中 China Unfolded 看见中国

China travel FAQ

16 min read

Visa and entry

Can I visit China without a visa?
Increasingly yes. The240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit covers citizens of dozens of countries transiting through China to a third country, and several countries have unilateral visa-free entry for short stays. Eligibility changes frequently and depends on your passport — check the current list on the National Immigration Administration site and see our 240-hour visa-free guide for the exact mechanics.
What does "third country" actually mean?
Your onward flight must go to a country different from the one you arrived from. Seoul → Beijing → Seoul does not count. Seoul → Beijing → Tokyo does. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate destinations for this purpose, which is why so many itineraries use them as the exit leg.
How is the 240 hours counted?
It starts at00:00 of the day after arrival, not at the moment you land. A Monday arrival gives you until 23:59 on the tenth day after. The immigration officer's stamp is authoritative — read it, and leave a margin.
Can I leave the arrival city?
Yes. In most regions you may travel freely within the permitted area during the transit period. Some regions remain restricted. The scheme is not a "stay in the airport" arrangement — it is a real, if short, visit.
Do I need a return or onward ticket?
Yes, and it must be a real, confirmed booking to a third country. A cancellable or fake reservation is the single most common reason people are refused boarding or entry.
What if I overstay by mistake?
Go to the exit immigration office early, explain plainly, and expect a fine and a record. Handling it yourself is far better than being caught. Set a phone alarm for 24 hours before your deadline.
Can I work or do business during a visa-free transit?
Meetings and site visits are generally tolerated; performing paid work is not. A business trip on a tourist or transit arrangement is a grey area — if you are being paid by a Chinese entity, get the correct visa.

Money and payments

Can I just use my credit card?
In big hotels, international chains and high-end restaurants, yes. In everyday China — taxis, small restaurants, markets, metros, temples — it is increasingly possible but still not universal. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you go; it removes almost all friction.
How do I set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card?
Install the app, register with your phone number, choose the "tourist" or international card option, and add Visa/Mastercard. You will need passport verification, which takes a few minutes. Do it at home on your own Wi-Fi, not at the airport.
Do I need cash?
Bring some — a few hundred yuan — for small vendors, temple donations and emergencies. Cash is legal tender and must be accepted, though some young shopkeepers genuinely have no change.
Where should I exchange money?
Banks and airport exchange counters. Rates are similar; hotel rates are worse. ATMs accept most foreign cards. Never exchange on the street — the rate is a lure.
Is tipping expected?
No, and it can cause confusion. Exceptions: tour guides and drivers on multi-day private tours appreciate a gratuity, and high-end international hotels are used to it.
Can I get a tax refund when I leave?
Yes, on eligible purchases from participating stores. Ask for the refund form when you buy, keep the goods unpacked, and visit the customs refund deskbefore checking in. No stamp, no refund. See thedeparture guide.

Internet, phone and apps

Will my phone work?
Yes. Any unlocked modern phone. The question is how your data is routed: a roaming plan or travel eSIM routes it through your home carrier and everything works normally; a local Chinese SIM gives you full local access but not Google services.
Do I need a VPN?
If you use a roaming plan or travel eSIM, usually not — your traffic exits in your home country. If you use a local SIM or hotel Wi-Fi and need Google, WhatsApp or Instagram, you will. Install and test any VPNbefore you arrive.
Which apps should I install before flying?
WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Amap or Apple Maps, Trip.com, Pleco (dictionary), and your airline's app. Also download offline maps and offline translation packs, and screenshot every booking.
How do I get a local SIM or eSIM?
Airport counters and city shops for China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, passport required. An eSIM bought online before departure is easier and does not require registration in a shop.
Is public Wi-Fi safe?
Free Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and malls is common and normally needs a phone-number verification. Treat it like public Wi-Fi anywhere — fine for browsing, use your data for banking.

Getting around

How do I book trains?
The official railway app is 12306, which is awkward in English and needs a Chinese phone number. Most visitors useTrip.com or a similar agent: a small fee, English interface, foreign cards accepted, and you collect your ticket (or just your passport) at the station.
How early should I arrive at the station?
45–60 minutes for high-speed rail in big cities. Security and passport checks apply, stations are large, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
Is the metro easy to use?
Yes. English signage and announcements in major cities, cheap fares, and you can pay with Alipay, WeChat or a single-journey token. Rush hour is genuinely crowded — accept it.
How do I get a taxi?
Didi (in-app English), the official rank at stations and airports, or a hotel arrangement. Avoid anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride.
Can I rent a car and drive?
Not on a foreign licence — China does not recognise the International Driving Permit. You need a temporary Chinese driving permit, which involves paperwork and, in some cities, a short test. For most visitors, trains, metros and hired cars with drivers are the answer.
Do I need to book attraction tickets ahead?
Increasingly yes: the Palace Museum, the National Museum, the Terracotta Army, Mogao Caves and most Great Wall sections use timed-entry systems that sell out. Book the moment the window opens.

