China rewards preparation. The country runs on apps, cash is almost extinct, and the internet you use every day at home simply does not work there. None of this is difficult once you know it in advance — but first-time visitors who arrive blind often lose their first two days to confusion. This guide collects the practical china travel tips that actually matter: how to pay, how to get online, how to move around, and how to avoid the small cultural missteps that locals notice. Read it before you book your flight and you will hit the ground running.
For deeper, city-by-city planning, our full China travel guides cover Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, and Dali with maps, itineraries, and phrase cards.
The single most important thing to know before your first trip to China is that mobile payment has replaced cash and cards. A 2023 survey found over 90% of urban transactions happen through Alipay or WeChat Pay. Street vendors, taxis, temples, and tiny noodle shops all scan a QR code. If you cannot pay digitally, even buying a bottle of water becomes a problem.
Download Alipay (not the domestic-only version, but the international app available on the App Store and Google Play). Since 2023, foreign visitors can link a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or Diners Club card directly inside Alipay — no Chinese bank account needed. Open the app, go to "Me" → "Bank Cards" → "Add Card," and enter your details. You will get a QR code that any merchant can scan. WeChat Pay now supports foreign cards too, but Alipay has the smoother onboarding for tourists, so start there.
If your bank blocks the link, ask your hotel concierge or use the "Tour Pass" mini-program inside Alipay, which pre-loads a balance via a temporary virtual card. Carry about ¥200–¥300 in cash as a backup for the rare place that is cash-only or when your phone dies.
In mainland China, Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (Twitter) are blocked. So is most of the Western app ecosystem. Two steps solve this:
Within China, the domestic apps are excellent: Baidu Maps (better than Google Maps for China), Dianping (restaurant reviews), Meituan (food delivery), and 12306 (train tickets). Pleco is the gold-standard offline Chinese dictionary and works without internet.
China's transport infrastructure is world-class and cheap. The challenge is booking it.
The high-speed rail (G-trains) network exceeds 40,000 km. Book tickets on the official 12306 app or website, or via Trip.com, which has an English interface and accepts foreign cards. Seats are assigned, trains are punctual to the minute, and a 1,000 km trip costs a fraction of flying. Book popular routes (Beijing–Shanghai, Xi'an–Chengdu) a week ahead during holidays.
Every major city has a clean, safe subway. Use Alipay's transit code or the local metro app. For door-to-door, DiDi is China's Uber — hail it inside Alipay or WeChat, and type your destination in Chinese (copy the characters from your hotel's business card or Maps) because drivers rarely read English addresses.
English signage is good in airports and metro stations but thin everywhere else. Staff at hotels and big attractions often speak some English; almost no one else does. Prepare:
Chinese social norms are easy to respect once you know them:
For a first-time visitor, China is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime against tourists is rare, and solo travelers — including women — move freely at night in most cities. A few things to watch:
China is affordable outside luxury hotels. A great local meal runs ¥30–¥80; high-speed train Beijing–Shanghai ¥550–¥900; a decent mid-range hotel ¥400–¥800. Budget ¥400–¥700 per day for comfortable independent travel. ATMs that accept foreign cards exist (Bank of China, ICBC) but are shrinking — rely on your card in Alipay instead.
These basics will carry you through any first trip. For neighborhood maps, day-by-day itineraries, and phrase cards with pinyin for each city, grab our Beijing Travel PDF Guide — and explore the full China travel collection before you go.
Our downloadable PDF guides turn these tips into a ready-to-use plan: interactive maps, offline phrase cards, and tested food spots for Beijing and beyond. Start with the Beijing guide and travel China like you've been before.
Get the Beijing Guide PDF