China Travel Guide
China travel basics for first-time visitors
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Visa-free and transit planning
Some travelers can use short-stay visa-free entry, while some transit travelers may qualify for China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy. Eligibility depends on nationality, passport type, entry port, route, onward ticket, dates, and purpose of travel.
Before promising a route, ask for the traveler’s country or region, passport type, planned entry city, onward destination, travel dates, and total stay length. For official checks, start from the National Immigration Administration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
Payments and useful apps
- Prepare mobile payment before arrival when possible.
- Keep a backup card and a small amount of cash for edge cases.
- Install map, translation, ride-hailing, airline, rail, and messaging apps before travel.
High-speed rail and city order
China’s high-speed rail can make Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Chaoshan easier to combine, but station location and transfer time matter. Build routes around real arrival times instead of only map distance.
How to choose a route
- One-day tours work for layovers, business add-ons, and city highlights.
- 3-5 day routes work for one region or two nearby cities.
- 7-10 day routes work best for first-time China trips and multi-city food or culture journeys.