China: 11 Experience-based Travel Tips for a Seamless Stay

Traveling to China is an adventure packed with rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture—but navigating this vast country requires smart planning. As someone who has explored the best places in China, China’s bustling cities and remote villages, I’ve learned that understanding local customs, transportation, and safety tips can make or break your trip.

Whether you're visiting the Great Wall, Shanghai’s skyline, or Guilin’s karst mountains, knowing how to communicate, budget, and move around efficiently will enhance your experience.

First, be prepared for the Great Firewall—many Western websites, including Google and WhatsApp, are blocked, so downloading a VPN before you arrive is essential. Mobile payments dominate in China, with WeChat Pay and Alipay replacing cash in most places, so setting up a payment solution in advance will save you headaches. When it comes to transport, China’s high-speed rail network is the best way to travel between cities, while apps like Didi make urban rides easy.

Language barriers can be challenging since English isn't widely spoken outside major tourist areas. A translation app or a few key Mandarin phrases can go a long way. Additionally, always carry your passport—you’ll need it for train tickets, hotel check-ins, and some tourist attractions.

This guide will equip you with insider knowledge, travel hacks, and cultural insights to make your journey seamless and unforgettable. Let’s dive into the essential China travel tips every visitor needs to know.

1. Passport and visa needed to travel to China

As with many other countries, to travel to China you need a passport with a minimum validity of at least six months . In the case of Hong Kong , the minimum validity required is three months, but it is common for airlines to not allow passengers to board with passports that are not valid for more than six months. Better not take any chances... six months is a must!

And… What about the visa? Currently, Spaniards do NOT need to apply for a visa. Yas! Until December 31, 2025, Spaniards do not need a visa to enter the country (up to 30 days of tourism). What will happen next? It is not known yet, but we will keep you informed.

If you want to visit Tibet, you should know that you can only do so if you go in a group on an organized tour or by booking this trip through specialized Chinese agencies.

Another important thing is to ALWAYS carry documentation , with a passport and visa in order (or at least a copy). In China, there is no messing around with the authorities and security is sometimes a bit extreme. It is normal to be asked for identification, for example, at bus and subway stations and at the main tourist attractions. So always carry your passport with you.

2. Best time to travel to China

If you ask yourself this question with only the climate in mind, the answer will depend a lot on the area of the country you want to visit. China covers a huge territory, so the weather conditions can vary greatly from one area to another during the same period of the year.

You may want to avoid the cold winters in the north or the monsoon season in the south (May to October), and bear in mind that in many places (particularly in the eastern coastal areas) the humidity is very high, particularly in the warmer months of the year. However, spring and autumn can be the best times to visit most places in the country.

It is advisable not to travel to China during public holidays , such as Chinese New Year , the most important holiday with millions of people travelling around the country. Finding train tickets during these days is practically impossible and prices for flights and hotels skyrocket 😉 Outside the big cities, most businesses remain closed for at least a couple of days and sometimes up to a week. During Golden Week, which begins with the celebration of National Day (October 1), it is also best to avoid travelling to China.

If you still need to travel to the country during these holidays, it would be best to book as far in advance as possible.

CHINA: What To Know Before You Go — The Curious Travel

Best Luxury Hotels

3. Plan

If you are someone who enjoys improvising when travelling and doesn't like planning what you are going to do the next day, then travelling around China may be a bit complicated for you. The distances in this country are huge and the list of places to visit is endless, so if you don't take this into account beforehand you may have to give up places you didn't want to miss or visit them too quickly. It would be a good idea to also consider whether you want to do any excursions or special activities, so you can book in advance and avoid wasting time or not finding places once you get there.

These are some of the most popular excursions and tours :

Excursion to the Great Wall of China (here we leave you a useful post to visit the Great Wall of China on your own )
Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour
Leshan Giant Buddha
Li River Tour from Guilin to Yangshuo

4. Recommended China travel itinerary

If you had 3 weeks to travel around China, this could be a basic itinerary:

Arrive in Shanghai and tour to Zhouzhuang. (3 days). What to see and do in Shanghai
Train to Beijing and visit the Great Wall . (4 days). What to see and do in Beijing
Train to the medieval town of Pingyao (1-2 days). Our time in Pingyao
Train to Xi'an and visit to the Terracotta Warriors (2 days). Our trip to Xi'an
Train to Chengdu and visit to Leshan Buddha (2 days)
Train to Guilin and visit to Yangshuo (4 days)
Bus to Hong Kong (3 days). What to see and do in Hong Kong

If you have more time, you can spend 5-7 days visiting the beautiful province of Yunnan , one of the areas we want to explore on a future trip to China.

