China Expands Online Accommodation Registration Nationwide for Foreigners

From September 21, 2026, foreigners in China staying outside hotels can register accommodation online via the NIA website, App, WeChat, or Alipay, with the same legal effect as offline registration and offline services still available.

Tags:

• China Immigration
• Accommodation Registration
• Foreigners in China
• NIA 12367
• Online Registration

Source: OT-Team(G), 国家移民管理局

Starting September 21, 2026, foreigners staying or residing in China at places other than hotels can complete accommodation registration online nationwide, according to a new announcement from the National Immigration Administration (NIA).

The nationwide rollout expands on an earlier pilot program and is intended to make accommodation registration more convenient for foreigners in China.

NIA Announcement on Online Accommodation Registration

Pursuant to Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, where foreigners stay in hotels in China, the hotels shall register their accommodation in accordance with the regulations on the public security administration of the hotel industry, and submit foreigners’ accommodation registration information to the public security organs in the places where the hotels are located. For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners’ arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence. To further enhance the convenience for foreigners in China and facilitate accommodation registration for those residing or staying in domiciles other than hotels, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has decided to roll out online accommodation registration services nationwide starting from September 21, 2026, based on the preliminary pilot program.

Foreigners or the persons who accommodate them may go through the registration formalities online through the NIA Government official website, the “NIA 12367” App, the “NIA 12367” WeChat mini program, or the Alipay mini program. The offline channel for accommodation registration at local public security organs will remain available. Online registration has the same legal effect as registration completed on site.

• Who Can Use Online Accommodation Registration?

Under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, foreigners staying at hotels must have their accommodation registered by the hotel.

For foreigners staying or residing at other types of accommodation, they or the person accommodating them must complete accommodation registration with the public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after arrival.

Under the new nationwide service, eligible foreigners staying outside hotels can complete the registration online without having to visit a public security organ in person. Online registration has the same legal effect as registration completed on site.

• What Online Registration Channels Are Available?

Online accommodation registration can be completed through:

1. The NIA Government official website

2. The “NIA 12367” App

3. The “NIA 12367” WeChat mini program

4. The Alipay mini program

The existing offline registration service at local public security organs will also remain available.

• Who Can Complete the Registration?

Either the foreigner staying at the accommodation or the person accommodating them can complete the registration.

Because the person accommodating the foreigner is generally more familiar with the accommodation information, the first registration should be completed with the assistance of the person accommodating the foreigner.

A foreigner can complete the registration independently in either of the following circumstances:

1. The foreigner has previously completed accommodation registration through the NIA Government official service platform and needs to register again at the same address.

2. The foreigner is staying at a residence they own.

The person accommodating the foreigner may be either a Chinese citizen or a foreigner.

• When Can Accommodation Registration Be Simplified?

Foreigners staying or residing outside hotels who have already completed accommodation registration as required do not need to register again in the following circumstances:

1. They live at a residence they own in China and return to that residence after traveling within or outside China.

2. They live at their regular residence in China while holding a residence permit or permanent residence permit, and return to the same regular residence after traveling within or outside China during the validity period of the same document.

A self-owned residence refers to a residence in China owned by the foreigner or the foreigner’s spouse.

A regular residence refers to a residence where a foreigner lives or plans to live in China for an extended period. Under Article 36 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, “extended period” means staying in China for more than 180 days.

• What If You Have Questions About Online Registration?

Foreigners and the people accommodating them can access the Online Accommodation Registration Guide on the NIA Government official service platform and follow the instructions provided.

They can also call the NIA 12367 hotline directly for assistance.

Alternatively, they can visit the public service counter of the exit-entry administration authority of the public security organ in their place of residence or the local police station to seek assistance with completing the registration offline.

• What Are the Consequences of Failing to Register?

Foreigners or the people accommodating them who fail to complete accommodation registration as required may face legal consequences.

According to Article 76 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, foreigners or the people accommodating them who fail to complete accommodation registration as required may receive a warning and may also be fined.

Zhangjiajie Roadside Rescue ： Foreign Tourists Save 2 Elderly Lives

In Zhangjiajie, Hunan, on September 18, two foreign tourists joined local passersby to rescue two elderly people from an overturned car, then left for the airport.

Tags:

• Zhangjiajie
• Roadside Rescue
• Foreign Tourists
• Cross-Border Kindness
• Hunan

Source: OT-Team(G), 环球网

A heartwarming roadside rescue involving two foreign tourists and local passersby has gone viral online after the pair helped pull two elderly people from a vehicle that had overturned in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, on the afternoon of September 18.

