China Travel Tips: 50+ Essential Travel Tips (2025)
China Travel Tips You Can’t Afford To Miss:
Travelling around China comes with its fair share of challenges: Blocked internet access, cultural differences, and generally less travel information compared to other popular Asia destinations. In this guide I’ll share with you my China travel tips that helped me smoothly navigate across China on my 30-day backpacking journey.
So, if you’re looking for visa requirements, essential apps, and cultural tips, you’re in the right place. Keep on reader to find out all the know before you go information.
- China Travel Tips You Can’t Afford To Miss:
- 9 Essential Apps You Need Before You Go:
- How to Stay Connected In China: VPNs, SIMs, E-SIMs
- Visa & Entry Requirements:
- Navigating China Like a Pro: Trains, Metro, Buses, Bikes & Must-Know Hacks
- Money & Payments in China: The Cashless Reality
- China Travel Budget Tips and Breakdown:
- 14 More China Travel Tips and Cultural Insights:
- Is China Safe to Travel Alone?: Safety, Scams and Solo Travel Tips
- Final Thoughts:
- China Travel Itineraries To Pair With China Travel Tips:
9 Essential Apps You Need Before You Go:
1. Alipay (Payment & Transport)
Alipay is a cashless payment app used to pay for activities, restaurants, stores, and public transport. It’s a simple set up and foreigner friendly.
Almost everyone uses it, whether you’re in the big cities or the rural areas this will be a common payment method.
How to use Alipay in China: Payments
2. WeChat (Payments & Tickets)
WeChat is another cashless payment app, but also features messaging, social media, and it’s where you’ll purchase tickets online.
3. DiDi (Rideshares)
4. AMap | Baidu Maps (Navigation)
Google Maps doesn’t work in China unless you have a VPN. Apple Maps works slightly better however, you should download one of these Chinese based map apps for the best navigation around China.
5. Railway 12306 (High-Speed Rail)
Railway 12306 is China’s main booking service for their High-Speed Rail. The app now offers English translation making it even easier to purchase tickets.
6. Trip.com (Accommodation, Trains, Flights)
Trip.com is actually Chinese based app and offers a large range of accommodation choices throughout the country.
7. VPN (Internet Access)
A Virtual Privacy Network (VPN) will help grant you access to western media throughout China. Without one, you will have no access as China blocks services such as Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and X.
8. Papago | Baidu (Translation)
English isn’t widely spoken in China, especially with the older generations. If you need help with directions or have any questions, these apps allow for smooth translation.
Note: The Great Fire Wall blocks access to a lot of western translation apps, therefore, I recommend Papago and Baidu:
9. Xiaohongshu (Discover The Local Spots)
Think of this as Instagram and TripAdvisor on the same app.
How to Stay Connected In China: VPNs, SIMs, E-SIMs
VPN’s:
The Great Firewall of China blocks access to almost all western apps: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Google, you name it and it’ll be most likely blocked.
However, with a VPN installed on your device you can bypass the wall and gain access to all your favourite apps. Therefore, allowing you to connect with friends and family whilst roaming.
I personally went with LetsVPN and it worked almost perfectly during my trip, but I’d recommend checking out the 8 Best VPN For China for more options that might suit you better.
China travel tip: Some VPN providers offer a 30 day money back guarantee if you know what I’m getting at.
Why you need a VPN📶:
| Without a VPN | With a VPN |
| ❌ Google (Maps, Gmail, Search) | ✅Access to All western social media. |
| ❌ Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, X, WhatsApp) | ✅The opportunity to contact friends or relatives. |
SIM Card’s or E-SIMs?:
Personally, I’d recommend buying a local SIM card paired with a VPN and here why:
- The local SIM option cost me $25 for 50G of data, lasting me 30 days. Paired with a VPN, I had sufficient data and western media access from my entire trip.
- Unless you’re really using local apps such as WeChat, you’re probably not going to burn through all of your data.
E-SIM’s are a great option and some even come with a VPN installed and can remove the hassle of buying a SIM card at the airport. If you go with this option, make sure you regularly check your data and top up when needed.
Running out of data could result in you being blocked from western media as you may not be able to connect to your external E-SIM provider to top up.
