China Travel Glossary

Sixteen terms you will meet in every China travel app, station and menu — what each one means and which guide covers it in depth.

Last verified: 2026-10-27

Alipay (支付宝 Zhīfùbǎo)
China's dominant payment app. Link a foreign card and it covers payments, metro QR codes, ride-hailing and translation.
WeChat Pay (微信支付 Wēixìn Zhīfù)
The second payment super-app, tied to the WeChat messaging platform. Functionally interchangeable with Alipay for travelers.
HSR (高铁 gāotiě)
High-speed rail — 45,000+ km of 300-350 km/h lines linking every major city. Beijing→Shanghai in 4.5 hours.
12306 (yāo-èr-sān-líng-liù)
China Railway's official booking app and hotline number. English interface; requires passport registration.
Second-class seat (二等座)
Standard HSR class: 3+2 seating, fully adequate for rides under 5 hours. First-class is 2+2 with more legroom.
Tour Pass
Alipay's old mini-program for tourists; superseded by direct foreign-card linking — you no longer need it.
Didi (滴滴)
China's Uber. Works inside Alipay/WeChat mini-programs with an international card — no Chinese app store needed.
Gaode / Amap (高德地图)
The best mainland maps app (Chinese UI). Use for walking directions and bus routing; Apple Maps works decently in English.
Golden Week (黄金周)
The Oct 1-7 National Day holiday. The single busiest, most expensive week to travel domestically — avoid it.
Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié)
Chinese New Year — the world's largest annual human migration. Trains sell out weeks ahead; many shops close.
240-hour transit (过境免签)
Visa-free entry for up to 240 hours when transiting to a third country. Applies to 55+ nationalities at 60 gateways.
VPN (虚拟专用网络)
The tool that restores access to Google/WhatsApp/Instagram inside China. Install and test BEFORE arrival.
eSIM
A downloaded SIM profile. International-roaming eSIMs (Airalo, Holafly, etc.) route around the firewall without a VPN.
PSB (出入境管理局)
Public Security Bureau — the Exit-Entry office where visa extensions and lost-passport replacements happen.
Baijiu (白酒)
China's fiery sorghum spirit (40-60% ABV), the default at banquets. Toast with it at your own pace.
Hotpot (火锅 huǒguō)
Do-it-yourself boiling broth at the table. Order the split pot (鸳鸯) — half mild, half numbing-spicy.