In the video circulating online, the two foreign men can be seen working with local bystanders to rescue the elderly passengers from the overturned car. One opened the vehicle door while the other carried the two elderly people out in his arms.

The scene prompted comments from Chinese netizens praising the cross-border act of kindness, with some saying that “international Zhangjiajie” had shown the warmth of “international rescue” and that “kindness knows no borders.”

• A Race Against Time

One of the rescuers, a man surnamed Liang, recalled the dramatic sequence of events.

At around 1:40 p.m., Liang and his group were driving back to downtown Zhangjiajie from the Wulingyuan scenic area when the vehicle ahead suddenly hit a roadside barrier while turning and overturned.

Liang’s driver immediately stopped and got out to check on the situation.

The driver of the overturned vehicle, a young man from Hengyang, sustained minor injuries and managed to climb out from the driver’s seat. However, his father and mother, who were sitting in the front passenger seat and the back seat, remained trapped inside.

Blood was visible inside the vehicle, and the situation appeared urgent.

Liang called the police while seven or eight passersby gradually stopped to help. They first tried to open the car doors, but because the vehicle had overturned onto its side, they could not generate enough force.

The group then brought a safety hammer and attempted to break the windows, but that also failed. They subsequently tried several times to lift and turn the vehicle upright, without success.

• Two Foreign Tourists Step In

At that point, two foreign tourists got off a sightseeing bus nearby.

The two men were tall and appeared physically strong. With the help of the people already at the scene, one of them managed to open the car door while the other carried the two elderly passengers out of the vehicle in his arms and placed them safely by the roadside.

Police officers and medical personnel arrived soon afterward and took the driver and the two elderly passengers to hospital. All three sustained only minor injuries.

The two foreign men left the scene shortly after completing the rescue. With everyone focused on helping the injured, the bystanders did not have a chance to ask where the men were from—or even thank them.

“I Said Sorry, But They Got Out to Help”

Ride-hailing driver Hu Wei, who was also involved in the rescue, later provided more details.

According to Hu, the two foreigners were passengers in his car and were on their way to the airport when they encountered the accident along Wuling Mountain Avenue.

Hu pulled over to help. Worried that the rescue might delay his passengers’ journey, he told them, “Sorry.”

What happened next surprised him.

Instead of simply waiting in the car, the two passengers got out and joined the rescue effort.

After the two elderly people had been safely removed and it was confirmed that no one else remained inside the vehicle, the foreign passengers continued their journey to the airport.

Hu learned that the taller of the two men was named Uri and estimated that he was around 1.9 meters tall. The two even took a photo together after arriving at the airport.

• A Rescue Beyond Language

The rescuers and the two foreign tourists spoke different languages, but they responded to the emergency in much the same way: they stopped and helped.

The incident has since become a small but memorable example of cross-border kindness on the streets of Zhangjiajie.

It also comes as Zhangjiajie continues to see growing interest from international visitors, with inbound tourism steadily picking up. More overseas tourists are traveling to the city to experience its famous landscapes—and, in this case, to leave behind a story of human warmth as well.

iPhone iOS 27 Alarm for China Make-Up Workdays and Holidays

iOS 27 adds a Workdays (including adjusted workdays) alarm option that rings on China make-up workdays like September 20 and stays silent on statutory holidays. Requires iPhone 11 or later; check employer schedules.

Tags:

• China Make-Up Workdays
• iPhone Alarm
• iOS 27
• Adjusted Workdays
• National Day Holiday

Your iPhone Alarm Finally Understands China’s Make-Up Workdays

A small iOS 27 setting just solved one of the most confusing parts of living and working in China.       

On Sunday morning, September 20, something unusual happened on iPhones across China: a weekday alarm rang on a weekend — exactly when it was supposed to.     

September 20 was an official make-up workday ahead of the National Day holiday. It was also the first real test of a small but very China-specific feature added in iOS 27: an alarm schedule that recognizes China’s public holidays and adjusted working days.     

The alarm that knows when Sunday is a workday

A mainland official-media report said iOS 27 users who had selected the new “Workdays (including adjusted workdays)” option saw their alarms go off as scheduled on Sunday.    

Previously, an iPhone alarm set for Monday to Friday would stay silent on a Saturday or Sunday — even when the official calendar said it was a working day. Before every long holiday, users had to remember to create a one-off alarm or change their weekly schedule manually.    

The new setting is designed to do both jobs automatically: ring on an official weekend workday and stay silent on a statutory holiday.    

      The new repeat option reads “工作日（含调休）.”  

