Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

China still isn’t fully on the global tourism radar, and honestly, that’s surprising.

For many travellers, China feels inaccessible: the language barrier is real, daily life is heavily regulated, countless foreign apps are banned, and the logistics are very different from travelling in Southeast Asia, Japan, or Europe. But once you figure out how China works, you’ll realise it’s an incredible, thrilling, and massively underrated destination that deserves way more attention.

 

This guide covers everything I learned so you can travel China smoothly, from SIM cards and essential apps to navigating the Great Firewall, buying train tickets, staying safe, understanding payments, and more. Step by step guides with pictures are included to help you navigate the apps to buy train tickets, how to pay online, order a cab, and how to order food on the HSR.

 

Chapters:

1. Sim Cards
2. Essential Apps
3. The Great Firewall and How to Avoid It
4. When to Visit China
5. Train System and Getting Around

• Guide to Book Tickets With the 12306 App
• How to Check Your Bought Tickets
• How to Take the HSR Within Mainland China
• How to Order Food on the HSR

  6. How to Take the HSR From Hong Kong to Mainland China

  7. How to Order a Taxi through Didi

  8. Payment Options in China

  9. How to Book Hotels

  10. Passport Rules

  11. Friendliness and Safety

  12. Extra Tips

1. SIM Cards & Why You Should Bring a Second Phone

Many apps in China (especially ride-hailing and payment apps) require a Chinese phone number for verification codes.

 

Bring 2 phones if possible:

• One with your VPN

• One without VPN, dedicated to your Chinese SIM

• Buy a Chinese tourist SIM card upon arrival

• A Taiwanese or Hong Kong number also works for most apps

• This setup avoids constant issues with apps failing to verify (SMS codes, you'll need this all the time)

 

This is honestly the most useful tip for stress-free travel in China.

2. Essential Apps You Must Download

China does not operate on Google, Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp. Here are the essential apps that will save your trip:

 

Amap (高德地图): China’s version of Google Maps.

• Google Maps often doesn’t work properly (lots of attractions or hotels are pinned at the wrong place)

• Public transport routes on Google Maps are incomplete or missing

• Amap shows walking routes, metro connections, bus lines, and live traffic

• Available in English

 

Tourist attractions and hotels sometimes have different English names on Google Maps vs Amap. Always double-check the address, not just the name.

 

Alipay (支付宝): One of the two main payment systems in China.

What you can do with Alipay:

• Pay in shops, restaurants, cafes, convenience stores

• Scan QR codes to pay street vendors (everyone has QR codes throughout the entire country, and it will save you a lot of trouble)

• Show your own QR code for staff to scan

• Connect foreign credit cards (Visa or Mastercard)

• Pay for tourist attractions

• Use it for some metro/transport systems

 

Notes: 

• Mastercard didn’t work for me, my WISE card worked better

• App switches between English and Chinese but is still very usable

 

Transport activation:

To use Alipay for metro rides in different cities, you must activate a transport card for each city separately.

BUT: Foreigners cannot activate transport cards unless they have a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Taiwanese phone number to receive verification codes.

 

Railway 12306 (铁道12306): The official app for train travel.

You need to verify your identity with your passport to activate and be able to use the app. Download the Chinese version. The English one does NOT work.

The Chinese version verifies passports instantly, the English version constantly fails. It might take a little bit more effort to translate the pages, but it's worth the trouble. You can check out step by step guides for navigating the app in the Train System and Getting Around section.

 

What you can do:

• Buy High-Speed Rail (HSR) tickets

• Check your booked trains

• Order food delivered to your seat in the HSR

• View your passport-linked tickets

 

Passport verification: Your passport = your ticket. You will scan it at:

• Train station entrances

• Boarding gates

• Some security checks

 

If the app won’t verify your passport:

• Go to any train ticket counter at any station (even Hong Kong West Kowloon Station) to get it verified with your passport.

 

Alternative ways to buy tickets if the app stresses you out:

• Klook: with a small fee (I used it to buy my ticket from Hong Kong to Mainland and it worked fine)

• Trip.com: with a small fee

• Station ticket counters

• Self-service machines (available in English)

 

WeChat

WeChat is genuinely essential when traveling in China. Besides messaging, it’s used for everything from scanning QR codes to entering attractions. Some sites, including Tiananmen Square, can only be booked through WeChat, so having it installed beforehand saves a lot of hassle. In some cases, the app will prompt you to link a bank card for certain services, but during my trip I didn’t need to do this, so don’t stress if you can’t connect a foreign card. Just make sure you verify your account early and keep the app updated.

