China Travel Tips for First-Timers: 15 Things to Know

Contents

• 1. Bring Your Own Toilet Paper — Seriously
• 2. Set Up WeChat Pay and Alipay Before You Leave Home
• 3. Install a VPN Before You Land
• 4. Book Popular Attractions Days — Sometimes Weeks — Ahead
• 5. Download These Five Apps Before You Arrive
• 6. China’s High-Speed Rail Is the Best Way to Travel Between Cities
• 7. Your Money Goes Further Than You Think
• 8. China Is One of the Safest Countries I’ve Ever Travelled
• 9. The Food Is Regional — Forget Everything You Know About Chinese Food
• 10. The Language Barrier Is Real, But You Can Work Around It
• 11. Google Maps Is Useless Here — Use These Instead
• 12. China Is Much Bigger Than Maps Suggest
• 13. Don’t Drink the Tap Water — Here’s What to Do Instead
• 14. People Will Stare, Take Photos, and Try to Help You
• 15. Plan for the Great Wall — It’s Not a Quick Trip From Beijing
• FAQ: First-Time China Travelers’ Most Common Questions

I landed in Beijing for the first time in 2016 with a Lonely Planet guidebook, ¥2,000 in cash, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. I thought I’d done my homework. I’d read the forums, watched the YouTube videos, bought the guide. But the first 48 hours hit me like a truck — and not the comfortable high-speed kind.

Nine years and about 30 trips later, I’ve made every mistake a first-time traveler to China can make. I’ve taken the wrong train, run out of cash with no ATM in sight, used Google Maps to walk 40 minutes in the wrong direction, and ordered a dish that I’m pretty sure was still moving.

This guide is the cheat sheet I wish I’d had before that first trip. Fifteen things that’ll save you time, money, and a whole lot of confusion.

1. Bring Your Own Toilet Paper — Seriously

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I can’t start this list any other way because it will be the first thing you encounter the moment you land.

Public restrooms in China — at train stations, subway stops, parks, tourist attractions, even some restaurants — do not provide toilet paper. Ever. A few high-end ones in shopping malls might, but you should never assume.

I learned this the hard way in the Beijing South Railway Station restroom during my first trip, frantically digging through my backpack while 20 people waited. Now I carry a small pack of tissues in every jacket pocket, every bag, every day. You’ll see locals doing the same — they pull out a packet before they even enter the stall.

Grab a multi-pack of pocket tissues at any convenience store for about ¥5-10 (less than $1.50). Keep one in every bag. You’ll thank me later.

Also — and I really wish this wasn’t necessary to say — squat toilets are the norm in public restrooms. You’ll encounter Western-style toilets in nicer hotels and some airports, but most train stations, attractions, and local restaurants have squatters. If you’re not used to them, practice your leg strength before you arrive.

And hand soap? Bring hand sanitizer.

2. Set Up WeChat Pay and Alipay Before You Leave Home

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This is the single biggest change in China travel since I started going. In 2016, I could get by with credit cards at hotels and cash everywhere else. In 2026, that barely works.

China runs on QR code payments. Street vendors, dumpling shops that seat four people, subway ticket machines, temple entrance gates, even the guy roasting sweet potatoes from a cart — every single one has a QR code. Handing over cash gets you strange looks and often requires the vendor to dig around for change.

Here’s the thing that most guides don’t tell you: you can link a foreign credit card to WeChat Pay and Alipay now. Both apps accept Visa, Mastercard, and JCB. I’ve been using my Australian-issued Visa card through Alipay for the last two years with no issues.

Set this up before you arrive. The verification process can take a few hours and sometimes requires you to upload a photo of your passport. Trying to do it on the airport wifi while jet-lagged is not fun.

What I actually do: I keep ¥500-800 in cash for emergencies (taxis, small stalls), but 95% of my spending goes through Alipay. It works at 7-Eleven, KFC, the Forbidden City ticket office, DiDi taxis, and the high-speed rail ticket machine.

For a full walkthrough, see my guide on WeChat Pay and Alipay for Tourists.

3. Install a VPN Before You Land

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This isn’t optional. Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), and countless other sites are blocked in China. If you arrive without a VPN, you’ll hit a wall of “This site can’t be reached” the moment you try to open Google Maps to figure out where you are.

Install and test your VPN before you leave home. Many VPNs that work in your home country don’t work in China — they get detected and blocked within days. The ones I’ve seen consistently work over the last two years are:

• Astrill — the gold standard for China. Expensive ($30/month) but reliable. Their stealth protocol works even through the Great Firewall.
• ExpressVPN — works with their Lightway protocol on most Chinese networks, though it’s been hit-and-miss recently.
• NordVPN — works with obfuscated servers but has been less reliable since mid-2025.

