This list with those who for us are the best tips for traveling to China They will be of great help to you if you want make sure everything turns out perfect. travel to this immense and diverse country can be an incredible experience, but let us tell you that it requires some preparation to avoid surprises. China has its own way of working in many aspects, but don't worry because in this article we will share with you the best tips so that you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. route through China (here you can see our itinerary). From the essential apps, even recommendations on how to get around and tips so you can communicate at all times, let's go with the list!
16 Essential Tips for Traveling to China
1) Check if you need a visa or any other entry requirements
Before you travel, be sure to check if you need a visa to enter China. Most countries require a tourist visa, which you must apply for in advance at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. Also check if you need any certificates or entry forms at the time of your trip. In the case of Travelers with Spanish passports are exempt from visa requirements for entry into China for business, tourism and family visits for a period not exceeding 30 DAYS until December 31, 2025. (the exemption period and the number of days were extended). This is the Official and updated information that we have extracted from the website of the Chinese Embassy in Spain and also in the recommendations for traveling to China from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, If you plan to visit Hong Kong or Macau, please note that if you have a Spanish passport, a visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days..
2) Bring an eSIM with unlimited data, one of the best tips for traveling to China
A good internet connection is crucial in China, where many apps and services depend on network access. carry a eSIM with unlimited data It will allow you to always be connected without having to worry about searching for WiFi (which works terribly) or buying a local SIM (which also fails). We use the Holafly eSIMs that, in addition to offering Unlimited data, comes with built-in VPN. This means that you can connect to apps banned in China such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Google (Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps...). As a new feature, you can now share up to 500 MB per day with other devices. For 15 days, each eSIM costs about €47, but we have a 5% off for our readers. Installation is simple, as you only need to scan a QR, just check first if your device is compatible.
3) Download essential payment apps: Alipay and WeChat
In China, the card payments we are used to practically do not exist. To be able to pay by card, you must download the apps Alipay y WeChat and link your bank cards there. We recommend that you make all the settings before leaving your country. It seems complicated, but once you have the cards within Alipay or Wechat, you just have to open the app and click "pay" and that's it. We recommend having both apps configured and with at least two bank cards, in case one fails, always have the other. And believe me, they can fail. This payment method is the only one widespread in China and only some hotels accept card payment. They accept cash too, but you already know the risks of carrying so much money on you.
At the same time, from the "scan" function you can scan QR codes that already come with an established price so that payment is made automatically. And finally, This function will also help you scan the QR code of public bikes in Chinese cities, which we will explain below.
4) Have a simultaneous translator on your mobile and use Google Lens
You would be surprised to know that even in the hotels, tourist attractions, train stations, etc. the chinese barely speak english. However, they are more than accustomed to using simultaneous translators on mobile devices. We rely on the function "interpreter" that comes in our Samsung, but you will surely find apps that offer it, or even downloading Google Translate itself. How does it work? You speak to the translator by pressing the microphone and it automatically and simultaneously translates it into Chinese audio. In any case, remember download the Chinese language with good WIFI connection in your country before traveling. This can be a lifesaver for communicating in restaurants, hotels, and when asking for directions. Likewise, we rely a lot on Google Lens to translate menus in restaurants or posters like this one from the marriage market we saw in Shanghai.
5) Buy attraction and train tickets in advance
China is one of the most populated countries in the world, according to National Geographic, in 2024 they will reach 1.425 million inhabitants. At the same time, Chinese tourists like to do inland tourism and usually travel in groups. With which, Tourist places are usually very crowded. If you don't want to be left without a ticket for the most famous attractions and train connections, we recommend you buy your tickets in advance. When we traveled in May we were able to improvise a little, but even so for Tianmen Mountain we bought it two days in advance. The allied page to buy trains and activities in China is trip.com and it is like the Chinese Booking.comBelow we provide you with the pages of the main tourist attractions in China.
- ➡️ Zhangjiajie National Park Tickets
- ➡️ Tianmen Mountain Tickets
- ➡️ Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tickets
- ➡️ Leshan Giant Buddha Tickets
- ➡️ Entrance to the Terracotta Warriors Museum
- ➡️ Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China
- ➡️ Shanghai Tower entrance
- ➡️ Fenghuang River (Tuo Jiang) Route
- ➡️ Chengdu Panda Research Center
- (I.e. China Train Booking Page
Please note that by purchasing tickets in advance you are reserving your place (something very important in China), then you must go to the ticket office. with your passport and digital reservation so that you receive physical entry for each activity. Normally they have a QR code or when you scan your passport at the entrance, the park gates are automatically opened for you along with the validation of the facial scanner.