→ Here we tell you which are the best 20 things to see and do in China .

5. Traveling by train in China

The Chinese love this mode of transport and trains are an ideal place to observe many aspects of how Chinese society works on a small scale . You will soon notice how everyone helps each other and shares space, food and conversation with strangers, as if they were lifelong friends. Your fellow passengers will surely quickly include you in their circle, so don't miss this fantastic opportunity to meet locals and learn a few words of Chinese. Of course, don't forget to take a look out of the windows from time to time to take in the spectacular scenery you pass by.

It is important to note that you will not be able to purchase tickets on the official railway website from outside China and that, depending on the time of year, some routes may sell out quickly. One option is to book your tickets online through a reputable agency that offers this service, such as China Highlights or on transport websites such as 12go.asia which is very easy to use.

Once in China , you can book train tickets at the ticket offices at the stations "without any problems." We advise you to write down the destination, time and date on a Chinese paper, because it is possible that the person who helps you does not speak or read English. Here we tell you how to travel by train in China and how to buy tickets .

If you want to avoid the long queues that form at stations to get your tickets, you can book through local agencies or even at the accommodations themselves , paying a small commission.

As for what the trains are like in China, we find them very comfortable, especially the night trains with bunk beds , which also allow you to save on accommodation 😉 Here is an example of how a Chinese train ticket reads:

travel tips to china

6. Buy a SIM and connect to social networks in China

For many, staying away from social media for a few days can be a big challenge. Internet is available throughout the country, but as you probably know, the strict control that the Chinese government exerts on the population means that most of the websites and social networks used in the Western world remain blocked and censored . And it is not the only country to do so . This is the case of Google, Facebook or Instagram (among others). You will have no choice but to take your trip as an opportunity to completely disconnect…

Or if you don't feel up to it, you can always invest in a VPN (Virtual Private Network) before traveling there. What does it consist of? It's an application that forces your device to connect to the Internet through a port in the country you choose (and thus change your IP). It's good, for example, to be able to watch HBO abroad with a Spanish account, as well as protecting your connection to make it more secure. We, as we connect to quite a few public networks, have Surfshark.

In order to be able to use the internet while travelling, we always recommend buying a local SIM upon arrival at the airport. But in this case, if you want to kill two birds with one stone, you have the option of getting a prepaid eSIM card from Holafly , which, although more expensive than a local SIM, includes a VPN . In this case, we think it's worth it.

These are virtual chips that are installed in your mobile phone and allow you to use a special rate abroad. For China, this is the Holafly eSIM card that we recommend, and remember that you have a 5% discount already applied in the link.

⭐ We tell you in detail how to have internet in China and which SIM and eSIM card to buy .

7. Health is always the most important thing

Before travelling to China, it is a good idea to visit an International Vaccination Centre . There, they will inform you about the necessary and/or recommended vaccinations, as well as give you some useful advice to keep you healthy and fit during your trip. However, in general, for a stay of several weeks of tourism, it is not advisable to get any vaccinations.

Other health recommendations include not drinking tap water, avoiding eating raw vegetables and fruits with skin, staying hydrated and using sun protection during long days of sightseeing, and wearing a mask to protect yourself from pollution if you think it is appropriate (especially for children and people with asthma or other respiratory problems).

You can find more information on the Ministry of Health website .

Don't forget that before leaving home it is essential to get a good travel insurance . Yes, I know, it's a pain to have to compare and waste time and money on something that we hope to never have to use, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Health care in China is not free and if something happens to you, the bill can be quite high. There are a good number of insurances with good coverage and at very competitive prices, but as with everything, it will depend a lot on what you are looking for. Our recommendation: IATI Seguros .

Top Luxury Hotels

8. How to manage money on a trip to China

The currency in China is the Yuan (CNY) , while other currencies are used in Hong Kong and Macau. Nowadays, if you want to save on commissions when travelling, it is best to get several of the best cards for travelling . We are currently using the Revolut card as our first option , one of the most reliable on the market (they also have a €10 promo for new users!) and then the N26 card . We recommend taking both, as well as your regular bank card, in case one fails.

It is always advisable to use this type of card to exchange money at exchange offices or buy yuan at your bank before leaving on your trip. Preferably, it would be in this order:

Special cards for withdrawing money abroad and paying in non-euro currencies
Change € at a currency exchange office/bank in the city
Changing € at the airport / withdrawing money with your usual card
Buy yuan at your bank

9. Enjoy delicious local food

Raise your hand if you've never tried Chinese food! But... wait... the food from the local Chinese restaurant doesn't count, sorry 😉 And the truth is that local Chinese food is far from what you've tried before. Don't be scared by the unknown because Chinese cuisine is delicious, very varied and most of the time ridiculously cheap. But be careful because sometimes it can be more spicy than you expect!