3. The Great Firewall of China (VERY IMPORTANT)

China blocks a lot of Western apps and websites, this is why getting a VPN on all your electronics is super important. Note: you must activate your VPN and your eSIM before entering China. Otherwise, the firewall blocks the activation and your apps will not work.

What worked for me:

• Nomad eSIM: automatically includes VPN

• Extra free VPN on phone: ProtonVPN app

• Laptop VPN: Mullvad for 5 euros/month (Tip: choosing Albania as our VPN location worked best for us)

 

Blocked apps include: Google Maps (partially works), Gmail, Google search, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and most Western news apps.

4. When to Visit China

China is massive, so the “best time to visit” depends a lot on where you’re going, but there are some general patterns worth keeping in mind.

• Spring (March-May) is one of the best seasons almost everywhere. Temperatures are mild, flowers are blooming, and cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu are very comfortable to explore. It’s a great time for outdoor activities like hiking or visiting national parks without dealing with extreme heat.
• Autumn (September-November) is another ideal season, with clear skies, warm days, and cooler nights. Many travellers prefer autumn because it has less rainfall and incredible scenery, especially in places like Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, or the Great Wall surrounded by golden-coloured mountains. We went in November, and it was perfection!
• Summer (June-August) can be very hot and humid, especially in central and southern China. It’s also the busiest time for domestic tourism because school is out, so expect big crowds and higher prices. That said, if you’re visiting higher-altitude areas like Yunnan or Tibet, summer is actually the perfect time.
• Winter (December-February) is freezing in the north (Beijing regularly drops below zero), while the south stays fairly mild. Winter is also the least crowded season, so it’s a good choice if you want lower prices and fewer tourists. Plus, you can experience things like Harbin’s Ice Festival or snowy landscapes around the Great Wall.

 

Peak Holidays to Avoid

China has a few national holidays where domestic travel explodes, and it’s genuinely best to avoid travelling during these periods unless you love chaos.

• Chinese New Year (late January or February): Almost everything is fully booked, and transport is extremely crowded.

• Golden Week (October 1-7): One of the busiest travel periods of the entire year. Tourist attractions can be overwhelmingly packed.

• Labor Day (May 1-3): Not as intense as Golden Week, but still noticeably busy and often more expensive.

 

If you can plan around these holidays, your trip will be far more relaxed and enjoyable.

5. Train System & Getting Around

China’s HSR network is one of the best in the world. The High-Speed Rail (HSR) is fast, reliable, and comfortable, is the cheapest long-distance option, and connects most major cities. Some rural areas do require buses instead. You can also use ride hailing apps such as Didi to order a taxi (step by step guide below).

 

How to Buy HSR Tickets: 

Best option is the Railway 12306 (already explained above) Other options include:

• Klook (check the following website for more information on how to book and take the HSR: https://www.klook.com/blog/how-to-book-china-train-tickets/)

• Trip.com

• Ticket counters

• Machines at stations

 

IMPORTANT: Seats on popular routes sell out quickly, even same-day. If you don’t book early, you may only get standing tickets (yes, standing for hours in the hallway… avoid this). Sometimes you might have to wait for hours for your train as standing tickets even sell out.

How to book tickets with the 12306 app:

How to check your bought tickets:

First click on the note icon below, and then on the suitcase at the top. Your bought tickets should show up afterwards.

Taking the HSR Within China:

Allow at least 30 minutes before departure. Why:

• Passport scan for entry

• Bags scanned

• Huge stations can be confusing

• Delayed trains display new departure time on screens (not the original one)

 

Luggage:

• Large luggage areas exist but fill quickly

• Small luggage fits overhead

• Ask staff in purple uniforms if you need help

 

How to Order Food on the Train

China’s HSR is surprisingly food-friendly. Options:

• Instant noodles (free hot water in every carriage)

• Hot meals on the train (a bit pricey, can go from 30-100 Yuan)

• Coffee & tea (usually Starbucks, yikes)

• Cart service or designated food carriage (often Car 5 or 9)

• You can pay with cash or Alipay

Best option: Order food via 12306 (see steps below). You can:

• Scan the QR code on your seat or manually enter your train number + carriage + seat

• Food is delivered directly to your seat.

