Yes. If you are a foreign visitor aged 16 or older staying in mainland China, Chinese law says you must carry your passport or another international travel document, or a foreigner’s stay or residence permit, and accept inspection by public security authorities.
For most short-term tourists, the practical answer is simple: carry your original passport. A photo or photocopy is useful if the passport goes missing, but it is not a general replacement for the original. China Railway and some real-name attractions, including the Palace Museum, explicitly require the original ID used for the booking.
The short answer
- Article 38 of China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law applies to foreigners aged 16 or older who stay or reside in China.
- Article 38’s carry requirement starts at age 16. Children under 16 are outside that age clause, although hotels, railways, and attractions may still require their travel documents under their own service rules.
- A short-term tourist will normally rely on the original passport used to enter and make bookings.
- Hotels register foreign guests and may need the passport at check-in.
- China Railway requires the valid ID used to buy the ticket for station entry, boarding, and exit checks.
- Real-name attractions may require the original document used for the reservation.
- Keep a paper copy and a secure digital scan, but treat them as backups rather than substitutes.
What does Chinese law say?
Article 38 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law says that foreigners aged 16 or older who stay or reside in China must carry their passports or other international travel documents, or their stay or residence permits, and accept inspection by public security authorities.
A China Daily government-information page updated in January 2026, citing the National Immigration Administration, gives the same plain answer: foreigners should carry the document with them. It also points to trains, hotels, and major attractions as places where the passport is used. The legal basis remains Article 38 itself.
The law names several possible documents because not every foreigner has the same immigration status. A resident may hold a stay or residence permit. Most tourists do not. If you entered with a passport and visa, or under a visa-free arrangement, do not assume that a visa screenshot or a photocopy of the passport satisfies the carry requirement.
This article covers mainland China. Check the separate rules for Hong Kong and Macao if either is part of your trip.
Where will you need the original passport?
Hotel check-in
Hotels must register foreign guests. A 2025 Ministry of Commerce guide published on the English-language Chinese government website says foreign travelers can complete hotel registration by presenting a valid passport or another accepted international travel document at reception.
This is separate from the rule for staying in a friend’s home or other non-hotel accommodation. For the hotel process and the 24-hour registration distinction, read Can Foreigners Stay in Hotels in China?.
Train travel
China uses real-name railway tickets. The official 12306 English FAQ says passengers must show the valid ID used to buy the ticket when checking in, leaving the station, and boarding the train. A Ministry of Commerce travel guide is more explicit: foreign travelers use the original valid identification document used for the booking.
A printed itinerary sheet is not a ticket or an identity document. Keep the passport accessible rather than packed inside a suitcase. Our 12306 foreign passport guide explains the booking and identity-verification steps.
Real-name attractions
Rules vary by attraction, so check the official booking page for the place you plan to visit. The Palace Museum is a clear example. Its official ticket instructions require visitors to bring the original valid ID used for the reservation to the Meridian Gate for check-in.
A reservation email or screenshot helps staff find a booking. It does not replace the original document when the attraction requires real-name admission. See How to Book Attraction Tickets in China as a Foreigner for the wider booking process.
Public security inspection
Article 38 also requires foreigners to accept document inspection by public security authorities. Article 38 itself does not state a tourist or hotel-safe exception.
Is a passport photo or photocopy enough?
No, not as a general replacement for the original.
A copy still has real value. It records your passport number and identity details, can help with a consular replacement application, and gives you something to reference if the original is lost. Keep one paper copy away from the passport and save a secure digital scan that you can reach without the missing phone.
The railway rules show why the distinction matters. The 12306 FAQ says a person buying a ticket for someone else at a station counter may use the passenger’s original document or a copy in some circumstances. The passenger still has to present the valid ID used for the booking to pass the checks and board. Buying the ticket and taking the trip are different checkpoints.
If a Chinese authority is temporarily holding your passport for an immigration application, carry the official receipt or document it issues and follow its instructions. The government transportation guide lists specific official originals, including a visa-application acceptance receipt and a passport-loss report certificate, among the IDs usable for rail travel. Follow 12306 or station instructions so the document is correctly recorded for the journey. This evidence does not establish acceptance at hotels, attractions, or other forms of transport.
How to carry it without making loss more likely
Carry it somewhere secure and consistent, not in the pocket a thief can reach first.
- Use an inside zipped pocket or a body-worn travel pouch.
- Keep it in a slim waterproof sleeve.
- Do not put it in an outer backpack pocket or in luggage that will be stored away from you.
- Keep the paper copy, digital scan, and original in separate places.
- Return the passport to the same secure pocket after a hotel, railway, attraction, or police check.
- Do not send passport images through unverified chat accounts, booking links, or QR codes.
When a staff member needs the document, keep track of who has it and take it back as soon as the check is complete. The official sources reviewed for this article require travelers to present valid identification for hotel registration. They do not establish a blanket rule that hotels keep the passport after check-in.
What if the passport is lost or stolen?
Move to a safe, staffed place and report the loss. The U.S. State Department’s China page tells U.S. citizens to file a police report at the nearest police station and apply for a replacement passport at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. It also says they must obtain a new Chinese visa.
The police loss report matters inside China because the State Department says it can be used for hotel check-in and train travel while the replacement process is underway. Follow the police, exit-entry bureau, railway, hotel, and consular instructions for the exact document you receive. Our lost passport recovery guide keeps those steps in one place.
This article provides general travel information, not legal advice. Immigration and service procedures can change. Check the current official source when a document rule affects a fixed booking or travel day.
About the author
Henry is loclyx.com’s blog writer for US travelers heading to mainland China. He works with local experts to verify practical China travel information. The legal and service claims in this article were checked against the official sources linked above and updated on August 1, 2026.
Rules and service requirements verified as of August 1, 2026. Subject to change.