Digital Guide
The complete China playbook.
Every app setup, every payment wall, every culture trap - solved before you land. Written from real trips, updated quarterly, and honest about the things most guides skip.
Before you fly
Visa, eSIM, and the two payment apps
Three things decide how your first week feels: whether you can enter, whether you can pay, and whether your phone works. Sort all three while you are still at home. The full country lists and every official government link are printed below.
- 1
Check your passport, then your country's entry status
Start with the passport rules in the block below - no visa scheme rescues an expiring or full passport. Most readers then qualify for one of several visa-free schemes: the 240-hour visa-free transit (55 countries, up to 10 days), the 30-day visa-free entry (50 countries), or a mutual visa exemption agreement (22 countries, mostly 30 days). Regional schemes - Hainan (59 countries), cruise-ship groups, ASEAN groups, and the Hong Kong-Macau routes into Guangdong and Hainan - cover even more travelers; the detailed visa-free lists are printed below. If your country is on none of them, work through the visa checklist and apply four to six weeks out at the official China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn).
- 2
Install Alipay and link your card at home
Download Alipay, register with your home phone number, and link a Visa, Mastercard, or Amex. No Chinese bank account and no Chinese phone number are needed - the official Ant Group announcement confirms international cards are supported. Do it on home wifi with your number available for SMS; verification is far easier before you land.
- 3
Add WeChat Pay as the backup
Link the same card in WeChat. A minority of small vendors only take WeChat, and it takes five minutes to close that gap.
- 4
Buy a data eSIM before you fly
Airalo, Holafly, or Ubigi all sell China eSIMs (links and prices in section 02). Roaming data keeps Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram working from the second the plane door opens.
- 5
Confirm your hotel can register foreign guests
By law, hotels must register you with the police within 24 hours, and only licensed hotels may. Booking through international platforms (Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda) filters this for you; very small local guesthouses may not be licensed for foreign guests.
Watch out
Passport: 6+ months validity, two blank pages
Officers check both. A passport expiring inside six months gets turned away at check-in.
Hotel address and return ticket on your phone
Immigration may ask where you are staying and when you leave. Save the hotel address in Chinese and your outbound flight as screenshots.
Visa-free transit has geographic limits
The 240-hour scheme confines you to one region - Beijing plus Hebei and Tianjin, or the Yangtze Delta, depending on your entry port. You cannot roam the whole country on transit entry.
Real visas take weeks, not days
If your passport needs a visa, apply at the Chinese embassy or an official visa center four to six weeks out. There is no same-day airport visa.
Drones need registration and are banned in cities
A drone requires customs declaration and registration, and most city centers ban flying entirely. Leave it home unless your trip is built around drone shots.
Passport requirements - check these before you book
Valid for 6+ months beyond your departure date
Airlines check the date at check-in, not just Chinese immigration. A passport expiring sooner is turned away before you board.
Two or more blank visa pages
Entry and exit stamps each take a full page. Stamped or photocopied pages do not count.
Ordinary passport for the visa-free lists
The 240-hour and 30-day schemes cover ordinary passports. Diplomatic and service passports follow separate agreements.
Undamaged - no tears, staples, or water damage
A damaged passport can be refused by the airline or by Chinese immigration. Replace it before you book flights.
Keep a photocopy of the info page
Hotels must register you with the police within 24 hours and scan your passport; a copy plus your arrival card covers most asks. Hand the original only to uniformed officers.
240-hour visa-free transit - 55 countries
Europe (40)
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway
Americas (6)
United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Oceania (2)
Australia, New Zealand
Asia (7)
Republic of Korea (South Korea), Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia
Source: Official China Immigration Administration announcement
30-day visa-free entry - 50 countries
Europe (35)
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Asia & Middle East (7)
Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Saudi Arabia
Americas (6)
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Uruguay
Oceania (2)
Australia, New Zealand
Mutual visa exemption agreements - 22 countries
Europe (4)
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia
Asia & Middle East (9)
Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates
Americas & Caribbean (5)
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Ecuador, Suriname
Oceania & Pacific (4)
Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga
Most agreements allow 30 days per visit. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Armenia allow 90 days per 180-day period; Kazakhstan, Georgia, Thailand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda cap cumulative stays at 90 days per 180 days.
