China Travel Guide

• Beijing & North: Walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu, explore the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, wander hutongs and sample Beijing roast duck.
• Shanghai & the Yangtze Delta: Stroll The Bund, visit museums and skyscrapers, take day trips to Suzhou’s gardens and Hangzhou’s West Lake.
• Southwest (Yunnan, Sichuan): See pandas in Chengdu, cruise the Li River from Guilin, trek in Yunnan’s canyons and visit minority villages.
• Pearl River Delta & South China: Eat Cantonese dim sum in Guangzhou, explore tech hubs in Shenzhen and relax on Hainan’s beaches.
• Central China & Xi’an: Visit the Terracotta Army at Xi’an, cycle the city wall, and explore ancient temples and grottoes.
• Tibet and Xinjiang: Acclimatise and tour Lhasa’s monasteries in Tibet (permits needed), and explore Silk Road markets in Xinjiang.

Most international travelers fly into Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Guangzhou (CAN) which are major gateways and hubs for domestic connections. High-speed rail and domestic flights link the country’s regions; some land borders offer crossings from neighboring countries.

Expect typical daily costs of about $60-180 depending on city and comfort level, with Beijing and Shanghai at the high end and inland or rural provinces much cheaper.

• Hostel dorm bed: ¥60-120
• Budget private room: ¥150-300
• Mid-range hotel (double): ¥400-800
• Upscale hotel: ¥1,000-2,000
• Market or street-stall meal: ¥10-30
• Bottle of local beer: ¥20-40
• Organised tour or activity: ¥30-150
• Metro or bus ride: ¥2-5

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s China cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use trains: Book high-speed trains for comfort and speed - advanced tickets are cheap relative to flights for similar distances.
• Eat local: Street food and local restaurants give the best value and let you try regional specialties for little cost.
• Adopt mobile payments: Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay (tourist-friendly options exist) to avoid cash friction and get the best prices in many places.

Full trip budgets are in China Itineraries.

Mobile payments dominate daily life in cities, but cash and cards remain useful; ATMs are common in urban areas but can be less reliable for some foreign cards. Many smaller businesses prefer QR-based mobile payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay).

• Tipping: Tipping is not generally expected in mainland China, though small tips may be given for exceptional service or in high-end tourist contexts.
• Cards & Cash: UnionPay is the dominant card network and is widely accepted; Visa and MasterCard work at many international hotels, larger stores and ATMs but acceptance is patchier. Smaller vendors and taxis often prefer cash or local mobile payments.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: ATMs run by major Chinese banks are common in cities - use bank-branded ATMs for best reliability; your bank may charge ATM and foreign-transaction fees. Alipay and WeChat Pay are used almost everywhere, and both now let visitors link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to their home phone number, with no Chinese bank account needed. Set up and verify both before you fly, and expect a small fee on larger payments. For cash, Bank of China, ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs are the most reliable with foreign cards; carry some notes as a backup.
• Banknotes: ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50, ¥100
• Coins: ¥0.10, ¥0.50, ¥1

Respect for hierarchy, privacy and 'face' shapes everyday interactions; public displays of anger or direct criticism are frowned upon. Locals are generally pragmatic and forgiving of minor cultural slips if you are polite and try to follow local norms.

China has strong urban mobile and fixed networks with widespread 4G/5G and extensive fibre in cities. SIM registration with ID is mandatory and many global online services are restricted, so expect excellent local speeds but limited access to some international apps without a VPN.

• Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz; plug types A, C, I.

Yes for most visitors, but be mindful of strict laws, surveillance, petty crime and traffic risks.

Staying healthy is straightforward if you avoid tap water, take food precautions, watch air pollution and have routine vaccinations.

China is a vast country of deep historical continuity and regional diversity, where millennia-old traditions coexist with rapid modernization. Visitors encounter dramatic cultural variety in language, cuisine, architecture and ritual across provinces.

Eating out in China is loud, social and built around sharing. A group orders several dishes for the middle of the table, plus rice or noodles, and everyone helps themselves. Solo travellers eat best at noodle shops, dumpling houses, canteens and food courts, where single portions are normal.

• Ordering: many restaurants have a QR code on the table that opens a Chinese-only menu inside WeChat or Alipay. A translation app’s camera mode gets you through it, and staff will still take an order if you point at the picture menu or at other diners’ plates.
• Meal times: lunch runs from about 11.30am to 1.30pm and dinner starts early, around 5.30-6pm. Away from the big cities many kitchens wind down by 8.30 or 9pm, though night markets and barbecue stalls keep going late.
• Paying and tipping: you pay by scanning the table code or at the counter, and tipping isn’t expected. Hosts compete to pick up the bill, so offer to pay but don’t insist when a local is treating you.
• Water and tea: you’ll be given hot water or weak tea rather than iced water; ask if you want a cold drink.
• Dietary needs: say “wǒ chī sù” (I eat vegetarian), but expect meat stock and lard in many dishes. The character for meat on its own (肉) normally means pork. Halal (清真 qīngzhēn) restaurants, such as Lanzhou noodle shops, are found in every city.
• Spice: ask for “bù yòng là” (no chilli) or “wēi là” (mildly spicy), especially in Sichuan, Chongqing and Hunan.

