Hotel Ratings in China: What’s the Difference Between Stars and Diamonds?
When booking hotels in China, you might notice two rating systems: stars (★) and diamonds (♦). They look similar, but in fact, they come from two completely different systems. One is an official government standard, while the other is a commercial rating system created by online travel platforms.
1. Star Rating (★) — The Official Standard
- Who sets it: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China (formerly the National Tourism Administration) and authorized agencies.
- Based on: The official national standard “Classification and Rating of Tourist Hotels” (GB/T 14308).
- Applies to: Mainly traditional hotels like international chains, business hotels, and resorts.
- How it’s evaluated: Inspectors score hotels based on facilities, service quality, and management standards.
- Levels:
- ★☆☆☆☆ One Star – Simple, very basic accommodation.
- ★★☆☆☆ Two Stars – Basic but more complete facilities, budget-friendly.
- ★★★☆☆ Three Stars – Mid-range hotels with standard amenities.
- ★★★★☆ Four Stars – Upscale hotels with good facilities and services.
- ★★★★★ Five Stars – Luxury hotels with top-notch facilities and premium services.
Key features:
- It’s government-certified, so it’s authoritative and trusted.
- The evaluation process takes time, so some new hotels may not yet have an official star rating.
- The system focuses more on hardware and management rather than real-time guest experience.
2. Diamond Rating (♦) — Online Travel Platforms
- Who sets it: Major booking platforms like Trip.com (Ctrip) and Qunar.
- Based on: A mix of hotel facilities, service, user reviews, and booking data, calculated by the platform’s own algorithm.
- Applies to: Almost all types of accommodations, including boutique hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses.
- Levels (example from Trip.com):
- 1–2 Diamonds – Economy hotels.
- 3 Diamonds – Comfortable hotels.
- 4 Diamonds – Upscale hotels.
- 5 Diamonds – Luxury hotels.
- Platinum 5 Diamonds – Ultra-luxury, top-tier stays.
Key features:
- Updated more frequently, reflecting recent guest experiences.
- Covers a wider range of accommodations, not just traditional hotels.
- Standards differ between platforms since each uses its own scoring system.
3. Which One Should You Trust?
- If you care more about hotel facilities and overall class, check the star rating.
- If you care more about recent guest reviews and up-to-date experiences, check the diamond rating.
- The best way is to look at both before booking, so you don’t rely on just one system.
