First trip to China? Sort these four things first
Almost everything that confuses first-time visitors comes down to four practical topics: how you enter, how you pay, how you stay online, and how you get around. Short answers here — the visa and payments sections link to the full guides on the blog.
Visa & 240-hour visa-free transit
Two different rules can let you visit China without a visa. 30-day visa-free entry: ordinary passport holders from 50 countries — including Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Europe — can stay up to 30 days for tourism (Canada and UK: currently valid until December 31, 2026). US passports are not on this list. 240-hour visa-free transit: citizens of 57 countries, including the US, Canada and the UK, can stay up to 10 days if they fly in from one country or region and have a confirmed onward ticket to a different third country or region (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan count). Entry is through 65 designated ports, and you must stay within the permitted areas of 24 provinces. The 240 hours start at 00:00 on the day after you arrive. A round trip (e.g. US–China–US) does not qualify. Rules change — always check the official sources before booking.
Read the full guide →Alipay & WeChat Pay setup
China pays by QR code — metro gates, street snacks, taxis, museum tickets. Cash and foreign cards alone will frustrate you. Link your bank card to Alipay and WeChat Pay at home, while verification codes still reach your usual phone number, and test them before you fly. Foreign cards linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay can pay up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year. Payments of ¥200 or less generally have no platform fee; above ¥200 a 3% fee on the full amount may apply — the app shows it before you confirm. Your bank may add its own foreign-transaction fee.
Read the full guide →Internet, eSIM & apps
WhatsApp, Google and Instagram don’t work on local Wi-Fi or a local SIM. A travel eSIM or roaming set up before you board keeps your usual apps working without needing a VPN. Download your maps, translation and payment apps before you leave, not in the arrivals hall.
Transport: Didi, trains, metro
Didi works like Uber and is built into Alipay, city metros are cheap and signed in English, and high-speed trains link most tour cities faster than flying. The step that trips people up is booking: train tickets are tied to your passport, and stations need a little time. We’ll walk you through it.
Still unsure?
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