Practical tips for traveling to China: Essential Guide

Here is a guide for traveling to China, with a few tips for traveling to China and things you should know before you go: general information about the country, how to get a visa, what places to visit, tips for preparing your trip to China, and some curiosities that may help if you decide to visit this fascinating, unique, and incredible country.

Dreamy mountain landscapes, ancient villages that have preserved traditional Chinese architecture from the dynasties, modern skyscrapers with neon lights, a millennia-old culture, and countless other things make China a country that is truly worth visiting.

In my case, I have lived in China for 7 years. Most of the time I have spent in China has been in the province of Yunnan, which is why I can speak the most about it, although I have also traveled to various provinces such as Sichuan, Guizhou, Beijing, Hainan, Hunan, and Fujian. I hope this China Travel Guide will be helpful for your trip to China. Let’s get started:

1. Documentation and visa

Processing of the Visa for ChinaVisa Regulations for Traveling to China (Updated)

Visa-Free Entry for Short Stays

Until 31 December 2026, China has extended its unilateral visa-free policy for citizens of several countries, including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malaysia.

Holders of ordinary passports from these countries may enter China without a visa for tourism, business, family visits, or transit for up to 30 days per entry.

✓ No prior visa is required if your stay is 30 days or less.

Basic Requirements for Visa-Free Entry

When entering China under the visa-free policy, you may be asked to show:

• A valid ordinary passport (usually with at least 6 months validity).
• A return or onward ticket leaving China within the permitted stay.
• Proof of accommodation or travel plans, if requested by immigration officers.

Entry conditions may vary slightly at border control.

Hong Kong and Entry to Mainland China

• Hong Kong does not require a visa for short tourist stays for many nationalities (including Spain).
• From Hong Kong, it is possible to apply for a tourist visa (L visa) for mainland China, but this is separate from the 30-day visa-free entry policy.

Extending Your Stay in China

If you enter China without a visa under the 30-day visa-free policy:

✗ You cannot extend your stay from within China once the 30 days have expired.

If you wish to stay longer, your options are:

1. ✓ Leave China and re-enter, obtaining a new visa-free period if your nationality allows it.
2. ✓ Apply for a tourist visa (L visa) in advance, or at a Chinese consulate outside mainland China.
   • The tourist visa (L visa) can be extended inside China under certain conditions, but only if you already hold this visa when entering the country.

Tourist Visa (L Visa) – General Requirements

If you need to apply for a visa in advance (for longer stays or if your nationality is not visa-free), the general requirements usually include:

✓ Original passport and photocopy.
✓ Flight reservations (round trip).
✓ Hotel bookings or an invitation letter.
✓ Completed application form with passport-sized photo.
✓ Payment of consular fees.

Requirements may vary slightly depending on the consulate.

Quick Summary

✓ Many European citizens (including Spain) can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026.
✗ Visa-free entry cannot be extended from within China.
✓ To stay longer, you must leave and re-enter or enter with a tourist visa (L visa).
✓ Hong Kong has separate entry regulations from mainland China.

Recommended Vaccines for China

• Hepatitis A & B – Due to possible exposure to contaminated food or water.
• Tetanus & Diphtheria (Td or Tdap) – It’s always good to keep this up to date.
• Typhoid Fever – Recommended if you plan to eat street food or visit rural areas.
• Japanese Encephalitis – If you’re traveling to rural areas or staying in China for a long time.
• Rabies – If you plan to be in contact with animals or visit rural areas.
• Flu & Pneumococcal Vaccine – China has cold winters and a high population density, so it’s recommended to prevent respiratory illnesses.
• COVID-19: It’s recommended to stay up to date with the vaccine, although it’s no longer mandatory.

If you’re traveling to specific areas, such as southern China, consult a doctor to see if you need any additional precautions, like malaria prevention.

2. Where and when to go to China?

Best time of the year to travel

1. In my case, I usually find the cheapest air tickets on Skyscanner for international travel, and for travel within China on ChinaTravel.
2. National Day and Chinese New Year are the most important holidays in China. They are also the worst days to come and visit China as they give a week’s holiday and there are millions of Chinese people travelling. Any time of the year is good to travel around China except those days.
3. The best time to visit China largely depends on the regions you wish to explore. In general:
   • Spring (from March to May) and autumn (from September to November) are the most recommended seasons for travel, as the weather is mild and pleasant, with moderate temperatures throughout most of the country.
   • Winter (from December to February) can be an excellent choice for those seeking fewer tourists, especially in the large cities. However, it is important to keep in mind that the climate in the north, such as in Beijing or Harbin, can be extremely cold.

