Travel essentials

The unglamorous details that decide whether your China trip feels smooth or stressful. All of it is easier than it was two years ago.

Money & payments

Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign cards now (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). Set yours up and link your card before you fly — identity verification can take a day.
QR codes run everything: street stalls, taxis, temple tickets. A phone that pays is your wallet.
Carry a little cash (¥200–300) as a backup for small vendors.
No tipping culture — service is included. Rounding up is plenty.

The network is 45,000+ km and reaches nearly every destination in this guide — Tokyo-to-Osaka speed, almost everywhere.
Book on the official 12306 app (has English) or Trip.com. You'll need your passport number.
Your passport is your ticket — scan it at the gate. Arrive 30–40 minutes early for security and boarding.
Second class is comfortable; first class is a nice upgrade, not a necessity.

Easiest option: a travel eSIM or your home carrier's international roaming — your usual apps keep working and there's no registration hassle. Local SIMs require passport registration.
Note that on local Chinese networks (hotel WiFi, local SIMs), services like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are not directly accessible. International roaming and travel eSIMs work normally — plan around it either way.
Download before you fly: Amap (best local maps) or Apple Maps, a translation app with offline Chinese, and Didi for ride-hailing.

English is limited outside hotels and major attractions. Translation apps handle almost everything — download offline Chinese first.
Handy phrases: nǐ hǎo (hello), xièxie (thank you), duōshao qián? (how much?), zhège (this one — point and smile).
Show taxi drivers addresses in Chinese characters — screenshot your hotel's address card.

Ideal almost everywhere: April–May and September–October.
Avoid: Golden Week (1–7 October) and Lunar New Year — domestic travel peaks, prices spike, tickets vanish.
Harbin & the northeast: December–February for ice season — pack serious winter gear.
The south (Guilin, Yunnan, Hainan): comfortable October–April; hot and humid in summer.

China is consistently rated one of the safest countries in the world for travelers — violent crime is rare, even late at night in big cities.
Usual precautions: keep an eye on your phone in busy markets; hotels require your passport at check-in, so keep it secure.
Emergency numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire. English support is limited — your hotel front desk can help.

Don't drink tap water — bottled and boiled water is the norm, even for locals.
Street food is generally fine where it's busy and cooked to order.
Sichuan and Chongqing dishes are seriously spicy — say wēi là (mild) or bú yào là (no chili) if you need to.
Peanut oil is common — if you have a serious allergy, carry a translated allergy card.

Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice (it echoes funeral incense). Rest them on the holder or across your bowl.
Carry tissues — many public restrooms don't supply paper.
Tea refills are free; when you've had enough, say gòu le (enough).
Tipping is not expected anywhere — restaurants, taxis, hotels.

Reviewed October 2026. Practical details change — verify anything critical (bookings, closures, apps) before you travel.