Made a booking in Chongqing, but host declines to do Police accomodation...

[Stephen298]

I've made a booking about two weeks in advance. I've made contact with the landlord because I'm aware of the requirement to do local Police accomodation as a foreigner in China, however the host says this is a "grey area" and asks me not to do it.

Others have advised me to cancel the booking, which I will have to do soon, if there is no solution...

Thanks in advance...

[Stephen298]

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/26/the-time-i-was-turned-away-from-china/

[Rene-and-Zac0]

I think the “gray area” is the section of Chinese prisons where they keep foreigners detained. Sort of in prison but not really in prison. Not completely sure though. 

Good Luck!

’You know it’s hard out here for a Host’

[Michael956]

I stayed in an Airbnb in Beijing and neither I nor the host registered with the police.  The stay was smooth.  I wouldn't bother if the host doesn't.  

[Stephen298]

Hi Michael

Did you read the article about the journalist on a return visit who was denied an short-term visitor visa to China as a result of not compling with the registration regulation?

[Marzena4]

And anyway, do not cancel yourself, if you decide to do so, but contact Airbnb, @Stephen298.

[Stephen298]

You mean their Resolution Center?

[Stephen298]

I cancelled the booked relatively smoothly with the landlord's consent and stayed in a hotel licensed to accomodate foreigners, but have looked further into the issue...  Airbnb has a section in their FAQ about complying with law enforcement authourities which says they do not get involved in this issue: it is our responsibility as guest to comply with this requirement...

Seeing the host I initally booked with said that the Police "gives him trouble", and "do you really have to?", it seems it is up to guests to negotiate with the host.

Other foreigners in China I have spoken to say they have used Airbnb without registering with the local Police and had no problems...

So the matter is rather unresolved really...

[Stephen298]

From 2018, Airbnb will share host and guest information with the Chinese government, so I guess this will overcome the problem in this topic.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbnb-china/airbnb-to-start-sharing-chinese-host-information-wit...