Upon arrival in China, all foreigners must register their place of residence, whether it be a hotel, guesthouse, apartment, or any other kind of housing. Those arriving in residential houses, apartments, or villas must go to the local police station within 24 hours of arrival to register.

Documents required to process a Temporary Residence Registration:
 

Foreigners residing in rented housing, purchased housing, luxury apartments, or villas must register any changes to their passport or residence permit with their local police station.

To ensure a safe and lawful stay in China, please stay in only hotels, apartments, and other residences that are approved by the local police. Please do not break the law or bring trouble upon yourself for convenience or to save money.
 

Applicable Laws and regulations for accommodation registration

When a foreigner  wishes to lodge at the home of a Chinese resident in urban areas, the host or the lodger must within 24 hours of the lodger’s arrival report to the local public security agency with the lodger’s passport and documentation as well as the host’s Household Registration (Hukou) to process registration forms of temporary accommodation. In rural areas, the host or lodger must report to the local police station or residence registration office within 72 hours of the lodger’s arrival.

When a foreigner lodges at a foreign institution in China or at the home of an alien in China, the institution in question or the host or the lodger must within 24 hours of the lodger’s arrival report to the local public security agency with the lodger’s passport or residence certificate to process registration forms of temporary accommodation.

Upon traveling to another place within China and taking up lodging, long term resident foreigners or their host must report to the local Public Security Bureau with the lodger’s passport and documentation and the host’s household registration (Hukou) within 24 hours to process registration forms of temporary accommodation. In rural areas, the lodger has 72 hours to report to the local police station or household registration office to register.

Those found guilty of failing to register temporary accommodation with the local public security agency, or accommodating aliens without valid papers in contravention of the provisions of Chapter VI of PRC law may be warned or fined not less than RMB50 and not more than RMB500.