Good questions
make good trips.
Short, practical answers to the questions international visitors ask most. Every answer links to a page with more detail — and to the official sources you should confirm before you travel.
It depends on your nationality, purpose of visit, length of stay and travel dates. Some travelers may qualify for visa-free entry or transit arrangements; others need a visa before departure.
Check the Chinese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, plus official immigration announcements. Confirm permitted activities, length of stay, entry ports and registration requirements for your exact dates.
Mobile payments are widely used in Chinese cities, and some services allow eligible international visitors to link overseas bank cards. Setup steps, supported cards and transaction limits vary by provider and can change.
Prepare more than one option: a payment app where available, a backup card and some renminbi (RMB) cash. Test your setup before departure and never share payment passwords or verification codes.
Roaming, travel eSIMs and local SIM cards can all work, depending on your phone, provider and destination. Some international apps and services may not function normally on local networks.
Download offline maps, translation language packs and tickets before you fly, keep reservations available offline, and research connectivity options in advance rather than assuming on arrival.
You can travel with very little Mandarin, but a few phrases make everyday moments much easier. Greetings, “thank you”, “how much?” and “where is…?” cover a surprising amount.
Keep a translation app ready, save your hotel and destination addresses in Chinese characters, and prepare a clear written translation for allergies or medical needs.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are comfortable across many regions. Summer is hot and humid in much of the east, while winter is cold in the north and milder in the south.
Public holiday periods bring much larger crowds at major sights and on train routes, so check national holiday dates before you fix your itinerary.
High-speed rail connects many major cities and is often the fastest door-to-door option for medium distances; domestic flights help with longer legs.
Book through official channels, check which station you depart from — one city can have several — arrive early for security, and make sure ticket details match your identification.
Tipping is not customary in many everyday settings, though practices vary by venue and service type. Check whether a service charge is already included.
Meals are often shared family-style, menus may be digital or image-based, and spice levels vary hugely by region. Pointing at a dish or a translated phrase is normal and practical.
Many visitors prefer boiled or bottled water for drinking. Hotels usually provide a kettle or bottled water, and restaurants commonly serve boiled or bottled water as standard.
If you have a sensitive stomach, ask your accommodation what locals recommend and be cautious with ice or raw foods until you know how you feel.
Seven to ten days suits a first visit built around two or three bases, such as Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Fourteen days allows room for landscapes or a slower pace.
Resist packing every headline sight into one trip — travel time, reservations and jet lag all matter more than they look on a map.
Some popular attractions, museums and transport services use timed entry or identity-based booking, and rules differ by site and season.
Check the official site or booking channel for each attraction before you go, and keep your identification details handy.