Source: Official China Immigration Administration: details of mutual visa exemption agreements
Hainan visa-free entry - 59 countries
Europe (40)
Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Asia & Middle East (11)
Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates
Americas (6)
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, United States
Oceania (2)
Australia, New Zealand
For stays in Hainan province only: up to 30 days, entering through any open Hainan port. Covers tourism, business, family visits, medical care, conferences, and sports - not work or study.
Source: Official China Immigration Administration: regional visa-free policies
Cruise-ship tourist groups - visa-free, 15 days
Who qualifies
Any foreign tourist group of two or more people, organized and received by a travel agency registered in China.
How long
Up to 15 days, entering and leaving by cruise ship through one of 13 cruise ports: Beihai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Haikou, Lianyungang, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen, or Zhoushan.
Where you may travel
Beijing plus the 11 coastal provinces and cities: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Zhejiang.
The catch
Your group must follow the scheduled itinerary, call at the planned ports, and leave China on the same cruise ship.
Xishuangbanna and Guilin - ASEAN tour groups, 6 days
Who qualifies
Tourist groups of two or more from ASEAN member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam - organized by a travel agency registered in China.
Where
Xishuangbanna, entering and exiting via Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port, or Mohan Highway Port; or Guilin, via Guilin airport.
How long
Up to 6 days, and you must stay within Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture or Guilin itself.
Guangdong and Hainan via Hong Kong or Macau - 6 days
Who qualifies
Nationals of any country with diplomatic relations with China.
The route
Enter Hong Kong or Macau first, then join a tourist group organized by a travel agency registered in either SAR.
Where
Ten Guangdong cities - Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shantou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, Zhuhai - or Hainan province.
How long
Up to 6 days.
Not on any of these lists? The full visa checklist
Apply 4-6 weeks out, in person, at the official center
Book an appointment at the China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn) or your local Chinese embassy. There is no tourist visa on arrival.
Same passport rules - 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages
The visa sticker itself occupies a full page, so you need two blanks after it is in.
Completed application form (Form V.2013)
Fill it in online at visaforchina.cn, print it, and sign it. It asks for flight numbers, hotel addresses, and your recent travel history.
One recent passport photo
33mm x 48mm, white background, head filling about two-thirds of the frame. The visa center's photo booth is the safest bet.
Round-trip flight itinerary
Confirmed reservations showing when you leave China. Print them even though the form is online.
Hotel bookings for every night, or an invitation letter
Bookings must cover the whole stay, or an invitation letter from a host in China with a copy of their ID. Some consulates also ask for proof of funds - a bank statement works.
Fees and processing time
Fees vary by nationality and by entries (single, double, or multiple), roughly USD 30-185. Standard processing is about 4 working days; express service costs extra.
Read the two dates on the sticker
One says when you must enter by, the other how long each stay may last. They vary by nationality - some passports get multi-year multi-entry, others a single 30-day visit.
Official government sources
- China Immigration Administration (English)
The authoritative source for all entry and visa rules
- 240-hour visa-free transit policy (official announcement)
55-country list, ports, and conditions
- 30-day visa-free entry country list
50 countries, stays up to 30 days
- Mutual visa exemption agreements (country list)
22 countries; Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand are here
- Regional visa-free policies (Hainan, cruise ships, ASEAN, Hong Kong-Macau routes)
Hainan 59-country scheme, 15-day cruise-ship groups, ASEAN groups, and the 6-day Hong Kong-Macau routes into Guangdong and Hainan
- China Visa Application Service Center
Official visa applications when you need one
- General Administration of Customs (English)
Currency and drone declaration rules
- China Railway 12306 (official, Chinese)
The state rail ticketing site; Trip.com is its English front-end
Apps & eSIM
Install these before you fly
Six things to set up at home, in order. Do them on home wifi with your phone number handy - airport wifi and jet lag are the wrong time for identity verification.
