What to Know Before You Visit China
China operates differently from anywhere else. Here’s what to sort before you land so you can hit the ground running.
China is one of the most rewarding travel destinations in the world — but it plays by its own rules. The apps are different, the payment systems are different, the trains work differently, and a few social norms will catch you off guard if you’re not expecting them. None of it is difficult once you know. This is the practical stuff worth sorting before your trip.
Visa & Entry — Know Your Options
Sort this first — before anything else
Before booking your trip, it’s worth understanding your entry options. Depending on your nationality, you may be able to enter China without a traditional visa. Known as Transit Without Visa (TWV), China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows eligible visitors from 55 countries to stay up to 10 days — no visa application, no mailing your passport to the embassy, no visa fee. Worth looking into before you go through the full visa process.
The tradeoff is time at the airport. Expect up to two hours at immigration — officers have to verify everything on the spot rather than in advance. It’s manageable, but don’t plan anything tight for your arrival day.
At immigration, look for the line that handles TWV or transit arrivals, or ask an officer to direct you. When you do, say “240 hours” or “10 days” — not just “transit.” There’s also a 24-hour transit option and officers may assume that’s what you want, which causes unnecessary delays. Being specific from the start saves a lot of back and forth.
If you’re only stopping over en route to another country and don’t plan to leave the airport, a 24-hour visa-free transit is available to all foreign nationals at all open ports. You must stay within the restricted port area — but it works well for a simple layover.
Don’t rely on your phone screen at immigration. Print your departing flight confirmation and your hotel booking — officers will ask for both. They may also ask for proof of funds; showing your credit card limit works. Have everything physical and ready before you reach the counter.
Print Your Onward Flight
The policy requires proof you’re leaving China. Your departing flight confirmation must be printed — don’t count on showing it on your phone.
Print Your Hotel Booking
Officers want to see where you’re staying. Have a printed copy of your hotel reservation ready.
Proof of Funds
You may be asked to show you can support yourself financially. Showing your credit card limit is an accepted way to demonstrate this.
Once approved, you’re completely free to travel within the designated areas. The wait is the only friction — after that it’s straightforward, and saves significant time and cost compared to a full visa application.
Eligible countries, ports of entry, and permitted regions change — and this policy has been updated several times in recent years. Check the latest requirements at the official National Immigration Administration of China website: en.nia.gov.cn
Your Phone Is Your Wallet, Menu & Map
Set these up before you board the plane
China runs on its own app ecosystem, and a surprising amount of daily life — paying for things, ordering food, getting a car — flows through just two or three apps. They’re straightforward to use. The key is setting them up before you land, not at the airport.
Alipay
Alipay handles payments everywhere — from hotels to tiny street vendors, all of whom have a QR code to scan. Didi, China’s ride-hailing app, is built directly into Alipay so you won’t need a separate download. Foreign cards can be linked without much friction. Cash is largely obsolete in China — don’t rely on it as a backup.
WeChat is indispensable for eating out. Most restaurants have a QR code on the table — scan it with WeChat, the menu appears on your phone with English translation, you order, and pay through the app. It also works as a general payment method alongside Alipay. Download and set up at home before your trip.
Amap (高德地图) + Google Maps
Google Maps works in China if you’re using an eSIM — but it has real gaps. Smaller restaurants, local businesses, and side streets often don’t appear. Amap is what most locals use and fills those gaps well. Use Google Maps for general orientation, Amap when you need something specific. Download both before you go.
eSIM & VPN — Know Your Options
An international eSIM is the simplest way to stay connected — activate before you land and your regular apps work normally. A VPN is also worth having: it lets you use any WiFi — hotel, café, or public — and still access your usual apps like Google and Instagram without burning through eSIM data. If you go the VPN route, install and test it before you leave home — it’s much harder to set up once you’re in China.
Set up Alipay and WeChat at home and link your payment method in advance. Some verification steps are easier done on a stable connection rather than airport wifi on arrival.
High-Speed Trains & Choosing the Right Didi
The infrastructure will genuinely impress you
China’s transportation network is among the best in the world. Getting between cities on high-speed rail and navigating within them via Didi is a smooth, reliable combination — but there are a few things worth knowing so you’re not caught off guard.
High-Speed Rail Between Cities
Train stations in China are enormous and modern — think international airports in scale and feel. Bags go through a security scan before boarding, so arrive with time to spare. Book tickets in advance, especially on popular routes — they fill up.
One thing that surprises most first-timers: there are no physical tickets. When purchasing, you provide your passport number and that’s linked to your booking. At the platform gates, you scan your passport at a dedicated reader and the system confirms your reservation automatically. Find your platform, queue in the designated area, and wait for the attendant to open the gates.
Passport = Your Ticket
No physical ticket needed. Scan your passport at the platform gate. Make sure your details match exactly what you entered at booking.
