Last February, my mum and sister flew to the UK to visit us. While they were here, we went on a road trip to Scotland. You can read more about our Scotland trip with Barny here.
We stayed at Premier Inn throughout our holiday in various locations. Our final stop was Edinburgh, where we happened to have rooms opposite my sister’s. I noticed that she followed her usual hotel routine: she knocked on the door and said, “We’ll be sharing the room with you for two nights, thank you.”
This brought back memories from my younger days, when I was told that I must follow this routine. I had completely forgotten about it! Well… not entirely. I don’t knock on the door, but each time I enter a hotel room, I quietly inform ‘them’ that we will be sharing ‘their’ space.
Mr C doesn’t believe in these Chinese superstitions. He thinks I’m completely crazy for doing this!
I’ve had two unpleasant ghost experiences while staying in hotels with him in Italy and Japan, so he’s used to my “crazy” habits by now. That said, I don’t practise these superstitions as much as I used to, especially since my children have started questioning my rather bizarre behaviour.
Chinese Superstitions When Entering a Hotel Room: Tips
Without further ado, here are some rituals and superstitions that many Chinese people follow and believe in:
1. Knock on the door three times before entering
This is to inform the ‘owner’ or spirit that you mean no harm and hope they will respect your stay.
When entering the room for the first time, you should walk in sideways to give ‘them’ space to pass through, should they choose to leave.
2. Turn on all the lights and open the curtains and windows
This helps fill the room with positive energy (yang). Hotels are considered yin spaces, so bringing in yang helps balance the energy.
3. Flush the toilet and open the shower curtain
This is believed to remove any negative energy. In Chinese belief, toilets are associated with negative energy because chi (good energy) is like water—it can escape down pipes and drains.
4. Leave your shoes facing different directions
This prevents spirits from wearing your shoes and following you home. Leaving them mismatched is said to confuse them.
A friend of mine, J. Ng, once told me that spirits could wear your shoes and track you home. I’m a very tidy person and hate mess, but for this, I always kick my shoes in different directions. If my children arrange them neatly, I’ll “accidentally” mess them up!
Interestingly, there’s a story from Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories (22 February 2019) where someone left their shoes messy, only to find them neatly arranged the next morning.
Also, avoid placing slippers next to your bed while sleeping.
5. Never sleep facing a mirror
This is my biggest pet peeve in hotels—why do they always place a huge mirror opposite the bed?
In feng shui, a mirror facing the bed can drain your personal energy. Some also believe that seeing your reflection suddenly upon waking may startle your soul.
To “get rid” of the mirror, I usually block it with luggage or cover it with a towel before going to sleep.
6. Leave the Bible or any holy book alone
If you find a holy book already open, don’t close it. It may have been left that way for a reason.
I probably picked this up from watching too many horror films! I remember one where closing a holy book broke a protective spell and released a spirit.
A few years ago, when I had trouble sleeping in a hotel in Japan, I opened two holy books and placed them in opposite corners of the room. I slept much better after that.
7. Avoid staying on the 4th floor
In Chinese culture, the number four sounds like the word for “death.” That’s why many Asian hotels skip the fourth floor or avoid room numbers starting with four.
Similarly, Western cultures often avoid the number 13, and in Hong Kong, some people avoid the seventh floor. It’s all based on cultural beliefs around luck.
8. Put your belongings on the spare bed if travelling alone
When I travel alone, I place my belongings on the spare bed so it appears occupied.
If your room has two single beds, mess up the unused one—either by placing luggage on it or rumpling the sheets—to signal that it’s taken. Avoid arranging clothes in the shape of a person (人, ren), as this is believed to invite spirits (a tip from Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories, 13 September 2019).
I also sleep with the lights and TV on. Spirits are said to dislike crowds and strong energy, so I try to create that atmosphere to “trick” them!
9. Avoid corner rooms or rooms opposite staircases
Corner rooms are believed to attract spirits because they are more spacious. Staircases, especially those without windows, lack sunlight and are considered highly yin—making them potential entry and exit points.
10. Luggage habits
Don’t unpack everything—leave some clothes in your suitcase and avoid leaving it completely empty, as this may invite spirits to follow you home.
Also, pack your luggage during the day rather than at night.
Do you have any hotel routines or superstitions? Have you had any unusual experiences or tips to share?