How to turn it on          

Updating to iOS 27 is not enough by itself. An existing alarm may still be using a fixed Monday-to-Friday schedule.

1. Open the Clock app and create a new alarm, or edit an existing one.

2. Tap Repeat.

3. Select “Workdays (including adjusted workdays)” — shown in Chinese as 工作日（含调休）— and save the alarm.

Can’t see the option? First check that your phone is running iOS 27 and look again under the alarm’s Repeat menu.

Apple’s current compatibility list includes the iPhone 11 series and later models, as well as the second- and third-generation iPhone SE. Apple also notes that some features can vary by region and language.

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Why this is such a China-specific problem      

China sometimes creates a longer continuous public holiday by designating a nearby Saturday or Sunday as a working day. This is commonly called tiaoxiu (调休), or an adjusted holiday schedule.    

For anyone new to China, the result can be confusing: the date looks like a weekend in your calendar, but your office, school or government service may be operating as if it were a weekday.    

      The official September 2026 calendar marks Sunday, September 20, as a workday. 

Dates to remember

National Day holiday: October 1–7           

Adjusted workdays: September 20 and October 10           

That makes Saturday, October 10, the next date to check whether your alarm is using the new schedule.

One practical warning before you trust it   

The feature follows the official mainland holiday calendar. Your employer, school or organization may use a different schedule, especially if you work for an international company or follow shifts.

It is still worth checking your own calendar, testing the alarm volume, and confirming that the alarm is set to the new repeat mode. Apple says Clock alarms will sound even when Silent mode or Focus mode is on, but the alarm volume still needs to be high enough to wake you.

Did your iPhone alarm ring on the Sunday workday — or did iOS 27 still leave you sleeping?

      Source: 荆楚网   

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China's Factory Heirs Face Worker Benefit Questions Online

China's young factory heirs built social media followings showing factory life, but viewers now ask about employee social insurance, weekends off, and workplace protections, prompting deleted comments and criticism.

Tags:

• China Factory Heirs
• Manufacturing Succession
• Social Media Scrutiny
• Worker Benefits
• Factory Working Conditions

China’s young “factory heirs” have found themselves facing a new kind of attention online — and this time, it is not about their wealth, family businesses or glamorous lives.

Screenshot from Internet

Known as “the second generation of factory owners,” these young entrepreneurs are the children of manufacturing business founders who are gradually taking over their family companies. In recent years, many have turned to social media to document their lives inside factories, hoping to build personal brands while bringing new attention to traditional manufacturing businesses.

The strategy initially proved popular.

Some filmed themselves walking through production lines, wearing work clothes and learning about their family businesses. Others created humorous videos, danced inside workshops or turned family succession into short social-media storylines.

The image was different from the stereotypical “rich second generation.” These young heirs appeared to be working alongside ordinary employees while trying to modernize businesses built by their parents.

Their online popularity also offered a practical benefit. Traditional factories often depend on trade exhibitions, offline customer visits and other conventional methods to find clients. Short videos provided a new way to reach potential customers, and some factory owners have said social media now accounts for a significant share of their business.

But as these accounts became more popular, the questions in their comment sections began to change.

Some 'factory second-generation heirs' responded, 'No weekends off, if you want to have weekends, go to a company that pays five days' wages.'

Instead of asking about the heirs’ lifestyles or business journeys, viewers started asking whether factory employees receive social insurance, whether they have weekends off, how many hours they work and what kind of workplace protections they receive.

Workers who had previously appeared in the background of factory videos were suddenly becoming part of the main story.

The change became particularly noticeable in September, when comment sections under several “factory heir” accounts were filled with questions about employee benefits. Some influencers reportedly deleted comments, closed their comment sections or avoided responding.

Others gave more direct answers. One response suggesting that people who wanted two days off should find a company that paid workers for five days triggered further criticism online.

The "second-generation factory heir" dancing on social media

The shift in public attention reflects a broader change in how audiences view these accounts. Previously, viewers were largely invited to watch the lives of wealthy business successors. Now, they are increasingly looking at the people and working conditions behind the businesses being showcased.

China’s manufacturing industry is also undergoing its own transformation, with traditional factories facing pressure to modernize their operations and management. The growing discussion around factory employees has therefore become part of a wider conversation about how the next generation of manufacturing businesses should operate.

For the young heirs, social media has brought customers, followers and publicity. But it has also brought something they may not have expected: public scrutiny.

The more factories open their doors to millions of viewers, the harder it becomes to control what those viewers choose to look at.

And increasingly, they are looking beyond the factory owners — toward the workers who keep the factories running.

Source: 

Editor: Yuna

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