Arrive Early
Security scan plus navigating a very large station takes longer than expected. Treat it like an airport — don’t cut it close.
Book Ahead
Popular routes sell out. Book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed, especially around public holidays and weekends.
Didi: Know the Difference
Didi is China’s ride-hailing equivalent of Uber, accessible directly inside Alipay. The fare is confirmed in the app before you accept the ride. There are two main tiers — and the difference between them matters:
| Feature | Regular Didi | Didi Black Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Car condition | Older vehicles, variable | Newer, well-maintained cars |
| Smoke smell | Common in upholstery | Rarely an issue |
| Driver | Casual | Professional, well-dressed |
| Price | Lower | Higher — worth the difference |
If comfort matters, go straight to Didi Black. The price gap is noticeable but not dramatic, and the experience difference is significant — particularly if you’re sensitive to cigarette smell in enclosed spaces.
QR Menus, WeChat Ordering & What to Expect
Easier than you think — even without Mandarin
Ordering food in China has become seamless for visitors, even with zero Mandarin. Most restaurants — from casual local spots to upscale dining — follow the same system: scan the QR code on your table with WeChat, browse the translated menu in English, place your order, and pay through the app. The whole process happens on your phone without needing to flag down a server.
Scan → Order → Pay
WeChat handles the full cycle at most restaurants. No waiting for the bill — you pay when you’re ready, through the app.
Translation Is Built In
WeChat’s menu translation handles Chinese characters well. Combined with menu photos — which are common — you won’t be ordering blind.
Physical Menus Exist
Just ask. Staff are used to it, especially outside major city centers. A perfectly normal request.
Street food areas are everywhere and the variety is extraordinary. Even if you’re not doing full street food meals, wandering through a local food market and picking up snacks is one of the best experiences any Chinese city offers — don’t skip it.
Plan Ahead. Seriously.
The one thing most travel blogs gloss over
This is the section most travel guides skip — and it’s one of the most practically important things to know. China has squat toilets, and they are still the majority almost everywhere outside of five-star hotels, upscale malls, and higher-end restaurants. Cleanliness varies enormously. Even familiar Western chains can surprise you.
At luxury properties and premium shopping centers you’ll generally find clean Western-style toilets without issue. Step outside that zone and the picture changes quickly. It’s worth being mentally prepared rather than caught off guard mid-sightseeing.
Before heading out for the day, identify the nearest upscale hotel, mall, or department store along your route — these are your reliable bathroom options. Go easy on fluids before long sightseeing stretches. Either way, have a plan. We’ve had to cut a sightseeing stretch short because of this. You don’t want to be making that call in the middle of a landmark visit.
Hotel Lobbies Are Your Friend
Any five-star hotel lobby will have clean Western bathrooms. You don’t need to be a guest — walk in with confidence.
Upscale Malls Are Reliable
Premium shopping malls in major cities consistently have clean, Western-style bathrooms. Identify one near your itinerary before heading out.
Tissues & Hand Sanitizer
Toilet paper isn’t always stocked and soap isn’t guaranteed. You can buy tissues easily in China — but good to have a pack in your bag from day one.
Things That Seem Strange But Are Completely Normal
Good to know before you arrive
China has its own social rhythms. None of what follows is a criticism — it’s just different from what many Western travelers expect, and knowing it in advance makes you a more comfortable, less confused visitor.
- 01
It’s Loud — and That’s the Point
Restaurants, markets, and public spaces in China are genuinely loud. Conversations happen at full volume, groups call across tables, debate over meals is spirited. This isn’t inconsiderate — it’s how people connect. Give yourself a day to adjust. After that, it just feels like energy.
- 02
Outdoor Smoking — It Adds Up
Smoking outdoors is extremely common and you’ll encounter it constantly — on streets, outside restaurants, near entrances. It’s enough to notice and occasionally bother you even in open air. As for Didi rides, some cars carry a lingering smoke smell — whether from previous passengers or drivers smoking with the window down, it’s hard to say. Either way, it’s another reason Didi Black tends to be a better experience.
- 03
Ask Your Didi Driver to Turn On the AC
Didi drivers don’t always turn on the air conditioning by default. If the car feels warm, just ask — a gesture toward the vents works fine if there’s a language barrier. Don’t suffer through a hot ride unnecessarily.
- 04
The Shirt May Be Optional
On warm days it’s completely normal to see men with their shirts rolled up to their chest — or not wearing one at all — in markets, streets, and public spaces. It’s practical, it’s common, and nobody gives it a second glance.
- 05
Personal Space Works Differently
In crowded public spaces — markets, transport, busy streets — people stand much closer than most Western travelers are used to. There’s simply no expectation of a buffer zone. This extends to restaurants too: at busy local spots it’s completely normal to be seated at a table with strangers. The table may be small. You eat, they eat, nobody thinks twice about it.