For visitors from abroad
Before you go
The practical side of a China trip for international visitors: entry rules, paying, getting online, trains, booking sights, food, health and manners. Written to be read on the plane and used on the ground.
Checked 2026-11-01. Rules change often; confirm anything that matters with an official source before you travel.
01
Entry, visas and registration
Who can enter without a visa, the 240 hour transit rule, Tibet permits and the hotel registration everyone must do.
02
When to go and which weeks to avoid
Seasons by region, the three holiday weeks when the whole country travels, and what the weather does to your plan.
03
Paying for things
How to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your home card, when you still need cash, and why there is no tipping.
04
Phone, internet and the apps you need
Which of your apps stop working in China, how to get data, and the six apps that replace them.
05
Trains, flights, metro and taxis
How to book high speed trains, get through the station, ride the metro with your phone and hail a taxi that understands you.
06
Booking attractions
Why the Forbidden City sells out a week ahead, how real name booking works, and which sights you must reserve.
07
Eating and drinking
How ordering works, what to expect at the table, the dishes to look for in each region and how to say you are vegetarian or allergic.
08
Health, safety and emergencies
The numbers to call, finding a hospital that speaks English, altitude, air quality, scams to know, and travel insurance.
09
Manners and customs
What is polite, what is not, and the handful of customs that make interactions easier.
Tools to use on the ground
Start with the number of days you have.
The itinerary builder lays out sights, meals and stays from the guidebook. Adjust it, then share it.
Free. No account needed to plan; sign in only to save and share.