Visa & Entry Requirements:
Firstly, I’ll give you the baseline visa information to give you insights on different visa options.
However, in order to avoid any misunderstandings and stay up to data with the latest visa information, down below I have linked to reliable China visa related articles. You should follow these guides as they are official sources.
China’s Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates – See if you’re eligible for China’s 240 hour visa free entry.
China Visas Explained – Take a look at different visa options and see what suits your situation.
China Upgrades 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit to 10-Day Stay, Adds 21 Ports – Potentially fly into a new location of your choosing with these new port entries.
Visa Types:
if you’re travelling to China for travel purposes, you’ll most likely need one of the following visas:
240 hour visa: Transit visa free entry
- Allows passport holders from these 54 countries to travel to 24 regions in China for a maximum of 240 hours.
- This Visa can be attained on arrival.
- To be eligible you must have an onward flight from China within this timeframe.
- Some popular regions included are: Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei, Guangdong, Hainan, and Sichuan.
- Perfect visa options for those on a shorter travel timeframe.
L Visa: Tourist Visa
- 30-90 days of eligible stay.
- Less restrictions on where you can travel to.
- Perfect for backpackers or anyone who wants to explore China for a longer duration.
- Must apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in your home.
- Potentially apply through a visa travel agency if you are currently travelling abroad.
Note: It’s possible to apply for the L Visa whilst travelling outside of your own country. I applied through a visa agency in Seoul, South Korea. I filled out my details on the forms, paid for the visa and got it approved in just under 10 days.
15 day visa free entry:
- Travellers from France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Malaysia can travel to China on a 15 day visa free entry.
- This policy is eligible until the 31st of December 2025.
China Travel Tip: My friend from Germany would stay in China for 2 weeks, go down to Hong Kong and re-enter China for 15 more days.
Always check the official sources for updates and policy changes as they are updated frequently.
Navigating China Like a Pro: Trains, Metro, Buses, Bikes & Must-Know Hacks
🚆 How to Book Trains in China as a Foreigner (Without the Stress)
Booking trains is similar to booking a flight. You’ll need to upload all of your passport information and personal details on Trip.com or Railway12306.
The following tutorial is demonstrated on Railway12306:
Booking platforms:
Tip: Tickets sell out fast, especially for sleeper trains. Book at least 3 days in advance to guarantee yourself a seat.
China Travel Tip: Tickets sometimes sell out fast, especially for sleeper trains. Book at least 3 days in advance to guarantee yourself a seat.
🚄 High-Speed Rail Tips:
China has one of the most extensive high-speed railway networks in the world, covering over 40,000km and connecting you to almost all major cities and Provences.
The train stations might as well be airports, they are HUGE! Similar to airports, you’ll need to arrive early to avoid missing your train. I learned this the hard way, but more about that in just a second.
Day trains:
| Class | Price | Best For | Insider Notes |
| Second | $ | Budget Travellers | Standard seating (economy flights) |
| First | $$ | Comfort Seekers | Extra leg room, comfortable seats, power outlets |
| Business | $$$ | Luxury Travellers | Premium service, fully reclinable seats, snack service |
Sleeper Trains:
The sleeper trains are a great option for budget travellers and it is an experience in itself. Whilst travelling to a new city, you’ll also be covering a night of accommodation.
Sleeper Train Option Breakdown:
Hard Seat: Keep in mind sleeper trains are usually long journeys. May not be the most comfortable.
Hard Sleeper (6-bunk): Social, cheapest option, not as “hard” as you would think.
Soft Sleeper (4-bunk): More privacy, charging ports, extra luggage space
Standing ticket: I mean, why would you do this to yourself?
Tip: Bring your own pillow case. There’s a chance that someone else was using the bed before you and you’ll have to use their sheets.
⚠️ Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Using The High-Speed Rail
- The trains arrive on time and sometimes even leave’s slightly early.
- You have to go through security and this can take some time.
- Boarding starts 30 minutes early, the green light means go through to your platform.
🚇 Metro Survival Guide:
How to use Alipay to pay for the metro:
Metro Security Checks:
Each metro station has airport level security you’ll need to pass through to get to your platform, but don’t worry the staff are pretty chill and will give you a quick scan and send you on your way.
