According to Lodging Econometrics (LE)’s Q2 2026 China Construction Pipeline Trend Report, China’s total hotel construction pipeline stood at 3,588 projects with 632,256 rooms at the end of the second quarter.
Of these, 2,547 projects with 442,737 rooms were under construction. Meanwhile, 343 projects with 57,665 rooms were scheduled to start construction within the next 12 months. Projects in the early planning stage also increased year over year, reaching 698 projects with 131,854 rooms, up 4% by projects and 3% by rooms.
Construction starts also gained momentum in Q2. The number of projects starting construction increased 7% year over year, reaching 205 projects with 30,394 rooms.
Upper Midscale and Upscale Hotels Lead the Pipeline
The upper midscale chain scale reached a record high in Q2, with 1,287 projects and 188,175 rooms. That represents a 7% year-over-year increase in projects and a 3% increase in rooms.
The upscale chain scale also reached a record-high project count, with 1,087 projects and 219,168 rooms.
Together, the upper midscale and upscale segments account for 66% of projects and 64% of rooms in China’s hotel construction pipeline. Combined, they represent 2,374 projects with 407,343 rooms, with the number of projects increasing 4% year over year.
Hotel Conversions and Renovations Reach Record High
Hotel renovations and brand conversions in China also reached a record-high project total in Q2. Combined, the two categories increased 24% year over year by projects and 18% by rooms, reaching 265 hotels with 45,733 rooms.
Conversions accounted for the vast majority of this activity. The segment represented 92% of the combined total, with a record-high 245 projects and 39,431 rooms.
Chengdu Leads China’s Hotel Construction Pipeline
At the end of Q2, Chengdu had the largest hotel construction pipeline in China, with 127 projects and 22,785 rooms.
It was followed by Guangzhou, with 120 projects and 24,633 rooms, and Shanghai, with 109 projects and 20,342 rooms. Hangzhou ranked fourth, with 95 projects and 17,708 rooms, while Beijing rounded out the top five with 81 projects and 13,073 rooms.
China Hotel Openings Set to Accelerate
Through the second quarter of 2026, 500 new hotels with 69,422 rooms had opened across China.
Looking ahead, LE forecasts another 631 hotels with 92,243 rooms to open during the third and fourth quarters. As a result, China is expected to record 1,131 new hotel openings with 161,665 rooms by the end of 2026.
The outlook extends well beyond this year. LE analysts forecast 890 new hotels with 149,076 rooms to open in 2027.
For the first time, LE has also released its 2028 hotel opening forecast. Analysts project that 680 new hotels with 118,996 rooms will open across China by the end of 2028.
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