Things to Know Before Visiting China: 12 Essential Travel Tips
Planning a trip to China was honestly one of the most overwhelming and scary things I’ve ever experienced as a traveller. And I know that might sound a little dramatic, but I was genuinely nervous about the whole thing!
Everything I read about China made me feel like I’d have to learn an entirely new way of travelling. There are different ways to pay for stuff. Booking transportation works differently. There are all kinds of apps I’d never even heard of. And many of the apps I use every day don’t even work there!
I’ll admit, it all sounded like a lot to figure out before even setting foot in the country. But here’s the thing: China is so much easier to travel around than it might seem at first!
Once I actually got there, I realised that many of the things I’d been worrying about weren’t nearly as complicated as I’d imagined. I just needed to know what to expect and how to prepare.
So, if you’re planning your first trip to China and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the information out there, I get it. I’ve been exactly where you are!
That’s why I’ve put together these 12 essential things to know before visiting China, covering all the practical advice I wish I’d had when I was planning my own trip. Hopefully, this guide will take some of the stress out of preparing for your adventure and help you feel a little more excited about discovering China for yourself!
1. Accept That Things Work Differently in China (And That’s Okay!)
One of the biggest things to know before visiting China is this: don’t expect things to work the way they do back home. And honestly, I think this is what made me so nervous before my trip!
There were so many things I needed to figure out before arriving. For example:
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Paying for things: Mobile payment apps are widely used. Paying by card isn’t always possible.
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Apps and internet: Many apps we use every day, including Google services and Instagram, don’t work normally in mainland China.
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Getting around: Finding directions and navigating public transportation can require different apps and a bit of extra preparation.
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Booking train tickets: Booking train tickets in China works differently. You need to figure out the process before your trip.
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The language barrier: English isn’t widely spoken everywhere, so translation apps and having addresses saved in Chinese can be a lifesaver.
If this sounds like a nightname, believe me: I understand you. I honestly felt so lost and overwhelmed the whole time I was planning my trip to China. But here’s the thing I learned: different doesn’t have to mean difficult!
Looking back, there are two things I wish I’d understood sooner:
1. Don’t put off learning how things work: You’ll need to figure these things out sooner or later, so you might as well do yourself a favour and learn about them before you go. I know planning a trip is usually exciting, and researching payment apps or transportation systems probably ruins that. It feels boring. But the time you spend preparing now can save you a lot of stress once you’re there.
2. Don’t convince yourself that the usual way will work anyway: I made this mistake! For example, I read that Google Maps wasn’t reliable in China, but somehow convinced myself I’d manage to use it anyway. Why? Because I really didn’t want to learn how to use a completely new app! Spoiler alert: that wasn’t the smartest approach.
And the thing is, you can’t leave all of this until you arrive in China. This isn’t the kind of country where you can just wing it and go with the flow, because some things need to be sorted out before you even get on the plane.
I know it might sound like a lot of work, especially when all you want to do is plan your itinerary and get excited about your trip. But the sooner you understand how things work in China and prepare accordingly, the less stressful everything will be once you get there.
And if there’s one thing I’d recommend sorting out before anything else, it’s your phone. Trust me, this is one part of planning your trip you don’t want to leave until the last minute!
2. Prepare Your Phone Before Travelling to China
If there’s one thing you take away from this blog post, let it be this: you NEED to prepare your phone before travelling to China!
Honestly, I’d say that 90% of the stress I felt when planning my trip came from one thing: the fact that China has a completely different digital ecosystem.
So, long story short, China has its own versions of many of the apps we use in other parts of the world. Think maps, ride-hailing apps and so much more!
And obviously, since we’re all glued to our phones 24/7, the idea of suddenly ditching our usual apps and having to figure out a whole new set can feel like a HUGE deal.
But as weird and scary as it might sound, believe me: it’s not as hard as you think! You just need to know which apps to use and prepare your phone before you go.
But before you start figuring out which new apps to use, there are a few things you should do:
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Check your internet options. Make sure you know how you’ll get online when you arrive in China, whether that’s through an eSIM, a local SIM card or another option.
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Save important information offline. Keep your accommodation details, booking confirmations and important addresses somewhere you can access without an internet connection.
3. You Will Need a VPN in China
If there’s one thing you should sort out before travelling to China, it’s how you’re going to access the apps and websites you normally use back home.
China blocks access to many popular international services, including Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. So, if you’re planning to use these apps during your trip, you might be in for a surprise when they suddenly stop working!
