China Travel Guide for Foreigners: Visas, Payments, Internet and Getting Around (2026 Version)

Last reviewed: October 2026

China is one of those trips that's easy to love and slightly intimidating to plan. The high-speed trains are fantastic. The food changes every few hundred kilometres. You can walk from a glass skyscraper district into a 600-year-old lane in ten minutes.

The tricky part is the setup. Train tickets want your passport number. A bowl of noodles gets paid for with a QR code. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram may not load the way they do at home. None of it is hard once you know about it. It's just annoying to find out at the airport.

This guide is the short version of everything you should sort out before flying to mainland China. Where a topic needs more room, I've linked to a separate, detailed guide.

Quick answer: what do foreigners need to prepare before travelling to China? Check whether you need a visa, set up Alipay or WeChat Pay, sort out mobile data before you land, save your hotel address in Chinese, and keep your original passport and a little cash on you. Rules change, so confirm entry requirements with official sources before you book.

China travel essentials at a glance

1. Do you need a visa for China?

Maybe not. But "visa-free" isn't a blanket rule, and it's the first thing to check.

Whether you can skip the visa depends on your nationality, your passport type, why you're going, how long you plan to stay, and the rules in force on the day you arrive. China uses a few different schemes: bilateral visa-exemption agreements, unilateral visa-free policies for certain nationalities, and a visa-free transit option. They're separate, and qualifying for one doesn't mean you qualify for another.

How to check your eligibility

Start with official sources, not a travel forum from 2023. Look up:

• whether your nationality can enter visa-free, and for how long
• which purposes of travel are covered (tourism, business, family visits and so on)
• whether your passport needs a minimum validity
• whether you need to show onward or return travel

The official starting point is China's government Visit China portal. If you do need a visa, apply through the Chinese embassy, consulate or authorised visa centre for your area. Processing times vary, so don't leave it until the week before.

The 240-hour visa-free transit policy

China lets travellers from a list of designated countries enter through approved ports and stay in permitted areas for up to 240 hours (10 days) under a transit policy.

The word that matters is transit. It isn't a general ten-day holiday allowance. You normally need to be travelling onward to a third country or region, with confirmed tickets, and you have to stay within the permitted areas. So Country A → China → Country B can qualify. A plain return trip from Country A to China and back to Country A usually doesn't.

Nationality lists, entry ports and permitted areas change from time to time, so check the current rules before you build a trip around this.

Hong Kong and Macau are different

Hong Kong and Macau run their own immigration systems. If your route takes in Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, check the entry rules for each one. Permission to enter one doesn't cover the others.

Documents to keep handy

• your original passport
• your visa or entry documents, if you need them
• hotel booking details and addresses
• onward or return travel details
• travel insurance and emergency contacts

You may also need to complete an arrival card or declaration. Your airline and the official sites will tell you what applies on your date.

2. Payments: Alipay, WeChat Pay and cash

If you only do one bit of prep, make it this one.

Mobile payment is how most people in Chinese cities pay for things. Restaurants, corner shops, cafés, street stalls, even some taxis. The good news for visitors is that you can usually link an eligible Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay the same way.

The less good news: not every card works, not every merchant behaves the same way, and a card that works in one app can fail in the other.

A sensible setup looks like this:

1. Install Alipay (and optionally WeChat) before you leave.
2. Register and finish any identity verification.
3. Try linking your card at home, where you can contact your bank if it fails.
4. Carry a backup bank card.
5. Keep a modest amount of RMB cash.

Cash still matters. Phones die, apps glitch, and some small businesses just don't want to deal with a foreign card. The full walkthrough, including fees, limits and what to do when a payment fails, is in our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide.

3. Internet access and blocked apps

You'll lean on your phone constantly in China. Maps, translation, payments, train tickets, hotel addresses. So get your data sorted before you need it.

You have three realistic options:

• International roaming from your home provider. Easiest, keeps your number, and often the priciest.
• A travel eSIM. Convenient if your phone supports it and is unlocked. Details in our eSIM and SIM card guide.
• A local Chinese SIM. Useful for longer stays or if you need a Chinese number. You'll need your passport to register.