Some people suggest sprinkling salt in the corners of the room, while others bring a new umbrella, open it in the room, then close it and leave it outside. Some feng shui masters advise placing seven coins 七帝钱 (Qī dì qián) of equal value at the entrance—arranged in two rows, with three coins in a straight line at the front and four behind—to promote protection evil spirits.
And always check under the bed—just in case! (There’s even a story of someone finding a body under their hotel bed in Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories, 8 March 2019.)
Not seen these trditions in China. Where abouts are you from? I spent most of my time in Shandong so maybe it’s a regional thing. Also as a Scot who thoroughly enjoyed China I really hope you liked Scotland
Hi, I’m a Chinese from Singapore. Not been to China before. Scotland is brilliant place. Love the Scottish accent.
I work in the tourism industry and we are currently expanding into the Chinese market to bring tourists here to our beautiful Scotland. I found the hotel superstitions extremely interesting!! This is something I will be sharing with my colleagues to help us understand the Chinese culture a bit better 🙂 Thank you!
Nice post, enjoyed reading it , some of them I already know and heard about it
That’s fascinating. I already did a few of these anyway, but I am a terrible sponge for superstitions so I will probably be following all of these from now on!
I think the flushing of the toilet is good. I think the reason should be used everywhere, as well as closing the lid- does that have the same effect. I think the men of my house might start putting the seat down and closing the lid if they had a reason for doing so!
Fascinating post. It turns out that a few of these, like placing belongings on the spare bed and opening all the curtains I do anyway. Now I only need to knock before entering!
Though I am not Chinese and didn’t realise it was a Chinese custom I also have to cover the mirror if its facing the bed and have no mirror in the bedroom at home. My husband thinks im crazy for doing it. I also greet a magpie if its alone. I dont pass on stairs either 🙂
wow this is so interesting! I have a few superstitions (magpies and drains!) x
I don’t have superstitions, but I do make a habit of reading the fire escape notice, as the one time I didn’t the fire alarms went off!
I out my things on the roars bed but more if ease of use.
Interesting superstitions
lol, I couldn’t be doing all that! I’m not very superstitious and prefer to walk into my hotel room and relax. 🙂
Sounds interesting! We don’t have any superstitions like this but my fiance family belives in some spirits living in the drains, so you should not flush your sink with boiling water. And I think there is something about not crying in the toilet 😉
I hadn’t heard of all these superstitions so found your post really interesting. I loved reading it.
That’s really interesting, so many superstitions I’ve not heard before.
I am superstitious but never heard of any of these. I like the idea of filling the room with positive energy
i’m not superstitious at all, but i love reading things like this!
Superstitions always fascinate me! This was a great read. I did a Feng Shui class many moons ago, and learned about the mirror thing – we have mirrors on the wardrobes in our bedroom – I HATE them!! At first opportunity they are going.
I also new about the number 4, similarly, I know number 8 is a good number – I use that number a lot!
I don’t think I have any rituals when it comes to staying in hotel rooms, other than taking photos of it for trip reports and reviews and pinching all the tea, coffee and biscuits to take home if we don’t use them mwahahaha
Love hearing about superstitions, these seem less bizarre than some of the English ones. My only hotel routine, is pinching the hot chocolates to bring home!! Shhh! 😉
This is really interesting. I’m not superstitious but I love reading about other traditions and rituals!
This is so interesting! I don’t have any superstitions like this but I do take on board some of the things from movies, I watch a lot of action movies so I’m always aware when standing near windows – just on the off chance that there is a sniper!! lol. I also cover my webcam incase of people hacking and using it to spy. I know it’s unlikely, but I rather be safe than sorry!
Remind me never to share a hotel room with you! Seriously though, a very interesting post. I find that I’m getting more superstitious as I get older
I love these…especially turning the shoes round, I’m going to start doing this when I stay in hotels now!!
How interesting to read….I’m not superstitious and do nothing like anything you have mentioned but it is fascinating to read about 🙂 x
I don’t have any rituals like this but I am not really superstitious! It sounds like a lot of hard work trying to remember everything!
Chinese traditions are fascinating, but there are so many! I think a lot of superstitions come from reasons we can all understand, but our way of explaining them is very different. I’m not sure you should believe what you see in movies though 😀