Must-Visit Places in China

• The Great Wall of China, one of the world’s wonders, is a must-see, especially in the sections near Beijing.
• Another iconic symbol of China is the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, an impressive collection of life-sized figures guarding the tomb of an emperor.
• If you are drawn to natural landscapes, you can’t miss the Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie, famous for its rock formations that inspired the floating landscapes in the movie Avatar. It’s a stunning spot for photography and hiking enthusiasts.
• The Huangguoshu Waterfalls, in Guizhou, are among the largest in China, surrounded by impressive vegetation and natural landscapes.
• Also, you shouldn’t miss Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), famous for its rocky peaks and misty landscapes that look like they’ve been taken from a traditional Chinese painting.
• Similarly, Guilin, in Guangxi province, is renowned for its spectacular karst landscapes, with limestone mountains, rock formations between rivers, and rice paddies.
• For culture lovers, I recommend visiting Yunnan, the most authentic province of China, home to ethnic minorities (which I’ll discuss below) and ancient cities.
• Lhasa, in Tibet, will immerse you in Buddhist mysticism, although you’ll need to hire a guide, as independent travel is not allowed. Another option is to visit the western part of Sichuan, the Tibetan part.
• Finally, if you’re looking for a modern, dynamic city, Shanghai is the perfect option, known for its futuristic skyline and mix of traditional and modern architecture.

3. Everyday life in China Practical Tips

Language and Communication

1. In cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai you will find many foreigners or Chinese who speak English and can help you, but in other areas it is not common.
2. So when you travel in China, you can ask your hostel to write down the name of your next destination in Chinese so you don’t have any problems and end up somewhere else.
3. Although the official languages are Mandarin and Cantonese, almost every city, town or ethnic group has its own dialect. It is curious to see how in many rural areas far from the big cities they do not even understand Mandarin.

Learn vocabulary for your first trip to China

Learn some Chinese, you’ll enjoy your day-to-day life more and everything will be easier for you. Here’s some vocabulary that might help, although if you don’t pronounce the tones properly, they will most likely not understand you:

• 你好 (Ni hao): Hello.
• 谢谢 (Xie xie): Thank you.
• 不用谢 (Bu yong xie): You’re welcome.
• 这个 (Zhe ge): This.
• 我要这个 (Wo yao zhe ge): I want this.
• 不要 (Bu yao): I don’t want it.
• 我要去。。。(Wo yao qu…): I want to go to…
• 多少钱? (Duo shao qian?): How much is it worth?
• 漂亮！(Piaoliang!): Beautiful!
• 听不懂 (Ting bu dong): I don’t understand.

Cost of living in China

1. The official Chinese currency is the “Renminbi” (RMB) or “Yuan” colloquially called by the Chinese “kuai”. As of today, 1 Euro is 7.77 RMB.
2. All over China the prices are similar, except, of course, some cities like Beijing and Shanghai which are more expensive. The same happens in old cities converted into tourist places. In Yunnan province, which is where I lived, the approximate prices are:
   • Bus costs 2Rmb (30 cents), a 10-minute cab 12-20Rmb (1.5-2.5 euros).
   • A 3-hour trip by high-speed train 200-250Rmb. (30-35 euros)
   • A long bus ride 200-250Rmb. (30-35 euros)
   • Daily Chinese food between 10-30Rmb. (2-4 euros)
   • Foreign food or food in quality Chinese restaurants between 50-100Rmb. per person (6-13 euros)
   • Hostel accommodation in a shared dormitory 40-70Rmb. (5-9 euros)
   • A shared apartment 1300-1500Rmb. (130-190 euros)
   • A single apartment 1500-2000Rmb. (190-260 euros)

Must-have apps in China:

• Wechat: As I mentioned before, if you want to make Chinese friends and talk to them, you need this app. They don’t even know whatsapp is. If you have a Chinese account, you can also use it to pay for anything.
• Alipay: Before going to China, you have to link your bank account with Alipay so you can pay with your cell phone using QR. In China, they hardly use card holders and paying in cash is quite inconvenient, so you better come prepared to pay with your cell phone.
• Vpn app: If you want to use European restricted apps in China, you can look for paid or free vpn. I usually use Unlimited Super Vpn or Surfshark (paid).
• Itourtranslator or Talking Translator: For direct voice translation.
• Baidu maps or Gaode maps: To move around China without getting lost.
• Tantan: The tinder of China, you can’t miss it, if you are single of course.
• Hangping Lite or Pleco: Chinese translators/dictionaries.
• Xe: Currency converter to know how much you are spending.

