On Chinese booking sites, room size appears as a number followed by ㎡ or 平方米, meaning square metres. The figure helps, but it does not show the layout or whether the bathroom is included. Use it together with the photos and one question to the hotel.
If you do not read Chinese, a page of unfamiliar characters can feel like guesswork. Learning a few of them takes the guesswork away.
What do the characters mean?
Chinese booking pages repeat a small set of words. Find these and you will find the size.
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 面积 | Room area |
| ㎡ or 平方米 | Square metres |
| 床型 | Bed type |
| 楼层 | Floor |
| 可住人数 | Number of guests allowed |
Do this: screenshot the page, then use your phone’s translation camera on the line beside 面积. Our guide to hotel booking apps explains which apps work well for Malaysians.
What does the figure not tell you?
A figure is only a total. It does not tell you the shape or the furniture.
- Whether the bathroom is counted.
- Whether the balcony is counted.
- Whether the room is long and narrow or squarer.
- How much floor remains once the beds are in.
Two rooms with the same figure can feel quite different. A room with a wide window and little furniture looks and feels larger than one filled with a sofa and desk.
How do you picture the room?
Build the picture in three steps. It takes a minute and saves a poor night.
- Place the beds. A twin room puts two beds side by side.
- Open your suitcases on the floor, one per traveller.
- Trace a clear path from the door to the bathroom.
If the third step is blocked, the room is too small for your group. For three people, read our triple room guide, and for families see the family room and bed size guide.
When does size matter most?
It matters most for stays of three nights or more, for families, for travellers with large cases and for anyone who moves slowly. For a single night, a smaller room is fine if the bed is comfortable.
It matters least in cities where you spend the whole day out, and most at resorts or places where you rest between trips. Match the room to the trip, not to the highest figure.
What can you ask the hotel?
Send one short message. Ask whether the figure includes the bathroom, ask for a photo from the doorway and ask whether a larger room is free. A hotel that replies clearly is a good sign.
Our package hotel category guide shows how star labels and room sizes relate, and the hotel types guide explains how different kinds of Chinese hotels compare. Browse the stays topic page for more.