11 Things to Know Before Visiting China

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Planning a trip to China? Let’s dive into my best tips on the 11 things to know before visiting China!

Planning a trip to China can be exciting and a little (a lot) overwhelming at the same time. From navigating busy city streets to just simply paying for everyday purchases, there are a few things you’ll want to know first.

Getting a few key travel tips under your belt before you go will make your entire experience smoother. I just spent a few weeks in China and learned quickly that this is a destination where a little preparation goes a long way.

This article will cover my top tips for what you need to know before visiting China – including tips on getting around, paying, and communicating with locals if you don’t speak the language.

Before we dive into the article, here are some popular tours in China to book if you are in a rush:

Things to know before visiting China

Chinese culture is super unique and differs quite a bit from US culture. I’ve put together a list of my 11 best tips for things you need to know before visiting, so you can make the most out of your trip!

1. How to pay

This might seem like a weird place to start, but China is largely a cashless society, and most businesses, ranging from street food stalls to high-end stores, rely on mobile payments rather than international credit cards.

• Alipay – Nearly all of my purchases in China were made with Alipay. Most places won’t accept foreign credit cards, so having Alipay set up is essential. Be sure to complete all required ID verification steps before you travel, as it can be difficult to finish this once you’re in the country.
• WeChat – WeChat isn’t just messaging, although that’s what it is best known for. WeChat is also a payment platform (Weixin Pay).

I found that for one reason or another, sometimes one of the payment platforms wouldn’t work for me. So having both payment apps ready means you’re covered for almost any purchase situation you’ll encounter.

China’s currency is the Renminbi (RMB), commonly referred to as the yuan. 1 USD is equal to about 7 RMB.

2. Expect people not to speak English

While travelers should never assume that locals will speak English in any country that they visit, I found that far fewer locals speak English than other Asian countries that I’ve visited. Many restaurants also only have menus in Chinese characters.

An offline Chinese-to-English translator will be your best friend. I personally use Google Translate and it’s usually sufficient. The app has features that include translating text from photos (good for menus) or translating from speech (good for conversing with locals).

WeChat can be a great option for communicating with drivers, tour operators, or hotels. Many hotels, restaurants, and local businesses use WeChat to communicate with guests, send confirmations, and share information throughout your stay. The app’s auto-translate feature makes chatting with hotel staff easy even if you don’t speak Chinese.

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3. China Is Vast and Diverse

China is massive, and most tourists only just scratch the surface, visiting major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Every region feels like its own country in terms of food, language dialects, landscapes, and local traditions. You could spend weeks exploring a single province and still not see everything.

Major cities are only the beginning. Smaller provincial cities, historic water towns, mountain ranges, all offer completely different experiences from one another. Allow plenty of travel time when moving between regions, as distances are larger than they appear on a map, and you’ll often need to take long trains or fly.

Here are a few other cities we visited on our trip that I’d recommend checking out:

• Chengdu
• Lijiang
• Dali

4. Regional Food Differences

When people talk about “Chinese food,” they often mean the dishes served in Western restaurants. In China itself, cuisine changes dramatically from region to region.

In the north, meals tend to be heartier and wheat-based. In the south, rice is the staple, and dishes are lighter and often more saucy or fermented.

Sichuan cuisine for example is known for its heat and tongue-numbing spice. And they truly mean tongue-numbing. The food we ate in Chongqing was easily some of the spiciest food I’ve ever eaten.

While on our most recent trip through the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, we enjoyed local dishes like mapo tofu, hot pot, and yak products like yak meat skewers and yak milk ice cream. This diversity is part of what makes traveling in China so rewarding.

Lijiang Fog Gallery Mountain Resort

This was easily my favorite place that we stayed in China. The view, the location, and the incredible service made this stay incredible. You can find rates under $100 on Trip.com.

Check rates and availability

5. You (might) need a visa

The China visa process has changed quite a bit in recent years, and it’s honestly much easier now than it used to be.

Option 1: Visa-Free Transit (Up to 10 Days)

One of the biggest recent changes is the expanded visa-free transit policy available to US travelers.

Americans can now visit certain Chinese cities for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa if:

• You are transiting to a third country (for example: USA → China → Japan)
• You have confirmed onward travel
• You stay within the approved region

Major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi’an participate in this program.

This option is incredibly convenient if China is part of a multi-country Asia trip.

Option 2: Standard Tourist Visa (10-Year Visa)

If you plan to enter China normally (not in transit), you’ll need a tourist visa.

For Americans, China typically issues 10-year multiple-entry tourist visas, or until your current passport expires, as visas are non-transferable.

The visa costs $140 USD if you apply in person yourself. If you use a visa agency service, you can expect to pay an additional $100-200+ in fees.

Unlike some countries, China still requires in-person application (or using a visa service agency to submit on your behalf).

You’ll apply through a Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in your region, after filling out the new COVA form online.

