How to travel China
Planning your time in China can be daunting sometimes, especially because it is a bit harder to find up-to-date information in English compared to other destinations.
As always, the amount of preparation you need to put in depends on your travel style. Many travel agencies offer all-in-one packages including accommodation, transportation and guides, so you don’t really have to take care of anything. However, if you are more of a do-it-yourself kind of traveller like us, there’s good news: everything can be done by yourself despite the language barrier!
In this article, we compiled our findings while planning our two-week trip through China, hoping that it will make your life easier too.
Also check out our recommended two-week itinerary through the country for first-timers covering must-see attractions, beautiful nature and two ancient towns!
For more information our recommended destinations, read our detailed articles about Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, and the two ancient towns of Furong and Fenghuang!
The Internet Situation
It is no big secret that the Great Chinese Firewall effectively blocks all apps and services that you might be used to back home, like Google Search, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc. These websites just won’t load, as if they had never existed, and the apps will have no connection on your phone.
There are a couple of ways to circumvent this, however. First and foremost, be sure to get an eSIM for your mobile devices with an internet breakout in Hong Kong. This means that the “home country” of the eSIM is Hong Kong, but the card works in China too. While buying the eSIM, you still have to select China as destination. The reason is that the aforementioned firewall does not apply in Hong Kong, which means that you can use all your usual apps, even if connected to a Chinese mobile network.
According to recent discussions on Reddit and on various forums, the Trip.com eSIMs work very well, with many different options for duration and data volume. You can also check and compare other eSIM offerings on esimdb.com, we picked one from Billion Connect. We didn’t have any issues, the network coverage seemed to be very good, except maybe in very rural areas during train rides through the countryside. Make sure to buy and set up your eSIM while still back at home, and activate roaming in you phone’s settings. Once you arrive, you can simply switch to your eSIM in the settings and should be able to use the internet right away.
There are also a couple of paid VPN providers which, at least in theory, let you use any Wi-Fi network just like back home. Many locals also use VPN to access foreign news sources. We tried Proton VPN on our laptops and phones, but it was blocked on hotel networks, unfortunately. We didn’t find any reliable provider on a whim and did not put too much effort into researching this, as we could rely on mobile data via our eSIMs. If you still need a VPN for your devices, you may check the China travel community on Reddit for the currently functional VPN providers, as they change frequently.
All in all, taking good care of your connectivity before entering the country will make your life substantially easier.
Essential Apps
The following list should cover all your needs while in China, be it payments, booking tickets, or just getting around in and between cities.
AliPay: the universal all-in-one app. It is one of the most popular payment platforms, which can be used at supermarkets, restaurants, public transport, as well as at the local granny’s street food stand. The platform also features countless mini-apps which allow you to book tickets, order a taxi, get food delivery and so on. For a couple of years now, Alipay has allowed users to connect international credit cards, so all QR code payments directly charge your card without the need for a local bank account or card. The app also has built-in translation, which can translate any page or mini app – very useful! The public transport function needs to be set up in each region separately, the app will switch to the current region automatically after you’ve arrived.
WeChat: the other must-have besides AliPay. At its core, it is a chat app but also has its own payment system as well as countless mini-apps that can be opened inside the main app. Many companies and even government-run attractions use this method for booking tickets and transportation. There is also a translation service, so you can switch any content (including the mini-apps) to English.
Amap: the best map application, also available in English. As Google Maps and Apple Maps do not work well in China, Amap is your best bet for getting around. It has public transport, live traffic information and all restaurants, shops and points-of-interest integrated. You can download the app outside of China before your arrival.
DiDi: the definitive taxi application that works almost everywhere in the country. You can order different kinds of rides for a reasonable price. We did not use the standalone app but the integration in AliPay, which conveniently took care of payment too.
Google Translate: our saviour in many situations. While the service is blocked on Chinese networks, we were able to use the app with our Hong Kong-based eSIMs. The camera feature is especially handy for pointing your phone at signs in shops and restaurants. The locals seemed to be very patient when we used the app for translating entire conversations. They do not hesitate to grab their phone either and fire up a Chinese translation app to be able to communicate with you!