I was actually SO shocked a few years ago when I had a layover in China and thought the Wi-Fi wasn’t working. Turns out, the Wi-Fi was perfectly fine… it was the apps I was trying to use that were blocked!
There are two important things to keep in mind when choosing a VPN for China.
First, don’t wait until you arrive in China to figure it out! You need to download and set up your VPN beforehand, and make sure it’s activated and ready to use before you get there. Trying to sort this out after landing can be a real headache.
Second, not all VPNs work well in China. I’ve used Surfshark on all my other trips and have always been happy with it, so I was quite surprised to discover that it doesn’t always work everywhere in China. I’d actually say you can’t rely on it, to be honest. Sorry Surfshark, I love you otherwise! So, if you’re choosing a VPN specifically for this trip, do your research first and make sure it’s suitable for mainland China.
I’ve heard that ExpressVPN is great for China, but I haven’t tried it myself yet
Your esim might have an incorporated vpn
There’s also one little detail worth knowing: many travel eSIMs offer international connectivity that lets you access blocked apps without needing a separate VPN. So, if you’re buying an eSIM for China, you might think you can skip the VPN altogether. And that’s fair enough!
Personally, I used an eSIM from Airalo at first, but it suddenly stopped working, leaving me without an internet connection — and, of course, without the built-in VPN connection it had been providing. And when did this happen? At night, just after arriving in Shenzhen. Let me just say I will never recommend Airalo again in my life after that experience.
I tried an eSim from Airalo in China and I DO NOT recommend it. It worked sometimes but was not reliable and it suddenly stopped working at the worst possible timings
Thankfully, getting an eSIM through Trip.com saved me. It worked brilliantly, and I was back online again. So, based on my own experience, I’d definitely recommend checking out Trip.com’s China eSIMs before your trip. They are so cheap and worked much better than Airalo!
However, if you’re getting an eSIM with limited data and plan to connect to your hotel’s Wi-Fi to save some of it, remember that your eSIM and the hotel’s Wi-Fi won’t necessarily give you the same access. You may still need a VPN to use your usual apps and websites over the hotel connection.
Trust me, after my layover experience AND my little Shenzhen adventure, I wish I’d known all this sooner! 😂
4. Cash and Bank Cards Aren’t Always Enough in China
Another super important thing to know about China: mobile payments are a HUGE part of daily life.
When I started planning my trip and heard that you couldn’t even pay with your bank card in China, I nearly had a breakdown. 😂
You might be thinking I’m a drama queen at this point, but please have some compassion! I was working 60 hours a week, planning a move to New Zealand AND organising this trip all at the same time. I had enough on my plate already!
But long story short, when I actually got to China, I realised that this wasn’t entirely true. You can use your foreign bank card in China! I used my Revolut card there without any issues, so at least in my experience, paying with a foreign card itself wasn’t the problem.
The real issue is that many places simply don’t accept card payments at all. It doesn’t necessarily matter whether you have a foreign bank card or a Chinese one. If a business only accepts mobile payments, you can’t just pull out your card and tap it like you might back home.
And it’s not just the occasional small shop, either. Mobile payments are so widespread in China that I even saw street vendors who only accepted that type of payment. No card payments, no cash. You had to scan a QR code and pay with your phone!
Damn, now that I think about it, I even came across a woman begging on the street who accepted mobile payments. She carried her QR code around her neck, for people to blip. Bless her soul! ✨
It’s a perfect example of just how deeply integrated mobile payments are into everyday life in China. Something that might seem unusual to us is completely normal there.
So, what does this mean for you as a traveller?
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You need to set up a mobile payment app before your trip. Alipay and WeChat Pay are the main options worth looking into.
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Link your bank card in advance. Check the latest setup requirements and make sure your card works with the service you’ve chosen.
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Keep a backup payment method. Carry your bank card and some cash, even if you plan to pay with your phone most of the time.
My biggest takeaway? Don’t panic if you hear that bank cards don’t work in China. Your foreign bank card may work perfectly well, but that doesn’t mean every business will accept it.
Get your mobile payments sorted before you go. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!
5. Don’t Rely on Google Maps in China
If there’s one mistake I’d recommend avoiding in China, it’s assuming you can get by with Google Maps.
The funny thing is, I already knew Google Maps wasn’t reliable in China before my trip. I’d read about it while planning, but somehow convinced myself I’d manage to use it anyway. Why? Because I really didn’t want to learn how to use a completely different app! 😂
So, what did I do? I wasted SO much time trying to make Google Maps work for me, searching for my hostels and the attractions I wanted to visit, hoping I’d somehow figure it out.