Major US locations include:

• New York
• Washington DC
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Houston

If you don’t live near one of these cities, many travelers simply hire a visa agency to handle the submission.

6. DiDi is one of the best ways to get around

While taxis are common in larger cities, the easiest and most affordable way to get around is with DiDi, China’s version of Uber. DiDi is widely available, works in both large and mid-sized cities, and is usually significantly cheaper than traditional taxis. Like seriously, it is such a cheap way to get around. We’d pay just a few USD for a 30-minute ride.

This should be obvious but drivers in China don’t always speak English. The DiDi app interface itself makes booking rides straightforward once you’re set up.

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7. You will need a VPN to access many of your apps

Many Western apps and services like Google, Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, and WhatsApp are blocked in China due to the Great Firewall. If you need access to these platforms, or just want to keep your browsing secure, buying a VPN in advance is crucial.

NordVPN is a great, reliable option. I used it throughout my trip to secure my connection and access the apps and services I needed. I switched it on right before we left the US, and left it on throughout the whole trip without any glitches.

Try out NordVPN today for 10% off!

8. WiFi is limited

One thing that really surprised me on this trip is how bad the WiFi was. Everyone is so well connected in China, with ultra-fast data, so the need for strong WiFi just isn’t a huge priority.

I used a Saily eSIM for this trip and it was perfect. I bought an unlimited data package for my trip and it was fast throughout, from the cities to the remote villages up in the mountains! If you install an eSIM you’ll have mobile data right when you land, which makes ordering transport, navigating cities, paying for things, and truly just doing anything much easier.

I’ve used this Saily across multiple different trips and countries and always had a great experience. If you want to check it out for your next trip, use code TAVERNATRAVELS for 10% off.

Don’t forget to set up an eSIM before your trip

Saily eSIM is my go-to eSIM for all of my international trips. I’ve used them multiple times and find it to be one of the most affordable and reliable options on the market.

Try it out today and use code TAVERNATRAVELS for 10% off your first eSIM.

9. Google Maps is not your best friend

Usually, I am a Google Maps queen, and I use it religiously for all of my travel planning. Unfortunately for me, that is simply not the case for China.

If you are using a VPN while in China (which I absolutely recommend), you will technically be able to access Google Maps, however it is quite simply trash. Not only are most restaurants and food stalls not even on the map, when they are, the details are often wrong.

Google Maps even had our hotel randomly 3 blocks from where it actually is on the map, which would have been very confusing if I didn’t have a local map to fact-check.

I used Baidu throughout to navigate. I wasn’t able to translate the app, so I had to use it in Mandarin only. However, you can simply copy and paste the Chinese characters for the restaurant or location into the app and follow the walking/driving navigation.

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10. You can rent battery packs on-the-go

If you’re anything like me, your phone is going to run out of battery. And listen, it’s not our fault! You’re out all day walking around, using your phone for everything from navigating, translating, and messaging with hotels.

Lucky for you, China has battery packs that you can rent using the Meituan app. You can find them practically anywhere. Just look for the yellow boxes. They’re often in front of shops and restaurants.

I loved renting these so much more than carrying around my own battery pack because I didn’t need to worry about keeping mine charged or lugging anything extra around. Just rent one, charge up as needed, and then drop it back wherever you see a stand.

11. Book with Trip.com

Trip.com is essentially China’s version of Booking.com, but in my experience, it works much better for travel within China than most Western booking platforms.

I used Trip.com constantly throughout my trip for booking hotels, trains, and even flights within China. It was always a super smooth experience, and free amenities were always added.

How to get to China

You can find direct flights from major US airports to China from cities like New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA). Flight times vary depending on your departure city, but you can generally expect around 14–16 hours from the East Coast and about 11–13 hours from the West Coast.

Most international flights from the US arrive into major gateway cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, although you may have a connection within China depending on your final destination.

China has many international airports, but the most common arrival points for travelers are:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

If you have the option to choose between airports in the same city (for example in Beijing), it’s usually worth checking distance to your hotel and transit options ahead of time, as some airports are significantly farther from the city center than others.

One thing I will say: transportation from Chinese airports into the city is generally very efficient. Between high-speed airport trains, metro systems, and affordable rideshare apps like DiDi, getting into the city is typically straightforward even after a long international flight.

Since we were planning to visit Sichuan and Yunnan on our recent trip, we found the easiest and cheapest way to get there from the West Coast was via Hong Kong. This made travel super easy and allowed us to have a fun 2-night layover in Hong Kong as well.

Here is the full list of my must-download apps

I know we’ve reviewed most of these throughout this article, but here is a roundup of all of the apps to download to reference before you visit China.

• DiDi – local rideshare app
• Alipay – must-have payment app
• WeChat – communication with hotels and tours, payments
• NordVPN – best VPN to keep you connected
• Meituan – multi-use app but I specifically used it for renting power banks
• Saily eSIM – must have eSIM to keep you online (the WiFi didn’t work anywhere on our last trip)
• Trip.com – the best app for booking lodging in China

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