What to Try

• Peking duck in Beijing, carved at the table and wrapped in thin pancakes.
• Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and braised pork belly in Shanghai.
• Hotpot, mapo tofu and dan dan noodles in Chengdu and Chongqing.
• Dim sum for a long weekend breakfast in Guangzhou.
• Roujiamo, biangbiang noodles and lamb skewers around the Muslim Quarter in Xi’an.
• Hand-pulled beef noodles in Lanzhou, the city that gave them its name.
• Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles in Kunming and Guilin rice noodles in Guilin.
• Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea at the plantations outside Hangzhou.

China’s vast cultural heritage and rapidly developing cities create environmental and social pressures; low‑impact transport choices and respect for local rules help protect sites and communities.

• Respecting cultural and religious sites: At sites such as the Forbidden City, Lama Temple and the Great Wall, follow posted rules, dress modestly when required and ask permission before photographing people in rural or religious settings.
• Use low-impact transport: China’s extensive high‑speed rail network is a lower‑emission way to travel between cities; favor trains and public transit in major cities to reduce emissions and congestion.
• Protected areas and fragile landscapes: Stick to boardwalks and marked trails in fragile sites like Zhangjiajie and Jiuzhaigou, and support local conservation fees that fund park maintenance and community benefits.
• Waste reduction & local rules: Bring a reusable bottle and bag-many cities enforce single‑use plastic restrictions and have expanding deposit systems-dispose of rubbish in designated bins and avoid littering in parks.
• Support small and regional businesses: Eat at family-run restaurants, buy crafts from local artisans (avoid mass-produced souvenir stalls), and choose locally managed guesthouses that employ neighborhood staff.

Long-term life in China centers on work and big-city living for professionals, teachers, and entrepreneurs. Relocation is usually employer-driven, with significant regional variation in cost, lifestyle, and air quality. Expats prioritize major hubs for career opportunities while smaller cities offer lower costs and a quieter pace.

Long-Term Visas: Work (Z) visa required for formal employment; residence permits issued after arrival; family and student visas available.

Working There: Foreigners must be sponsored by an employer for most jobs; English teaching and tech roles common in big cities.

Cost of Living: High in Beijing and Shanghai, much lower in smaller cities and inland, imported goods noticeably more expensive.

Health & Wellness: Public hospitals widely available but crowded; private international clinics (e.g., United Family) for expats, buy insurance.

Banking & Finance: Bank accounts need passport and often a residence permit; Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate everyday payments.

Taxes: Tax residents taxed on worldwide income under progressive rates (top bracket applies), filing required for residents and workers.

Popular Places to Live in China

Choosing where to live in China is a trade-off between career opportunities in giant cities and lower-cost, slower-paced life inland. For business and community head to Beijing or Shanghai; for tech and manufacturing Shenzhen; for food culture and relaxed living try Chengdu.

• Beijing - Political and cultural centre, suits professionals and families, trade-off: high cost, winter pollution, heavy traffic.
• Shanghai - Global financial hub with international amenities, suits career-driven expats, trade-off: expensive housing and fast pace.
• Shenzhen - Young tech and manufacturing hub, suits entrepreneurs and engineers, trade-off: intense work culture and rising rents.
• Chengdu - Laid-back lifestyle, excellent food and lower living costs, trade-off: fewer multinational headquarters and less direct international travel.
• Hangzhou - Tech-adjacent city with scenic lakes and growing startups, suits tech workers, trade-off: tourist seasons increase local prices.

China is not a classic digital-nomad destination due to visa constraints and web restrictions, but many remote workers base themselves in major cities for career opportunities, high-quality infrastructure, and coworking options. Expect to manage local payment systems and occasional VPN use for international services.

Nomad Visa: None - usual workaround is business (M) or work (Z) visas, or short tourist (L) stays where allowed.

Long Term Rentals: Long-term rentals common in cities, platforms like Ziroom and local agents handle leases and deposits.

Internet: Fast mobile and fixed broadband in urban areas, many foreign sites blocked by the Great Firewall without VPN.

Monthly Cost: Monthly costs typically range widely: lower in inland cities, higher in Beijing/Shanghai; factor in housing and imported goods.

Coworking: Coworking chains such as WeWork and Kr Space are widespread in big cities; meetups mostly via WeChat groups.

Fitness & Wellness: Gyms available in major cities, traditional wellness services and parks common; private medical care for expats recommended.

Community: Strong expatriate communities on WeChat, Meetup-style events in big cities; smaller locales have limited English-speaking scenes.

Time Zone: China Standard Time (UTC+8) across the whole country.

Popular Nomad Hubs in China

Most remote workers and expats base themselves in major cities for infrastructure and community. Cities offer coworking, international cafes, and social scenes; smaller cities trade those for lower rent and quieter local life.

• Beijing - Political and cultural centre, suits professionals and families, trade-off: high cost, winter pollution, heavy traffic.
• Shanghai - Global financial hub, ideal for corporate and startup work, trade-off: expensive rent and fast-paced lifestyle.
• Shenzhen - Tech and hardware hotspot, young workforce and startups, trade-off: intense work culture and rising housing prices.
• Chengdu - Relaxed lifestyle, strong food scene and lower costs, trade-off: fewer international companies and slower international transit.