Welcome to China! As a country with a long history and rich culture, China has attracted more and more foreigners to visit China. For your first trip to China, you must feel especially excited about it. Here are some practical China travel tips to help you better plan your trip and enjoy the journey.
China Visa
The first China travel tip, check if you need a visa. Citizens of many countries are entitled to 72/144 hours visa-free transit, and 30 days visa-free. If you need a visa, apply for a tourist visa in advance. Make sure your passport is valid for more than 6 months and make copies for backup.
Money
Mobile payments, such as WeChat and Alipay, are popular when traveling in China. You can download the software and bind your credit card in advance. However, cash is still required in some remote places and rural areas. It is recommended that you exchange RMB in different denominations in advance, depending on your situation. Large shopping malls and restaurants in cities also accept international credit card payments.
Useful Apps/Tools
If you need to use Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. while traveling in China, buy and install a VPN before your visit. Other useful apps include translation apps (e.g. Google translation), map apps, China Railway app (12306), and Didi app (similar to Uber).
Top Thins to Do
For your first China tour, we recommend you the classic route: 11 to 14 days Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai tour. On your Beijing tour, visit must-see attractions including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Xi’an Ancient City Wall, Li River, Yangshuo, Panda Base, The Bund, Yuyuan Garden.
If you’re more interested in nature, you can book a Zhangjiajie tour to explore Avatar Peak and Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge. Or head to Jiuzhaigou and Shangri-La in Yunnan.Looking for the off-beaten-track destinations?Miaozhai in Guizhou, Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Silk Road are good choices.
Best Time to Visit China
For most destinations such as Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin and Zhangjiajie, April-May in spring and September-October in fall are the best times to visit. But winter from December to February is the best time to visit Harbin.
Avoid China’s National Day (October 1-7) and Chinese New Year (late January-early February), when domestic tourists are especially numerous and travel costs are much higher.
Chinese Food
For international travelers, it is recommended that you choose clean restaurants and avoid raw and cold foods (such as unpeeled fruits) or street food (which may not be fresh).
Signature dishes from around the world, such as roast duck in Beijing, hot pot in Sichuan, morning tea in Guangdong, dim sum in Shanghai, and dumplings in Xi’an are a must.
Safety
It is recommended that you carry a copy of your passport with you, while the original, as well as large amounts of banknotes, are locked in the hotel safe. Protect your finances, including cell phones, cameras and jewelry. In case of emergency, call the emergency numbers: police 110, first aid 120, fire 119. Overall, it’s hard to travel in China without being safe, but it’s still recommended not to go out alone late at night.
