Planning a trip to China? That’s exciting. China is full of beautiful places, amazing food, and interesting culture. But before you get on that plane, here are a few things to prepare to make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.

1. Do I need a visa?

In most cases, yes. You’ll need a tourist visa (called an L visa) to visit China. You can complete the L visa application form online, and send your passport along with the form to your local China Embassy. Here is the link to the visa center: https://www.visaforchina.cn/

But if you’re from certain countries, you might not need one — some visitors can stay up to 30 days without a visa. Eligible countries include: 

• Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland 
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea 
• Others: Andorra 

This policy is in effect until December 31, 2025.

240-hour Transit Without a Visa: There are also transit visas if you’re just passing through for a short time. Recently extended to allow eligible travelers from 54 countries to stay in China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa when transiting to a third country. This policy is available at 60 ports across 24 provinces, including major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu. If you’re not sure, check the rules for your passport or feel free to ask us. 

2. What apps should I download?

Some apps you’re used to (like Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) won’t work in mainland China. It’s best to download a few helpful ones before you arrive:

• A VPN to access websites and apps that are blocked (eSim is the most recommended method, VPN sometimes won’t work properly and can be expensive)
• WeChat for chatting and making payments
• Alipay for mobile payments (see below on how to set up)
• Google Translate to help with language
• Didi if you plan to take taxis or rideshares
• Dazhongdianping the Chinese version of Yelp
• Xiecheng for domestic flights and train tickets

3. How do I pay for things?

China doesn’t use much cash anymore. Most people pay with their phones.

• Set up WeChat Pay or Alipay if you can — they now allow foreign cards. Even street food seller has QR code for WeChat Pay and Alipay! 
• Bring a credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard usually works in big cities)
• Have some Chinese Yuan in cash for smaller shops or backup (200 yuan is good enough), in case your phone runs out of battery 

Here is how you set up AliPay