China Travel Essentials for First-Time International Visitors

China is straightforward to travel around once a few systems are set up before departure. The most important preparation is not packing; it is making sure that your passport, phone connection, payment methods, maps, and attraction reservations will work together.

This is the reusable “common chapter” for the city guides on this site. It is written for independent travelers from North America and Europe, but the same workflow is useful for visitors from many other countries.

Last checked: 11 September 2026. Immigration rules, ticketing rules, app interfaces, prices, and access to online services can change. Always check the linked official source immediately before travel.

1. Before you book a flight

Visa and entry rules

Do not assume that a friend’s visa experience applies to you. Check your passport nationality, passport type, purpose of travel, length of stay, and whether your itinerary is a true international transit itinerary.

Useful official starting points:

• National Immigration Administration: current visa-free policies
• Current list of countries covered by China’s unilateral 30-day visa exemption
• National Immigration Administration: 240-hour visa-free transit policy

As of the last check, ordinary passport holders from a number of European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and selected countries in Asia and Latin America may enter visa-free for short stays under China’s current unilateral policy. The permitted purpose and maximum stay still matter. The United States is included in the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, but that policy requires a genuine transit itinerary: you must arrive from one country or region and continue to a different country or region with a confirmed onward ticket, and you must remain within the permitted area.

For a normal return trip such as New York → Beijing → New York, do not treat the 240-hour transit policy as automatically applicable. Apply for the appropriate visa unless the official immigration authority confirms that your exact itinerary qualifies.

Save the following offline before departure:

• passport photo page;
• visa, visa-free eligibility evidence, or onward ticket;
• hotel name and address in Chinese;
• travel insurance policy and emergency contact;
• copies of all attraction reservations.

Passport validity and accommodation registration

Keep your passport with you when entering major attractions, booking trains, and checking in. A photograph of the passport is useful as a backup, but it does not replace the original for real-name services.

Hotels that are licensed to receive foreign guests normally register your passport information with the local police as part of check-in. Before paying for an apartment, homestay, or short-term rental, confirm that the host can legally complete foreign-guest registration. If a non-hotel stay requires a separate registration process, follow the current instructions from the National Immigration Administration or ask the local public-security service center.

Choose the right phone strategy

Use at least two independent ways to connect:

1. Your home carrier’s international roaming for the first few hours after landing.
2. An international eSIM purchased and installed before departure, if your phone supports it.
3. A local Chinese SIM bought at an airport or carrier shop if you need a local number or substantial data.

Roaming or an international eSIM may be the easiest option for a short trip because the data route can make some familiar international services easier to reach. A local SIM often gives excellent local coverage but may not solve every access issue by itself. Do not wait until you land to discover that your phone is carrier-locked or that an eSIM cannot be installed.

Install and test the following while still at home:

• Alipay;
• WeChat;
• DiDi;
• Amap (Gaode Maps) or Baidu Maps;
• Trip.com and/or the official 12306 railway app or website;
• an authenticator or password manager if your bank requires one-time verification;
• your airline app and hotel app.

VPN and blocked services

Some services commonly used in North America and Europe may be slow, unavailable, or partially blocked from mainland China. Do not build your entire trip around one specific VPN or one cloud service. If you choose to use a VPN, install and test it before departure and comply with the laws and terms that apply to you and the service.

The practical approach is redundancy:

• keep offline copies of hotel addresses, tickets, and maps;
• use an international roaming plan or eSIM as a backup connection;
• keep Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, and a local map app ready;
• carry some RMB cash even if you expect to pay by phone;
• save key Chinese names as screenshots.

2. Money and payments

China is highly digital, but cash remains legal and useful as a backup. International travelers should set up both Alipay and WeChat if possible. One may work when the other is delayed by card verification, a network problem, or a merchant’s payment setup.

Alipay: the best first setup for many visitors

Alipay is usually the easiest first payment app for an international visitor because it combines international-card payment, transport tools, translation helpers, and mini-programs in one place.

