Top 10 China Travel Tips You Should Know

Planning your tour to China?There are Top 10 travel tips you should know. China is a super brilliant countries various from east to the west. It comes with more challenges than most places in the world, especially if you've never been there before. Hereby we have listed Top 10 China travel tips to help you get started basing on our dozens of years of China tours.

1. Prepare your Travel Documents to China.

It is the first step of your planning to China. Please do check if your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from China.

Visa is getting more easier since 2022 when China has updating the visa-free policy year by year to more countries. Now China has mutual visa exemption agreements with 23 countries - including Singapore and Thailand- and a new unilateral visa-free policy for 15 additional passports until Dec.31,2025(Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and Switzerland). You can read our China Visa-free Policy to read more details. Or you can visit China Visa Application Service Center or your country’s foreign affairs website to find out the latest on entry agreements before booking your trip.

If your country isn't on the visa-free list or you don’t want to visit China on a stopover (more on that below), you will need to apply for a tourist visa. Here is the good news for Americans. For US citizens since January 2024, they are no longer required to submit proof of a round-trip air ticket, hotel reservation, itinerary or invitation letter. All documents are requested less than before and they can apply for a tourist visa on Chinese consulate general in New York online.

If you want to visit Tibet, A Tibet Travel Permit is required for international travelers besides China visa. A Tibet Travel Permit only can by offered by a certified travel agency. The travelers are required to join a guided tour or a group tour for Tibet too. So the best choice is to choose a China travel operate to take part its guided tour or a group tour to Tibet.

2. A Travel Sim Card with a VPN.

Travelers can use their own mobile devices in mainland China, however, some of the most popular apps for the rest of the world are blocked such as Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google and Gmail.

Thankfully, there are ways around this. If your phone is connected through an international data roaming plan or a travel SIM card with a VPN, you’ll still be able to access these apps. A local Sim card will have the same restrictions as well as you connect to local Wi-Fi. For a flat fee, e-SIM cards from companies like Airalo and Airsim will ensure your devices accessing to all daily-used apps in China.

3. Register for Mobile Payment and Credit Card and Cash in case.

Many people in China use WeChat Pay and Alipay, the two major mobile payment systems, instead of cash and credit cards. Nearly all vendors prepare a code for consumers, from the big shopping malls to the local markets. You can download Alilpay or WeChat Pay and register before your leaving. WeChat Pay is more easily to registered with a simple access in 2024. And your Visa or MasterCard is provided along with the expiration date and security code. You can use WeChat Pay to buy everything connecting with your credit card.

As long as you get to China, you can surprisingly find nearly all vendors prepare a collection code for consumers, from the shopping malls to the local markets. That means you can just use a mobile phone to buy everything you want.

If you want to experience the mobile payment in China for convenience, you can register for a Ali Pay or WeChat Pay account before you go. We recommend WeChat Pay more because it simplifies its register process in 2024. To link with WeChat Pay, visitors just need to provide your Visa or MasterCard number, along with the expiration date and security code. 

If you don't want to use these apps, you may have to just exchange cash and stick with those restaurants and hotels that take international credit cards. In fact, not everyone, such as taxi drivers, is happy to take it. Small bills will be useful as many small business owners may not have change.

Actually, it is still a good idea to take your credit cards and exchange some currency to allow for emergencies.

4.Think how to pack smartly for China early.

Pack all necessary travel documents as above. Recommend that you had better take pictures of all your travel documents by your phone. Keep them inside your phone and save one in your DropBox, Icloud or Google Drive. It can help you a lot if you lost the original documents by accident.

Other essentials include enough of the right clothes, and any medication you need (you may need a translated doctor's note to get it through customs). Smartphones with useful apps are good helpers, especially if equipped with a VPN. Beside, you also need an adapter for any electronics you bring as China uses 2 or 3 thin-pin sockets at 220V. Don't forget essentials like a good pair of walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and rain gear.

5.Download Translation Apps.

Be aware of that most Chinese cannot speak English, especially in rural areas. Mandarin is the official language. Only signs in airports and railway stations are both in Chinese and English. The things are changing a little bit since more and more young generations learn English since primary school. However, even if you book your tour with a travel agency and have a private guide, you may still have some free time to explore the country by yourselves. A translation app can help you understand the directions somewhere and words by the locals.

6. High-speed train is better than airplane sometimes.

Due to the fast development of high-speed trains in China, long bus rides are not popular in China now. For long-distance journey, it is advisable to take a flight to save your time, such as from Xi’an to Shanghai or from Lhasa to Chengdu. The duration time is about 2-3 hours.

High-speed trains are a great option for short-distance travel, for example, from Beijing to Xi'an or Hong Kong to Guilin that you pass the boarder smoothly without any stopover. High-speed railway station are often closer to city center than airports and the second class seats cost is quiet lower than the air tickets as well.

7.Try the local food with chops.

Chinese cuisine is popular and a symbol of Chinese culture now because of the big population of China Town everywhere. More and more foreigners would like to choose Chinese restaurant in their countries. And now, you are in China. What are the reason that you should not try local Chinese food in its hometown? From the fiery Sichuan hot pot, Cantonese Dim Sum, to the delicate Peking Roasted Duck, filled with flavorful broth, each region boasts unique flavors and iconic dishes. You will have more fun when you are feasting yourself with Chinese food.

One challenge is to learn how to use the chopsticks. You can consider practicing before for a smoother culinary adventure in China. Just do remember that never stick a pair of chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. This symbolizes joss sticks at a funeral and it is frowned upon. Sure, you can ask for a pair of folk and knife at the restaurant if you still cannot handle chops well.

8.Be wise to the pollution issues.

Chinese government has been working a lot on reducing all kinds of pollution, particularly in the main tourist cities. Hotels in Nanjing, Guangzhou and Shanghai do not offer any disposable toiletries now, inclusive of toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, slippers, shampoo and body gel. More and more hotels will have the same restrictions. You need to pack these if you are planning to visit those cities and check if there is any other hotels with the same policies.

9. Get Accustomed to Toilets in China.

Western toilets are mainly found in the airplanes, some fast-speed trains, airports and hotels.

The public restrooms are mostly squat toilets, especially in rural areas. Please take wipes or hand sanitizers when you are going to the toilets because many public bathrooms here do not provide toilet paper or paper towels or soap. It is part of the Chinese experience to use a toilet here.

10. Do not tipping unless you are on a private tour.

Tipping is not common in China. It is not customary to tip in Chinese Mainland, and tips are likely to be awkwardly refused. Conversely tipping in Hong Kong and Macau is common and much appreciated. You should tip your private English guide and driver on a private tour if you are satisfied with their service. A small amount of tips for outstanding service in restaurants and hotels is acceptable. Taxis and other services don't require tipping. In fact, a sincere "xie xie" (thank you) with a big smile is always the best way to express your gratitude.

Overall, by given these China travel tips, you will have a good tour now.

Last but not the least, you can consider getting off the beaten path by choosing a professional travel company who can do the work for you.

RealChinaTravel, we are here to help you discover a real China. Just contact us, we will make your first trip to China a great one!