Google Maps & Apple Maps: you might have luck in some cities like Shanghai, but in general, these apps do not work reliably in the country. Roads and satellite images are outdated, public transport is missing, and only a handful of POIs are available. The Chinese firewall might even block the service entirely on your devices.
Baidu Maps: another great map app but only in Chinese, unfortunately. Due to the language barrier, we defaulted to Amap in the end.
Entry Requirements
Entering China has become easier over the past few years. The government’s goal is not only to boost tourism but also business relations, so the visa policy has been relaxed quite a bit. Currently, passport holders from certain countries (including most EU countries) can enter visa-free for a stay of up to 30 days. Check the requirements close to your travel date to get the most up-to-date information on the official website: link
The Wikipedia article is also a good starting point for a quick overview: link
Getting around
Public transport is very developed in China, so getting from A to B, short- or long-distance is super easy. It requires a bit of preparation, such as setting up the apps mentioned above, but it can definitely be done.
Train transport
China has an extensive network of rail lines, including a high-speed bullet train network. This connects larger cities and, while a bit pricey in relation to other expenses in the country, it is fast, efficient and comfortable.
The easiest way to book a train is via trip.com. The Singapore-based company serves as a one-stop travel website and offers ticketing for various train companies, including China Railway. They charge a small service fee for ticket purchases, but the user experience is way more convenient than the official railway website.
Which brings us to the second option: https://www.12306.cn/
The address might look a bit scammy at first glance, but fret not: it is the official website, simply named after the company’s hotline number. The website is available in English, however, we experienced a lot of errors when trying to book and pay for our tickets. The trick is to switch the website language to Chinese and use your browser’s built-in translation function.
Tickets go on sale two weeks in advance and sell out very fast, so be sure to book them as quickly as possible! You can also get on a waitlist if the selected train is fully booked, but there is no guarantee that you will receive a ticket.
For train enthusiasts: there is a short stretch of maglev train in Shanghai between the city centre and the airport! This is a world first and, although we took the regular train to the airport, we would definitely try the maglev next time!
Metro and bus
Metro is available in most big cities. We found them to be clean, safe and reliable. Payment can be done via AliPay, so there is no need to buy tickets separately. When you arrive in a new city, the app automatically switches to the current region. Keep in mind that you have to activate the public transport ticketing with your passport in every city, separately.
Busses also run frequently and, while not as clean and modern as the metro, they get the job done well. Also, this is the most budget-friendly way to get around.
Taxi
As mentioned above in the apps section, DiDi is the most common app for ordering a taxi. Think Uber, but much more affordable. We found that most vehicles are modern and clean, and while the drivers usually do not speak English, this was never an issue. Ordering, navigation and payment are all done in the app. We used the AliPay mini-app instead of the standalone one from the app store. If you are having troubles ordering a taxi, just ask for help at your accommodation, people always seemed happy to help!
We didn’t try flagging down a taxi on the street because we simply didn’t need to – that also shows how many drivers are available on DiDi, there was only one time (at the exit of the Forbidden Palace), where we had to wait longer than 2-3 minutes.
Accommodation
You can find a wide variety of hotels on international booking platforms, such as trip.com or Expedia: these are actually the two websites we used most of the time. There are many international hotel chains present in the country, you can book them directly through their own website too.
Luckily, we did not have any issues with our bookings, none of them dubiously disappeared or were cancelled for no reason. Most places are also quite flexible regarding check-in times. If the room is available, they won’t make you wait until the designated check-in time (I’m looking at you, Japan…) You can usually leave your luggage at a safe place, in case you can’t check in just yet.
Food & finding restaurants
The local app for finding restaurants is called Dianping (大众点评) which is, sadly, not available in English. You might have some luck translating the site in your browser though. We usually resorted to using Amap, because Google Maps does not have nearly as many restaurants as in other countries. Also, the ratings seem to be quite off on GM.
Ordering food can be done via Meituan (美团), it also has a handy AliPay integration. We didn’t try it so we cannot offer you first-hand experience.
