Copyright and trade secrets can be protected without applying, but others require application and cost money.

Utility models can only be applied for in the Patent Office of the State Intellectual Property Office. Of course, you can send the application documents to the Patent Office Acceptance Office of the State Intellectual Property Office by mail. You do not have to go to Beijing in person.

Supplement: This is the case, it cannot be used. But this is not a domination clause, because you cannot prove that you invented this thing. Of course, if such a dispute arises, if you can provide strong evidence that you have invented this thing and have actually applied it before others applied for a patent, then the patent rights obtained by others may be invalidated.

In fact, there is no intention to force inventors to spend money to apply. If you invented something yourself and don't want to spend money to protect it, you can keep it secret yourself and don't let others steal your results.