China travel planning
Everything you need to know before you go: visa-free entry, payment apps, transport, essential tools, dining habits, and local etiquette.
Overview
This guide is built for first-time visitors who want to remove the biggest travel unknowns before choosing a route. Start with entry, payment, apps, and transport first, then move on to dining and local etiquette once the basics are clear.
Use this guide to quickly sort yourself into the right entry path: 30-day visa-free entry, 240-hour visa-free transit, or a regular visa.
For most first-time visitors, the best payment setup is mobile payment first, an international card as backup, and a small amount of cash just in case.
If this is your first trip to China, download the apps for maps, translation, payment, ride-hailing, and bookings before you land.
For many first-time visitors, trains are easier than expected, metros are very useful, and ride-hailing helps smooth out the rest of the trip.
Learn how QR menus, paper menus, and mobile payment work in restaurants across China.
Pick up a few cultural basics so daily interactions in China feel smoother and less stressful.