Plan Your Trip

Plan Your Trip

WHY CHINA

Everything you need to know before you fly — visas, payments, transport and etiquette, plus ready-made itinerary ideas.

Trip Planner

Plan Your Trip

Visa & Entry

  • Many nationalities now enjoy visa-free entry or visa-free transit (up to 240 hours / 10 days); always check the latest policy before booking.
  • Book your first night's hotel and keep your onward itinerary handy — some ports may ask to see them.
  • Your passport should be valid for at least six months; your hotel registers your stay automatically.

Money & Connectivity

  • Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign cards — set them up before you arrive and you can pay almost anywhere.
  • Carry a little cash as backup; small vendors and street markets may not take cards.
  • Most big-city ATMs accept international cards, and free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, malls and metros.

Getting Around

  • High-speed rail connects almost every major city — it is fast, clean and easy to book with your passport.
  • Metro systems in big cities are cheap, frequent and signed in English.
  • Ride-hailing apps (such as Didi) are convenient; many offer an English interface.

Etiquette & Safety

  • Tipping is generally not expected — it may even be politely declined.
  • Queue patiently and keep your voice low in public; courtesy goes a long way.
  • China is a very safe travel destination; still, keep your passport and valuables secure.

Itinerary Ideas

  • 5 days — Beijing: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the hutongs.
  • 10 days — add Xi'an (Terracotta Army) and Shanghai (Bund and skyline).
  • 14 days — add Guilin & Yangshuo (Li River) and Chengdu (giant pandas).

Practical Tips

  • Download offline maps and a translation app before you land.
  • Bottled water is cheap everywhere; tap water is for boiling, not drinking.
  • Keep your passport with you when checking into hotels and boarding trains.

Come, see China.

Start with a mountain, start with a river, start with a person.

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