Eventually, I had to admit defeat and accept that I needed to learn how to use Amap instead.
The thing is, Google Maps isn’t a reliable option for navigating mainland China. Even if you can open it, location data and directions are often inaccurate, which can make finding places and getting around much harder than it needs to be.
And when you’re exploring a country where the language barrier can already make things challenging, the last thing you want is to be struggling with your maps app, too!
My advice? Learn how to use a suitable navigation app before you arrive. Amap was the alternative I ended up using, and I wish I’d made the switch much sooner.
6. The Language Barrier In China Is HUGE
Honestly, I’ve never experienced such a huge language barrier anywhere else in the world. Not even in Japan!
Finding someone who spoke English in China was extremely rare in my experience. Even when I needed help with something simple, communicating could be a real challenge.
But here’s the interesting thing: people in China are so used to using their phones for everyday tasks that technology can make communication SO much easier. I was genuinely impressed by how naturally people would use their phones to help bridge the language gap, including older people.
So, what’s the secret to surviving the language barrier in China? Translation apps!
Honestly, I don’t think I would have survived my trip without Google Translate. 😂 It was an absolute lifesaver! I used it to communicate with people, translate menus when I had no idea what I was ordering, and even listen to conversations around me when I wasn’t sure what was going on.
My advice? Download a translation app before your trip and learn how to use it. Don’t wait until you’re standing in front of someone trying to communicate something important to figure it out!
And remember, you don’t need to speak Mandarin to travel around China. You just need to be prepared to communicate a little differently.
7. China Is HUGE, but Getting Around Is Surprisingly Easy
After the initial panic of planning my trip to China, I finally started feeling like I understood the new apps I was dealing with. And once that happened, I got SO excited to explore this beautiful country!
And when I say excited, I really mean it. Even after visiting 60 countries, it had been a looong time since I’d felt this excited about a trip!
There’s just SO much to see and do in China that you’re bound to feel the same way. And before you know it, you’ll probably find yourself getting a little carried away with your travel plans.
But here’s my advice: don’t make the same mistake I initially made and assume you can see a huge chunk of China in just one or two weeks!
I spent 11 days in China and initially thought I’d have time to see a lot more than I actually managed to visit in the end. And trust me, I MOVED FAST!
The reason? China is absolutely MASSIVE. The distances between destinations can be enormous, and depending on where you’re going, you might need to spend an entire day travelling just to get from point A to point B.
So, when planning your itinerary, don’t just look at how many places you want to visit. Check the actual travel times between them, too. Otherwise, you might end up spending much more time getting around than exploring!
But before you get discouraged, let me tell you the good news: China has an incredible high-speed rail network that makes covering those huge distances much more manageable.
Honestly, the trains in China are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They even make some of Japan’s Shinkansen look a little outdated. Sorry, Japan! 😂
And coming from a train geek like me, that’s saying something!
The high-speed trains were a HUGE part of my experience in China. They’re incredibly fast, modern, comfortable and, in my experience, impressively punctual. Considering the quality and convenience, I also found them surprisingly affordable.
So, if you have ambitious plans for your trip to China and want to cover some serious distances, the Chinese high-speed rail network might be your best friend!
But of course, trains aren’t always the best option for every route. Domestic flights are another possibility if you’re travelling particularly long distances, so it’s worth comparing your options before deciding how to get from one destination to another.
My biggest piece of advice? Be ambitious with your China travel plans, but remember to be realistic about how much you can actually fit into your itinerary. I’d much rather spend enough time enjoying a few incredible destinations than rush through the country and spend half my trip in transit!
And speaking of trains, there’s something else you should know before travelling around China: booking your train tickets in advance can make your trip a whole lot easier. Let’s talk about that next!
8. Book Your Train Tickets in Advance
Remember how I said that China’s high-speed trains were one of the highlights of my trip? Well, if you want to experience them for yourself, there’s something you need to know: don’t leave booking your train tickets until the last minute!
One of the things I quickly learned while planning my trip was that booking train tickets in China works a little differently from what you might be used to.
For starters, train tickets generally go on sale 15 days before departure. Yep, you read that right! You can’t necessarily book your train tickets months in advance directly through China’s official railway system, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
And if you’re travelling during a busy period or have your heart set on a particular train, I’d recommend booking as soon as tickets become available. Popular routes can sell out, and the last thing you want is to have to rearrange your entire itinerary because you couldn’t get a seat on the train you wanted.