6) Haggle on purchases and taxis, tips for traveling to China and not getting scammed
Bargaining is a common practice in China, especially in local markets and in taxis. As we show you in our Beijing video, in the silk market we bargained for everything at half the price that the sellers gave us. Likewise, To travel to the Chinese wall we were almost scammed and haggled the price on the way back with a taxi driver. In our experience, if you can avoid taxis and get around with Didi, the better. In this post about what to see in Beijing and the Chinese Wall We give you all the prices of the trips that we manage to negotiate.
7) Move in Didi, essential recommendations for traveling to China
Didi is Chinese version of Uber and it is the best way to get around China if you want to travel long distances that the subway does not cover well. We use it from the mini app that comes with Alipay to go to the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an, to go to the Chinese Wall (Mutianyu section) from Beijing and in many other transfers that did not have a quick connection with public transport. Is safe, economical and avoids the scams of some taxi drivers who can inflate rates if you do not haggle or do not know the value of that transfer. With Didi the price is quite fixed, the amount appears in the app.
8) Bring some cash, tips for traveling to China that will save you
Although the use of paid apps is predominant, one of the best tips for traveling to China any country is Carry some cash for emergencies. It saved our lives in a national park where we had to have a ticket to use an elevator (which we had not purchased). The reviewer helped us with the management and paid it with his Alipay and we gave the cash to him. In short, Alipay and Wechat can fail, or simply the coverage at the time you have to make a payment.
9) Use bikes to visit and move faster
All Chinese cities have shared bikes that you can use for time to move quickly and enjoy the cities. To rent them you just have to Scan the QR from the Alipay App and it will take you to the “Hello” mini app (Wechat also offers it, but we always did it with Alipay). There you must register the first time by taking a photo with your passport and that's it. Remember when you finish each journey to lock them in the delimited areas and click "lock out." In any case, If you are going to make very long trips, the metro is often better, Although you already know that riding a bike allows you to see the landscapes and stop wherever you want. Remember that bikes move in the same lane as motorcycles, which are all electric (silent), be very careful..
10) Download the Metroman app with China metro maps
La Metroman app will also be very useful to have the subway maps of each Chinese city on your mobile. Additionally, it allows you to see the duration of journeys and fastest connections from one point to another with a breakdown of stops and transfers. In the same app you have all the plans for each city, you just have to download it. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, etc…
11) Take out travel insurance
No matter how well you follow all the recommendations for traveling to ChinaUnforeseen events can always arise. Having travel insurance is essential for cover medical expenses, cancellations, or any other eventuality that may occur during your adventure in China. We always travel with IATI, specifically, with the IATI Backpacker policy that gives us better coverage against accidents during risky activities such as zip lining, hiking and even cycle through China. We have a 5% discount on all policies and you can see the coverage of each one with the discount already applied in this page.
12) Carry your passport everywhere
In China, it is mandatory to carry a valid ID at all times, and for tourists, this means carrying your passport. You will need it to cbuy tickets, access any tourist attraction, travel by train, rent bikes, enter museums, take cable cars and, of course, check into hotels, so make sure you always have it with you.
13) Install a VPN
Internet access in China is restricted by the large firewall, which blocks many popular apps and websites such as Google (including Gmal, Google Maps…), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube)Installing a VPN before your trip will allow you to access these apps without any problems. Holafly comes with a built-in VPN and recently allows you to share the internet with other devices. up to 500 MB/day (not when we travel). If you were in China and didn't get the 500 MB that Holafly allows you to share, we would also contract, Express VPN and the Nomad eSIM (limited data) and it worked great for us. You could hire Nomad once you're in China if you don't have up-to-date Holafly information. Remember, we have a 5% discount with Holafly for you.
14) Stay in central areas, the cities are huge!
