Travel Tips

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Both work reliably in most Chinese cities. Performance may vary by region and time of day. Keep both installed as a backup.

Download Alipay, switch to International version, and link your Visa or Mastercard. Top up a small balance in CNY (up to ¥2,000/day for foreign cards). Test a small payment at home if possible.

Bank of China typically has the most foreign-card-friendly ATMs and lower fees. Avoid dynamic currency conversion — always choose to be charged in CNY.

Airport exchange booths typically offer 3–8% worse rates than bank ATMs. Exchange only a small amount at the airport for immediate needs, then use ATMs in the city.

China's HSR network covers 40,000+ km. Top speeds of 350 km/h connect Beijing–Shanghai in 4.5 hours. Book via Trip.com or 12306.cn. Foreign passport holders can collect tickets at station kiosks using their passport.

Useful for reaching Tibet, Xinjiang, or Yunnan. Book via Trip.com, Air China, or China Eastern. Arrive 2 hours early; domestic security can be slow at peak times.

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and 30+ other cities have modern metro systems. Maps and announcements are in English. Buy a transport card (交通卡) for convenience.

DiDi is China's equivalent of Uber. The English-language app works with international phone numbers. Register before travelling. Most drivers don't speak English — the app handles destination input.

For routes not covered by HSR, overnight sleeper trains are comfortable and scenic. Buses connect rural areas and smaller towns. Book through 12306 or local bus stations.

Most restaurants display photos on menus or QR menus. Use Baidu Translate's camera function to translate any text in real time — simply point your camera at the menu. Many restaurants in cities also have picture menus.

Pure vegetarianism is not common in Chinese cuisine — dishes may contain hidden meat stock or lard. Look for Buddhist vegetarian restaurants (素食餐厅 — Sùshí cāntīng) in major cities. The phrase 我吃素 (Wǒ chī sù) means "I'm vegetarian."

Look for the 清真 (Qīngzhēn — Halal) sign at restaurants, common in Muslim-majority areas like Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, and in any city's Muslim Quarter. Major cities have dedicated halal restaurants.

Never stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice — this resembles incense at a funeral and is considered very inauspicious. Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick for the same reason. Rest them across the bowl or on a chopstick rest.

Chinese meals are typically communal — dishes are ordered for the table and shared. It's polite to serve others before yourself. The host traditionally pays; splitting bills evenly is less common.

Passport (valid 6+ months), Chinese visa, travel insurance certificate (with emergency number), hotel booking confirmations (printed), emergency contacts list, travel itinerary printout, photocopies of all documents stored separately.

Write the 6-digit postcode of the recipient in the top-left boxes. Chinese addresses go from largest to smallest unit: Country → Province → City → District → Street → Number → Name.

If you cannot write Chinese characters, Pinyin romanisation is accepted. Include the recipient's telephone number after the address. Make sure Pinyin is accurate to avoid misdelivery.

Write your name, address, phone, and postcode in the bottom-right section. This is required in case the letter cannot be delivered. Never write in red ink — it is considered inauspicious in Chinese culture.

Yes. Visit the Exit & Entry Administration Bureau (公安局出入境管理处) of the local Public Security Bureau before your visa expires. Extensions are typically granted for 30 days and require a valid reason (illness, force majeure, etc.).

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at international hotels, large restaurants, and some shops. However, most everyday transactions use Alipay or WeChat Pay. Link your foreign card to Alipay before arrival for the smoothest experience.

Yes, if you want to access Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or most Western sites. Download and test your VPN before arriving — these apps cannot be downloaded from within China.

China is considered one of the safer countries in Asia for solo travellers of all genders. Violent crime rates are low. Standard precautions apply: stay aware of your surroundings, keep valuables secure, and use reputable transport options.

No. Tap water in China is not safe to drink directly. Always drink bottled water or water that has been boiled. Bottled water is inexpensive and available everywhere (¥1–2 for a 500ml bottle).

If you hold a long-stay work visa for Australia, you can apply from a Chinese consulate in Australia. Apply from the consulate nearest to you. If visiting New Zealand temporarily, it is safer to apply from Australia as temporary visitors may not be served. Note that a single-entry L tourist visa is valid for 3 months from issue — don't apply too early.

High-speed rail is the best choice for most city-to-city journeys under 6 hours (e.g. Beijing to Shanghai, Xi'an to Chengdu). For longer distances or reaching remote destinations (Tibet, Xinjiang), domestic flights are more efficient. Book via Trip.com for English-language support.

Strongly recommended. Medical treatment at international hospitals in China can be expensive without insurance. Ensure your policy covers medical evacuation, as Chinese public hospitals may have limited English-speaking staff.