The practical basics

For many nationalities, visa-free entry is now the default.

Most European, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, and South Korean passports currently enjoy 15–30 day visa-free stays (as of early 2026). Always verify the current list with your nearest Chinese embassy or the official China Visa service site before booking.

If your passport needs a visa, apply at least 4–6 weeks ahead. The standard L (tourist) visa now allows multiple entries, and applications can be done online at many consulates. Keep a printed copy of your flight and hotel bookings for immigration.

Carry your passport with you, and register your accommodation — your hotel does this automatically. If you stay in a private apartment, the host must register you with the local police station within 24 hours.

The 24-hour and 144-hour transit visa-free rules still apply at major hubs: you can often stay 2–6 days in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou without a visa, if you hold a confirmed onward ticket.

Alipay and WeChat Pay accept international Visa and Mastercard on foreign cards.

Download both apps, choose 'International' mode, and link your card before departure — the process is smoother on home Wi-Fi.

Both apps now support English interfaces, and Alipay has a dedicated Traveler Pass. For taxis, hotels, street food, and train tickets, a QR scan settles everything in seconds.

Cash is still legal and accepted, but carry small denominations — many street vendors cannot make change for large notes, and some smaller shops are cash-free entirely.

Keep one card that does not charge foreign fees, and tell your bank you are traveling. Withdrawing 200–300 yuan in cash at an airport ATM is a sensible backup.

China's high-speed network (G and D trains) connects every major city.

Beijing–Shanghai in 4.5 hours, Beijing–Xi'an in 4.5, Chengdu–Chongqing in 1. China Railway (12306.cn) sells tickets online with a passport; the official app has an English mode.

Book long-distance trains 3–7 days ahead during holidays. At the station, scan your passport at the gate — no paper ticket needed for domestic routes on the app-booking system.

Metro systems in 40+ cities are cheap (1.5–4 yuan), frequent, and English-labeled. Use a China-friendly map app rather than a western one for transit directions.

For cities without rail links (many western destinations), domestic flights are affordable. Fly into Lijiang, Zhangjiajie, and Guilin directly — rail detours add a day.

Translation apps are excellent now — DeepL and the major AI translators handle Chinese well.

Photo-translation (point at a menu or sign) is remarkably accurate. Download an offline pack before you land.

A dozen phrases make a real difference: ni hao (hello), xie xie (thank you), bu yao la (not spicy), dui bu qi (sorry), and 'this one, please' — pointing works.

For addresses and taxi destinations, have the Chinese characters ready on your phone screen — drivers and maps both read Chinese far better than pinyin.

Most young urbanites speak some English, and hotel staff, metro staff, and airport counters are reliably bilingual. In smaller towns, the translation app is your companion.

International sites (Booking, Agoda, Trip.com) show English reviews and handle most hotels.

Domestic guesthouses and 'minsu' often appear only on Chinese platforms — use Trip.com's local inventory for the widest range.

For old-town destinations like Lijiang and Yangshuo, a courtyard guesthouse (minsu) beats a chain hotel: quieter rooms, local hosts, and breakfast with a view. Check recent reviews for noise and dampness — old buildings vary.

Location beats star rating. In Beijing, stay near a metro line inside the 2nd ring; in Xi'an, inside the city wall; in Shanghai, near a metro station anywhere in the former French Concession or Bund area.

Hotels register your passport at check-in — this is automatic and required by law. Keep your booking confirmation in Chinese ready for taxi drivers.

The regional map: Beijing (roast duck, lamb hotpot), Xi'an (noodles, roujiamo), Sichuan (hotpot, mapo tofu), Hunan (steaming spice), Cantonese (dim sum, slow soups), Shanghai (xiaolongbao).

A 'national dish' does not exist — regional is the only way. Ordering basics: point at the menu with photos, say 'zhe ge' (this one), and specify 'bu yao la' (not spicy) if needed.

For hotpot, a split pot (half spicy, half clear) keeps everyone happy. Street food is safe when it is cooked in front of you and busy.

Follow the queues of locals — a long line at 7pm is the best quality signal in China. Tea houses and night markets are dining experiences, not just stops. In Chengdu, the teahouse IS the main course.

Street crime is rare. Petty theft exists in tourist crowds — keep your phone in a front pocket at busy sites.

Personal space and physical contact differ: strangers will not bump you on purpose, and loud disagreements in public are rare. Keep your own voice moderate in queues and on transport.

In temples and mosques, dress conservatively and remove hats where signs ask. Do not photograph people without a smile and a gesture first — most are happy to say yes.

Tipping is not expected anywhere, including restaurants and hotels. Offering a small gift (fruit, tea) to a homestay host is the generous equivalent.

Install a China-friendly map app before arrival — western map apps are unreliable or incomplete in China.

The local map app (with English mode) is essential for metro routing and walking directions.

Translation: DeepL and the major AI translation apps work well offline once language packs are downloaded. Photo-translate menus and signs by pointing your camera.

Connectivity: international roaming from your home carrier works in China and keeps your usual apps reachable — but can be pricey. Travel eSIMs sold before departure are the popular middle ground; hotel and café Wi-Fi is widespread but may be slow.

Local SIM cards (China Mobile, China Unicom) at airport counters are cheap and give fast data — bring your passport, and ask for a tourist data plan with a QR-setup.

Almost every tourist overcharge in China follows one pattern: a friendly stranger starts the conversation, and the price only appears at the end. Ask the price first — before you sit, before you eat, before you get in.

The tea ceremony invitation. The most common one, and the most expensive. A well-dressed young person near a big shopping street says they are an art student and invites you to see a gallery or drink tea with their teacher. The bill arrives at 800–3,000 RMB. A local never pays to drink tea with a stranger. Decline warmly and keep walking.

Unlicensed taxis. At station exits and airport arrivals, men will ask "taxi? taxi?" before you reach the official rank. Their price is two to four times the meter. Use the official queue, or order on Didi — the route and fare stay recorded in the app.

The cheap day tour. A 99 RMB "Great Wall tour" includes two shopping stops where the guide earns commission on jade, silk or pearls. Book tours whose description says no shopping, and leave any tour that opens with a "factory".

Two menus. Some restaurants near major sights keep an English menu at higher prices. Ask for the Chinese menu too and compare, or order by photo in the app. Prices must legally be displayed — if they are not, that is your answer.

Weight and "free" gifts. At markets, watch the scale and agree the price per jin (500 g) before anything is bagged. A "free" photo at a scenic spot usually means a paid print; a "free" bracelet usually ends in a donation request.

Tickets. Popular sites (Forbidden City, panda bases, big museums) sell timed tickets through official WeChat mini-programs only. Anyone offering a paper ticket at the gate is either overcharging or reselling an ID-linked ticket you will not be able to use.