China travel FAQ

Citizens of ~50 countries (most of Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Gulf states, much of Latin America) can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, currently valid through December 31, 2026. Thailand entered a mutual 30-day exemption on March 1, 2026. Most other nationalities need a tourist (L) visa. Use our visa checker for an instant answer for your passport.

Citizens of 55 countries (including the US and Mexico) transiting to a third country can stay up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa, entering via 65 approved ports across 24 provinces. You must hold an onward ticket to a third destination — Hong Kong and Macau count.

Yes — all foreign travellers must complete an arrival card, including visa-free visitors. You can fill it online up to 72 hours before arrival and receive a QR code to show at immigration, or fill a paper card on the plane.

First-time visitors aged 14–70 have fingerprints scanned at immigration — it's routine and takes under a minute. Repeat visitors are usually exempt once prints are on file.

Visa-free entries allow up to 30 days per entry (10 days for transit). Visa-free stays cannot be converted to other visa types inside China — for longer trips, apply for an L visa before travelling. Overstaying triggers fines of ¥500/day (capped at ¥10,000) and possible entry bans.

Yes — the 30-day unilateral visa-free policy is announced in waves and currently runs to December 31, 2026; renewal isn't guaranteed. Our visa checker shows a countdown warning when your policy window is close to expiring, and we re-verify the lists monthly.

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything, and both officially support international Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards — no Chinese bank account or phone number needed. Set up and verify before you fly; single-transaction limits for verified foreign users are around $5,000 with a $50,000 annual cap.

Carry ¥200–500 in small bills as backup. Since February 1, 2026, regulations require physical merchants to accept RMB cash, so cash always works — but mobile payment is faster nearly everywhere.

Up to ¥20,000 RMB or US$5,000 equivalent in foreign currency without declaring. Larger amounts must be declared at customs on arrival.

No — tipping is not part of Chinese culture and isn't expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. It can even cause confusion. High-end hotel porters and tour guides on private tours are the only common exceptions.

Yes — Google services (including Maps and Gmail), Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and most Western social apps are blocked. Locals use WeChat, Amap and Baidu. Plan replacements before you arrive.

If you want your usual apps, yes — and you must download and test it before entering China; VPN sites and app store listings are blocked inside the country. Test it on mobile data, not just WiFi.

Easiest: buy a travel eSIM online before departure (activates on landing). Alternatives: a physical tourist SIM at the airport (passport required) or international roaming. You'll need data immediately for DiDi, payments and translation.

Use the official 12306 app/website (English version) — register with your passport, no Chinese phone number needed, and pay with an international card. Identity verification can take 3–5 working days, so register early. Trip.com is a beginner-friendly alternative with no pre-verification. At the station, your passport is your ticket.

Metro is the easiest: activate the Ride Code in Alipay (search 'Metro') and scan at the gate. For taxis, use DiDi (English interface, auto-payment via Alipay). For walking and transit directions, use Amap — Google Maps doesn't work properly in China.

Mostly no — assume taxi drivers, small restaurants and shops speak no English. Show Chinese place names from your itinerary, use phrase show-cards, or use a translation app like Baidu Translate. Younger people in big cities often read some English.

No — some budget hotels aren't licensed to register foreign guests and will turn you away. International chains and hotels bookable on Booking.com/Trip.com with foreign-passport support are safe choices. Confirm before booking independent hotels.

All foreigners must be registered with local police within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels do this automatically at check-in. If you stay with friends or in a private home, you must visit the local police station (派出所) yourself with your passport and the host's ID.

Personal-use quantities of most prescription medicines are fine — keep original packaging and bring your prescription or a doctor's letter. Important: common ADHD medications (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse) are effectively banned, and pseudoephedrine cold medicines (e.g. Sudafed) are prohibited. Check before you fly.

Don't drink tap water — use bottled or boiled water (hotels provide kettles). Power is 220V with Type A, C and I sockets; most phone/laptop chargers handle 220V fine, you just need a plug adapter.

Violent crime against tourists is rare and cities are generally safe at night. The main risks are petty scams ('tea house' invitations, unlicensed taxis) and traffic. Check your government's travel advisory before you go, save your embassy's number, and use 110 (police) / 120 (ambulance) in emergencies.