- 1
Alipay - the master key
Download from the official links below, register with your home phone number, then add your card: tap Me, then Bank Cards, then +. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club all work. If the interface is Chinese, switch to English in Me, then Settings, then Language.
- 2
WeChat + WeChat Pay
Download WeChat, register with your international phone number, then open Me, Services, Wallet, Bank Cards, and Add a bank card. Link your Visa or Mastercard. This covers the small vendors that only take WeChat.
- 3
Your data eSIM
Buy a China plan from Airalo, Holafly, or Ubigi (links below), install the eSIM profile before your flight, and enable data roaming when you land. Keep your home SIM active in the other slot so SMS verification codes still arrive.
- 4
DiDi Rider - taxis without the taxi drama
Download DiDi Rider, register with your international number, and add your card. Prices are quoted before you ride, the license plate is matched in the app, and payment comes out of the linked card automatically.
- 5
Trip.com - high-speed rail in English
Download Trip.com, open the Trains tab, and book with your passport as the ID. It is the English front-end of China Railway's official system, so your tickets are real and refundable.
- 6
Google Translate + offline maps
Download the Chinese offline pack in Google Translate, and offline maps for your cities in Apple Maps or Maps.me. Both work with zero network - your safety net in airports and the subway.
Watch out
Set everything up at home
Card verification needs SMS codes and ten to thirty minutes. Do it before you fly, not in the arrivals hall on airport wifi.
One app, two languages - not two apps
The international and Chinese versions of Alipay are the same app; it switches to English in settings. Ignore 'AlipayHK' and any lookalike wallet apps, and only download from the official store links above.
Keep your home SIM in the phone
Every verification code arrives there. Run data on the eSIM, keep the home SIM active for SMS.
Your passport photo gets scanned during verification
Both Alipay and WeChat run a quick identity check. Have your passport in hand when you set them up; it is a one-time step.
The internet wall
What works, what does not, and the one trick that fixes it
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube do not work on Chinese networks. That sounds dramatic; it is actually solved before you land.
- 1
Use roaming data for your blocked apps
A foreign eSIM or your home carrier's roaming routes traffic through your home network, so Google Translate, Maps, and WhatsApp work normally. Turn roaming on when you need them.
- 2
Or install a VPN before you fly
One VPN restores everything on any Chinese network - hotel wifi included - for about USD 3-13 a month. Pick a major provider with obfuscated servers the firewall does not block and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Download the app and create your account at home - the Chinese app stores remove VPN apps, so do not wait until you land.
- 3
Download offline packs at home
Google Translate (Chinese) and offline maps (Apple Maps or Maps.me) work with zero network. This is your safety net in airports and the subway.
- 4
Use the apps that work locally
Apple Maps, Amap, and Baidu Maps navigate well. Alipay's built-in translate reads Chinese menus through the camera.
- 5
Treat hotel wifi as a Chinese network
Blocked apps stay blocked on hotel wifi. Use it for speed and downloads; use roaming data for Google and WhatsApp.
Watch out
Do not buy a Chinese SIM as your only data
A local SIM (China Mobile or Unicom) is cheap but sits behind the firewall, so Google and WhatsApp stay blocked unless you also run a VPN.
Google Maps is unreliable inside China
Even with a VPN, its China data is thin and often wrong. Use Apple Maps or Amap for streets.
News sites are blocked too
BBC, CNN, and most Western media do not load on Chinese networks. Get your news before you land or over roaming.
Apple services keep working
The App Store, iCloud, and iMessage all work in China, and you do not need a China account for a trip. Apps you already own update normally.
Money & payments
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, and the no-tipping reality
China is nearly cashless. You will pay for almost everything with two apps, and once linked it is smoother than tap-to-pay anywhere in Europe. Setup steps are in section 02.
- 1
Alipay is the master key
Taxis, metro, restaurants, museums, convenience stores - if a counter says 'scan', Alipay handles it. It is the single most useful app in China.
