China Travel Tips: 15 Things to Know Before You Go

Of all the trips I’ve taken, I was most nervous preparing for China.

Why? I’ve seen too many conversations about how differently things work there. In other words, what works back home won’t work in China. Google Maps, WhatsApp, credit cards… you can forget about those.

However, I just got back from a week in Beijing, and I’m here to tell you that the hardest part is the preparation. If you go knowing what to expect and have all your apps set up, then it becomes a very convenient place.

Now, here are the top China travel tips you should know before you go. Let’s set your expectations (and apps) so you can have the best time there too!

Things You Should Know About Traveling in China

As I’ve mentioned, things worked very differently in China. Even though I nailed it in the prep and was having the best time of my life, I still encountered things that surprised me. So I noted them down.

Everything I’m about to share with you came straight from my notes app. The goal is for you to run into even less surprises than I did. Here we go!

1. Have Alipay and WeChat set up

You’ve probably heard of Alipay or WeChat already if you’ve been doing research for your trip. The two apps pretty much run the country, and you will need both for different reasons.

Alipay is tied to your credit card and is used for payment at most stores. It’s also used for most types of transportation. Your metro and bus cards live in this app as a QR code. You can also use it to call taxis.

WeChat replaces WhatsApp for any communication you need to have with your tour hosts or hotel front desk. It also has a built-in payment app that ties to your credit card.

While most merchants accept both WeChat and Alipay, I ran into some that only accepts WeChat.

2. Buy an eSIM and install it BEFORE arriving

Many sites we routinely use are blocked in China. This includes Facebook, Google, Gmail, Instagram, Youtube, and probably more that I don’t use.

I’ve seen many recommendations to use a VPN, but I’ve also heard that many VPNs are now blocked too. So for my trip, I bought an eSIM with unlimited data to use instead, and it went super smoothly.

eSIMs route their data through their country of origin, so they automatically bypass the great firewall. Just make sure to buy AND activate yours before you arrive in China, or you won’t be able to use it.

Keep in mind that if you get on your hotel Wi-Fi, then you’ll lose access to those apps and sites still.

3. Don’t overplan

Whichever city you’re going to in China, it’s probably much bigger than you expect. So don’t go in planning to see six things a day like you did for Florence. I recommend planning 2-3 sights per day, tops.

Beijing, in particular, was massive and I always had to take a 40-minute subway rides between each attraction. Bigger places like the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace require 4-5 hours in itself.

I was seeing 2-3 places per day and still arrived home absolutely destroyed. Don’t be like me.

4. You can fill in your arrival card online

For all foreign visitors, there’s an arrival card you need to fill out and present at immigration. It’s all online nowadays, so I saw QR codes to access the form at the airport when I arrived.

But instead of wasting your trip time doing that, you can complete it up to 72 hours before your arrival. I did it right before I boarded my flight and I highly recommend that.

When you’re done, you’ll have a confirmation page with a QR code. Save it to your phone just in case, but it’s all on their system and I didn’t even have to present mine when I got through.

5. Sprays are not allowed on the subway

This was the first shock on my trip. Sprays larger than 200ml are not allowed on the subway.

I had my favorite bottle of sunscreen confiscated as soon as I arrived because I didn’t know this. But I insisted to take the subway into the city instead of calling a taxi, so… It was a trade.

How would they know if you have a spray larger than 200ml?

Speaking of that… There’s a security screening at EVERY subway station that you’ll have to go through. The same type as you do at courthouses. It never took longer than a few seconds, though. Nice and fast.

6. Cash is not a thing anymore

Although I’ll recommend you bring about 500 CNY of cash as a safety net, you’ll very likely never have to use it. Every vendor takes QR code payment instead of cash nowadays. And to be honest, it’s much more convenient.

So, again, have your Alipay and WeChat pay set up and you’ll be golden.

7. Always look for QR codes at restaurants

Speaking of QR codes for payment, you’ll also use it to see the menu and order food.

Most restaurants now have a QR code stuck to a corner of their tables. Scan it with Alipay’s scan function to access the menu and put in your order. Scan it again later and you’ll still have access to what you ordered, as well as an option to pay.

Some fancier restaurants might still use traditional menus, and you’ll order with a staff member. If that’s the case, they may put a QR code at your table afterwards. Scan that to pay for your bill and leave.

8. Carry a pack of tissue for bathrooms

Bathrooms are my least favorite part about China, but it’s worth putting up with. Most public bathrooms still have the squatting toilets, with no toilet paper inside each stall. Some have no toilet paper at all.

