China · practical travel guide
Everything a first-time visitor has to arrange, in the order the trip happens: entry, payments, mobile data, trains, hotels and the dates that change everything.
Each guide starts with the rule, then gives the steps and the fallback. Rules link to the responsible authority, and local examples are labelled so you know what applies across mainland China.
Confirm you can enter, then choose dates that will not fight the crowds.
2 guides
Set up the payments, connection and backup you will rely on every day.
3 guides
Know how to move, check in and ask for help once you are actually there.
4 guides
Short answers
One-paragraph answers, each linked to the full guide and its official sources.
It depends on your passport, trip purpose, length of stay and route. Check the Chinese embassy or consulate responsible for your location and the National Immigration Administration (NIA) before buying a non-refundable trip. Visa-free visits, visa-free transit and a regular tourist visa are different routes with different conditions.
Read the full guideOften, but do not rely on one payment method. Overseas bank cards can be linked to major mobile payment apps, and international cards work at many larger merchants. Acceptance, issuer approval, fees and app verification vary. Bring at least two independent ways to pay, including some RMB cash.
Read the full guideChoose a data plan before departure, confirm it works in mainland China, and keep your first hotel address and key bookings offline. International roaming or a travel eSIM may be simplest for a short stay; a local SIM is another option and usually needs your passport. Which online services work depends on the network and plan, so test the services you rely on before travel.
Read the full guideUse China Railway's official 12306 English site or app, or a reputable booking platform. Enter your passport details exactly, complete identity verification when requested and carry the original passport used for the booking. Check the full station name: large cities often have several railway stations. Leave time for security and boarding checks.
Read the full guideYes. Hotels should not unlawfully refuse or restrict guests simply because they hold a foreign passport. Book a place that fits your route, confirm it can process your passport at check-in and read the cancellation policy. Hotels normally handle the required accommodation registration; private stays need a separate registration process.
Read the full guideBuy travel insurance that fits your medical needs, carry prescribed medicine in its original packaging with documentation, and check any controlled medication with the relevant Chinese authorities before travel. Save emergency numbers and your insurer's assistance line. In mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance, 110 for police, 119 for fire, and 122 for traffic accidents.
Read the full guideHolidays & crowds
The official schedule, with the periods that put the most pressure on trains, hotels and timed tickets: Spring Festival, Labour Day and National Day.
2026 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE
1–7 October · 7-day public holiday
The most difficult week for spontaneous travel. Book trains, hotels and timed-entry attractions well ahead, or move the trip outside this window.
Adjusted working days: Sep 20 and Oct 10.
Crowd levels are TravelPrep editorial guidance. Holiday and adjusted-workday dates follow the official State Council notice.
Editorial
Entry rules, holiday dates and rail terms link to the National Immigration Administration, the State Council and China Railway. If a rule can change, the authority is one click away.
Every guide carries a review date. We change it only after rechecking the volatile facts and links. This hub was last reviewed on 18 October 2026.
Visa-free lists, app support and card acceptance change. We describe the condition and the fallback; the airline, border officer or provider makes the final call.
Next step
Beijing has the deepest guide. Seven more destinations cover the practical basics, and the itinerary library keeps the route realistic.