Don’t bother with free VPNs. They don’t work. The free ones that pretend to work will sell your data and disconnect you the moment you need them.

Pro tip: Download offline maps, download your translation app dictionaries, and screenshot key info before you leave your hotel wifi each day. That way if your VPN drops, you’re not stranded without navigation.

I review the current best options in my best VPN for China 2026 guide, updated regularly because things change fast here.

4. Book Popular Attractions Days — Sometimes Weeks — Ahead

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This is a mistake I see first-timers make over and over on Reddit: they show up at the Forbidden City on a Tuesday morning in peak season expecting to buy a ticket at the gate. They can’t.

The Forbidden City caps daily visitors at 80,000 and tickets often sell out 3-7 days in advance during summer and holidays. Book through their official WeChat mini-program or on Trip.com. Adult ticket is ¥60 ($8.30) in low season, ¥80 ($11) in high season.

The Great Wall at Badaling — the most accessible section from Beijing — also has capacity limits now. Book ahead, especially on weekends. Entry is ¥40 ($5.50).

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (the Avatar Mountains) — tickets are ¥225 ($31) for a 4-day pass, bookable on their official site or through Trip.com. Popular trail sections can sell out same-day during October Golden Week.

Shanghai Disneyland tickets start at ¥475 ($66) on weekdays but can hit ¥719 ($100) on peak days. Book your date in advance (calendar pricing), not just on the day.

The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo — book a day ahead through your hotel or Trip.com. Four-star boat is about ¥450 ($62), three-star about ¥320 ($44).

My rule: If it’s a famous attraction, check booking availability at least a week before you want to go. If you’re travelling during Chinese public holidays (Chinese New Year, Golden Week in October, Labour Day in May), book everything a month in advance.

5. Download These Five Apps Before You Arrive

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I use very few apps in China every day, but the ones I use, I use constantly:

DiDi (滴滴) — China’s Uber. You can call a taxi or a private car. The app has an English version and accepts foreign credit cards. I’ve taken hundreds of DiDi rides across a dozen Chinese cities and never had a single problem. Prices are fixed upfront so no negotiating, no scams. A 15-minute ride in Beijing costs about ¥25-40 ($3.50-5.50). I use DiDi probably 3-5 times a day when I’m in a city.

Alipay (支付宝) — Not just for payments. Inside Alipay you can book train tickets, call DiDi rides, scan into attractions, and find your way around with the Amap (高德地图) integration. It’s a super-app. Set it up before you arrive.

Pleco — The gold standard Chinese-English dictionary app. Download the free version and one or two dictionary add-ons. The OCR feature (point your camera at a Chinese sign) is invaluable. The basic version is free and more than enough.

Trip.com — For booking trains, hotels, and attraction tickets in English. The app handles the China-specific quirks (passport number entry, foreign phone number formatting) better than any other international platform. I use it for every train booking.

美团 (Meituan) — In Chinese only, but worth installing for food delivery and restaurant reviews. Open it, point the camera at a restaurant’s menu, and use Google Translate to figure out what to order. Also great for last-minute attraction tickets, movie tickets, and grocery delivery.

Honorable mention: 微信 (WeChat) — you don’t need the Chinese social version, you need it for WeChat Pay and for chatting with hotels, tour operators, and new friends. Set up WeChat Pay before you arrive.

6. China’s High-Speed Rail Is the Best Way to Travel Between Cities

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I’ve taken over 60 high-speed rail trips in China. I genuinely look forward to every single one. The trains are clean, punctual to the second, comfortable, and incredibly cheap compared to European or Japanese trains.

Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao — 1,318 km — takes 4 hours 36 minutes on the fastest G-trains. Second class costs ¥558 ($77). Compare that to London to Edinburgh (about the same distance) at around £100+ and 4.5 hours. Or Rome to Milan at €100+.

Booking: You need your passport to buy tickets. Book on Trip.com in English (they add a small service fee) or at the station ticket counter. If you book through Trip.com, pick up your physical ticket at the station using the automated machine with your passport.

The experience: Stations are huge, modern, and clean. Boarding is like an airport — security check, gate, platform. Your train will arrive exactly on time and leave exactly on time. Don’t be late. I was once 90 seconds late getting on at Nanjing South and the train was already pulling away. No refunds.

