unfreezes what's left at check-out. It doesn't say how this works with foreign cards, so the hotel's and your app's screens are the best guide. We found no official statement about limits or fees for a hold like this.
If the app payment fails at the desk
Don't assume it's the hotel. In one 2024 Reddit thread, Alipay worked at shops but failed on a hotel bill of about €200, and the traveler's card company turned out to have blocked the card as suspicious. Another traveler there had a larger hotel payment fail in Alipay, then paid with a physical credit card. Check that your passport is verified in the app, check your bank's app for a block, and keep a physical card or cash as a backup.
On refund speed, Trip.com's guide cites Alipay's service center as saying refunds to international Visa, Mastercard and JCB cards take 7 days. We couldn't read that Alipay page directly. One Reddit user reports getting an Alipay deposit back a couple of days after checking out. To set up your apps, see our Alipay and WeChat Pay guides.
Check-In and Check-Out Checklist
Before you travel
- Ask the hotel for the deposit amount and accepted payment methods.
- Make sure your card has enough available credit or balance for the deposit, the room and your trip.
- Bring a second card, and enough cash for a small deposit.
At check-in
- Ask whether it's a hold or a charge.
- Choose CNY if the terminal offers a currency.
- If a physical card fails, ask the staff to insert the chip. One traveler reports that swiping or tapping can fail where inserting works.
- If the card is declined or the screen is unclear, check before trying again, so you don't end up with a second hold.
- Keep the deposit receipt (押金单) or card slip, and take a photo of it.
At check-out
- Go to the desk, and check your final bill for anything you don't recognize.
- Ask the hotel to release the hold or refund the deposit, and ask for a slip or other proof.
- If you paid cash, count it before you leave.
- Leaving very early? Tell the hotel the day before. A Reddit user who has done this says you can leave the key at reception, with a cash deposit returned the day before or an Alipay deposit refunded after you check out. Confirm this with your hotel.
Phrases to Show the Front Desk
| English | Show this |
|---|---|
| How much is the deposit? | 押金是多少？ |
| Is it a pre-authorization or a direct charge? | 是预授权还是直接扣款？ |
| Can I pay the deposit in cash? | 押金可以付现金吗？ |
| Please charge it in RMB. | 请用人民币结算。 |
| Please give me a deposit receipt. | 请给我押金单。 |
| Please cancel the pre-authorization and give me proof. | 请撤销预授权，并给我凭证。 |
| Please refund it to the original payment method. | 请退回原支付方式。 |
If Your Deposit Hasn't Come Back
First, check what kind of delay you're dealing with. Timing varies by hotel and bank, and there's no single guaranteed number:
- Marco Polo Parkside Beijing says release of a hold typically takes 3 to 5 working days, depending on your bank.
- Wise says businesses usually adjust a pre-authorisation within a day, but it can sometimes take 30 days.
- For a completed payment, Wise says a refund usually takes 5 to 10 working days to appear after the merchant sends it.
- A Shenzhen hotel listing quoted in a 2025 Reddit post warned that non-cash deposit refunds may take 2 to 4 weeks.
Most of the reports we read end well. One traveler who stayed at 8 hotels across China says they got every deposit back, though sometimes after a few days. The same discussion mentions online complaints about credit card refunds still missing weeks later, so keep your paperwork until the money arrives.
If the money is still missing after your hotel's and bank's stated time:
- Look at the transaction in your app. A hold may be listed as pending, and a refund may be a separate new line.
- Email the hotel with your booking number, stay dates, the amount and a photo of your receipt. Ask for the cancellation or refund reference.
- Send that reference to your bank or card provider, and ask them to trace it.
- If the hotel won't resolve it, ask your bank about a dispute. Your booking site may also be able to contact the hotel.
For an app payment, open the order in Alipay or WeChat and check its refund status. See our Alipay refund guide for more help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all hotels in China ask for a deposit?
No. It depends on the property, and travelers' experiences vary widely: some say they have never been asked, while others report large deposits at high-end hotels. Check the deposit policy on your booking page, then confirm with the hotel. Prepaying sometimes avoids a deposit, but it isn't guaranteed.
How much is a hotel deposit in China?
There is no standard amount. Trip.com gives a common range of 100 to 500 CNY. Travelers on Reddit report anything from no deposit at budget hotels to thousands of yuan at luxury hotels, and some hotels charge per night. Ask your hotel for the exact amount.
Can I pay a hotel deposit with Alipay or WeChat Pay using a foreign card?
Often, but ask the hotel first. Check that the deposit fits your wallet limit. WeChat Pay's limit for international cards is 6,500 RMB per transaction. Also ask whether the deposit is a hold or a normal payment, since a payment over 200 RMB can carry a 3% fee.
How long does it take to get a hotel deposit back in China?
Cash can be returned at check-out. A card hold depends on the hotel and your bank: one Beijing hotel says 3 to 5 working days, while Wise says a pre-authorisation can sometimes take 30 days to clear. A completed card charge has to be refunded and can also take days or weeks.
Can I use a debit card for a hotel deposit in China?
You can if the hotel accepts it, but the deposit can tie up money in your account until it is released, so make sure you have enough left for your trip. Some hotels or tour operators may ask for a credit card, so ask first and carry enough cash as a fallback.
Should I choose my home currency or CNY on the card terminal?
Choose CNY. If you choose your home currency, the merchant's currency conversion service sets the rate, and banks including HSBC describe that rate as more expensive.
What if I check out before the front desk opens?
Tell the hotel the day before. One Reddit user who did this says a cash deposit can be returned the day before you leave, and an app deposit refunded after you check out. Confirm this with your hotel, and keep your deposit receipt until the money has returned.
Sources
All checked November 9, 2026. Hotel policies, limits and fees can change, so the hotel's terms and your payment screen take priority over this page. Reddit reports are individual experiences. See our editorial policy.
- China government working and living guide (2025)
- China government payment guide (2024)
- WeChat help center: international cards
- Tenpay international-card rules (Jan 15, 2026)
- Alipay hotel pre-authorization documentation
- Wise: pre-authorised transactions and refunds
- DBS overseas transaction fees and HSBC Singapore on foreign transaction fees
- Marco Polo Parkside Beijing payment FAQ
- Trip.com: China hotel deposit refunds (listing examples and deposit range)
- Reddit threads linked in the article (user experience only, dated 2023 to 2026)
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