Each region has a distinctive cuisine in China, with 8 major traditional cuisines serving as a backbone. They are heavily influenced by availability of fresh produce, meat and spices. As a rule of thumb, coastal regions and the North-East tend to have less spicy dishes, while Sichuan, Hunan and Jianxi regions are known for their generous use of chilli.
A cautionary note: in China, people tend to cook all parts of the animals, nothing goes to waste. A chicken stir fry does not necessarily mean breasts of thighs, as we found out after being served only chicken intestines with chilli… We were also cautious about street food and avoided it almost altogether after some previous bad experiences. We would also highly recommend avoiding wet markets as the sanitary requirements do not meet what your stomach might be used to.
Definitely try Chinese tea too! The country has a very rich tea culture and there are 6 main types of tea: green tea, yellow tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea, and dark tea.
Culture & Everyday Life
Contrary to what Western media might suggest, the areas we visited in China felt very safe, we had absolutely no problem walking around, even at night. The feeling of security is also amplified by the omnipresent surveillance cameras on every corner. In Beijing, metro stations even had a quick airport-style security check. This surveillance does not interfere with everyday life though – or at least with tourist activities, just be mindful of your behaviour!
We didn’t see many Western tourists, especially compared to other East- and South-East Asian countries. Sometimes we even felt like some kind of curiosity – people wanted to take pictures, and we were asked for daily selfies regularly. After a while, Adam started to ask for one too so he managed to build a small collection of pics with Chinese locals. 😀 All in all, everyone was very friendly, or at least softened up after some initial suspecting grumpiness.
Nevertheless, we would give the same advice as everywhere – respect the local customs. It seems to be appropriate to dress in a more reserved manner in China and we would recommend to stay away from clothes that are too revealing, especially when visiting cultural sites. Shanghai might be an exception, we felt that people are more “westernized” and fashionable there.
While we perceived the country to be generally safe, be mindful of scams. We heard some stories from friends how they tried to withdraw money from an ATM that turned out to be a fake one running transactions with stolen cards.
Tipping in China
To keep it short and simple: there is no tipping culture in China. Some high-end restaurants might charge a 10-15% service fee and some tour agencies already include a small “tip” in the price that goes directly to the guide.
Language Barrier
We found that most people do not speak English. You can find very good English-speaking tour guides, but even in hotels, most staff only speak Mandarin, Cantonese or one of the other regional dialects. That being said, they do not really need to speak English: the amount of Westerners is negligible compared to the number of Chinese tourists. They are absolutely comfortable using translator apps and reading your requests off the screen of your phone. No one ever got impatient with us because of the language barrier.
Also, it can be quite useful to memorize a couple of useful Chinese characters – after a couple of days, you will kinda get used to them anyway. You will start recognising the ones you see all the time, for example, the character for toilets, meat, water, temple, street and so on. Don’t be afraid of pointing your phone’s camera at stuff you don’t understand.
Here are some characters and their meaning that might come in handy:
| Chinese | English | Chinese | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中国 | China | 男 | man |
| 肉 | meat | 女士 | woman |
| 牛肉 | beef | 孩子 | child |
| 鸡 | chicken | 公交车 | bus |
| 猪肉 | pork | 地铁 | metro |
| 素食 | vegetarian | 火车 | train |
| 街 | street | 票 | ticket |
| 路 | road | 入口 | entrance |
| 河 | river | 出口 | exit |
| 湖 | lake | 酒店 | hotel |
| 餐厅 / 餐馆 | restaurant | 洗手间 / 卫生间 | toilet |
The Laundry Situation
This one was a surprise to us: community laundry salons are basically non-existent in China. Typically, you only find dry cleaners, it is not common to have regular laundry places with washers and dryers like in most other countries. Reluctant to recycle the clothes to the point of unpleasant smells, you are left with three options:
- Option 1: let the hotel take care of your laundry. You pay per piece and prices are usually very high.
- Option 2: DIY in the sink. Almost all hotels have a retractable drying line in the bathroom so this seemed to be a common way of getting laundry done while travelling, even for locals.
