Quote Originally Posted by Milton
To check into a hotel in China, assuming it is a hotel, you must have an identity card or passport, which are then scanned into the computer for confirmation through the internet. Driver’s license doesn’t always work as the hotel may not be equipped for scanning that. Furthermore, not all hotels are allowed to receive foreigners, that creates difficulties for them sometimes, especially in smaller cities.
The Gong An don't really care where a foreigner stays, technically you should be registered, but it doesn't matter to them usually. However it does matter to the bigger '5 star' cough cough 3 star bigger hotels who feel they own the foreigner market in any city and use their guanaxi make sure they get your money. Cynical, but true.