Everyday practicalities

Can I drink the tap water?
No. Boil it (kettles are in every hotel room) or buy bottled water, which is cheap and sold everywhere. Ice in international hotels is fine; in small local places, be cautious.
What are the toilets like?
A wide range: clean and modern in malls, metros, stations and hotels; squat toilets in older public facilities; and a national "toilet revolution" has upgraded most tourist sites. Carry tissues and hand sanitiser — they are often not provided.
Do I need to carry my passport?
Carry it. It is your train ticket, your museum ticket, your hotel check-in and legally required identification. A photo on your phone is a useful backup but not a legal substitute.
What plugs and voltage does China use?
220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets accept most plug types including the flat two-pin US style and European round pins; UK three-pin needs an adapter. Bring a universal adapter and a power bank.
Can I use my hairdryer / laptop / CPAP?
Check the label — most modern chargers and laptops are dual-voltage (100–240 V) and fine. Single-voltage 110 V appliances from North America will need a converter, not just an adapter.
What should I pack that people forget?
A power bank (must go in hand luggage), tissues, hand sanitiser, any regular medication with a Chinese translation of the name, copies of prescriptions, offline maps, and a photocopy of your passport kept separately.

Safety, health and conduct

Is China safe for tourists?
Violent crime against foreigners is rare and cities are safe late at night. The realistic risks are petty theft in crowds, traffic, and scams in tourist areas. The biggest day-to-day hazard is crossing the road.
What emergency numbers should I know?
110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire. Save your embassy or consulate number too. Tourist police posts at major sites usually have some English.
Can I fly a drone?
Legal but regulated: registration, no-fly zones over cities and all sensitive sites, and real penalties near borders and military installations. If you are not prepared to do the paperwork, leave it at home.
Can I photograph people and buildings?
People: ask first. Buildings: fine, with the exception of military installations, government compounds, airports and police facilities. Religious sites often have their own rules — look for signs.
What should I avoid talking about?
Take your cue from your host. Topics that are sensitive for Chinese people to discuss with strangers — Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan, 1989, the Party — are rarely raised by them and should not be raised by you. Ordinary life, work, food and travel are open ground.
What if I get sick?
Pharmacies are everywhere and well stocked. For anything serious, big cities have international clinics and private hospitals; public hospitals are excellent but crowded and mostly Chinese-speaking. Travel insurance with medical cover is worth having.
Is the air pollution dangerous?
It varies enormously by city and season. Northern cities have bad winter days; southern and coastal cities are usually fine. Check an AQI app, and bring masks if you have a respiratory condition.

Culture and etiquette

Do I need to speak Chinese?
No, but twenty words transform the experience. 你好 (hello), 谢谢 (thank you), 不好意思 (sorry/excuse me), 多少钱 (how much), 好吃 (delicious). People respond warmly to any attempt.
How do I handle a gift or an invitation?
Accept with both hands, praise it, and do not open it in front of the giver. Reciprocate with something from home — food, alcohol, or something local to you. Avoid clocks, sharp objects and sets of four.
Is haggling expected?
In markets and small shops without fixed prices, yes — start around half and settle with a smile. In malls, supermarkets, restaurants and anywhere with a barcode, prices are fixed.
Why does nobody say "no" directly?
Direct refusal causes loss of face. "Maybe", "we'll see", "it's inconvenient" and a change of subject usually mean no. Ask an either-or question instead of a yes/no one, and never push for a direct answer.
What's the one thing visitors most often get wrong?
Assuming that efficiency is rudeness. Service in China is fast, direct and unceremonious — a plate set down without a word, a queue that presses close, a shopkeeper who does not smile. It is not coldness; it is a different register of politeness.

Where to verify anything on this site

Rules change. Before you book anything that depends on a visa, a customs rule or a tax refund, verify it with an official source:

This site is independent and not affiliated with any government body. Visa, customs and tax rules change without notice; always confirm with an official source before you book.

Visa, customs and tax rules change without notice. Always confirm with the National Immigration Administration (NIA) or the Chinese embassy in your country before you book.