Travel Tips

Visa-free entry	Many nationalities now enter visa-free (15 or 30 days); China resumed issuing tourist visas in 2023 and keeps expanding the visa-free list. Why: China keeps loosening entry rules to attract visitors. Confirm the latest list with your local Chinese embassy.
Visa-free transit	24/72/144/240 hours (up to 10 days) with an onward ticket to a third country, via designated ports. A convenience designed for transit passengers.
Tourist visa	Countries not on the list need a tourist visa (L), ~4-7 working days. Requirements: passport valid 6+ months, return tickets and hotel bookings.
Business visa	M visa for business visitors: valid 3-6 months, stay 30-60 days, ~$40-200. Needs a Chinese invitation letter.
Study visa	X visa for students: valid 6-12 months, stay 180+ days, ~$50-250. Needs an admission letter.

Apps to Use

China consulates

Official visa info

Trip.com

Visa guidance & docs

Embassy website

Latest visa-free policy

Questions & Answers

Hotels	From budget to five-star, international brands everywhere in big cities. Beijing private double with bathroom ~¥340/night. Chinese hotels fall into "domestic" and "foreign-guest" categories: foreigners may only stay at hotels licensed to host foreign guests; HK/Macao/Taiwan travellers need hotels that accept them. Confirm "foreign guests welcome" before booking. Check-in needs your passport + real-name registration. Your name must match your passport exactly (surname + first + middle) — a mismatch gets rejected, so print a Chinese copy of your hotel confirmation.
Guesthouses	Mostly family-run and great value: bigger rooms, often free laundry and meals, hosts who arrange drivers and tickets. Guilin private doubles from ~¥80/night. Also confirm "foreign guests welcome"; some take cash/QR deposits at check-in.
Hostels	¥50-150/night — the budget choice for backpackers and solo travellers, and a great way to meet people.
Serviced apartments	¥200-600/night with a kitchen — a home-away-from-home for long stays and families.

Apps to Use

Trip.com

English / intl. cards / free cancel

Ctrip

Largest domestic selection

Qunar

Price comparison

Booking.com

Needs a VPN

Comparison · Recommended stays in popular cities

Booking platforms

⭐ Recommended

Booking.com

International platform · Chinese interface · Free cancellation

⭐ Best for China

Ctrip

China's largest · English version available · Widest hotel selection

⭐ Unique stays

Airbnb

Unique stays · Good English support

Booking Tips

• Trip.com first: English interface, international cards accepted, free cancellation within a window, and it works in China without a VPN.
• Booking.com also works but needs a VPN.
• For value and hospitality, search for "guesthouses" — they usually have bigger rooms, free laundry and meals, and hosts who happily arrange private drivers and tickets.

Accommodation tips

1. Foreigner-friendlyConfirm the hotel accepts foreign guests
2. Passport registrationOriginal passport required at check-in
3. DepositSome hotels require a deposit
4. Check-in / check-outCheck-in 14:00 / check-out 12:00
5. Free Wi-FiOffered by most hotels
6. English at front deskStar-rated hotels offer English service

High-speed rail	The world's largest high-speed rail network at 350km/h. Tickets open 15 days ahead and popular routes sell out fast; foreigners use the staffed lane with their passport (gates scan Chinese ID cards only). Free hot water and QR seat-ordering onboard; overnight sleepers for long hauls. Loud chatter on board is normal — light sleepers, pack earplugs.
Metro	¥3-7 per ride; set up a digital transit card in AliPay to tap in/out. Why QR? No queueing for tickets — some stations have no machines.
Bus	~¥1-2 per ride; modern and punctual.
DiDi ride-hailing	English interface, foreign cards, fixed pricing. Avoid: at airports/stations use the official taxi rank (metered), ignore touts — taxi overcharging is a common scam.
Shared bikes	Everywhere on the streets, scan and ride for a few yuan — perfect for short hops. What are they? Dockless shared bicycles: unlock with AliPay/WeChat QR, park anywhere on the curb when done.
Flights	Best for long cross-province hops: 800-900 km/h, ¥300-2000+. Book on Ctrip/Trip.com; arrive at the airport 2 hours early.

Apps to Use

12306

Official rail (has English)

Trip.com

Trains / flights / drivers

DiDi

Ride-hailing

Amap

Bus / metro / walking

Comparison · Popular high-speed rail routes

Buying HSR tickets in 5 steps

1. Download 12306
2. Verify your passport
3. Search trains
4. Pay online
5. Scan passport to board

Booking Tips

• Tickets open 15 days ahead: grab popular routes (Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Chengdu...) on release day.
• Trip.com e-tickets: foreigners get an instant e-ticket and board via the staffed lane with their passport — no paper ticket needed.
• 12306 vs Trip.com: the official 12306 has no booking fee but is mostly Chinese;
• Trip.com is fully in English for a small service fee.

Questions & Answers

AliPay	First choice, widest coverage: taxis, restaurants, street stalls. Cards: international version accepts Visa/Mastercard/WISE — link and scan to pay.
WeChat Pay	Backup payment + messaging. Install both: some vendors take only one — if one fails try the other, or ask the vendor to pay via their QR, or open an AliPay TourCard.
Cash	RMB cash still works, but some shops have no change — carry small notes. No sales tax — sticker price is what you pay. Most shops have fixed prices — no haggling, except a few markets (e.g. Beijing's Silk and Pearl Markets). Buying counterfeit designer goods is risky — the government cracks down on fakes, and confiscation plus fines are possible.
International cards	Hotels and big malls. Note: both apps charge ~3% on single payments over ¥200 — split large purchases; ATM withdrawals (Bank of China, ICBC, CCB) beat exchanging cash.

