China Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

China is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations: ancient capitals, hypermodern megacities, sacred mountains, panda reserves, karst scenery, high-speed trains, and food scenes so varied that every province feels like a different country. In a single trip you can walk the Great Wall near Beijing, see the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, cruise the Li River in Guilin/Yangshuo, shop and eat your way through Shanghai, and finish in Chengdu with hotpot and giant pandas. Since reopening, China has made travel easier for international visitors, with expanded visa-free and transit-visa-free options, better mobile payment access for foreign cards, and clearer rules for using cash. Still, first-time travelers need to plan: distances are large, language barriers can be real, and online services you use at home may be blocked. This guide gives you practical, honest, SEO-ready information to help you travel China smoothly.

Cities, Towns & Attractions Popular with Tourists

Beijing: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, hutong alleys, and Great Wall day trips (Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Simatai).
Shanghai: The Bund, Lujiazui skyline, Yu Garden, French Concession, Huangpu river cruises, nearby water towns.
Xi’an: Terracotta Army, ancient city wall, Muslim Quarter.
Guilin & Yangshuo: Karst mountains, Li River cruises, cycling in the countryside.
Chengdu: Panda bases, spicy Sichuan food, gateway to Jiuzhaigou and western Sichuan.
Hangzhou & Suzhou: West Lake and classic gardens, easy side trips from Shanghai.
Huangshan & old villages: Yellow Mountain, Hongcun, Xidi for traditional Anhui architecture.
Harbin (winter): Ice & Snow Festival.
Hong Kong/Macau: Often combined with mainland for shopping, food, and skyline views.

Good to Know

Entry & visas: China now has expanded visa-free and 144/72-hour transit programs for many nationalities, but rules vary by passport and entry city—confirm the exact rule for your nationality before departure.
When to go: April–May and September–October are best for classic routes. Avoid Golden Week (around Oct 1), Lunar New Year, and May 1 if possible.
Internet: Some foreign sites/apps are blocked. Download China-friendly apps and offline maps before you arrive.
Language: English is limited outside tourist areas—carry addresses in Chinese characters.
Cash & payments: China promotes digital payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay) but has ordered merchants to keep accepting cash; foreign cards can now be linked more easily in major cities.

Currency & Budget

Currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY/RMB).

Exchange rate: Often around 7 RMB = 1 USD in 2025, but it moves—check a live rate before travel.

Average daily budget:

Backpacker: 40–65 USD/day – hostels/budget hotels, street food, metro, 2nd class high-speed trains.
Midrange: 80–150 USD/day – 3–4 star hotels in major cities, guided day tours, domestic flights, better dining.
Luxury: 180–350+ USD/day – international-brand hotels, business-class rail, private drivers, premium experiences.

Tipping: Not a strong local custom.

Credit card acceptance: Good in international hotels, upscale restaurants, malls, and airports. Smaller shops and some attractions may prefer QR/mobile payment. Set up a tourist Alipay/WeChat Pay wallet and link your foreign card if possible.

ATMs: Use ATMs from major banks (Bank of China, ICBC, CCB, ABC) in cities; they usually accept Visa/Mastercard. Withdraw before heading to rural areas.

Best way to get cash: Withdraw RMB from a bank ATM with a low-fee card and pay by mobile/credit card where available.

Language & Communication

Official language: Standard Mandarin (Putonghua).
Other dialects: Cantonese in the south and Hong Kong/Macau; Shanghainese and regional dialects in the east; minority languages in some provinces.
English: Widely spoken in tourist hotels and some restaurants in big cities; limited elsewhere.

SIM cards / eSIM

Main operators: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.
Where to buy: Airport counters, official operator stores in cities, and electronics shops—bring your passport for real-name registration.
Tourist eSIM: Increasingly available and convenient; set up before you arrive if possible.
Coverage: Excellent in cities and along rail corridors; patchier in remote/mountainous areas.

Power Plugs & Voltage

Voltage: 220V, 50 Hz.
Plugs: Mix of Type A, Type I, and Type C; many hotels have universal outlets. Bring a universal adapter and check your device’s voltage.

Getting Around

High-speed trains: Fast, clean, and the best way to travel between Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and many more. Book in advance and bring your passport.
Domestic flights: Useful for long jumps (e.g. Beijing to Guilin, Shanghai to Yunnan, Chengdu to Lhasa).
City transport: Subways in big cities are modern, cheap, and bilingual. Buses are extensive but may require some Chinese.
Taxis & ride-hailing: Inexpensive by Western standards; use Didi or show the address in Chinese to the driver.
Long-distance buses: Still important for rural/difficult regions—buy tickets from bus stations or through hotels.

Safety

Overall: China is generally very safe for tourists; violent crime against foreigners is rare.
Petty theft: Watch your bag in crowded attractions, metro stations, and night markets.
Health: Air quality can fluctuate—check the AQI in major cities. Drink bottled or boiled water unless your hotel specifically says tap water is safe.
Documents: Keep your passport handy—hotels and trains will ask for it.

Common Tourist Scams & Annoyances

Tea-house / “English practice” scam: Friendly locals invite you for tea or drinks and you get an inflated bill—decline politely.
Unlicensed taxis: Use the airport taxi line or ride-hailing apps.
Souvenir/jade/silk traps: Only buy from reputable shops and always ask the price first.
Great Wall shopping stops: Very cheap tours spend too long at shops—book with established operators.

Download key apps, keep addresses in Chinese, and travel by train whenever you can—China becomes much easier, and much more fun.