For a short holiday, an eSIM or roaming plan is usually the least hassle.

Then there's the blocked-apps issue. Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube generally don't work on a normal mainland Chinese connection. Some connectivity setups behave differently, and that can change. Plan as if your usual apps won't load, download what you need, and read our guide to VPNs and blocked apps in China before you travel.

Download these before you fly:

• your hotel address in Chinese
• flight, train and hotel confirmations
• offline maps of the areas you'll visit
• a translation app with offline language packs
• emergency and embassy numbers

4. Apps worth installing

You don't need thirty apps. A handful does the job.

• Alipay. Payments, plus mini-programs for transport and other services, depending on availability.
• WeChat. Messaging and mini-programs. Handy if you'll be in touch with local contacts or on a longer stay.
• 12306. The official China Railway app and website for booking trains.
• A map app that works well in mainland China. Save the Chinese names of your hotel and major stops, because English names on maps often don't match what drivers use.
• A translation app. Good for menus and signs. Don't rely on it alone for allergies, medical needs or anything legal.
• A ride-hailing option. Handy for airport transfers and luggage-heavy trips. Setup can take a while, so try it before you're standing outside a station at 11pm.

Have a backup for the essentials. If your one map app or your one payment app fails, you'll want a plan B.

5. Getting around China

China is huge, but moving around is often easier than first-timers expect.

High-speed rail is usually the best way between cities. You book real-name tickets with your passport details, and you need the same passport to get through the gates. Our train booking guide walks through it step by step. One thing to watch: big cities have several stations with similar names. Beijing South, Beijing West and Beijing Railway Station are three different places.

Metro systems in the big cities are clean, fast and usually have English signage. Payment methods vary by city, so check the local operator before you rely on a QR code.

Taxis and ride-hailing are good for airport runs, heavy bags and places far from a metro line. Show the driver the Chinese address. At airports and stations, stick to official taxi queues or recognised apps and ignore people who approach you with offers.

Domestic flights make sense for long distances. Count the whole journey though: transfers, check-in, security and baggage can add a few hours on top of the flight itself.

6. Hotels and registration

Before you pay for a room, make sure the property accepts foreign passport holders. Most do, but not all, and booking pages don't always make it clear. If in doubt, message them first.

Registration with local authorities is a legal requirement for foreign visitors. Hotels normally handle it for you at check-in, so bring your original passport. If you're staying in a private home or other non-hotel accommodation, you or your host need to complete registration within 24 hours of arrival. Official online registration for foreigners in non-hotel accommodation has been rolled out nationwide as of September 2026, though procedures can vary locally. More in our hotels and registration guide.

7. A few phrases that help

Honestly, showing a screenshot of a Chinese address beats any amount of pronunciation practice. Save the Chinese name of your hotel, restaurants and attractions. English translations of the same place can vary a lot.

8. Food and eating out

China doesn't have one cuisine. It has dozens. Dumplings and noodles in the north, fiery dishes in Sichuan, dim sum in Guangdong, seafood and snacks along the coast.

If you can't read the menu, use a translation app, point at photos, or ask about portion sizes. Smaller places may not show clear prices, so check before you order.

Allergies: write down your allergy in Chinese before you go, and explain how serious it is. Broths and sauces can hide ingredients you wouldn't expect, and cross-contact happens. Don't judge a dish by its English name.

Street food is one of the best parts of the trip. Pick stalls with a steady crowd and fresh turnover, and be wary of anything that's been sitting out. If you're unsure about the tap water, stick to bottled.

9. Etiquette basics

China is culturally varied, and you don't need to memorise a rulebook. A few habits go a long way.

• At temples, dress modestly, keep your voice down and respect photography signs. Some halls are active places of worship, not museum exhibits.
• Ask before photographing people, especially children.
• Follow queue and entry instructions at popular sights, where timed tickets and security checks are common.
• Tipping isn't generally expected. Check your bill for service charges.

10. Safety and health

Major tourist areas are well set up, but normal travel sense applies.