Setup

1. Download Alipay from the Apple App Store or Google Play before departure.
2. Register with the phone number you will actually use in China.
3. Set the language to English if necessary.
4. Add a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, or other supported international card.
5. Complete passport or identity verification when prompted.
6. Add a second card if your bank permits it.
7. Test the app by opening the Pay/Scan screen and checking that the linked card is visible.

Foreign-card support and transaction fees depend on the card, merchant, amount, and current Alipay policy. Read the fee notice shown in the app. A linked foreign card may work for ordinary merchant payments but not for every service, such as deposits or certain peer-to-peer transfers.

Paying in a shop or restaurant

• To let the merchant scan you: open Pay and show your payment QR code.
• To scan the merchant: open Scan, scan the QR code, enter the amount if requested, and confirm the payment method.
• Check the merchant name and amount before confirming.
• Keep the receipt screen until the transaction is complete.

Never scan a random QR code sent by a stranger. At a restaurant, use the code printed on the table or ask the server to confirm the official payment code.

Alipay transport QR code

For Beijing, the official municipal guide describes this workflow:

1. Open Transport on the Alipay home screen.
2. Select Metro or Bus.
3. Select Beijing if the city is not detected automatically.
4. Complete the required identity and payment verification.
5. Activate the ride code.
6. Scan the QR code at the subway gate, or follow the bus reader instructions.

The QR code is not a screenshot. Open a live code when entering and exiting. Keep mobile data available and do not let your battery run out during a journey. See the Beijing foreign-visitor transport guide for the current steps.

WeChat: messaging, mini-programs, and a useful second payment method

WeChat is important even if you rarely use it to pay. Attractions, restaurants, hotels, and railway services often publish their official mini-programs there.

Setup

1. Install WeChat and register with your travel phone number.
2. Add a clear profile name so hotel or tour contacts can identify you.
3. Open Me → Services → Wallet and try to add an international card.
4. Complete identity verification if requested.
5. Turn on notifications for ticket confirmations.

WeChat’s interface and payment availability can vary by country, account history, and card. Treat it as both a communication and booking tool, but keep Alipay or cash as a backup.

Beijing’s GO BEIJING platform

Beijing has also introduced GO BEIJING, a multilingual city-service platform for overseas visitors. The official municipal announcement describes services covering transport, sightseeing, hotels, dining, payments, and other visitor needs in 16 languages. Use it as a helpful city-specific layer, not as your only tool: keep the official attraction website and the attraction’s own WeChat account as the authoritative source for ticket rules.

Mini-programs

In WeChat, pull down on the home screen or use the search field. Search the Chinese name of the official service. For example:

Check that the account is linked from the attraction’s official website. Search results can contain unofficial ticket agents and copycat accounts.

Cash, ATMs, and cards

Bring a small amount of RMB for buses, small shops, markets, emergencies, and a payment-app failure. CNY 300–500 is a practical backup for a short city stay. Use bank ATMs inside airports, major shopping centers, or bank branches where possible; fees are set by both the Chinese ATM operator and your home bank.

Beijing has expanded acceptance of overseas bank cards. All Beijing subway stations support foreign bank cards for ticket purchase, and the municipal guide says Visa and Mastercard contactless cards can be tapped directly at gates. Carry the physical card as well as the phone wallet version because some terminals behave differently.

Ask the merchant before ordering if they accept an international card. A card logo on the door is not a guarantee that the terminal is online. Keep your bank’s fraud-notification number and a backup card stored separately from your wallet.

3. Maps and navigation

Which map should you use?

• Amap / Gaode Maps (高德地图): the best all-round local option for walking, subway, driving, taxi pickup points, and Chinese place names. Some English features are available, but Chinese search is more reliable.
• Baidu Maps (百度地图): strong coverage and useful for Chinese place-name searches. Its interface is more Chinese-heavy.
• Apple Maps: convenient for iPhone users, especially for basic place lookup and walking, but verify opening hours and entrances against the official attraction page.
• Google Maps: do not rely on it as your only map in mainland China; coverage, routing, and access may be inconsistent.
• OpenStreetMap: a useful backup for a simple offline reference, but it may not show every entrance, temporary closure, or local business.