So, how do you actually book train tickets in China as a foreigner?
You have two main options:
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China Railway 12306: This is the official railway booking platform, and it has an English-language website. You can book directly through 12306, but you’ll need to follow the identity verification process using your passport. Honestly, I don’t think it’s the most convient way to book your train tickets in China.
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Trip.com: If you’d rather use a platform that’s more familiar to international travellers, Trip.com is another option. This is the option I chose for booking all my train tickets in China. It’s available in English, they obviously accept international payment methods and their user-friendly website and app make it so straightforward to search for train routes.
One more thing worth mentioning: your train ticket is linked to your passport no matter where you book. Make sure you enter your details correctly when booking. You’ll need the same passport to travel, so don’t forget to bring it to the station!
Actually, make sure you carry your passport everywhere in China. Not only to the train station. You’ll quickly understand how EVERYTHING is connected to your passport in that country!
And finally, don’t underestimate how much time you’ll need at the station. China’s major railway stations can be HUGE. Honestly, they felt more like airports than train stations. You’ll even need to go through security before boarding. Arriving with plenty of time to spare is always better than running around a massive station in panic.
My biggest piece of advice? Plan your routes ahead of time, keep an eye on when tickets go on sale, and book your essential journeys as soon as you can. It will make travelling around China so much easier!
9. Don’t Book Your Accommodation on Booking.com
If you’re anything like me, Booking.com is probably one of the first websites you open when planning a trip. I mean, it’s convenient, easy to use, and I’ve used it to book accommodation in SO many countries around the world!
But when it comes to China, things are a bit different.
While you can find accommodations in China on Booking.com, I wouldn’t rely on it as your only option. You might find fewer choices and the prices aren’t always the most competitive.
So which website should you use to book your accommodations in China? I’d definitely recommend Trip.com.
As I mentioned in the previous section, it’s a great option for booking train tickets too, but it can also come in handy when looking for places to stay. From budget-friendly accommodation to luxury hotels, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should automatically rule out Booking.com! My advice is simply to compare the options available on both platforms before making a decision. You might be surprised by the differences, especially if you’re looking for something a little more special. And speaking of that, there’s something else I absolutely loved about travelling in China: how affordable luxury can be!
10. China Is an Amazing Destination for Luxury Travel
When I started planning my trip to China, one of the things that shocked me the most was how CHEAP some really fancy hotels were. I’m talking about beautiful hotels that looked like they should cost a small fortune, but somehow didn’t!
I gotta admit, at first, I even wondered if some of them were scams. Surely there had to be a catch, right?
But as I kept researching and reading about other travellers’ experiences, I realised something: luxury in China doesn’t have to be expensive.
China is a very budget-friendly country in general, and you’ll have no problem finding affordable accommodation if you’re travelling on a budget. But if you fancy treating yourself to something a little more special, the options are INSANE.
Obviously, you’ll pay more than you would for a basic hotel or hostel, but the prices can be nowhere near what you’d expect to pay for a similar experience in other parts of the world.
And I’m not just talking about fancy hotels! It goes way beyond that. Here are two experiences that really stood out to me.
A Fancy Hotel in Chongqing That Didn’t Cost Me a Kidney
As a budget traveller who mostly stays in hostels, you have NO idea how excited I was to discover that I could experience a little luxury in China without spending a fortune!
I quickly decided that, during my 11-day trip, I would treat myself to one really nice hotel to take advantage of the insane prices I was seeing for luxury accommodation.
There was just one problem: THERE WERE SO MANY OPTIONS! Honestly, I spent days trying to decide which hotel to choose. It was actually quite overwhelming because every time I thought I’d found the perfect one, I’d stumble across another beautiful hotel.
Good luck trying to decide which hotels to book in China. There are so many amazing options on Trip.com!
Eventually, I managed to narrow it down to the YOLO Skyline Riverview Designer Hotel in Chongqing.
And honestly? It was love at first sight. The hotel looked absolutely beautiful, but the view was what really got me. I just knew I HAD to experience it!
And can you believe I paid just €74 for a room like this?! 🤯
Now, I know that might not sound particularly cheap if you’re used to staying in hostels. And honestly, by Chinese standards, it’s actually on the expensive side. But that’s precisely my point! If €74 gets you a room like this in China, imagine what you can get for less.
In Europe, a hotel room like that could easily cost three or four times as much. So, if you’ve ever wanted to treat yourself to a fancy hotel without blowing your entire travel budget, China might just be the place to do it!
