China travel guides

Practical answers for travelling in China: visas, paying, internet, trains, tickets, food and more. Checked against official sources.

Planning

China visa-free countries: who gets 30 days without a visa (2026)78 passports can enter China without a visa: 50 for 30 days until set end dates, 28 under permanent agreements. Who qualifies and what to carry.3 min read

How many days in China? What fits in 7, 10 and 14 daysTen days is the sweet spot for a first trip. What you can realistically see in one week, ten days or two weeks, and how visa rules cap your stay.3 min read

240-hour visa-free transit in China: how it works (2026)Up to 10 days in China without a visa if you fly on to a third country. Eligible passports, ports, allowed areas and the mistakes that get people refused.3 min read

Best time to visit China: seasons, regions and crowds to avoidApril–May and mid-September to early November suit most of China. Region by region, plus the holiday weeks when trains and sights are packed.3 min read

China travel budget: realistic daily costs (2026)What a day in China really costs in yuan, US dollars and euros: hotels, food, trains and tickets for budget, mid-range and comfort travel.3 min read

Is China safe for tourists? Scams, traffic and emergency numbersViolent crime is rare, but scams and traffic are real risks. The tea house scam, fake taxis, food and water, 110/120/119 and police registration.3 min read

Beijing in 4 days: a practical itinerary with booking timesForbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace in four days, with a checklist of when each booking opens and how to avoid Mondays.4 min read

Shanghai in 3 days: a practical itineraryThe Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum East, Lujiazui and the old French Concession in three days, with closing days, metro stops and booking tips.4 min read

Travelling in China at Chinese New Year and Golden WeekHoliday dates for 2026–27, the 40-day spring travel rush, 15-day train sales, what closes at New Year, sight caps, fireworks and crowd tips.4 min read

Travel insurance for China: what to look for and how hospitals get paidWhat your travel insurance should cover in China: medical costs, evacuation, hospital deposits, direct billing, and what to carry if you get sick.4 min read

China with kids: train tickets, sights, strollers, food and baby suppliesFamily travel in China: free and child train tickets by age, discounts at sights, strollers on the metro, baby supplies, kid-friendly food and apps.4 min read

Money and payments

How to use Alipay in China as a foreigner (2026)Link a Visa or Mastercard, verify your passport and pay by QR code. Limits, fees, mini-programs and fixes for common Alipay problems.3 min read

WeChat Pay for foreigners: setup, fees and when you need it (2026)How to sign up for WeChat, link a foreign card and pay. When you need WeChat Pay as well as Alipay, plus fees, limits and options without an account.3 min read

Cash, ATMs and credit cards in China: what works (2026)Where foreign cards work, which ATMs take them, how much cash to carry and where to exchange money. Every business must accept cash since 2026.3 min read

Tax refund for tourists in China: who qualifies and how to claim itChina’s departure tax refund: ¥200 minimum per store per day, 11% back on most goods, instant refunds in shops and what to do at the airport.4 min read

Phone and internet

Using Google and WhatsApp in China: what works in 2026Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked in mainland China. How roaming and travel eSIMs keep them working, the facts on VPNs, and apps that work.3 min read

Best eSIM for China: what to check before you buy (2026)How China travel eSIMs keep Google and WhatsApp working, what to compare (routing, data, hotspot), phone compatibility and why to install before you fly.3 min read

Getting around

How to book train tickets in China as a foreigner (2026)Register on 12306 with your passport, book up to 15 days ahead, board with your passport. Seat classes, Trip.com, refunds and changes.3 min read

How to use DiDi in China as a foreigner (2026)DiDi app or DiDi inside Alipay, paying with a foreign card, showing your address in Chinese, airport pickups, safety features and Amap as an option.3 min read

China high-speed train guide: stations, boarding and luggageG, D and C trains, which station you need, when to arrive, passport and security checks, luggage limits, food on board and typical journey times.3 min read

How to take a taxi in China: DiDi, ranks, fares and scamsHail a cab or use DiDi, show your address in Chinese, insist on the meter, avoid airport touts and pay with Alipay or WeChat.3 min read

Using the metro in China: tickets, QR codes and bank cards (2026)Bag checks, single tickets, Alipay and WeChat ride codes, tapping a foreign bank card, English signs, rush hours and how each big city differs.3 min read

