What is the usual deposit required?

The normal practice in China is that most landlords require a two-month holding deposit once the contract is signed and the monthly rental fee should be paid upfront every month. This deposit will be held until the end of the tenancy agreement and refunded according to the terms of the contract. If you terminate your tenancy agreement early, this holding deposit shall not be refundable. So you need to keep this in mind when you sign a lease tenancy agreement longer than two years.