Seat classes:

• Second class (二等座): ¥558 Beijing-Shanghai. 5-abreast (2-3), comfortable for most trips. What I almost always use.
• First class (一等座): ¥907 Beijing-Shanghai. 4-abreast (2-2), more legroom, wider seats. Worth the upgrade for trips over 3 hours.
• Business class (商务座): ¥1,748 Beijing-Shanghai. Fully reclining seats, meals included. Overkill unless you have money to burn.

Pro tip: Bring snacks and water. The trolley service on board is overpriced. Instant noodles (¥10) and water are available but cheaper if you buy at a convenience store before boarding.

For the full guide on routes and booking, see my China High-Speed Rail Guide.

7. Your Money Goes Further Than You Think

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One of the most consistent surprises first-timers mention on Reddit is how affordable China is once you’re past the international flight.

What things actually cost (2026 prices):

My typical daily spend when I’m travelling in China is about ¥350-500 ($48-69) for a mid-range budget (nice hotel, two meals out, a few DiDi rides, attractions, and a coffee). You can do it for ¥200-280 ($28-39) if you eat street food, take the metro, and stay at budget chains.

For a detailed breakdown by route, see my China Travel Budget 2026 guide.

8. China Is One of the Safest Countries I’ve Ever Travelled

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I’ve walked through Beijing hutongs at 1 AM. I’ve taken night trains as a solo traveler with my phone sitting on the table while I slept. I’ve accidentally left my laptop at a café in Shanghai and found it exactly where I left it two hours later.

China’s public safety is on another level. Violent crime against tourists is almost unheard of. Street harassment is rare — I’ve travelled with female friends who report far fewer problems than in European capitals. Petty theft happens (pickpocketing in crowded markets, phone snatching at train stations) but at a much lower rate than in Barcelona, Paris, or Rome. I keep a full, honest breakdown of the real risks — including the 2026 advisory levels and the laws that catch visitors out — in my China travel safety guide.

What surprises most first-timers: there are police checkpoints and security cameras everywhere, and that’s exactly why it’s safe. Every subway station has a security screening (bag goes through an X-ray machine). Every high-speed rail station checks your ID against your ticket twice. It feels intrusive at first, but you get used to it quickly.

What to actually worry about: Not violent crime. Instead:

• Traffic — Chinese drivers don’t stop for pedestrians. Cross with a group and never assume a car will slow down.
• Scams at tourist sites — The “tea ceremony” scam near the Forbidden City (someone invites you for tea, then presents a ¥1,000 bill) is still going. Don’t accept any invitation from strangers near major tourist attractions.
• Fake taxis at airports — Use the official taxi queue or DiDi. That guy who approaches you inside the arrivals hall with “Taxi? Taxi?” is charging 3x the real price.

9. The Food Is Regional — Forget Everything You Know About Chinese Food

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I love Chinese food. I love it so much that I’ve structured entire trips around eating. But the Chinese food you know from home — General Tso’s chicken, crab rangoon, fortune cookies — that’s American Chinese food, not the real thing. And even real Chinese food changes completely depending on where you are.

Beijing: The food is northern — hearty, wheat-based, perfect for cold winters. You must eat:

• Peking duck (北京烤鸭) at Da Dong or Siji Minfu. About ¥280-400 for a whole duck. Served with pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, and sweet bean sauce.
• Zhajiangmian (炸酱面) — noodles with fermented soybean paste. ¥20-30 at any local shop.
• Jianbing (煎饼) — the ultimate street breakfast. A crepe with egg, crispy cracker, scallions, and chilli sauce. ¥8-12.

Chengdu / Sichuan: The food here changed my life. Sichuan food is about 麻辣 (málà) — the numbing heat of Sichuan peppercorns combined with chilli. It’s addictive.

• Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) — soft tofu in chilli bean sauce with minced pork. ¥28-38.
• Dan dan noodles (担担面) — sesame-peanut sauce with minced pork and chilli oil. ¥15-22.
• Hotpot (火锅) — the full experience. You choose your broth (spicy, mild, or split), then cook your own meat and vegetables at the table. ¥120-200 per person.

Shanghai: Sweeter, saucier, more wine-based. Shanghai food (本帮菜) is comfort food:

• Xiaolongbao (小笼包) — soup dumplings. The best are at Din Tai Fung or local shop Jia Jia Tang Bao. ¥35-50 for a basket of 8.
• Shengjianbao (生煎包) — pan-fried pork buns. ¥12-18 for 4.
• Hongshaorou (红烧肉) — braised pork belly. ¥55-75.

Guangzhou / Guangdong: Cantonese food — lighter, steamed, focused on ingredients. Heaven for seafood lovers. Dim sum (点心) here is a completely different experience from the frozen stuff abroad.

