China travel essentials
Practical guides for a smoother first trip to China.
Prepare payments, apps, airport transfers, documents, and your first day with guidance that shows when it was last verified.
Core guide
China Arrival Checklist for First-Time Visitors
A practical first-day checklist for landing in China: payment test, mobile data, hotel address, Didi or taxi backup, cash, and a light arrival plan.
Last verified: 2026-07-05
Core guide
How to Pay in China as a Tourist: Alipay, WeChat, Cards & Cash
How foreign tourists pay in China: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay, use international cards, and carry an RMB backup for QR and merchant edge cases.
Last verified: 2026-07-11
Core guide
Essential China Apps for First-Time Visitors
The core apps to download before traveling to China, organized by before you fly, airport, hotel, first restaurant, and first taxi moments.
Last verified: 2026-07-05
Core guide
China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide
A practical, non-legal checklist for eligible travelers planning up to 10 days under China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy through 65 designated ports.
Last verified: 2026-07-21
Core guide
China Taxi and Didi Guide for Visitors
How to reduce taxi confusion in China with Chinese destination cards, app preparation, and simple driver-facing phrases.
Last verified: 2026-07-01
Core guide
Passport Requirements to Visit China: Validity & Documents
Travel passport requirements to visit China: validity, blank pages, visa or transit documents, and arrival records to check before departure.
Last verified: 2026-07-21
Core guide
How to Use 12306 for China Train Tickets as a Foreigner
A passport-first guide to China Railway 12306: foreign-passport registration, ticket identity checks, station names, changes, refunds, and offline backups.
Last verified: 2026-08-10
Core guide
Best Map Apps for China: A Foreigner's Practical Guide
Compare AMap Global, Apple Maps, and offline backups by the task that matters: finding a hotel, reading a Chinese address, using transit, or walking from an exit.
Last verified: 2026-08-10
Core guide
China Hotel Check-In for Foreigners: Policy, Passport, and Booking
What China's 2024 accommodation policy means for foreign visitors, plus a practical check-in checklist for passport details, registration, deposits, late arrival, and booking friction.
Last verified: 2026-08-10
Core guide
China Itinerary for 14 Days: A Realistic First-Trip Route
A pace-first 14-day China itinerary for first-time visitors, with arrival and departure buffers, city trade-offs, train decisions, and a slower alternative.
Last verified: 2026-08-10
Core guide
Independent Travel in China for Foreigners: What to Prepare
A practical decision guide for travelers asking whether they can visit China independently, what to set up first, and when a slower or supported plan makes more sense.
Last verified: 2026-08-10
Quick answers
Answers to common setup questions.
Can Foreigners Use Alipay in China?
Foreign visitors can generally register Alipay with an overseas number and link eligible international cards, but verification and support vary.
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Does WeChat Pay Accept Foreign Cards?
Usually yes. WeChat Pay can accept eligible international cards for visitor merchant payments, with issuer verification and feature limitations.
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Can I Use a Visa Card in China?
Yes, but not everywhere. Visa works at many larger or visitor-focused merchants and can often fund mobile wallets; keep QR payment and cash backups.
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Do I Need Cash in China?
Usually you should carry some RMB cash as a backup, even if Alipay or WeChat Pay will be your main payment method.
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Can Tourists Use Didi in China?
Yes. Tourists can use Didi Greater China with many foreign numbers and international cards; learn the pickup, payment, and taxi-backup steps.
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Do Tourists Need a Chinese Phone Number for Alipay?
Usually no: tourists can register Alipay with a foreign number, but some mini programs and local services may still require a mainland number.
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Alipay vs WeChat Pay in China for Tourists
Alipay vs WeChat Pay for tourists: compare setup, international cards, merchant payments, and backup value before your China trip.
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China eSIM vs Local SIM: Which Is Better?
A travel eSIM is usually fastest for data; a passport-registered local SIM is better when you need a mainland number, calls, SMS, or number-dependent services.
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