An Insane Luxury Spa Experience for Just €37 in Chengdu 🧖♀️
Another thing that really surprised me about China was how easy it was to find luxury experiences for ridiculously low prices.
Finding out that China has spas that are open 24 hours a day — and that you can actually SLEEP there — was shocking enough. But when I discovered how affordable these places were, I was even more shocked!
I mean, where else can you spend hours enjoying a spa, relaxing, eating and even spending the night without spending a fortune?
Curious to know what the experience was actually like? I wrote a whole article about my experience sleeping in one of Chengdu’s viral 24-hour spas for just €37!
READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE: I Slept in Chengdu’s Viral 24-Hour Spa: My Complete Guide & Honest Review
11. China Might Give You a Culture Shock
One thing you should know before visiting China is that some everyday habits might take a little getting used to, especially if you’re travelling from Europe.
For me, the culture shock started on my very first morning in Chengdu! 😂
I was SO excited to be back in Asia that I headed straight to a convenience store to grab some breakfast. I picked out everything I wanted and went to the counter to pay.
Just as the cashier was about to start scanning my items, a Chinese woman literally pushed my things aside, placed her own items on the counter and stood right in front of me, ready to pay.
Excuse me?! 😂
I was genuinely shocked. After living in Sweden for 10 years, where people are generally very respectful of personal space and queues, I am NOT used to this kind of behaviour.
And here’s the thing: in China, you might not even find a proper queue to begin with! In some situations, people simply gather around and try to get served, which can feel pretty chaotic if you’re used to everyone patiently waiting their turn.
Honestly, though, once the initial shock wore off, I found the whole situation kind of amusing. I remember wondering, how do they even think?! 😂 It was such a strange experience compared with what I’m used to back home.
Another thing you might notice in China is people spitting in public, including on pavements. This can also be quite surprising if you’re not used to seeing it.
Of course, not everyone behaves this way, and customs can vary depending on where you are. But these are the kinds of everyday cultural differences that might catch you off guard when visiting China.
My advice? Keep an open mind and be prepared for a little culture shock. Not everything will work the way you’re used to, and sometimes the most memorable travel experiences come from those unexpected moments!
12. Get Ready to Squat
Even after travelling to 60 countries, I’m actually quite picky about certain things. And when it comes to toilets, I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand why anyone would prefer a hole in the floor over a proper toilet.
Apparently, squat toilets are more hygienic because you don’t have to sit on a surface that countless other people have used before you. Fair enough, I get that argument. But excuse me, have you SEEN some of the squat toilets I encountered in China?! If you think they’re more hygienic, you clearly haven’t seen the ones I have. Some were absolutely DISGUSTING.
I’m not gonna lie, the toilet situation was one of my biggest struggles in China
And can we talk about the whole argument about not wanting to sit where everyone else has sat? Has nobody heard of putting some toilet paper on the toilet seat before doing your business?! Problem solved 😂
Anyway, long story short, I managed to spend 11 days in China without peeing in a squat toilet even ONCE! But let me tell you, it was a struggle.
At one point in Chengdu, I actually took a bus to a completely different part of town on purpose because I knew there were Western-style toilets in a shopping centre there. That’s how committed I was to avoiding squat toilets. I wish I was joking!
Now, I’m not saying you’ll have the same experience everywhere in China. You’ll find Western-style toilets in plenty of places, particularly in modern shopping centres and larger hotels. But squat toilets are common enough that you should be prepared to encounter them, especially when travelling outside major tourist areas.
If you’re staying in China for a long time or you’re not quite as committed to avoiding squat toilets as I am, chances are you’ll end up using one eventually. So, good luck with that!
Oh, and one VERY important tip before you go: ALWAYS carry your own tissues or toilet paper, and ideally some hand sanitiser, too. Many public toilets in China don’t provide toilet paper, so you really don’t want to find yourself in there without any. Trust me on this one!
Final Thoughts: Is China Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! China was one of the most fascinating countries I’ve visited, and I’m SO glad I decided to go.
Yes, travelling there comes with a few challenges, from figuring out which apps to use to navigating the language barrier and getting used to some cultural differences. But don’t let any of that put you off!
With a little preparation and an open mind, you’ll be ready to enjoy everything this incredible country has to offer. And trust me, there’s A LOT to love! 🇨🇳❤️
If you’re planning your trip, don’t forget to check out my other China travel guides for more tips and stories from my own experience.
Happy travels! ✈️
