Prepare for your China trip
China travel essentials
Find practical answers from your first plans to your journey home: entry documents, payments, phones, transport, accommodation, food and help when you need it.
Do I need a visa?
Compare visa-free visits, transit and tourist visas.
Read the guide ↗How do I pay?
Set up Alipay or Weixin Pay, then prepare card and cash backups.
Read the guide ↗Will my phone work?
Choose mobile data and keep your verification number reachable.
Read the guide ↗How do I get around?
Use metro tickets, book a car and find the right railway station.
Read the guide ↗What should I pack?
Documents, chargers, clothing and a day bag for your route.
Read the guide ↗Where do I get help?
Emergency numbers, medical assistance and lost-document steps.
Read the guide ↗Use the China travel checklist
Work through documents, payments, your phone, packing and your first arrival. Save your progress in this browser or print the list.
Plan your trip
China travel basics: time, money, power and language
A quick introduction to the everyday details of a mainland China trip, with links to the guides you will need before departure.
Read the guide ↗How to plan your first China itinerary
Start with the experiences you want, then choose a small number of bases.
Read the guide ↗When to visit China: choose the season for your route
China’s weather varies by region and altitude.
Read the guide ↗How to budget for a China trip
Build your budget from the route and the services you want.
Read the guide ↗China public holidays: plan around busy travel days
Check the official holiday calendar for the year of your trip before booking.
Read the guide ↗Before you fly
China entry checklist: what to prepare before you fly
Check the entry rules for your passport and complete route before paying for flights.
Read the guide ↗What to pack for your China trip
Pack for every stop on your route: a humid city, a mountain outing and a cold evening can need different layers.
Read the guide ↗Paying in China: Alipay, Weixin Pay, cards and cash
Set up a mobile wallet before departure, bring a backup bank card and keep some renminbi cash.
Read the guide ↗China SIM, eSIM and roaming: choose your connection
Choose a connection for maps, messages, bookings and payment verification.
Read the guide ↗Useful China travel apps: maps, transport and translation
Prepare a few apps that solve everyday tasks: finding an entrance, taking transport, paying, translating and opening bookings.
Read the guide ↗China Customs: what to check before packing
Check anything in your luggage that may be restricted, prohibited or subject to declaration.
Read the guide ↗Arrive & get around
Arriving in China: airport to hotel, step by step
Make the first day simple: complete arrival formalities, collect your bags, get connected and reach your accommodation.
Read the guide ↗Getting around China: metro, taxis and private cars
Choose local transport by the journey: metro for city districts, a taxi or booked car for a door-to-door ride, and a private driver for a planned outing.
Read the guide ↗Taking trains in China: tickets, stations and boarding
Book with the traveler’s passport details, check the full station name and leave time for security and identity checks.
Read the guide ↗Hotels, private stays and accommodation registration
Book an accommodation that fits your route, save its Chinese address and take your passport to check-in.
Read the guide ↗Booking attractions in China with a foreign passport
Choose the official attraction, date and ticket type before booking.
Read the guide ↗Food & everyday travel
Food allergies, vegetarian meals and dietary needs
Explain the ingredients and preparation you need before ordering.
Read the guide ↗Toilets, drinking water and everyday comfort
Carry a few small supplies and use comfort stops before long transfers or queues.
Read the guide ↗Laundry and luggage on a longer China trip
Leave space in a longer trip for washing clothes and moving bags.
Read the guide ↗Local etiquette: temples, neighborhoods and photographs
Give people space to use the places you are visiting.
Read the guide ↗Travel with your group
Traveling in China with children
Give each day one main experience, time for food and a place to rest.
Read the guide ↗Accessible and senior travel in China
Plan the trip around the walking, seating, bathroom and assistance needs of your own group.
Read the guide ↗Solo travel in China: arrival, transport and everyday routines
Keep the first arrival simple and leave sightseeing flexible.
Read the guide ↗Weather & outdoor visits
Mountain visits, cableways and changing weather
Plan the complete mountain visit: getting to the entrance, moving within the park and returning to your accommodation.
Read the guide ↗What to do when rain changes your China trip
Keep one or two indoor ideas near each overnight base.
Read the guide ↗Harbin ice festival: plan your winter visit
Harbin combines illuminated ice art with historic streets, riverside views and warming meals.
Read the guide ↗Pandas, wildlife and responsible visits
Enjoy animals from the viewing areas and give them room to behave naturally.
Read the guide ↗Get help & prepare to leave
Emergency numbers and getting help in China
Save these numbers and your hotel’s Chinese address before you travel.
Read the guide ↗Lost items, baggage problems and booking refunds
Start with the place or company responsible for the item or booking.
Read the guide ↗China departure tax refunds: shopping to departure
Eligible overseas visitors can apply for a VAT refund on qualifying goods bought at designated refund stores and taken out of mainland China through a designated departure port.
Read the guide ↗Leaving China: your final-day checklist
Keep the last day simple.
Read the guide ↗Choose your destinations
Each city guide includes sights, local food, where to stay, transport and 1, 3, 7 and 10-day itinerary ideas.