My advice: Eat at places that look busy and local. If the menu is only in Chinese and there are no pictures, you’re in the right place. Point at what someone else is eating and say “这个” (zhège — “this one”). I’ve discovered some of my favorite dishes this way.

10. The Language Barrier Is Real, But You Can Work Around It

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I speak maybe 50 words of Mandarin. After nine years of regular travel. That’s how far a foreigner can get with minimal Chinese. English proficiency in China is low outside of international hotels and a few tourist-focused restaurants.

The three phrases you must learn:

• 谢谢 (xièxie) — thank you. Say this constantly.
• 你好 (nǐhǎo) — hello.
• 多少钱? (duōshǎo qián?) — how much? Show your phone screen after asking.

Tools that actually work:

• Google Translate — download the Chinese language pack for offline use. The camera translation mode (point at a menu/man/sign) works surprisingly well even with spotty internet.
• Pleco — better for individual character lookups. The handwriting input mode is great for characters you see but can’t type.
• Voice translation — Alipay has a built-in translator in the app. I’ve had full conversations with taxi drivers through it.

What to expect: In Beijing, Shanghai, and international hotels, you’ll find some English. In Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, and everywhere outside the main tourist zones, assume zero English and prepare accordingly. I’ve successfully communicated with noodle shop owners in small towns using only hand gestures and the Pleco app.

Write down your hotel name and address in Chinese before you go out each day. Show it to taxi drivers. Do not rely on being able to pronounce it.

11. Google Maps Is Useless Here — Use These Instead

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Google Maps works intermittently in China even with a VPN. It becomes unreliable — showing you in the wrong location, failing to load transit directions, getting confused by the Great Firewall’s DNS.

What to use instead:

• Apple Maps — surprisingly good in China. Apple uses local map data from AutoNavi (高德), so it’s accurate and up to date. Transit directions work for metro and buses. If you have an iPhone, this is your simplest option.
• Amap (高德地图) — the most accurate Chinese mapping app. It’s in Chinese but the UI is intuitive. You can search for places using their English names in many cases. Shows real-time public transit, DiDi integration, and even bike-sharing locations.
• Baidu Maps (百度地图) — Amap’s main competitor. Also accurate, also Chinese-only. Less useful for English speakers.

Pro advice: Before you leave your hotel each day, open your map app and download the offline map for the city you’re in. When you’re out and your VPN acts up, offline map data will still show your location.

12. China Is Much Bigger Than Maps Suggest

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This sounds obvious, but I don’t think it sinks in until you’re facing a 6-hour train ride or a 3-hour flight between two cities that look “near each other” on a world map.

Reality check on travel times:

• Beijing to Shanghai: 1,318 km. 4.5 hours by high-speed rail. 2.5 hours by flight (but add 4+ hours for airport transfers).
• Beijing to Zhangjiajie: 1,500 km. No direct high-speed rail. 8 hours by regular train or 2.5 hours by flight.
• Shanghai to Chengdu: 1,780 km. 11 hours by high-speed rail. 3 hours by flight.
• Xi’an to Guilin: 1,200 km. 8 hours by high-speed rail. 5 hours by direct train.

How first-timers get it wrong: They try to do Beijing + Shanghai + Xi’an + Chengdu + Guilin in 10 days. That’s five cities across 4,000+ km with a travel day between each. You’ll spend half your trip in transit and leave every city feeling like you barely scratched the surface.

My rule: Pick 2-3 cities max for a 2-week trip. The Beijing-Shanghai-Xi’an triangle is a great first-timer route — three iconic cities, connected by high-speed rail, manageable distances. Save Chengdu, Guilin, and Zhangjiajie for a second trip, or stretch to 3 weeks and add one.

For specific country-based routes, I’ve broken it down by traveller type:

• UK to China 2-Week Itinerary — for British travellers
• US to China First Timer Itinerary — for American travellers
• Australia to China Itinerary — 3-week nature lover’s route
• Canada to China Travel Guide — for Canadian travellers

13. Don’t Drink the Tap Water — Here’s What to Do Instead

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Tap water in China is not drinkable. This isn’t a “maybe not” situation — don’t do it. Not for drinking, not for brushing your teeth (though most foreigners do brush teeth with it without issue), not for making ice cubes.

What I do:

• Buy bottled water: A 1.5L bottle costs ¥2-4 ($0.30-0.55) at any convenience store. Hotel rooms usually provide 2 free bottles per day. I go through 3-4 bottles a day in summer.
• Use the hotel kettle: Every hotel room in China has an electric kettle. Boil water for tea. Bring your own tea bags if you’re particular.
• Get a reusable bottle with a filter: I travel with a Lifestraw or Grayl bottle. Saves plastic and gives me peace of mind at hotels with dodgy water delivery.