- 2
Learn the two QR directions
You scan the merchant's QR and type the amount, OR you show your payment QR and the merchant scans you. Confusing the two is the most common tourist stumble; the app labels each screen clearly.
- 3
Keep cash for the 2% of moments
A few 50 and 100 yuan notes cover temple donation boxes and street stalls. Every bank ATM accepts Visa and Mastercard.
- 4
Refunds work
If a shop or platform owes you money, it lands back on your linked card within days, through the same app. No paperwork, no branch visits.
Watch out
Foreign cards have transaction caps
Roughly USD 5,000 per transaction and USD 50,000 per year on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Plenty for a normal trip; not enough for buying a Rolex. Plan big purchases separately.
Tipping is not a thing - do not tip
Not at restaurants, hotels, taxis, or guides. A tip is politely refused or just confuses people. If a guide went above and beyond, a good review beats cash.
Read the screen in yuan
Prices are in yuan (¥). Do not misread 50 (fifty yuan, wushi) for 5.0 on a payment screen - double-check the amount before confirming.
A few counters are cash-only
Rare, but old-school counters (some post offices and stations) may refuse cards. Your small cash stash covers it.
Never exchange money on the street
Banks and ATMs give honest rates. Street changers shortchange or pass fake notes.
Official payment references
- Alipay international card support (official Ant Group announcement)
Confirms Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, and UnionPay International can be linked, with no Chinese bank account or phone number
- WeChat Pay: from setup to first payment (official guide)
Official step-by-step for linking an international card
- WeChat Pay: link your international card (official)
Official announcement of international card support
Getting around
Metro QR, Didi, and the high-speed rail system
Trains and metros are world-class, cheap, and fast. The traps are about booking and stations, not safety. Download links for DiDi Rider and Trip.com are in section 02.
- 1
Metro: one QR code, every city
Open Alipay's transport QR and scan at the gate. Works in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and most big cities.
- 2
Prefer Didi over street taxis
The ride-hailing app (DiDi Rider) quotes the price before you ride, matches the license plate, and charges your linked card. Cheaper than taxis and zero haggling.
- 3
High-speed rail: book on Trip.com with your passport
English interface, passport as ID, and tickets go on sale about two weeks ahead. Book early for holidays and weekend routes.
- 4
Arrive at the station 45 minutes early
Real-name gates scan your passport, then comes security and a ten-minute walk to the platform. Big stations are genuinely huge.
- 5
Screenshot the Chinese station name
Beijing South, Beijing West, and Beijing Fengtai are separate stations up to 40 minutes apart. Show the taxi driver the Chinese characters and you will never get the wrong one.
Watch out
Ignore airport taxi touts
Anyone offering a 'fixed price' ride at arrivals is overcharging. Use the official taxi line or Didi; official taxis run the meter.
Trains sell out
On golden-week holidays and popular routes (Beijing-Shanghai, Chengdu-Chongqing), trains vanish within hours of going on sale. Book the moment tickets open, or fly.
Seat letters matter
On high-speed trains, A and F are window seats, C and D are aisle. Book A or F if you want the view.
Metro rush hour is intense
8-9am and 6-7pm in Beijing and Shanghai mean a wall of people. It moves fast and is completely safe - just avoid it when you can.
Squat toilets still exist
On older trains and at rural stops. Carry tissues; newer trains and stations have western toilets. This is normal infrastructure, not a problem.
Dining decoded
Ordering, paying, and eating well without stress
Eating is the best part of China and the least risky thing you will do. A handful of rules make it effortless.
- 1
Scan the QR menu
Most restaurants order via a QR code on the table: scan, tap dishes, and the kitchen starts. Alipay's camera translate reads Chinese-only menus.
- 2
Pay at the counter or in the app
No waiter brings a bill to the table. Either pay inside the ordering app or walk to the counter; staff will point you the right way.
- 3
Splitting the bill is normal
Groups split easily in the apps, and going Dutch is completely standard. No awkward dance with a waiter needed.
- 4
Drink bottled water, everywhere
Tap water is not potable in China. Restaurants serve hot water or tea by default, and stations have free hot water (re shui).