You’ll get into a good rhythm of quickly chucking your belongings on the conveyer belt and going through the scanners.
Occasionally the police or security staff will ask to see your passport to check your visa at the exit of a station. Locals will also be asked to show their ID so it’s not to stress, you are not being singled out.
Didi & Buses 🚌🚖:
Money & Payments in China: The Cashless Reality
💳 Why Cash is Dead in China (Almost):
Cash isn’t king across China and some locals will even find it quite funny if you hand them physical cash. That’s not to say that you still can’t pay in cash, it is just becoming less and less common across the county.
Almost all payments are made through WeChat or Alipay.
However, as a foreigner you should still carry cash and here’s why:
China Travel Budget Tips and Breakdown:
I was on a backpackers budget during my trip which included me mostly eating street food and at local places with the plastic stools, aimed to never spend more than 30RMB for a meal.
I spent a total of 7647RMB (£800-£900) over the course of 30 days. This also includes trains and accommodation that are not included on the images below.
I found the most expensive transactions to be the train tickets and attractions.
Train tickets are reasonably priced for the distance you’re travelling but if you’re planning to taking lots of trips, the money does add up over time. I spent roughly £180-£230 on 7- HSR trains.
Avoid Using A Tour Company:
Tour companies take care of all the heavy lifting and planning for you but it’s still a lot cheaper to plan and travel by yourself. You can get almost all the information you need from detailed guides and itineraries that are just a click away.
Pros and Cons of using a tour company:
| ✅Pro | ❌Con |
| Itineraries and activities are pre planned. | Costs 2×3 more than travelling alone. |
| A company will take you to some of the top rated experiences. | Less freedom to travel where you would like. |
| No stress and peace of mind. | You have to do things on their time. |
🛍️ Souvenirs & Food
Alipay deals:
💧 Water Savings
Bottled water is exceptionally cheap throughout China however you should consider bringing a reusable and maybe filtered water bottle to refill at hotels and hostels.
Although bottled water is cheap, you’ll be drinking a lot throughout day and will likely rack up quite the bill.
⚠️ Avoid National Holiday’s
Chinese national holidays are no joke, they’re the definition of “BUSY!”.
There are two main weeks you need to look out for:
What can you expect if you are visiting during a National holiday?
Save Money With Sleeper Trains:
Book Hard Seats On Trains:
Hard seats are the standard seating option and the cheapest. They’re also not as. “Hard” as you might think.
Use Public Transportation:
Most cities have an extensive public transport routes that can take you almost anywhere in the city by the metro or bus.
14 More China Travel Tips and Cultural Insights:
Tipping Culture:
Tipping culture doesn’t really exist and It can be considered rude in some cases. A simple thank you (Xièxiè) is perfectly acceptable.
Counting in Chinese:
There are some slight variations between the North and the South of China, but counting by hands works a little different here.
It’s likely that street vendors will use these hand signs when communicating prices.
Chinese Cuisine Changes Across The Country:
Each region in China specialises in different dishes, from the fiery and spicy Sichuan hotpots, to the mild and refreshing Cantonese styled dishes of Guangzhou and Hongkong, and the soupier broth focused dishes in the colder regions of Dongbei.
Each new Provence feels like stepping into a brand new food heaven.
Food and Water Precautions:
- Avoid drinking tap water as its’s not filtered. Purchase bottle water or refill you water at your accommodation.
- You can refill you water at train stations and airports, however they usually tend to be hot water only in my experience, which was a pain.
- Street food is some of the best food you’ll taste in China, but it’s always good to look for vendors where you can see the food is being cooked properly.
Tourist Sites:
Some of the tourist sites are huge and will require a half day to a full day trip to cover them. I recommend wearing comfortable footwear when visiting sites such as the Great Wall of China and Forbidden City.
Online tickets for popular tourist sites such as the Forbidden City in Beijing sell’s out its tickets up to a week in advance. Ideally, try and book as fast as possible in order to avoid queuing in long lines.
Renting A Car:
China doesn’t recognise the International Drivers License, unfortunately not allowing you to hire a vehicle and drive around the country.
For areas of the country that are hard to get to by public transport, consider hiring a private driver.