So always carry a tiny pack of tissue that fits into your purse. You’ll need it!

9. Say “Hello” instead of “Excuse me”

I learn the language before I visit any country. If you’re the same, you might have been taught to say “请问 (qǐngwèn)” when approaching a stranger. It means “Excuse me.”

During the whole time I was in Beijing, I never heard a local say 请问 when approaching someone with a question. Instead, they simply say “你好 (nǐ hǎo)” which means hi, and then ask the question.

This isn’t a do-or-die kind of tip. Just a soft one, in case you prefer sounding more like a local.

10. Be ready to use a translation app

Do you need to speak Chinese to travel smoothly in China? Yes and no.

I prefer knowing at least some Chinese in order to access some deeper, more local information. But you don’t need it as long as you have a translation app.

I found that Microsoft Translator worked really fast, with a practical design for two people in a conversation. I only had to use it once and there were not much waiting while the app did the translation.

11. There are a lot of barriers. A lot.

I don’t know about the other cities (yet), but there were so many barriers in Beijing. You’ll see even more of them around bigger tourist attractions like the Tian’anmen Square and Qianmen area.

These keep people from jaywalking, or from entering a tourist area without showing an identification or passing through security screenings. They confused me the first few days when I was still trying to find my way around.

When in doubt, look for entrances to an underground crossing or subway station.

12. It’s acceptable to take pictures of people

I’m not encouraging you to take photos of the locals without asking first. Always ask for consent.

However, I’ve heard about foreigners getting their pictures taken by locals, sometimes without asking. And on this trip, I finally found out why that is so common.

According to my local friend, it’s totally chill to take photos of people, even without asking. We were strolling around Beihai Park, and he would stick his DJI into people’s faces for portrait photos, and they had no problems with that at all.

I still had a mini heart attack every time I see that. But it’s culturally acceptable. That’s why some of them may think it’s okay to do the same to you. Just an explanation so you know where it’s coming from.

13. There are cameras everywhere

Speaking of why locals are so chill with having their photos taken…

There are an average of 56 surveillance cameras per a thousand people, in other words, a dozen or so per block. If you look up a bit when you’re out and about, you’ll see there are cameras everywhere.

These cameras are also equipped with facial recognition technology. While this means that the government is watching you, it also means it’s protecting you against crimes.

I literally felt so safe in Beijing, it’s insane. I could walk through a dark alleyway at night and feeling confident nobody would attempt anything. Thank you, cameras.

14. Don’t drink tap water

Remind yourself not to drink tap water in China!

Hotels usually provide two bottles of water per day, and it’s easy to find bottled water in stores and restaurants while you’re out and about. Stick to those instead.

I used tap water to brush my teeth and it was fine.

15. There’s no tipping culture in China

You may have guessed, but since you’ll pay for most of your meals online even before you receive your food, there’s no need to leave any tip.

It’s still okay to give a small tip to your tour guides if you join one and are impressed. Otherwise, there is no tipping culture in China.

Some Useful Phrases to Know in Chinese

Since I always encourage learning at least a few local phrases as a sign of respect to the places you visit, here are the most basic ones to memorize before you go.

• Hello = 你好 (nǐ hǎo) This is also used as “Excuse Me” from what I’ve noticed.
• Thank you = 谢谢 (xièxie)
• Where is the bathroom? = 卫生间在哪里 (wèishēngjiān zài nǎlǐ)
• I don’t understand = 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng)
• Can I pay by scanning? = 可以扫码吗? (kéyǐ sǎo mǎ mā?)

When you ask if you can pay by scanning, you might hear “我扫你 (wǒ sǎo nǐ).” This means “I’ll scan you.” If you hear this, it means you need to open your payment code instead of opening the scanner to scan theirs.

I have a full list of 30 handy phrases for your trip. Learn a few of them before you go.

I’m still working on my guides for Beijing. So bookmark my China Immersive Travel page to get access to them!

More Helpful Travel Tips for China

Check here to see if you need a visa for China, and allow yourself enough time to get one. Don’t forget to fill out the arrival card online before you board the plane so immigration goes extra smoothly!

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM to bypass the great firewall.
• Must-have Apps: Alipay, WeChat, Metro Man, Amap, Microsoft Translator

Grab My China E-Checklist

China was one of the hardest countries I had to prepare for, but after having done all the prep, it became the most convenient trip I ever took. So I made the checklist I wish I had to help you do everything right!

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