- Option 3: you can hire a pickup service in bigger cities like Laundry Town or Easy Life Laundry.
Getting sick
We do not wish to lament on the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (or the lack thereof), it is surely a controversial topic. However, if you rely on Western medicine when sick, we found it difficult to find chemists’/drug stores that also sell Western medicine. Make sure to bring your own essentials!
The Financials
AliPay and WeChat are ubiquitous when it comes to payments. We were not able to use our credit cards (except in international hotel chains), but we could register them in AliPay. We paid everything via QR code, we did not need to withdraw cash at all. Cash is technically accepted everywhere, but you might find that people don’t have change for your purchases.
A couple of examples so that you get a better feeling, how much certain things cost in the country:
| Food | |||
| Peking duck in Beijing per person | €22 | $25 | |
| 6 dumplings in Shanghai: | €4.25 | $4.90 | |
| Breakfast pastries per person | €3.15 | $3.60 | |
| Mom-n-pop simple dinner in Xi’an per person | €3 | $3.45 | |
| Transportation | |||
| Train Beijing -> Xi’an per person | €77 | $88 | |
| Beijing metro ride, medium-distance | €0.25 | $0.29 | |
| Beijing DiDi (taxi) from airport to 3rd ring hotel | €11 | $12.70 | |
| Shuttle bus Xi’an <-> Terracotta Army per person | €6 | $6.90 | |
| Activities | |||
| Beijing Forbidden City entry | €7.25 | $8.35 | |
| Xi’an Terracotta Army entry | €15 | $17.25 | |
| Xi’an City Wall entry | €6.50 | $7.50 | |
After all, our daily costs averaged around 35€ per person per day. This includes all expenses for food, groceries, any necessities, tickets for attractions, souvenirs and ground transportation, but does not include hotels and flights. This, of course, completely depends on your travel style. (You can take a look at the About Us page to find out more about our travel style. 🙂 ) For our hotels we paid around 21€ per person per day on average.
Best time to visit
It is hard to give a definitive answer to this question. The country is simply so huge, that climate is substantially different in one area compared to the other. We recommend carefully checking the average weather conditions and temperatures in regions you are planning to visit, a great website for this is Holiday Weather. Some regions are very dry and hot, while other places might be freezing cold at the same time. In metro regions, like Beijing for example, winter often brings heavy smog. We managed to avoid the air pollution, however, we experienced extremely dry air in the city (think below 10% humidity).
Other tips
- Be mindful of your behaviour, you are on camera basically all the time! The surveillance system can track all your actions due to the fact that you have to register with your passport everywhere.
- Make sure to put on some comfortable shoes, you will walk a lot! While public transport and DiDi are cheap and efficient, the cities are great to explore on foot. Also, the infrastructure around many attractions is laid out so that spaces are huge (mostly in order to facilitate the large number of visitors), you will find yourself walking through gigantic squares and entrance areas.
Souvenirs
You might be thinking: well, everything is made in China anyway! That’s partially true and you are right, it is fun to browse through the cheap gadgets and crip-crap, but there are also nicer options to surprise your loved ones back at home!
Chinese tea is one of the most popular souvenirs. There is plenty of choice and also high-end tea brands available with beautiful packaging that is perfect for a gift. We bought a tea with red fruits for better sleep… It is surprising how many different types are available, and we found them to be truly different than what we were used to in Europe! We also got some special dried tea flowers that expand when put into water called flowering tea – a beautiful and unique gift.
Spices & ingredients, like Sichuan pepper, Chinese five-spice or Laoganma – you might be able to find these in your local Asian grocery store but the quality is definitely on another level in China!
Local snacks – Japan might come to your mind when thinking about funky snacks but China definitely has its fair share! While not as “exotic” as the Japanese counterparts, the local snacks definitely feature some novel flavours. Just browse around in a grocery store (and be brave :D)!
Knock-off brand clothes with funny names and prints! You can’t really say that these products are fake – they just have a rather surprising resemblance to well-known Western brands. Must be a coincidence.
Other resources
These websites were of tremendous help while planning our trip:
