China Policy Update — 2 September 2026

policy • 2 September 2026

According to China Travel News and industry reports, China’s hotel pipeline is expanding fast, with **3,588 projects** and **632,256 rooms** under construction in Q2 2026, while **500 new hotels** opened in the first half of the year and another **631** are forecast for the second half.[1][2] That puts **2026 total openings at 1,131 new hotels** if forecasts hold, underscoring strong momentum in tourism infrastructure across major and emerging destinations.[1][2] A recent example is **Financial City Chengdu – MGallery Collection**, which has opened as Accor’s **third MGallery hotel in Chengdu** and its **tenth in China**.[5][6] According to Accor, the new **155-room** property strengthens its presence in Western China’s business and tourism market, while also signalling ongoing demand for higher-end, design-led accommodation in major city destinations.[6][13] Hilton is also adding to China’s accommodation stock through **conversion and redevelopment projects**, which is a practical trend for travellers because it often brings new rooms to established areas more quickly than a ground-up build.[10][12] The company has signed five such projects, including **Dali’s Nanshan Naha Hotel** for **September 2026**, **Shenzhen Xili Station Hilton Garden Inn** for **2026**, and **Wenchang DoubleTree by Hilton** and **Emeishan City Center Hot Spring Hilton Garden Inn** for **2027**.[3][10][12]

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