China Travel FAQ (2026)
Do I need a visa or travel authorization to visit China in 2026?
30-Day Unilateral Visa-Free Entry for 38+ Countries (DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, AT, CH, PL, HR, PT, GR, AU, NZ, JP, KR, MY, SG) AND 240-Hour (10-Day!) Visa-Free Transit across 24 Provinces for 54 Countries (Including US, UK & Canada!)
What is the best way to travel between Beijing & The Great Wall, Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou, and Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors)?
Travel seamlessly across China on China Railway (12306) Fuxing 350 km/h High-Speed G-Trains (Your Physical Passport IS Your E-Ticket at the Manual/Passport Lane!). Compare walk-up fares against advance promotional tickets and regional passes in CNY (¥). For local buses, trams, and metro lines, use Alipay & WeChat Pay Foreign Card Setup (1) ALIPAY & WECHAT PAY BEFORE YOU FLY: Download both 'Alipay' and 'WeChat' at home, verify with your passport, and add your foreign Visa or Mastercard. Both apps charge ZERO (0%) foreign card fee on every single purchase under ¥200 ($28 USD), and a 3% fee only above ¥200! Inside Alipay, tap 'Transport' to generate a local Metro & Bus QR code, and use the built-in 'DiDi' mini-app in English to hail rides! 2) MAPS & INTERNET: Google Maps is outdated by 10+ years in China—download 'Amap' (Gaode Maps, which now has a full English interface!) or use Apple Maps (powered by AutoNavi inside China). Buy a travel eSIM (Airalo / Holafly / Trip.com China eSIM) before departure—roaming eSIMs automatically bypass the Great Firewall without needing a separate VPN!).
Should I carry cash (CNY) or use credit cards in China?
Official currency is the CNY (¥) (¥, CNY; 1 USD ≈ 7.14 CNY). Contactless cards work widely across Beijing & The Great Wall and Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou, but always carry small notes in ¥ for markets, bakeries, and rural transit.
How does tipping work in China?
Strictly NO tipping in Mainland China—restaurants, cafés, DiDi drivers, and hotels never expect tips and may run after you thinking you accidentally forgot your change.
What power plugs are used in China, and is tap water safe?
China uses Type A, Type C & Type I (220V / 50Hz — Chinese wall sockets accept both US two-flat-prong plugs and Australian three-angled-blade plugs!) sockets at Type A, Type C & Type I (220V / 50Hz — Chinese wall sockets accept both US two-flat-prong plugs and Australian three-angled-blade plugs!). Tap water: Do NOT drink raw tap water in China; every hotel room provides an electric kettle and free bottled water, and all train stations/airports have free 24/7 hot/warm drinking water dispensers.. Emergency numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire), 12367 (24/7 Multilingual National Immigration & Visa Hotline).