Should you rent furnished or unfurnished in China in 2026?

Chinese listings may say 拎包入住 (bring your bag and move in) for furnished stock, or show sparse photos that still call a unit “ready.” Some kitchens keep cabinets and a cooktop while bedrooms arrive empty. Air conditioners are common; dryers are not. Ask for a room-by-room inventory before you sign, then photograph meters and furniture at handover: Rental contracts and deposits.

Ziroom and similar managed brands usually lean furnished with clearer item lists and service fees. Classic landlord leases on Beike or Lianjia can be bare, half-furnished, or fully stocked depending on the owner. Tiny studios may ship with a bed and little else: Tiny apartments. Hotels and serviced apartments bridge the first nights: Short-term housing for newcomers.

Choose furnished if your assignment is under a year, you lack time for appliance shopping, or Mandarin shopping apps still feel slow. Choose unfurnished if you will stay multi-year and want lower monthly rent once deposits clear. Either path still needs deposit customs, agent fees, and PSB address registration: Rent in China and Avoid rental scams.

Shanghai expat belts often price furnished stock at a clear premium: Renting in Shanghai. Compound fees sit beside rent either way: Condominium fees. Know what you can demand if items disappear: Tenant rights.