Domestic flights in China: booking, power banks, liquids (2026)Book with your passport, arrive early, and pack right: only 3C-marked power banks, no drinks through security, and plan for delays.3 min read

Hong Kong and Macau to mainland China: trains, borders and visasCross from Hong Kong or Macau into mainland China: high-speed rail, Lo Wu, the bridge shuttle bus and Gongbei, plus visas, money and SIMs.5 min read

Sights and tickets

How to book Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner (2026)Tickets open 7 days ahead at 20:00 China time and sell out fast. How to book with a passport, no Chinese phone number needed.2 min read

How to visit the Great Wall from Beijing: which section and how (2026)Mutianyu, Badaling or Jinshanling? How to get there by bus or train, passport tickets, cable car and toboggan, and why to skip the wild wall.3 min read

How to see pandas in Chengdu: tickets, timing and other bases (2026)Chengdu Panda Base tickets are online, real-name and open 14 days ahead. Why to arrive at opening, and which other panda bases are open in 2026.2 min read

Terracotta Army tickets and tour: booking, transport and pits (2026)How to book the ¥120 real-name Terracotta Army ticket with a passport, get there by bus, see Pits 1–3 in order, and add Huaqing Palace.3 min read

Li River cruise guide: Guilin to Yangshuo boats, prices, rafts (2026)3-star or 4-star boat, which pier, real-name booking with a passport, and when a Xingping bamboo raft past the 20-yuan note view is the better choice.3 min read

How to book museums in China as a foreigner (2026)Most top museums in China are free but need a timed booking with your passport. Release times, where WeChat is required, and what to do if you miss out.3 min read

Tiananmen Square reservation: how foreigners book a visit (2026)Free real-name booking 1–7 days ahead, released at 12:00 China time. Which channel to use, the flag-raising slot, security and what to leave at the hotel.3 min read

Food

Chinese regional cuisines: a traveler’s guide to what to eat whereSichuan, Cantonese, Beijing, Shanghai, Hunan, Xi’an, Yunnan: how each regional cuisine tastes and the signature dishes to order when you are there.3 min read

How to order food in China: QR menus, pointing and payingTable QR codes that open WeChat or Alipay, asking for a paper menu, picture menus, translating dishes, sharing, paying and why you do not tip.3 min read

Vegetarian and vegan in China: how to eat well without meatBuddhist vegetarian restaurants, the hidden lard, stock and oyster sauce to watch for, safe dishes to order and the Chinese phrases that work.3 min read

Food allergies in China: peanuts, shellfish, gluten and what to sayWhere peanuts, shellfish and gluten hide in Chinese food, why soy sauce matters, the truth about MSG, allergy cards in Chinese and what to do in an emergency.3 min read

Practical tips

30 basic Chinese phrases for travelers, with pinyinThirty essential Mandarin phrases in characters and pinyin: greetings, numbers, directions, ordering food, paying and asking for help, plus tones in brief.3 min read

Hotels in China for foreigners: booking, check-in and registrationWhich hotels take foreign passports, how check-in and deposits work, where to book, and how to register with police within 24 hours if you stay privately.3 min read

China etiquette tips: tipping, chopsticks, temples and morePractical etiquette for China: no tipping, chopstick manners, queues, what not to photograph, temples, gifts, bargaining and topics to handle with care.3 min read

What to pack for China: plugs, power banks and essentialsPlug types and voltage, the 3C power bank rule, passport copies, tissues, medicine, clothes for each season and the apps to install first.3 min read

Tourist scams in China: how to spot them and what to doTea house and art student scams, fake taxis, ticket touts, fake notes and QR tricks: how to spot them, and who to call (110, 12345) if it happens.5 min read

Emergency numbers and hospitals in China: 110, 120 and what to expectWhich number to call (110, 120, 119, 122), getting English help, how public hospitals work, deposits, pharmacies, medicines and travel insurance.5 min read

Luggage storage in China: hotels, stations, airports and sightsWhere to leave bags in China: free hotel storage, station counters and lockers, airport left luggage, Forbidden City rules and sending bags ahead.5 min read

Power plugs and adapters in China: sockets, voltage and power banksChina uses 220 V and plug types A, C and I. Which adapter to bring from your country, when you need a converter, and the power bank rules.5 min read

Accessible travel in China: wheelchairs on trains, metro, flights and sightsTravelling China with a wheelchair or limited mobility: 12306 assistance, accessible metro, flights, toilets, and which places are hard.4 min read