• Order 2+ hours in advance.

4. Choose your meal. The meal arrival times are shown at the top. Payments are done online through Alipay.

6. Crossing from Hong Kong Into Mainland China by Train

It’s a bit complicated, so here’s everything step-by-step:

 

1. Buy your ticket (I used Klook, no issues)

• Price: 90–120 euros
• No physical ticket, it’s linked to your passport.

 

2. Arrive at West Kowloon Station

• Try to arrive 2-3 hours early. It sounds early, but lines can get very long! Total time for me to get in was 1:15h, but it was not crowded.

• Follow orange signs for HSR.

 

3. Scan passport at the entry gate

• Mine didn’t scan properly, I needed assisted entry.

 

4. Baggage check and Hong Kong departure customs

• Took me around 5–10 minutes.

 

6. Walk through the transit hall towards China immigration zone

 

7. China Immigration (FOREIGNERS line)

• You must fill out an arrival card before going in the line (paper, provided there).
• Customs may ask many questions.
• This process took me 40 minutes (waiting times were long).

 

8. Another baggage inspection

 

9. Enter the departure hall

• Bring food with you. There are no restaurants, no cafes, no convenience stores, and no vending machines. However, be cautious with meat/dairy, customs may take them.

 

10. Boarding

• Gates open 15 minutes before departure

• Gates close 5 minutes before

• Passport scan required again (mine didn't scan, you can show your online ticket)

7. How to Order a Taxi

Here I will explain how to order a taxi through ride hailing app Didi (you can access it via the Alipay App). Luckily, everything is in English!

8. Payments in China

International cards

Good news, you can usually use:

• Mastercard

• Visa

• WISE

This is especially convenient for metro stations, convenience stores, large stores, and in touristy areas.

 

But small vendors and many restaurants accept:

• Cash (for withdrawal, Bank of China works best for foreign cards)

• Alipay (most common digital payment method, and I recommend getting it)

• WeChat Pay (foreigners struggle with this)

9. Hotels in China

Not all hotels are allowed to host foreigners because:

• They must officially register your stay with the police

• Some hotels don’t have the licence for foreign guests

 

Where to book:

• Booking.com

• Trip.com

Both filter hotels that accept foreign passports. We booked through Booking and had zero issues.

10. Passport Rules

NEVER go anywhere without your passport. It’s basically your ID for everything. You’ll need it for:

• Buying train tickets

• Entering train stations

• Boarding trains

• Some tourist attraction tickets

• Hotel check-ins

• Immigration checks at random times (especially in Beijing)

11. Friendliness and Safety

One thing that surprised me the most about travelling through China was how friendly people were.

China has a reputation for being rude, I didn’t experience that. Even though English isn’t widely spoken outside major tourist areas, locals were consistently patient and willing to help. You might occasionally run into some language barriers, but most people genuinely try their best. A translation app goes a long way, and once you have that, everyday interactions become much easier and even fun. Locals often smiled at me on the street, and service was better than expected.

 

BUT! Social etiquette is different:

• Line-cutting is normal

• People push their way into trains

• Personal space isn’t really a concept

Once you accept this, travel becomes much smoother. Honestly, I found foreigners had worse attitudes.

 

In terms of safety, China felt extremely safe to travel. It's considered very safe for solo female travellers too. Public transport is efficient and well-monitored, and busy urban areas rarely feel uncomfortable. Of course, the usual travel caution still applies, being aware of your belongings, avoiding unlicensed taxis, and staying alert in very crowded places, but overall, I never felt unsafe at any point during my trip.

12. Extra Tips

• Public bathrooms rarely provide toilet paper or soap. It's better to carry some extra tissues and hand sanitiser. Some toilets have vending machines that sell TP packages for 1 Yuan. Squat toilets are a thing in China (I hate them, sorry not sorry), be prepared.
• China is tough to navigate, be prepared to take some extra time the evening before to look up where to go and how to reach your destination for the next day.
• Chinese food is incredibly spicy. And with spicy, I mean SPICY SPICY! Ask for lower spice level dishes in restaurants or eat some Buldak ramen before you travel in China (lol).
• If you are taking a domestic plane within China, rules about bringing power banks are very strict! Check the following website on rules for flights and travel: https://my.trip.com/guide/info/china-power-bank-limit.html