China travel FAQ: 24 answers before you go

Check your passport nationality, passport type, purpose and travel dates. Eligible ordinary-passport holders may qualify for up to 30 days under unilateral visa-free entry; others need a visa or a different exemption. Confirm your own eligibility with NIA or the Chinese consulate.

• National Immigration Administration · Unilateral visa-free entry

This is a transit scheme, not a general return-trip exemption. It requires eligible nationality, an approved entry port and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. Your route and movements must meet NIA’s permitted-area rules.

• National Immigration Administration · Transit visa exemption

Treat Hong Kong and mainland China as separate immigration checks. Returning to the mainland is a new entry: check remaining visa entries or eligibility for a fresh exemption. A route that works for a visa holder may not satisfy transit-exemption conditions.

• National Immigration Administration · Transit visa exemption

The official NIA arrival-card service is free. Use the government link below and check whether you need to complete it. Do not confuse a paid third-party form-filling service with an official entry requirement.

• National Immigration Administration · Arrival card is free
• National Immigration Administration · Official arrival card

Eligible international cards can be linked, subject to issuer and app verification. Set up the app with your own phone number before departure, complete requested verification and prepare a second payment method. Successful card linking does not guarantee every transaction.

• Shanghai Government · Alipay & WeChat Pay, 20 September 2026

Check the app message, internet connection, card status and bank approval. Try another supported card or payment method and ask the merchant for help. Keep your bank’s overseas contact details; never share verification codes with someone offering to fix the account.

Yes, keep a modest RMB backup and a physical card even if you plan to use mobile payments. Confirm ATM and foreign-currency charges with your bank. Mobile payment is convenient, but phone battery, network or verification problems can interrupt it.

• China Government · Guide to working and living in China (2025)

Fees depend on the app, transaction and card issuer. Read the fee shown before confirming payment, then check your bank’s foreign-currency charges. Do not assume every small payment is free or that one published fee rule applies to every card.

• Shanghai Government · Alipay & WeChat Pay, 20 September 2026

Prepare a payment app, a translation tool, a map that covers your route and your transport-booking app. Save hotel names and addresses in Chinese. WeChat can help with local mini-programs; railway bookings can be checked through 12306. Download and sign in before travel.

• China Railway 12306 · English booking FAQs

Compare device compatibility, mainland coverage, data allowance, voice calls and SMS—not just price. A data-only plan may not provide a local number for callbacks or verification. Ask the provider about setup and keep your home number available if your bank needs SMS.

Access can differ between mainland networks and roaming services. Confirm availability with your provider and follow local rules; do not rely on a particular service always working. Arrange an alternative way to contact your guide and save maps, booking details and important numbers offline.

Prepare translated addresses, a translation app and clear meeting instructions. Major visitor sites may offer multilingual resources, but coverage varies. Ask us to confirm the guide’s spoken language before booking; website language options do not mean every guide speaks all five languages.

Yes. China Railway accepts valid foreign passports for supported bookings, subject to identity verification. Use the exact passport details, check the departure station and carry the same original document for travel. Keep time for station entry, security and finding the correct platform.

• China Railway 12306 · English booking FAQs

No. A request, pre-order or waitlist may still need allocation and payment. Look for a confirmed train, date, carriage and seat or the ticket type you chose. Check the seller’s status and refund terms, and keep another departure option for busy dates.

• China Railway 12306 · English booking FAQs

Start with the Palace Museum, Terracotta Army and any dated theme-park or cableway tickets. The Palace Museum’s official page says no same-day ticket sales and normally closes on Mondays, with holiday exceptions. Use the venue’s official entry rules, not an old social-media workaround.

• The Palace Museum · Official visit & ticket information
• Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum · Official ticket information

Confirm passport check-in, room occupancy and location with the hotel. Hotels handle accommodation registration; for a private-home stay, the traveler or host must register within 24 hours. NIA now provides an online route for non-hotel registration—check the linked instructions.

• National Immigration Administration · Accommodation registration, 21 September 2026

No. Regional cuisines vary, from Cantonese dim sum to noodles and Sichuan hotpot. Say clearly whether you want no chili or only mild heat; “less spicy” may still be hot. Choose several dishes together so there is a comfortable option for everyone.

Tell us the exact ingredients you avoid and how strictly meals must be prepared. Ask restaurants about stocks, sauces, oil and shared equipment; a vegetable dish is not automatically vegetarian or allergy-safe. Carry a translated dietary card, and confirm certification separately if required.

Plan one main outing per day, nearby meals and hotel rest. Give us each child’s age and height, room needs and stroller requirements so ticket and vehicle rules can be checked. Add a full day for a major theme park rather than squeezing it between transfers.

Share realistic walking and stair limits before choosing attractions. Ask for step-free hotel access, suitable vehicles and shorter visits, then confirm each venue’s actual facilities. Old gardens, mountain routes and Chongqing’s hills vary greatly; the presence of a lift or cableway does not guarantee a fully accessible route.

As a starting point, choose two bases for seven days, three for ten days, and three or four for fourteen days. Reduce the number for young children or a slower pace. Arrival days, station transfers and flights all use time that a map does not show.

Choose by region and activities rather than a single “best month.” Check school holidays, Chinese public holidays and major local events, then book important visits early. Start popular sights early where opening hours allow, and keep indoor options for heat, rain or poor visibility.

A useful quote needs dates, party size, hotel level, room configuration, cities and guide language. Ask for an itemized total and clear inclusions, exclusions, deposit and cancellation terms. There is no reliable single price for every itinerary; compare equivalent arrangements before deciding.

Get the itinerary, contracting supplier, inclusions, hotel and transport details, payment schedule and cancellation policy in writing. Ask about shopping stops and optional extras, and use the agreed payment channel. A consultation on this website creates an inquiry, not an automatically confirmed booking.