4. Chinese Culture and Customs

Prohibitions in China

1. China, like every country, has its faults, but try not to air them, otherwise you will have problems. The Chinese don’t take kindly to your criticism of their country, let alone the Chinese government.
2. Facebook, Youtube, Blogger, Instagram, etc. are block. So forget about trying to use them, unless you pay for a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
3. Anyway, contrary to what you might think, the Chinese don’t lack anything, they have all those same apps but in their Chinese version. The most famous one is Wechat, which is the What’s app there but much more complete.
4. If you have a student visa you are not allowed to work, although in provinces with less foreigners, they turn a blind eye to the need for English teachers.

How do the Chinese treat foreigners?

1. The Chinese are quite curious and sometimes like to take an interest in foreigners.
2. Their favorite questions are where you are from, how long you have been here, and if you are used to the type of life in China. Also, they will always tell you that your Chinese is very good, even if it is not true.
3. It depends on the area where you go out, if they are not used to seeing foreigners, it is possible that when entering a bar or a discotheque they will want to invite you to drink with them.
4. The Chinese generally like to drink alcohol, the most famous drink is the “baijiu” which usually contains between 45 and 60 degrees of alcohol approximately. In any event, food or party it is possible that they come to toast you with baijiu so… start getting used to it!
5. The words “lao wai” (老外)/”wai guo ren”(外国人) mean “foreigner”. You will hear them on more than one occasion when you come across children, young people or adults. Don’t take it wrong, the term “lao” is used to indicate familiarity. For example, if my name is “Make” (马克), my Chinese friends call me “LaoMa”.

Safety and customs

1. China is one of the safest countries in the world.
2. You can go out at night without fear and go to areas away from tourism with complete peace of mind.
3. The Chinese people are generally quite nice, very rural and, in general, good people.
4. Even so, many Chinese people do not understand the meaning of “queuing”, so when you go to buy things or get into a bus that is almost full, stick your nose in it and if necessary, elbow it out.
5. Visit their beautiful parks. Daily life is on the streets and in the parks. At dawn and dusk the Chinese parks are full of people playing badminton, doing traditional dances, tai chi, etc.
6. Travelling in China there are everyday things that can be done in a somewhat heavy way. For example, the frequent spitting in the street or the bus trips at rush hour. For this: patience.

Chinese food and eating habits

1. Chinese food is very varied and in each province it is different. For example, in the provinces of Sichuan, Chongqing and Yunnan it is characterized by spiciness, so you better be prepared to sweat a little.
2. In Chinese gastronomy there are infinite flavors: spicy, salty, sour, bitter, sweet, a mixture of salty and sweet, a mixture of sweet and sour, etc.
3. Most people eat out so if there is one thing that characterizes China it is that it is full of restaurants and you always see people eating at any time of the day.
4. Learn to eat with chopsticks. Forks are used by children in kindergartens when they are not yet able to use chopsticks.
5. Most Chinese people make a lot of noise when they eat, apart from talking loudly and sometimes spitting. If you can’t stand it, you can order take-out and eat it somewhere quiet.
6. We foreigners have a reputation for liking a dish called Gong bao ji ding. I love it.

5. China’s ethnic groups: the ethnic minorities

1. There is a total of 56 different ethnic groups in China. Yunnan is the province with the most ethnic variety, there are up to 27 ethnic minorities.
2. Yunnan is one of the most visited provinces by the Chinese themselves because of its cultural diversity and its wonderful landscapes. By far, my favorite province of China, where I lived 6 years.
3. The most famous and spectacular sites are:
   • Kunming (昆明), the spring city.
   • The old town of Dali (大理).
   • The old town of Lijiang (丽江)
   • Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡), the best trekking in Yunnan.
   • The tibetan Shangrila (香格里拉)
   • Xishuangbanna (西双版纳),the small chinese Thailand.
   • The karst mountains of Luoping (罗平).
   • The beautiful Yuanyang Rice Terraces (元阳).

Conclusion tips for a good trip to China

All of these practical tips for traveling to China, in my opinion, really capture what this country is like: different, unique, exotic, unknown, beautiful, and ambiguous, among many other things. It’s important to remember that China is much more than spring rolls or counterfeit products. So, if one day you feel curious about experiencing something different, this is your ideal destination.

My final piece of advice is to venture into China, come with an open mind, ready to be surprised at every turn, to experience something different, and to try to understand and embrace this millennia-old culture. Good luck! For more curiosities about China, you can read my article on Living in China: things that most surprise about China.

If you found this Guide to traveling in China and these tips for traveling to China useful, help us keep growing: comment, rate, and/or share. And if you’re planning a trip to the Yunnan province of China, you can take a look at our Guided Tour and Driver Route through Yunnan.

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