- 5
Vegetarian and halal - say it explicitly
Su (vegetarian) dishes exist everywhere, and look for qingzhen restaurants for halal. Tell staff 'no meat' at the start: broths and oils often hide pork.
Watch out
Never stand chopsticks upright in rice
It resembles funeral incense. Rest them on the chopstick rest or the table edge.
Spice levels are not suggestions
In Sichuan and Hunan, even 'mild' (wei la) has a kick. Say bu la (not spicy) and confirm twice before you order.
Allergies: carry a Chinese card
'I am severely allergic to peanuts / shellfish / gluten' written in Chinese, shown to staff before ordering. Do not rely on pointing at a translated menu.
MSG is everywhere
Most seasoning includes it. If you avoid MSG, say bu yao weijing - restaurants genuinely accommodate the request.
Street food: eat where locals queue
The stall with the line is the safe one. Cooked-to-order food is the safest street choice; skip anything sitting out for hours.
'Not spicy' does not mean vegetarian
The mild soup is often still pork broth. Say both things: 'no meat' and 'not spicy'.
Etiquette
Twelve rules that remove 99% of friction
China is polite, warm to visitors, and forgiving of foreigners. These twelve rules keep every interaction smooth. None of them are hard.
- 1
Return a smile
Hospitality starts with a nod and a smile. It opens more doors than any phrasebook.
- 2
Keep your cool
Losing your temper in public is the one genuine social sin. Disputes are resolved calmly, or by walking away - never by raising your voice.
- 3
Temple manners
Dress modestly, skip flash photography of statues, and never point at a Buddha with one finger; use an open palm.
- 4
Shoes off at the door
In homes, some teahouses, and temples. Watch what locals do at the entrance and follow.
- 5
Use two hands
Give and receive everything - cards, gifts, money, menus - with both hands. It reads as respect and costs nothing.
- 6
Ask before photographing people
Monks, elders, and street performers especially. A smile and a gesture usually gets a yes; do not insist if it gets a no.
- 7
No smoking indoors
Restaurants, stations, and trains are smoke-free. Smoking happens outside or in designated rooms.
- 8
Queue patiently, brace for the metro
People queue politely at counters. Metro crowds are a different sport, and the pushiness there is physics, not rudeness.
- 9
Bargain only in markets
Markets and street stalls expect a light haggle. Shops, malls, and restaurants have fixed prices, and nobody haggles over small amounts.
- 10
Carry tissue for public toilets
Squat toilets are common and most public toilets do not stock paper. Bring your own.
- 11
Do not point with one finger
Pointing is considered blunt. Use your whole hand or a nod of the head.
- 12
Spitting happens in public
Older men spit on the street. It is not directed at you and not an insult; ignore it and move on.
Watch out
Foreigners are given enormous grace
You will misstep - you are expected to. The local response to a smiling foreigner who fumbles a chopstick or a greeting is patience, not offense. Relax.
Health & safety
Emergencies, medicine, and the honest safety picture
China is one of the safest countries in the world for travelers; violent crime against tourists is vanishingly rare. The real checklist is medical and logistical.
- 1
Save the numbers: 110, 120, 119
Police, ambulance, fire. English-speaking operators are rare, so ask hotel staff to make the call for you if you need it.
- 2
Carry travel insurance
Hospitals want payment up front, and insurance with evacuation covers the gap. Keep the policy PDF on your phone.
- 3
Know the pharmacies
Yaodian (pharmacies) are on every block and sell common medicines over the counter. Bring prescription meds in original packaging with the prescription, and declare controlled substances at customs.
- 4
Drink bottled, eat cooked
These two rules prevent 95% of stomach trouble. Your stomach adapts within about three days anyway.
- 5
Check air quality in the north
Winter in Beijing and Tianjin can spike the AQI. A simple mask is normal, not weird. The south is generally clean.
Watch out
Altitude is real in the west
Tibet and the Yunnan highlands: go slow, hydrate, and skip alcohol on day one. Descend if you feel unwell.
