China Travel Tips

Do You Need a Visa?

Most foreign visitors need a visa to enter China. The most common type for tourists is the L visa (tourist visa). However, China offers several visa-free transit options:

• 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Available at most international airports for any nationality
• 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Available for citizens of 54 countries in designated cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, and more). You must have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region.
• Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free: Citizens of 59 countries can visit Hainan province visa-free for up to 30 days through a travel agency
• Visa-Free for Certain Countries: As of 2025, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, and several others can enter China visa-free for up to 15 days

Tip: Apply for your visa at least 1-2 months before travel. You'll need a passport valid for 6+ months, a completed application form, a photo, and proof of accommodation.

WeChat Pay & Alipay — China Goes Cashless

China is essentially a cashless society. WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝) are accepted everywhere — from luxury malls to street food stalls.

• Download WeChat before your trip. In WeChat → Me → Services → Wallet → Add international card (Visa/Mastercard supported since 2023)
• Download Alipay. Tap "Add Bank Card" and link your international card directly
• Both apps now support linking Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Diners Club cards
• Transaction limits: up to ¥50,000 per transaction for foreign-linked accounts

⚠️ Important: Some small vendors only accept QR code payments. Always have both WeChat Pay and Alipay set up before arriving. Cash is rarely used and some vendors may not have change.

High-Speed Rail

China has the world's largest high-speed rail network (45,000+ km). Trains reach speeds of 350 km/h.

• Trip.com — English interface, supports international cards
• 12306.cn — Official railway app (now has English version)
• Book early for popular routes, especially during holidays

Ride-Hailing & Metro

• Didi (滴滴) — China's Uber. Available in English or through Alipay/WeChat mini-programs
• Metro/Subway — Available in 40+ cities. Use WeChat/Alipay QR codes at the gate
• Apple Maps — Works well in China with English support
• Baidu Maps / Amap (高德) — Most accurate, but limited English

Flights

For long distances, domestic flights are affordable. Major airlines: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern. Book through Trip.com. Arrive 2 hours early for domestic flights.

• China has its own internet ecosystem. Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and many Western sites are blocked
• Buy a local SIM card at the airport (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom). Bring your passport. Tourist SIMs cost ¥50-200
• eSIM — If your phone supports it, buy before arrival (options from Airalo, Holafly)
• Essential apps: WeChat (communication + payments), Amap (navigation), Meituan (food delivery), Ctrip (travel booking), Dianping (restaurant reviews)
• Translation: Pleco (dictionary) and Baidu Translate are essential. Download offline packs

• Wait to be seated at restaurants
• Use chopsticks properly — Never stick chopsticks upright in rice, don't point with them, don't tap bowls
• Shared dishes — Meals are served family-style. Use serving chopsticks (公筷) when available
• Leaving a little food shows the host has provided enough
• Hot water — Chinese people drink hot/warm water. It's customary
• Tipping — Not expected or practiced in China
• Toasting — "Gānbēi" (干杯) means "dry cup" — bottoms up!

• Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY/RMB). Denominations: ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50, ¥100
• ATMs — Available everywhere. International cards work at major bank ATMs

Style	Budget	Details
Budget	¥200-400/day	Hostels, street food, local transport
Mid-Range	¥500-1000/day	3-star hotels, restaurants, tours
Comfort	¥1500+/day	4-5 star hotels, fine dining, private tours

• China is very safe for tourists. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare
• Emergency numbers: Police 110, Ambulance 120, Fire 119
• Travel insurance — Highly recommended
• Air quality — Northern cities can be polluted; bring a mask. Southern/western China has excellent air quality
• Pharmacies — Widely available. Many medicines available without prescription

• Ask permission before photographing people, especially ethnic minorities and monks
• Some attractions require separate photography tickets
• Drone regulations — Heavily restricted. Registration required. No flying near government buildings or military areas
• Best spots: Sunrise at the Great Wall, Li River at dusk, Zhangye Danxia at sunset