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The five things to sort out before visiting China: how to pay, how to get online, whether you need a visa, which apps to install, and a few tips to avoid pitfalls.
Travel in China works quite differently from many countries: almost everyone uses mobile payments, the internet sits behind the "Great Firewall," and visa rules have eased a lot in the past two years. The five sections below are the essentials to sort out before you go, ordered by importance.
01 · Payment
Almost everyone in China pays by QR code; cash is rare. The good news: foreign cards can now be linked directly.
As of 2026, both Alipay and WeChat Pay let you link an overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Diners card without a Chinese bank account. Verify your identity with a photo of your passport — it usually takes about 10 minutes.
Roughly ¥5,000 per transaction and ¥50,000 per year. Single payments under ¥200 are usually fee-free; above that, about 3% applies. More than enough for everyday meals and shopping.
Restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, taxis and attractions in big cities almost all accept QR payment. Install and link your card before you land, and carry a little cash (small notes) for emergencies.
02 · Connectivity
Google, Instagram, WhatsApp and others are blocked by default in China — prepare ahead.
The whole Google suite (Search/Maps/Gmail/YouTube), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, Netflix, Spotify and more are inaccessible by default.
A travel eSIM routed through international networks lets you use Google, Maps and WhatsApp directly, no VPN needed, and activates with just an email. Be sure to buy and install it before you leave.
A local SIM is still behind the firewall and needs a VPN — but VPN websites are mostly blocked inside China, so you can't install one there. Set up your VPN before you land. For navigation, use Amap/Baidu (Chinese).
03 · Visa
Rules have eased a lot recently — many people can enter visa-free, but always confirm with official sources.
Citizens of about 50 countries can stay visa-free for 30 days (the UK and Canada were added in February 2026; this includes most of the EU, Australia/NZ, South Korea, Brazil and others, with most policies valid through the end of 2026). Enter with your passport + return ticket + hotel booking — no application needed.
Citizens of 55 countries transiting through China to a third country can stay visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) at 65 designated ports, with a booked onward ticket to the third country.
Visa-free countries, ports and permitted areas change often. Before booking, rely on the latest notices from the Chinese embassy/consulate near you or the National Immigration Administration.
04 · Apps
Install these and you'll get around China with ease.
Payments, ride-hailing, food ordering, tickets and translation — nearly everything in one.
The top choice for navigation in China, with accurate real-time transit (Google Maps mostly doesn't work).
Ride-hailing with English support and in-trip translation; you can also hail a car inside Alipay.
Trains, hotels and flights with a friendly English interface — great for overseas travelers.
Download offline packs in advance; photo translation of menus is very handy.
Local restaurant and shop reviews — your go-to for finding good food.
05 · Good to Know
A few small things that make the trip smoother.
You'll need it for hotel check-in, trains, some attractions and verified payments — keep it on you and save a photo backup too.
Don't drink tap water — drink bottled or boiled. The voltage is 220V with mostly two-flat-pin or three-pin sockets, so bring an adapter.
Tipping is generally not expected. Emergency numbers: police 110 · ambulance 120 · fire 119.
Sort these out, and leave the rest to a little luck.
Draw a travel sign See all destinationsThis page is a free info module. Policies and products change quickly — before traveling, rely on the latest information from official channels. Last updated: June 2026.