Summer in the south is a sauna
June through August, the south runs hot and humid. Plan indoor afternoons and carry water.
Pharmacies will not sell antibiotics
They need a prescription in China. If you travel with a course, bring your own.
Do not drink tap water, even in five-star hotels
Bottled water is everywhere and cheap, and most hotels provide free bottles in the room.
Never hand your passport to a stranger
Uniformed police are fine. Anyone else asking for your passport - 'inspectors', plainclothes 'officials', street 'helpers' - is running a scam. Legit checks never happen on the street, and a copy plus the embassy covers everything real.
Drones fly only outside restricted zones
Registration plus a legal zone. Most city centers and airports are off-limits; check before you take off, not after.
Watch out
The tourist scams and how to be immune
China is safe, but tourist areas have a small cast of smooth operators who target visitors. They are never violent - every one is a 'pay an inflated bill' con. Learn the scripts and you are immune.
- 1
The 'art student' or tea ceremony invite
Near landmarks like the Forbidden City or art districts, a friendly 'student' invites you for tea or to an exhibition. The bill lands at hundreds of dollars for tea leaves or a 'lucky' painting. Rule: politely decline all invitations from strangers on the street.
- 2
Fake monks and 'blessings'
'Monks' at temples offer a blessing or charm, then demand a donation. Donate only at the official donation boxes.
- 3
The fixed-price taxi
Touts at airports and stations offer a flat 'discounted' fare, then demand triple at the destination. Official taxis run the meter; Didi quotes the price before you get in.
- 4
Jade, antiques, and 'real silk'
Market-stall 'jade' is glass, 'antiques' are reproductions, and exporting genuine cultural relics is illegal. Buy souvenirs, not investments.
- 5
Street currency exchange
'Good rates' end in shortchange or fake notes. Only banks and ATMs handle your money.
- 6
The calligraphy 'gift'
A stranger writes your name in calligraphy or presses a 'good luck charm' into your hand, then demands payment. Hand it back and walk on.
- 7
The driver's 'special teahouse'
Taxis and drivers who push a 'great teahouse' or 'jade factory' earn commission on your purchase. Say no; book rides through Didi instead.
Watch out
None of these involve danger
Every scam above ends in an awkward conversation and an inflated bill, never a threat. A firm 'no' and walking away ends every one of them.
Before you land
The 10-minute checklist
Work through this the night before you fly. When everything is checked, the first 24 hours in China are boring - in the best way.
- Passport with 6+ months validity and two blank pages
- Check your country on the transit, visa-free, or mutual-exemption list (section 01)
- eSIM or roaming plan active on your phone
- Alipay installed, card linked, identity verified
- WeChat Pay installed, card linked
- DiDi Rider installed and card linked
- Trip.com installed for train tickets
- Google Translate with the Chinese offline pack
- Offline map (Apple Maps or Maps.me) for your cities
- Hotels booked on international platforms (foreign-guest licensed)
- Chinese screenshots: hotel addresses and station names
- Allergy or medical card written in Chinese, if applicable
- Travel insurance PDF saved on your phone
- A few 50 and 100 yuan notes in your wallet
- 110, 120, and 119 saved in your contacts
Phrase card
Ten phrases that cover 90% of situations
Chinese is tonal, so do not stress the pronunciation - the apps translate perfectly. These ten earn instant goodwill.
你好
ni hao
Hello
谢谢
xie xie
Thank you
对不起
dui bu qi
Sorry
多少钱?
duo shao qian?
How much?
买单
mai dan
The bill, please
洗手间在哪里?
xi shou jian zai na li?
Where is the restroom?
不辣
bu la
Not spicy
我吃素
wo chi su
I am vegetarian
我不会说中文
wo bu hui shuo zhong wen
I do not speak Chinese
帮帮我
bang bang wo
Help me
Rules change. We update this guide quarterly; before booking, verify visa and entry rules on the official China Immigration Administration site (en.nia.gov.cn) and at your local Chinese embassy. The Start Here button at the bottom-right of every page is the five-minute version of this guide for the road.