How to search reliably

Search using the Chinese name copied from the official attraction page. A venue may have multiple gates with different walking distances from the subway.

For ride-hailing, search for the exact gate or a large nearby landmark rather than only the attraction name. For example, the Palace Museum’s public entrance is at the Meridian Gate (午门), while the exit is often far away at the Gate of Divine Might (神武门). Your driver needs the correct side of the road and pickup point.

Save a note with:

Hotel name in English:
Hotel name in Chinese:
Chinese address:
Nearest subway station:
Hotel phone number:

A practical map table for any city guide

Every city article on this site should include a table like the following, with a direct link to the exact place or gate:

4. Transport inside China

Beijing subway

The subway is usually the fastest way around central Beijing. Standard urban rail fares start at CNY 3 for journeys up to 6 km and increase by distance; the Capital Airport Express is a separate CNY 25 fare. Check the official Beijing Subway fare page before travel.

There are four practical ways to ride:

1. Tap a supported overseas Visa or Mastercard at the gate.
2. Use the Alipay Beijing metro QR code.
3. Buy a single-journey ticket from a machine or staffed counter.
4. Buy a physical BEIJING PASS with a passport. The municipal guide lists the standard card price as CNY 20, before adding travel credit.

For a short trip, direct contactless card tap or the Alipay QR code is usually simplest. Some stations require a security check at the entrance; allow extra time with luggage.

Buses

Buses are cheap and extensive, but they are less beginner-friendly because stops and announcements may be mainly in Chinese. Use Alipay’s bus code if available, or carry exact RMB. Check the route in Amap and confirm the direction: two stops with similar English transliterations may serve opposite directions.

DiDi ride-hailing

The official Beijing guide describes DiDi as an English-interface service that accepts foreign phone numbers and can use bank cards, Alipay, or WeChat Pay depending on the account setup.

1. Install DiDi: Ride Hailing in China before departure.
2. Register with the phone number you will use in China.
3. Allow location access while using the app.
4. Enter the destination in English or Chinese; Chinese venue names are more reliable.
5. Choose Express, Taxi, Premier, or another available category.
6. Confirm the pickup point on the map, especially at airports, railway stations, and large attractions.
7. Match the license plate before entering.
8. Show the in-app verification code if the driver asks.
9. Use the in-app translated quick messages if communication is difficult.
10. Check the final fare and receipt after the ride.

Do not accept an unsolicited ride from a person approaching you inside an airport or station. Use the official taxi queue or app pickup area.

Intercity trains: 12306

For high-speed rail, the official China Railway website and app are 12306. The official English FAQ confirms that foreign travelers can use valid passports for real-name tickets.

Basic workflow:

1. Create an account on the official 12306 website or app.
2. Enter your name exactly as shown on your passport. Do not change the order or add an unofficial middle name.
3. Add your passport as the identity document.
4. Complete identity verification. The system may show “to be verified” and request a passport image or manual verification.
5. Search using the Chinese station name when a city has several stations.
6. Select a train, seat class, passenger, and payment method.
7. Bring the same original passport to the station. The passport is the travel document; an itinerary printout is not the ticket.

The official system releases tickets and applies sales, change, queue, and refund rules that can change. Use 12306 for the final rule, and keep a time buffer for security screening at large stations. Trip.com is easier for some visitors, but it may add a service fee and is not the railway’s official channel.

5. Attraction reservations

A reservation workflow that works across China

1. Start with the attraction’s official website or the city government tourism portal.
2. Note whether the attraction requires a reservation, a paid ticket, or both.
3. Check the release time in Beijing/China Standard Time.
4. Prepare the passport number and the exact passport name for each traveler.
5. Book each person separately if the platform does not support foreign group bookings.
6. Screenshot the confirmation, QR code, time slot, and cancellation rules.
7. Bring the original passport used in the booking.
8. Re-check the official page 24–48 hours before visiting for closure notices.