Squat toilets:
Daunting at first but soon you’ll be a pro! You’ll find these to be one of common toilets across China. However, most modern malls and hotels offer western styled toilets.
I suggest checking out a guide on How to Use a Squat Toilet.
Tip: Bring toilet paper with you as some toilets don’t provide any. If they do provide toilet paper, it was be on a rack as you walk into the toilet room, not actually in the cubical. It’s a soul crushing experience to need to toilet with no toilet paper on hand.
Smoking Culture:
You’ll find that people will often smoke anywhere and everywhere. Inside, outside, toilets, no smoking zones, hostels, and for some people this can be an overwhelming experience.
When I entered my first hostel in Beijing, there was a man attempting to smoke out of the dorm window, can’t say he was very successful.
Have The Name Of Your Accommodation in Chinese and English:
English isn’t widely spoken in China and if you’re struggling to return back to your accommodation, the Chinese name will help locals such as taxi drivers help get you back to where you need to be.
Racism in China:
In my experience, I didn’t experience any direct racism but you may get some comments that stem from curiosity. For me, I had a few kids ask why my skin was black, why my hair looks the way it does (I have dreadlocks), and if I am a basketball player.
It’s still quite uncommon for locals to see foreigners, especially those with darker skin. So, it’s likely you’ll receive some stares especially from the older generation, but I think this is more out of curiosity than anything. If you nod your head at an older local, you’ll usually receive one back.
You might be asked to take a photo:
Occasionally you may come across someone who will want to take a photo with you. This was more common in the central regions due to less foreigns travelling to these areas.
It’s possible that people will just start recording you, whether you’re walking past them in a public area or sitting near them on the metro. It’s never done discretely but I never felt threatened by it either.
Hot water with every meal:
You’ll receive hot water for every meal regardless whether it’s summer or winter. It’s a traditional culture and they believe that hot water helps cleanse the body and is good for digestion.
Spitting:
Clearing your throat and spitting is quite a big thing and you’ll notice it in most places.
Illegal Drug Laws:
China is no joke when it comes to illegal drugs, you’ll likely find yourself on the harsher side of the law if caught in possession.
Is China Safe to Travel Alone?: Safety, Scams and Solo Travel Tips
I spent 1 month in China travelling through the big cities, rural regions, hiking through mountains, national parks, and taking all sorts of public transport.
There wasn’t a single time where I felt unsafe.
Reasons I Felt Safe:
Petty crime still exists such as pickpocketing in crowded areas and just like any new country you should approach new situations with caution, regardless of the circumstances.
For female Solo travellers, I recommend seeing Rachel Meets China’s Solo Female Traveller’s Guide.
🎨 Top 3 Tourist Scams (And How to Avoid Them):
1. Tea House Scam:
You’ll be invited into a tea shop to try a variety of different types of tea for “free”. Sometimes it is indeed free, however on other occasions you’ll be handed a hefty bill if you try to leave.
This scam is most common in the big cities of Beijing and Shanghai, but I’ve also seen this scam in Guilin.
2. Art Gallery Scam:
I have a lot of experience with this one (unfortunately). I unknowingly approached two scammers as I was asking around for a phone repair shop. They were the first people really enthusiastic to help me and said they’d take me to a shop. But as the shops weren’t quite open yet, they said “let’s take a look at our art gallery first”.
They took me down to a basement filled with all types of art and eventually, became quite persistent in asking me to buy some of their art. The art was beautiful, but some of the pieces looked printed and fake. Not only this, but they were selling them for an extortionate price.
3. Fake Taxis:
I never used a taxi in China, but like everywhere in the world, if they don’t turn the meter on or offer to turn it off, they’re possibly trying to make more money from you.
I’d recommend just using DiDi’s.
Final Thoughts:
Travelling to China takes some preparation but with these China travel tips you’ll be travelling around the country smoothly, safely and with peace of mind.
Be sure to pair this itinerary with my 3-day Beijing itinerary as I believe it’s one of the best cities in China to visit as a tourist. Feel free to check out some of my other China itineraries to enhance your trip.
Let me know in the comment section below if you have any China travel tips of your own that I missed out.
China Travel Itineraries To Pair With China Travel Tips:
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