Chinese cities are huge and if you don't stay near tourist attractions it can waste a lot of time. We recommend you Stay in central areas that are well connected to public transport and close to main attractionsWe're leaving you our list of accommodations in case it helps. We had a great time at all of them. We booked everything on Booking.com and had no problems at all. However, once you're there, keep in mind that The hotel name may change from Spanish to Chinese.
| China Places | Hotels | |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai | On the most central street. |
| Zhangjiajie city - Tianmen Mountain | Zhangjiajie Hero Boutique Hotel | A few steps from the cable car. |
| Wulingyuan Zhangjiajie Park and Crystal Bridge | Yoba Boutique Hotel | A few steps from the entrance to the park. |
| fenghuang | Wang Jiang Reclusive Boutique Inn | In the historic center, but away from the hustle and bustle. |
| Chengdu: Panda bear and Buddha Leshan | Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel | Close to Tianfu Square and well connected. |
| Xi'an y Warriors Terracotta | Grand Mercure Xian On Renmin Square | Inside the wall. |
| Pekin and Gran Muralla China | Sunworld Hotel Wangfujing | On the most central street. |
15) Leave the universal adapter at home
China uses the same type of plug as in the majority of European countries (type C) and, at the same time, A and I. In hotels there are usually several types of schucko as we show you in the following photo. Therefore, Depending on where you are traveling from, you will need an adapter or not. If you are traveling from Spain like us, I can tell you that both in hotels and on trains our plugs work perfectly. Anyway, as we explain in the video at the end, We recommend that you bring a standard USB cable to take advantage of Didi or train journeys and charge your mobile. For now USB-C is not so widespread.
16) Use Maps.me or Baidu Maps
Finally, remind you that Google Maps is not much use in China to guide you, since businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.) have not created their listings on Google My Business. The most widespread app is Baidu Maps, although with the language it is a bit confusing. Us We moved with Maps.me, although perhaps trying Baidu maps could be a good idea.
Video tips for traveling to China
In the next video we explain with images and in first person all these recommendations for traveling to China. We hope they are helpful to you and remember that on our YouTube channel you will find the complete list of our trip through China.
In short, if you follow all of these tips for traveling to China Your experience in the country can be most enriching and fascinating. This way, You will avoid setbacks and be able to fully enjoy everything this incredible country has to offer. Don't forget to consult our travel guides for each destination we visited in China so that we can continue helping you with planning your route:
- What to see in Beijing + Chinese Wall
- What to see in Zhangjiajie
- What to see in Fenghuang
- What to see in Shanghai
- What to see in Xi'an + Terracotta Warriors
- What to see in Chengdu + Leshan Great Buddha
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
Hello! Thank you so much for all the information you've left, it's super useful.
Let's see if you can answer a question for me, if you'd be so kind. I understand that to use Alipay or WeChat, you need a Chinese SIM card in your phone, in addition to other things you might need in China. So, if I have a HolaFly eSIM, I don't understand how the apps work, since the SIM card is still Spanish.
How does it really work?
Thank you very much in advance!!!
Hello! To use Alipay or WeChat, you don't need a Chinese SIM. The Holafly eSIM is installed in your phone and coexists with the SIM you already have. You just need a phone compatible with eSIMs so you can deactivate the one for your country and activate the Holafly one (either the one for Asia if you're traveling to other countries or the one for China). On the Holafly website, you have many tutorials on how to activate it if you use Android or Apple. Best regards!
Thank you Ruth!! Your advice has been very helpful. In fact, I'll be staying in several hotels along your route. The problem I'm having with China is that since it will be my last leg of the trip after Korea and Japan, when it comes to buying tickets (Tianmen, Zhangjiajie Park, the wall, etc.) I can't get them. I've deduced that it's because they put them on sale just a few days before the date I want, from June 15 to June 6. It's a problem for me because I'm leaving for Korea on April 29 and I wanted to have everything finalized. The same thing has happened to me with the bullet trains (from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and from Xi'an to Beijing).
Do you have any information on this that could help me? I would be very grateful.
Hi Nati, you're welcome! I think so. They put tickets on sale just a few weeks in advance, the same with trains... we improvise a lot, but I understand if you want to get everything organized! Good luck!
Hi ! RuthI'm finishing up my trip and I wanted to ask you if, when you go up to Tianmen by cable car, you have to go down by bus or if you can come back by cable car.
Thanks for all the information, it is very useful.
Hi! I think we took the first cable car and the bus is already back to the center of Zhangjiajie… on the ticket purchase page that we share you can choose the combinations you want 🙂