New thread is fine, no worries.

It is normal for a Chinese hotel to ask for a deposit and most Chinese guests use a local card. Normally, whether local or foreign card is used, the deposit will be run on a separate charge slip as a block, but not actually processed as a transaction. Then upon departure it is released separately from the actual room charges.

In intl branded hotels a card is fine for deposit. In budget Chinese hotels, I prefer not to use a card and instead use cash deposit which is always an option. Sometimes the deposit is as little as RMB 100 or 200, sometimes it is equal to one night's stay, sometimes equal to the entire stay. This is one reason I carry a wad of cash RMB around. A receipt for the deposit is always given and you must present this when checking out to get your refund. In addition to keeping my credit card information more secure, the cash method has the benefit of being refundable by even the most junior of clerks that happen to be stationed at the front desk. I've never had any deposit cash or card not 100% refunded. And I've never had a card-based deposit run as unauthorized. Hopefully this will help put your mind at ease.