Do not use unofficial scalpers for limited-ticket museums. The safest approach is to book on the official website, official WeChat account, official mini-program, or an official city ticketing platform.

How to read ticket prices

Chinese attractions often separate:

• general park admission;
• a “through” or combo ticket that includes special halls;
• cable cars, shuttle buses, boats, or other transport inside the scenic area;
• concessions for eligible age groups and students;
• free admission that still requires a real-name reservation.

Ask what is included before paying. A cheap Great Wall entrance ticket may not include the shuttle bus, cable car, or toboggan.

6. Food ordering and dining

Dietary communication

Save short Chinese phrases in your phone:

For serious allergies, explain the allergy in writing and show the Chinese characters. “Vegetarian” may not automatically exclude animal stock, lard, or seafood seasoning; ask specifically.

Ordering workflow

• At a small restaurant, scan the table QR code only after confirming it is the restaurant’s ordering system.
• At a larger restaurant, ask for an English menu or use the restaurant’s digital menu.
• Pictures are useful but do not always show portion size.
• Share dishes when appropriate; many Chinese meals are designed for the table.
• Service charges and tipping are not usually expected in ordinary restaurants. Check the bill for any service fee.
• Dianping (大众点评) has the strongest local restaurant listings, but its interface is mainly Chinese. Use it for address, opening hours, and branch selection; translate the dish names with Alipay or Google Lens before ordering if your connection allows.

7. Health, safety, and useful numbers

Emergency numbers

• 110 — police
• 120 — ambulance
• 119 — fire
• 122 — traffic accident
• 12345 — Beijing government service hotline; language support depends on the channel and current staffing

For a medical visit, bring passport, travel insurance information, medication list, and the Chinese generic name of important medicines. Do not assume that a brand sold in North America or Europe is available under the same name in China.

Everyday safety

Beijing is generally manageable for independent travelers, but use normal big-city precautions:

• carry your passport securely;
• avoid unofficial guides and ticket scalpers;
• agree on the price before using any non-metered service;
• keep an eye on your phone in crowded transport hubs;
• do not photograph security checkpoints, military facilities, or restricted infrastructure;
• follow signs and staff instructions at government buildings and major events;
• reserve extra time around Tiananmen Square and railway stations because of security screening.

Weather and air quality

Beijing has hot summers, cold and dry winters, and large temperature changes in spring and autumn. Pack sun protection and water for the Great Wall, warm layers for winter, and comfortable shoes for long imperial-palace days. Check the weather and air-quality forecast each morning; outdoor visibility can affect whether a Great Wall day is worthwhile.

8. A reusable pre-trip checklist

Two to four weeks before departure

• confirm passport validity and visa or visa-free eligibility;
• book a hotel that accepts foreign guests;
• install and verify Alipay, WeChat, DiDi, maps, and 12306;
• arrange roaming, eSIM, or a local-SIM plan;
• save the Chinese names of hotels, airports, stations, and attractions;
• book high-demand attractions and trains when their windows open;
• tell your bank that you will use your cards in China.

Forty-eight hours before each attraction

• confirm opening hours and closure notices;
• check the exact entrance and exit;
• confirm the name and passport number on the reservation;
• screenshot the QR code and payment record;
• check rain, heat, wind, and air quality;
• load the destination in Amap and estimate door-to-door time.

On the day

• passport;
• charged phone and power bank;
• small amount of RMB;
• water and comfortable shoes;
• reservation screenshots;
• hotel card or Chinese address;
• offline translation phrases and emergency contacts.

Official references

• National Immigration Administration
• Beijing International Portal and visitor services
• Beijing foreign-visitor payment and transport guide
• Beijing Subway overseas bank-card FAQ
• Beijing taxi and DiDi guide
• China Railway 12306 English FAQ