The ten questions foreign travelers ask most before a China trip — answered with 2026 rules and linked to the full guides.
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Citizens of 60+ countries — including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and since 2025 large parts of Latin America — can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for ordinary tourism. Nearly everyone else qualifies for the 240-hour visa-free transit when continuing to a third country. Check your passport on our visa guide.
No — Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and most Western social apps are blocked on mainland networks. Install a working VPN or an international-roaming eSIM before you fly; both are legal for travelers. See our VPN guide for what currently works.
At physical card terminals, rarely outside luxury hotels. The reliable path is linking your Visa/Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay, which together are accepted at roughly 90% of merchants — from subway gates to street vendors. Setup takes about ten minutes.
Three ways: the official 12306 app (English interface, passport registration), Trip.com (small fee, no Chinese number needed), or any station ticket window with your passport. Book 2-14 days ahead for popular routes — see route times and classes in our HSR guide.
Violent crime against visitors is rare and street harassment is lower than in most Western capitals. The real risks are financial: taxi scams, tea-house scams and overcharging at unpriced stalls. Our safety guide lists the current scam patterns by city.
Late March-May and September-November offer the best weather nationwide. Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Chinese New Year: trains, hotels and sights run at triple capacity with peak prices. Month-by-month detail is in our best-time guide.
No — but download offline translation (Google Translate Chinese pack or Alipay's built-in translator) and keep your hotel's address card in Chinese for taxis. In Shanghai and Beijing, staff at metro stations and major attractions usually speak some English.
No. Tap water is treated but not potable — drink bottled water (buy 4L jugs in convenience stores), or boiled water, which every hotel provides for free. Skip ice in street-side drinks if you have a sensitive stomach.
Real budgets from 40+ nationalities: backpackers manage on $50-70/day, mid-range trips land at $100-160/day including domestic HSR travel, luxury starts around $300/day. Full breakdowns by traveler type are in our real trip budgets.
No. Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels anywhere in mainland China, and staff may chase you down to return "forgotten" change. The only exception: tour guides on organized multi-day tours, where ¥50-100/day is appreciated.