First China Trip Guide

Quick answer

Start with four decisions: how you will pay, how you will connect to the internet, how many travel days you have, and which city you will enter or leave from.

First build order

1. Check visa requirements: Do you qualify for unilateral visa-free entry, 240-hour transit visa-free, or do you need a regular visa? See Entry & Arrival and 240-hour Transit Visa-Free.
2. Decide your connectivity strategy: International roaming, local Chinese SIM, or third-party eSIM. This determines whether Google services work without VPN and whether you can receive Chinese SMS verification. See Phone, Apps & SMS.
3. Set up payments: Link a supported international card directly in Alipay and WeChat Pay, then keep another card and RMB cash as backups. See Payment & Apps.
4. Set up internet, maps, and translation: Apple Maps (works without VPN, powered by Amap), Amap (English mode), translation apps. See Internet, eSIM & Maps.
5. Pick a route: 7, 10, or 14 day itinerary depending on your time. See Routes.
6. Book high-speed rail between cities after your route is set. See High-Speed Rail.
7. Book major attractions in advance: The Forbidden City sells out 7 days ahead with NO walk-up tickets. See Attraction Booking.
8. Check the 2026 holiday calendar to avoid peak crowds. See Holiday Calendar.
9. Budget realistically: China can be cheap or expensive depending on your style. See Budget & Daily Costs.
10. Add city-specific attractions, food, and booking notes from the city guides: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Guilin & Yangshuo.

Key things to know before you go

• Tipping is NOT customary in China. Do not tip restaurants, taxi drivers, tour guides, or hotel staff.
• Airbnb does NOT work for mainland China accommodation (ceased domestic operations in 2022). Use Booking.com, Agoda, or Trip.com.
• Forbidden City has NO walk-up tickets — book 7 days ahead online.
• Several cities have two airports (Beijing: PEK/PKX, Shanghai: PVG/SHA, Chengdu: TFU/CTU). Verify which airport.
• Hotels automatically register your stay with police. If staying with friends/family, you must register at a local police station within 24 hours.
• Power banks on domestic flights: Must be in carry-on only, under 100Wh, and (since 2025-06-28) must have CCC certification mark. See Luggage & Domestic Flights.
• Apple Maps works without VPN in China and is the best navigation app for most foreign visitors. Google Maps requires VPN on Chinese internet.
• Carry cash as backup — international-card transactions can fail, and some small or rural merchants may not support every visitor payment flow.

Nature extensions

If you have extra time beyond the classic city route, consider adding:

• Zhangjiajie (Avatar mountains, nature, hiking) — pairs with Changsha or Fenghuang Ancient Town
• Guilin & Yangshuo (karst landscape, Li River cruise, cycling) — pairs with Guangzhou or Longji Rice Terraces
• Chongqing (mountain city, hotpot) — pairs with Chengdu (1.5 hrs by HSR)

Do not start here

Do not start by browsing every province, attraction, restaurant, or viral cafe. That comes later, after the route shape is clear.