China
Essentials
The answers you need first
Best for
History, megacities, food, landscapes and rail travel
Ideal first trip
10–16 full days
Main language
Mandarin Chinese
Currency
Chinese yuan
Police
110
Fire
119
Medical emergency
120
Main transport
High-speed rail, metro, flights and taxis
01
Is China right for your trip?
China is best for travellers who want major historic sites, large modern cities, regional cuisines and long-distance travel by high-speed rail.
The country is vast and highly varied. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Yunnan, Xinjiang and the coastal regions offer very different climates, food and travel rhythms.
A successful first trip usually focuses on two or three regions instead of trying to cover the entire country.
- Excellent for history, architecture, food and urban travel.
- High-speed rail makes many city combinations practical.
- English is limited outside major hotels and tourist sites.
- Mobile payments and local apps are important.
- Ten full days is the practical minimum for a balanced first trip.
02
When should you visit?
Spring and autumn are usually the easiest seasons for a first trip, but the best timing depends heavily on region.
Northern China has cold winters and hot summers. Southern and coastal areas are generally warmer and more humid. Western and mountain regions can have large temperature changes.
National holidays can create extreme domestic travel demand and higher prices.
- March to May: generally good for Beijing, Shanghai and central China.
- June to August: hot, humid and rainy in many regions.
- September to November: often the best balance of weather and visibility.
- December to February: cold in the north, milder in parts of the south.
- Avoid relying on ordinary travel conditions during major national holidays.
Important
The first week of October and the Lunar New Year period can bring exceptional crowds, limited availability and heavy transport demand.
03
What must you check before entering China?
Visa and visa-free rules depend on nationality, passport type, travel purpose, route and length of stay.
China operates several entry arrangements, including ordinary visas, unilateral visa-free entry for eligible passports, mutual visa exemptions and 240-hour visa-free transit for eligible travellers following a qualifying route.
Rules change and must be checked against the exact passport and itinerary before booking non-refundable travel.
- Check whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry.
- Check the permitted purpose and maximum stay.
- For transit entry, confirm that the onward journey is to a third country or region.
- Carry confirmed accommodation and onward-travel details.
- Check passport validity and blank-page requirements.
- Review medication and customs restrictions before departure.
04
Do you need to register your accommodation?
Hotels normally handle temporary residence registration, while travellers staying elsewhere may need to complete it separately.
- Confirm that your hotel accepts foreign guests.
- Hotels usually register guests using passport details.
- If staying in a private home or non-hotel accommodation, check local registration requirements.
- Keep your passport and accommodation details available.
- Do not assume every short-term rental handles registration automatically.
05
How many days do you need?
Ten to sixteen full days gives enough time for Beijing, Shanghai and one additional region without turning the trip into constant transit.
The most common planning mistake is underestimating distances. Efficient trains reduce travel time, but station transfers, security checks and hotel changes still take time.
- 7 days: choose Beijing plus one nearby destination, or Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.
- 10 days: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.
- 14 days: add Chengdu, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou or another regional stop.
- 21 days: combine major cities with western, southern or rural China.
06
What is a realistic first-time route?
A strong first route combines Beijing and Shanghai with one historic or regional destination.
Open-jaw flights can reduce backtracking—for example, arrive in Beijing and depart from Shanghai.
- Days 1–4: Beijing.
- Days 5–7: Xi’an or Chengdu.
- Days 8–11: Shanghai.
- Days 12–14: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Guilin or another regional extension.
07
How does high-speed rail work?
China’s high-speed rail network is often the best way to travel between major cities.
Tickets use real-name identification, and foreign travellers generally book with passport details. Stations can be large, and security screening is standard.
The official 12306 platform provides schedules, ticketing and passenger guidance.
- Use your passport details exactly as entered in the booking.
- Arrive early for security and station navigation.
- Check the exact station because many cities have several major terminals.
- Reserve popular routes during holidays and weekends.
- Keep the passport used for booking accessible.
- Check baggage and prohibited-item rules before departure.
08
When should you fly instead of taking the train?
Domestic flights become useful when travelling between distant regions or when rail journeys are especially long.
- Compare total journey time, not only flight duration.
- Allow for airport transfers and security.
- Expect weather-related disruption in some seasons.
- Check baggage allowances carefully.
- Avoid tight self-transfers between separate tickets.
- Use rail for many Beijing–Shanghai–Xi’an–Hangzhou combinations.