• Passport: carry it when you need it for ID, hotels or trains. Otherwise keep it secure and have a copy of the photo page.
• Emergency numbers: 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire. Have your hotel's Chinese address ready.
• Insurance: check medical cover, emergency assistance and exclusions. Keep the policy number somewhere you can read offline.
• Tour offers: book tickets and tours through official or recognised channels. Be wary of unusually cheap deals from strangers near attractions.
• Remote areas: some border and remote regions need special permits or have restricted access. Confirm before adding them to your plan.

11. When to visit

It depends on where you're going. China covers a lot of climate zones.

Public holidays deserve a warning. During China's big national holidays, trains sell out, hotel prices jump and attractions get packed. Check the official holiday calendar before you pick dates, and book key transport early if you can't move them.

12. Common mistakes first-timers make

• Assuming visa-free applies to everyone. Check your own passport and itinerary.
• Landing without a working payment method. Set it up at home.
• Expecting every app to work. Have alternatives for maps, messaging and translation.
• Booking the wrong train station. Read the full station name.
• Typing passport details wrong. Match the spelling exactly.
• Relying on mobile data alone. Save key info offline.
• Assuming every hotel takes foreigners. Confirm first.
• Overpacking the itinerary. Crossing a Chinese city can take an hour. Plan around neighbourhoods, not checklists.
• Treating China as one place. Food, climate, language and travel conditions change a lot from region to region.

13. Pre-departure checklist

Run through this in the week before you fly.

• Confirm visa or visa-free eligibility with current official information
• Check passport validity and complete any arrival declaration
• Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and test your card
• Arrange mobile data (roaming, eSIM or local SIM)
• Download offline maps and a translation app
• Save hotel names and addresses in Chinese
• Confirm your hotel accepts foreign passport holders
• Book key train journeys through 12306
• Pack a backup bank card and some RMB cash
• Save insurance, embassy and emergency contacts
• Check weather, public holidays and attraction booking rules
• Screenshot or download key travel documents

Frequently asked questions

Is China easy for foreigners to travel around?

In the big cities, yes. The metro and high-speed rail networks are excellent. The usual stumbling blocks for first-timers are payments, internet access, language and booking procedures, all of which are easier if you sort them out before departure.

Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay?

Generally yes. Eligible visitors can link supported international bank cards, subject to verification, card compatibility, fees and limits. Set it up before you travel and carry a backup. See the Alipay and WeChat Pay guide.

Can I use my foreign credit card in China?

Some places accept it directly, mainly bigger hotels, malls and tourist-oriented businesses. Smaller shops often don't. Linking the card to a payment app helps, and you should still carry some yuan.

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

Not necessarily. Roaming and compatible travel eSIMs give you data without a local number. A Chinese SIM is more useful on longer stays or when a service demands a local number.

Can foreigners book high-speed train tickets online?

Yes, through the official China Railway 12306 website or app, using your passport details. Carry the original passport you booked with. See the train booking guide.

Do I need to register my accommodation?

Yes. Hotels usually do it for you. In a private home or other non-hotel stay, you or your host must complete it within 24 hours of arrival.

Can I use Google Maps and WhatsApp in mainland China?

Often not on an ordinary mainland connection. Prepare alternatives and download what you need in advance. More in the VPN and blocked apps guide.

Is cash still useful?

Yes. Keep some RMB as a backup for dead phones, app failures and merchants who can't take your card.

Is China safe for solo travellers?

Many people travel solo there, but no destination is risk-free. Use recognised transport and booking services, keep your belongings secure and follow local laws.

How many days do I need?

For a first trip covering two or three major cities, 7 to 14 days works well. You can't see all of China in one go, so pick a route you can actually enjoy.

Final thoughts

China doesn't need to be complicated. It just rewards twenty minutes of prep. Check your entry rules, set up payments, get your data sorted, and know how to book a train. Do that, and you'll spend your time on the good stuff: old streets, temples, regional food and the odd wrong turn that turns out better than the plan.

Prepare the systems before you arrive, then keep the itinerary loose once you're there.