First-time visitor questions
China travel FAQ for first-time visitors.
Planning an independent trip to China? Start with the questions travellers ask most, then open the complete source-linked guide for step-by-step details.
01 / FAQ
Visa & planning
Do I need a visa to visit China?
That depends on your passport type, nationality, travel purpose, stay length, route and dates. China has unilateral waivers, mutual agreements, transit policies and limited regional policies, all with different conditions. Check the dated PandaVisit visa guide, then confirm your exact case with the responsible Chinese embassy or consulate and the National Immigration Administration before buying non-refundable travel.
Check the China visa guide →Which countries can visit China visa-free, and for how long?
There is no single stay allowance for every visa-free traveller. PandaVisit separates the current ordinary-passport unilateral list from country-specific mutual agreements, because permitted stays and rolling limits differ. Passport type, eligible purpose and policy validity still matter. Use the official list linked immediately after each table and recheck it before departure.
Compare visa-free country lists →Can I use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
Only if every condition fits. Your nationality, passport, confirmed onward ticket, entry and exit ports, permitted travel area and route from one country or region through mainland China to a different country or region all matter. A simple return journey may not meet the transit structure. Verify every segment and the current eligible ports before relying on the policy.
Check the 240-hour transit rules →What should I prepare before travelling to China?
Start with entry eligibility, a workable first-night address, reliable internet access and mobile payment with independent backups. Save Chinese names, addresses and confirmations offline, and keep the phone number that receives account or bank verification messages. PandaVisit’s pre-departure checklist links each essential item to a complete, practical guide.
Open the China travel checklist →02 / FAQ
Payments & connectivity
Can foreign tourists use Alipay and WeChat Pay in China?
Many international visitors can register and add an eligible international card, subject to the app, bank, verification, fees, limits and payment scenario. Set up the official apps before travel, follow the current in-app prompts and test a small genuine merchant purchase. Keep a physical card and some RMB cash in case one wallet fails.
Set up mobile payment →Is China cashless, and should I still carry cash?
Everyday checkout is mobile-payment first, especially at smaller merchants, but RMB cash remains legal tender and is a useful offline fallback. Prepare Alipay or Weixin Pay for normal purchases, then carry a modest amount of RMB in small notes plus a physical card. Exact change can be inconvenient at QR-first shops, so do not make cash your only method.
See the payment backup plan →Will my international credit or debit card work in China?
Card-terminal acceptance is better at many hotels, transport hubs, attractions and larger visitor-facing businesses, but smaller merchants may rely on QR payment. Eligible overseas cards can also be linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay, subject to the issuer and product. Enable overseas use and prepare a second method rather than depending on one card.
Compare payment methods →Should I use roaming, a travel eSIM or a Chinese SIM card?
Choose by trip length and whether you need only data or also a mainland phone number. Roaming keeps your home line, a travel eSIM is convenient for unlocked compatible phones, and a mainland physical SIM can provide a +86 number for calls, SMS and some local services. Compare cost, data, hotspot rules, activation and cancellation before deciding.
Compare internet and SIM options →Do I need a Chinese phone number for a China trip?
Not always. International roaming or many travel eSIMs can provide data without a mainland number. A +86 number may make SMS verification, driver or delivery calls and some local services easier, so it can be useful for longer or more app-dependent trips. Keep your home line available for bank and account codes while preventing accidental roaming data.
Decide whether you need a local number →03 / FAQ
Maps & language
What map app should tourists use in China?
AMap Global is a strong local-data starting point and currently offers an English interface on supported versions. Baidu Maps is another major local option, while Apple Maps can be practical for iPhone users in mainland China. Test the exact version before departure, keep a second map and save each destination’s Chinese name, full address and entrance.
Compare map apps for China →Can I rely on Google Maps in mainland China?
Do not make Google Maps your only navigation tool for mainland China. Prepare a mainland-ready map such as AMap Global, Baidu Maps or Apple Maps where suitable, and test it with your hotel’s Chinese address. Save important pins, station names and entrances offline so navigation does not depend on one service, one English place name or a live connection.
Prepare a reliable China phone setup →Can I travel in China without speaking Chinese?
Yes, but prepare for uneven English support. Install a general translator and a dictionary or phrase-card backup, download both language directions and test them offline. Save hotels, stations and attractions as selectable Chinese text with addresses and phone numbers. For allergies, medicine, legal matters or emergencies, have critical wording checked by a fluent person or qualified professional.
Build an offline communication kit →Which translation app is best for China travel?
No single tool covers every situation. Apple Translate can suit iPhone users, Google Translate offers downloadable language packs and Pleco is useful for precise Chinese words and characters. Install at least two different tools, test offline text or camera features before travel and never rely on machine translation alone for medical or safety-critical information.
Compare translation tools →04 / FAQ
Transport & reservations
How do foreign tourists buy train tickets in China?
Start with China Railway’s official 12306 English website or app. Enter passenger details exactly as requested from the passport, check the complete station names, date, time and train number, then read change rules before payment. Carry the original passport used for booking and allow time for security, identity checks, the walk to the gate and boarding.
Follow the train-booking checklist →Do I need to reserve attractions before visiting?
There is no single booking app for every attraction. Popular venues may use passport-matched and timed reservations through their own website, verified account or mini-program. Check the venue’s official channel early, confirm the date, entrance and visitor details, save proof offline and recheck shortly before the visit. Payment or a submitted request is not always confirmed admission.
Prepare attraction reservations →How do tourists call a taxi or use DiDi in China?
App-based ride-hailing is often easier for visitors because the pickup point, Chinese destination, vehicle details and service tier remain in the app. DiDi or ride-hailing inside Alipay and WeChat can reduce spoken explanation. At airports and stations, use the designated pickup area, match the licence plate before boarding and keep a payment fallback.
Learn how to use ride-hailing →05 / FAQ
Accommodation, food & safety
Can hotels in China accept foreign guests?
Before paying, confirm that the specific property can complete foreign-passport check-in and accommodation registration, especially for a small, self-service or late-night stay. Save the written confirmation, the full Chinese property name, address, entrance and staffed telephone number. Hotels normally handle registration during passport check-in; non-hotel stays use a different local process.
Choose accommodation for a foreign-passport stay →How do I find good restaurants and order food in China?
Dianping is widely used for local reviews, dish photos and branch comparisons—the closest local equivalent to Yelp. Use it to shortlist, then confirm the exact branch and current hours in a mainland-ready map. If a table QR menu does not work, ask for staff ordering. Save essential dietary or allergy wording in reviewed Chinese and keep a payment fallback.
Read the China dining guide →Can I drink tap water in China?
Do not assume bathroom tap water is drinkable. Use sealed bottled water or water that has been properly boiled, filtered or disinfected, and follow your accommodation’s written guidance. Check bottle seals and seek professional help if severe illness develops. Review current official travel-health guidance for your destinations and personal circumstances before departure.
Check food and water precautions →What are the emergency numbers in China?
For urgent situations, the current guide lists police 110, ambulance 120 and fire 119. Save your precise location in Chinese, accommodation details, insurance assistance number, embassy or consulate contact and a short medical summary offline. If communication is difficult, ask nearby staff or a Chinese speaker to help, but do not delay an emergency call while looking for perfect translation.
Save China’s emergency information →