China Travel FAQ

China Travel FAQ

QDo I need a visa to visit China?

A

Travellers from many countries — including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia — can currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. Carry your hotel booking and a return ticket, as immigration may ask for them. Citizens of 54 countries can also use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit when passing through a major hub. Rules change often, so confirm your nationality on the National Immigration Administration website before booking.

QCan I pay with my foreign credit card?

A

China is almost cashless, but international cards work once linked. Install Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly and add your Visa or Mastercard. Transactions under ¥200 carry no fee; above ¥200 a service fee of about 3% applies. You show a QR code that the cashier scans — the same way locals pay. Cash is still legal tender and useful in small shops and temples, but many stalls no longer keep change. Carry a little cash and one working payment app as backup.

QHow do I get online, and will my apps work?

A

Buy a travel eSIM before departure, or a local SIM at the airport (China Mobile, Unicom or Telecom; passport required). A local SIM gives the fastest and cheapest data but follows mainland network rules, so Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and X may not load. International roaming plans and many travel eSIMs route data outside the mainland and usually keep those apps working. Hotel Wi-Fi is common but often asks for a passport or room number. Download offline maps and a translation app before you arrive.

QIs it easy to travel between cities and get around town?

A

High-speed rail is the best way between cities. The official 12306 website and app have an English interface: register with your passport and buy tickets directly. At the station, scan your passport at the gate — no paper ticket needed. Arrive 30–40 minutes early for security. In cities, Didi has an English version and accepts international cards; the same service is built into Alipay. Metros are cheap, signposted in English, and usually the fastest way across a big city.

QWill language be a barrier?

A

Less than you might fear. Airports, train stations and major attractions have English signage, and metro announcements in big cities are bilingual. Restaurant menus increasingly use QR codes with pictures. Translation apps handle the rest — camera translation for menus and signs, voice mode for taxis. AI assistants such as DeepSeek are useful for drafting a question to show a driver or shop assistant. Learning a few words (nǐ hǎo, xiè xie) goes a long way.