Hot water is everywhere: Every train station, airport, and many public buildings have hot water dispensers. Bring a thermos and fill up for free. This is standard Chinese travel culture — you’ll see locals with thermoses everywhere.

14. People Will Stare, Take Photos, and Try to Help You

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If you’re not East Asian, you will get stared at. A lot. Especially outside Beijing and Shanghai. In smaller cities like Guilin, Xi’an, or Chengdu, people will turn their heads as you walk past. Some will take photos. Some will ask for a selfie with you.

This catches a lot of first-timers off guard and can feel uncomfortable. I understand — it felt weird to me at first too. But here’s the thing: it’s almost never hostile. People stare because they’re curious. China outside the tier-1 cities is still quite homogeneous, and a foreign face is a novelty. The staring is the same level of curiosity as seeing someone in an unusual outfit on the subway back home.

What’s more important to know: Chinese people are genuinely helpful. I’ve had strangers walk me 15 minutes to the right metro exit, help me buy a train ticket when the machine was in Chinese only, and flag down a taxi that was driving past. The language barrier doesn’t stop people from trying.

A specific memory that sticks with me: I was in Guilin, trying to find a bus to Yangshuo. An elderly woman who spoke zero English saw me staring at the bus sign, grabbed my arm, dragged me to the correct platform, waited with me for 10 minutes, and put me on the right bus. She refused the ¥20 I tried to give her. That’s a more common experience in China than any of the horror stories you hear.

15. Plan for the Great Wall — It’s Not a Quick Trip From Beijing

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The Great Wall is the #1 thing every first-timer wants to see, and almost everyone underestimates how much time it takes.

Which section to go to:

• Badaling (八达岭) — The most famous, the most crowded, and the most restored. You can reach it by high-speed rail from Beijing North Station in about 25 minutes (¥32, $4.40). But it’s packed — shoulder-to-shoulder in peak season. If you go, go early (first train at 7 AM) or late (arrive after 2 PM). Entry ¥40 ($5.50).

• Mutianyu (慕田峪) — My favourite. Less crowded, more scenic, and you can take a chairlift up and a toboggan down (¥120 for the round trip). About 1.5 hours drive from Beijing city centre. Book a private driver or join a small group tour.

• Jinshanling (金山岭) — For hikers. The unrestored section with actual hiking. 3+ hours drive from Beijing. Wild, beautiful, and almost empty.

What most guides won’t tell you: A Great Wall trip takes a full day. From central Beijing, it’s 1.5-2 hours each way by car, plus the actual time on the wall. Don’t plan anything else that day. Don’t book it on your arrival day or your departure day. I once met someone who tried to squeeze in a Great Wall trip between a 10 AM flight arrival and a dinner reservation — it doesn’t work.

Skip the buffet lunch: Most group tours take you to a “Great Wall restaurant” that serves terrible food at ¥80-120 per person. Bring your own snacks instead.

FAQ: First-Time China Travelers’ Most Common Questions

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Do I need a visa for China? It depends on your nationality. As of 2026, citizens of 48 countries (including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and many others) can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism. Check my China Visa-Free Guide 2026 for the full country list and latest rules.

Is it safe to travel alone in China as a woman? Yes — I’ve had many female friends travel solo across China and all report it feeling safer than European or American cities. The usual precautions apply, but violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. See my Solo Female Travel in China guide for detailed tips.

Can I use my phone in China? Your phone will work if you buy a Chinese SIM card (¥100-200 for 30 days with 30-60GB data) or an eSIM (about ¥80-200 depending on provider). Most foreign phones work fine on Chinese networks. See my China eSIM Guide for the best options.

Do I need a tour guide, or can I travel independently? You can absolutely travel independently in China, especially in big cities. For natural areas like Zhangjiajie, Yunnan, or Tibet, a guide adds a lot of value. See my independent travel vs tour comparison to decide what fits your style — and if you’re traveling with older parents or grandparents, my China tour for seniors guide has the slow-paced routes and senior ticket discounts.

Will my credit card work? At international hotels, high-end restaurants, and some chain stores — yes. Everywhere else — no. WeChat Pay and Alipay are the default. Set them up before you travel.

What’s the best time to visit? Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are best. Summer is hot, humid, and crowded. Winter is cold in the north (Beijing can hit -10°C) but mild in the south (Guilin, Yunnan).

Planning your first trip to China and feeling overwhelmed? I’ve been exactly where you are. If you want a custom itinerary tailored to your interests and budget, reach out to me — I’ll help you plan a route that actually makes sense.