09
How do payments work?
Mobile payments dominate daily life, while international cards and cash remain useful as backups.
Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used for transport, restaurants, shops and taxis. Visitors should configure payment access before relying on it.
Acceptance of foreign cards varies, especially in smaller businesses.
- Set up a compatible mobile-payment option before departure.
- Carry a physical payment card.
- Carry some Chinese yuan.
- Keep a second card separate.
- Check the amount before confirming payment.
- Use secure bank ATMs.
10
What should you know about internet access?
Many international services may be unavailable or unreliable, so navigation and communication should be prepared in advance.
- Arrange roaming, an eSIM or another legal connectivity option.
- Download offline maps and translation tools.
- Save hotel names and addresses in Chinese.
- Keep tickets and reservations available offline.
- Install essential apps before arrival.
- Carry a portable charger.
11
Which apps are most useful?
A small set of local apps can simplify payments, navigation, trains, taxis and translation.
- Alipay or WeChat for payments and mini-program services.
- 12306 for railway information and ticketing.
- A map app with reliable China coverage.
- A translation app with offline Chinese.
- A recognised taxi or ride-hailing platform.
- Airline and hotel apps with offline booking details.
12
How should you choose accommodation?
Location near a metro station or major railway terminal is usually more valuable than proximity to one attraction.
- Confirm that the property accepts foreign passports.
- Check the nearest metro entrance and actual walking route.
- Review room size and smoking policy.
- Confirm whether taxes and deposits are included.
- Check late-arrival and luggage-storage rules.
- Save the address in Chinese.
13
How should you approach Chinese food?
Chinese cuisine is regional, and the strongest trips include local dishes rather than one generic idea of Chinese food.
- Try Beijing, Sichuan, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Xi’an and other regional cuisines.
- Use busy local restaurants with clear menus and turnover.
- Learn or save allergy and dietary phrases in Chinese.
- Check spice levels before ordering.
- Carry tissues and hand sanitiser.
- Drink bottled, boiled or otherwise treated water where appropriate.
14
Which etiquette rules matter most?
Basic courtesy, patience and respect for local rules are more important than memorising every custom.
- Carry your passport when required for transport or attractions.
- Queue where marked and follow security instructions.
- Ask before photographing people.
- Do not photograph restricted military or security areas.
- Keep voices low in temples and memorial sites.
- Use both hands when giving or receiving important items when practical.
- Respect local rules on drones and professional photography.
15
What are the real safety risks?
The main visitor risks are traffic, scams, petty theft, severe weather, outdoor hazards and avoidable payment disputes.
- Keep valuables secure in crowded transport and tourist areas.
- Use official taxis or recognised ride services.
- Avoid unlicensed guides and unclear tea-house or entertainment invitations.
- Confirm prices before accepting services.
- Follow weather and local-authority warnings.
- Do not enter restricted areas.
- Police: 110.
- Fire: 119.
- Medical emergency: 120.
- Traffic accidents: 122.
16
What should you know about health?
Travel insurance, medication preparation and climate planning matter more than many first-time visitors expect.
- Purchase travel insurance with medical coverage.
- Carry prescription documentation.
- Check medication import restrictions.
- Prepare for heat, cold, altitude or air-quality issues depending on region.
- Use bottled or treated water when uncertain.
- Carry basic medication and oral rehydration supplies.
- Save the address of an international or suitable local hospital.
17
What do travellers usually discover too late?
These planning mistakes most often make a first China trip harder.
- Visa-free entry and visa-free transit are different policies.
- Many cities have several major railway stations.
- Mobile payments are important but should not be the only payment method.
- International apps may not work normally.
- Foreign-passport acceptance should be checked when booking accommodation.
- National holidays can transform transport demand.
- Distances are much larger than they appear on a simple itinerary.
- English is limited outside major tourist infrastructure.
- Ten full days is the practical minimum for a useful first trip.
18
Before you go checklist
Complete these checks before departure.
- Confirm entry rules for your exact passport and route.
- Check whether accommodation registration is handled.
- Confirm every airport and railway station.
- Set up mobile payments.
- Arrange mobile data.
- Install railway, map, translation and taxi apps.
- Download addresses in Chinese.
- Carry cash and two payment cards.
- Reserve high-demand trains and attractions.
- Purchase travel insurance.
- Check medication rules.
- Save emergency numbers 110, 119, 120 and 122.
- Avoid major national holiday periods where possible.
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