Apps to Use

Alipay

Main payment + transit card

WeChat Pay

Backup payment + chat

TourCard

Local-style card backup

Currency app

RMB conversion

• Get online first — Make sure your network works
• Carry cash — Keep 500-1000 yuan as backup
• Stay secure — Set a payment password + fingerprint
• Backup plan — Install both WeChat Pay and Alipay

Questions & Answers

VPN	Install before you fly (LetsVPN, ExpressVPN, Astrill). Why: VPN sites are blocked once you land — downloading and subscribing gets tricky; you also need it on hotel/restaurant WiFi.
eSIM / local SIM	Short trips: eSIM (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly) activates by QR; some international SIMs with China roaming work without a VPN (routed overseas, bypassing the firewall). Long stays (30d+): get a local SIM.
Maps	Google Maps is blocked and outdated; use Amap instead — English search works (results in Chinese; screenshot and translate), great for bus/metro/walking.
Free WiFi	Hotels, malls and metros offer free WiFi, but some need SMS verification — a local number helps (also needed for food delivery and online shopping).
Chinese SIM card	¥50-200/month with 5G — best for long stays. Get one at the airport or a city store with your passport.
Pocket WiFi	¥10-30/day, one device shared by a group — handy when travelling together.
International roaming	¥30-100/day — simplest for short trips: works the moment you land, no SIM swap. Confirm your carrier covers China.

Apps to Use

VPN

LetsVPN / ExpressVPN

Airalo / Nomad

eSIM

Amap

Navigation

WeChat

Chat + translate

• Real-name registration — Passport verification required
• Instant activation — Works as soon as you buy

1. Show your passport

   Visit an airport arrivals hall or a city store with your valid passport; real-name registration is required before purchase.
2. Choose a plan

   Tell staff you're traveling and pick a short-term data-heavy plan; confirm what call minutes and SMS are included.
3. Activate

   Staff complete registration and activation on the spot; you're usually online within minutes.
4. Test it

   Check data and calls before leaving the counter to confirm everything works.
5. Keep your number safe

   Note your number and plan expiry; keep the phone on during your trip and cancel the plan before flying home.

Time zone

All of China uses Beijing time (GMT+8), no daylight saving — the country spans five geographic time zones but runs on one clock, so daylight hours differ noticeably between east and west. Multi-time-zone travellers, plan accordingly.

Metrics & apps

Metric system: kilometres, kilos, Celsius (like Europe, unlike the US). Delivery & shopping: Meituan/Ele.me deliver food (ship to your hotel front desk) — some accept international cards, support varies by bank, or ask a friend to pay; Taobao/JD need a real-name account and local address — ship to the hotel. Forgot something? Miniso, Watsons and similar shops are everywhere — or order online and ship to your hotel.

Apps to Use

Translate app

Pleco / WeChat

Questions & Answers

Street safety	Extremely safe — CCTV everywhere and low crime, and Chinese people are friendly and welcoming. Solo travel (including as a woman) is safe too — just avoid isolated streets late at night. Buy travel insurance (with medical cover) before you go. E-vehicles are silent and mopeds ride on pavements — look both ways and keep headphones off. Why: electric vehicles make almost no sound.
Security & scams	Bag scanning at every metro, station and attraction — strict checks are why it's so safe. HSR detail: liquids may need a sip test, power banks have capacity limits, aerosols are restricted; airports check even more thoroughly (electronics out, random coat/belt checks). Beware scams: tea-house invites, dating-app bar tabs, "Good Samaritan" setups.
Etiquette & rules	Greet with a nod and smile — handshakes only in formal settings; no tipping (service included) — leaving money can actually confuse staff; no smoking indoors; never stand chopsticks upright in rice; avoid gifting clocks/umbrellas/pears; temples: remove shoes, don't point at statues; no photos in military zones, some museums or temple halls — ask before photographing locals; drive on the right (look left when crossing); emergency 110/120/119; drones need registration; zero tolerance on drugs — up to the death penalty. Drinking in public is legal and convenience stores sell alcohol all day — just drink responsibly; at famous sights locals may ask to take photos with you — a friendly yes is fine; public spitting happens and is normal — don't take it personally; morning park exercise and group dancing are a beloved daily ritual.

Apps to Use

Pleco / Translate

Communication

AQI app

Air quality

DiDi

Safe rides

Emergency

Emergency Steps

1. Stay CalmCall the relevant emergency number
2. Explain the SituationDescribe your needs in Chinese or English
3. Give Your LocationName the street or landmark, or share your map location
4. Contact Your EmbassyContact your country's embassy in China

Medical Care Guide

• Major Chinese cities all have international hospitals or foreigner-friendly clinics offering English services.
• Large general hospitals usually have an "International Medical Center" — bring your passport when you visit.
• We recommend downloading Ping An Good Doctor or WeDoctor for online consultations.

Common Emergency Scenarios

Questions & Answers