A first trip to China is more rewarding than most people expect — and more confusing to prepare for. The country runs on systems that are excellent once you are inside them, but which are not always obvious to a visitor who has never used them before.

This guide covers the practical things that catch first-time visitors out.

Before You Book

Check your visa situation early, because it shapes everything else. China has several entry routes — a standard tourist visa, various visa-free transit schemes, and regional visa-free arrangements such as Hainan island. Rules change regularly, so confirm the current position with your nearest Chinese embassy or visa application centre rather than relying on older blog posts, including this one.

Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond your intended stay, and that you have at least one blank page.

Money and Payments

This is the single biggest adjustment for most visitors. China is overwhelmingly a mobile-payment country: cards are accepted at large hotels and some department stores, but small shops, taxis, markets and restaurants often expect Alipay or WeChat Pay.

The good news is that both apps now support international cards. Set them up before you fly, while you still have reliable access to your bank’s verification messages. Carry a small amount of cash as a backup — a few hundred yuan will cover emergencies — but do not plan to rely on it.

Internet, Apps and Connectivity

Many services you use daily — Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and most Western news sites — are not directly accessible in mainland China. Plan for this before you arrive.

• Connectivity: an eSIM or a travel SIM often routes data outside the mainland, which means many blocked services work normally without extra setup. This is the simplest solution for most short trips.
• Maps: Google Maps is unreliable in China. Use Amap or Baidu Maps instead, both of which have English interfaces.
• Translation: a translation app with camera mode is genuinely useful for menus and signs.
• Taxis: Didi is the local ride-hailing app and has an English version.

Download everything you need before you fly, and make sure the apps work offline where possible.

Getting Around

China’s high-speed rail network is exceptional: fast, punctual and easy to book. For journeys under about five hours, the train usually beats flying once you factor in airport transfers. Book through a travel platform in advance, especially around public holidays.

In cities, the metro is cheap, fast and well signed in English. Taxis and Didi are plentiful. Traffic in larger cities can be heavy, so allow more time than you think you need.

Language

Outside major hotels and international airports, English is not widely spoken. This is rarely a problem in practice, but it helps to have your hotel’s name and address written in Chinese on your phone, and to use a translation app for anything more complicated.

Everyday Practicalities

• Tipping: not customary and can cause confusion. It is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels.
• Tap water: not drinkable. Hotels provide kettles and bottled water is cheap and everywhere.
• Public holidays: Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week are the busiest travel periods of the year. Transport and hotels sell out and prices spike — avoid them if you can.
• Queues and crowds: major attractions require advance online booking, sometimes days ahead. Book tickets before you go rather than turning up.

What Surprises First-Timers Most

Most people expect China to feel unfamiliar, and in many ways it does. What surprises them more is how easy the practical side turns out to be: the trains run on time, the cities are safe at night, and food is excellent and cheap almost everywhere. The friction is almost entirely in the setup — visas, payments, apps — not in the travelling itself.

Do the preparation properly, and the trip takes care of itself.