China allows foreign visitors to skip police stations, register stay online

Tourists staying outside hotels can fill in paperwork online, in the latest move to make visiting the country easier

Foreign visitors to China who choose to stay somewhere other than a hotel can now register their accommodation with the authorities online, which analysts say will make travelling to the country more convenient.

China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law mandates that foreigners register their accommodation with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Those who fail to do so could be issued a warning or fined up to 2,000 yuan (US$298).

This applies both to foreign visitors arriving in the country and those moving from one part of China to another.