Here we tell you more about Chinese cuisine.

Tips for traveling to China

10. Language should not be an obstacle

Although more and more people are speaking English in the big Chinese cities, in less touristy places and in rural areas, communicating in English can be quite difficult or almost impossible. Don't despair and don't create a barrier where there isn't one. Patience, certain gestures and above all smiles and good humour are universal and help people understand each other almost anywhere in the world.

You can also use some simple tricks that will make things much easier for you. For example, you can write down in Chinese the addresses of accommodations (or take the business card of each hotel), places to visit, destination and time to make a transport reservation, etc.

Or download useful applications on your mobile phone such as Baidu , which not only has the traditional word and phrase translator, but also allows you to translate voice recordings. Or Waygo , which will become your best friend when you are starving and you have a menu in front of you with only Chinese characters and not a single image… take a photo and voilà… instant translation!

11. Prepare for culture shock, you're in China!

Travelling without prejudice can be difficult at times, but we encourage you to always try so that you can fully enjoy the wonderful experience of travelling… and even more so when it comes to a country that can be as fun as China. Of course, you have to keep an open mind.

The strong culture shock will be a little “traumatic” at first, but it is best to use a little humor and philosophy to deal with, for example, situations that are so common for the Chinese population (and equally uncomfortable for the Western population) such as spitting, burping and farting in public.

You will also quickly notice that personal space is much smaller for Chinese people and you will likely sometimes feel a kind of “invasion” when someone peers over your shoulder at what you are reading or even looking at on your phone.

Oh!… and I almost forgot to tell you to prepare and rehearse your best pose, because in China it is very likely that you will become a “superstar” for some time and be the favorite target of Chinese cameras.

More tips for traveling to China (and not screwing it up)

– You may be wondering if China is a safe country : the answer is YES. Obviously, as with every place, you have to use common sense, but generally you shouldn’t have any problems on your trip. The only risk is that you might become addicted to dumplings (true story).

– Wherever you go, never forget to take a roll of toilet paper with you . Getting through the Chinese toilet experience can be a real challenge, and even more so when finding the precious toilet paper is practically an impossible task. So take my advice and make things a little easier for yourself.

– Just like in India, in China there is no such thing as order in a queue . If you are waiting for your turn at the counter, be careful that a Chinese person (or 10) cuts in front of you… For them it is the most normal thing in the world -_- the good thing is that, as soon as you make them notice it, they will get back behind you (of course) XD.

– Bargaining is a common practice in China. Shopkeepers tend to inflate prices (especially with tourists, such as the Beijing Silk Market ) to make as much profit as possible. You will need a lot of patience and determination to deal with them. The important thing is to ask several people and get a rough idea of the value of the product, and set a limit on how much you are willing to pay. Don’t forget to enjoy the experience either, bargaining with a Chinese person can be more fun than playing marbles 😉

– Advice is obvious, but it’s better to be clear: the distances in the country are huge , so something essential before finalizing the itinerary is to check if the trains are direct and how long they take. Otherwise you run the risk of spending the entire trip sitting on a train and that’s not cool! It’s better to see fewer places, but well.

– Tipping is NOT the norm, in fact, it may even be seen as an offense.

– Say no to drugs . Obviously this applies to any place in the world, but in a country like China where there are very harsh penalties (even the death penalty) for trafficking and consumption, it would be completely stupid to flirt with this topic. Be very careful with people who approach you that you do not know at all, or even being in contact with strangers on apps like WeChat.

– There is a very popular scam where one or more “students” approach you with the excuse of practicing English and invite you to continue the night in a place they know. The place in question is usually a kind of pub/restaurant with reserved rooms, where they will take your order without showing you the menu. The surprise, as you can well imagine, comes at the end with the bill :S

– Never stick chopsticks in a bowl of rice : for Asians in general, it is a sign of bad omen, since this is how they place offerings for the dead. It is one of the curiosities of China that you may not know .

– Don’t rule out flying some of the way : there are often good deals to be found and a flight can save a lot of time!

– What you do have to rule out is renting a car: an international driving license is not valid in China .

– Learning Mandarin is not easy or advisable for a 3-week trip to China , but we do recommend learning some basic words: being able to say Ni hao (hello) or xie xie (thank you) is something that the locals will appreciate.

– More recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

china travel tips