Coming soon
Real-name tickets with a passport
实名预约
How to book the Forbidden City and other sights that need a passport.
Being writtenChina · Nationwide
China essentials
The nationwide layer: visas, payments, apps, getting between cities, safety and etiquette. Every page is dated and sourced, and each answer comes first.
Updated this month · November 2026
Policy watch
- The 30-day visa-free list still covers 50 countries. For 48 of them, official pages we checked still give 31 December 2026 as the end date. We have not seen a public extension into 2027.
- The official arrival card is free at s.nia.gov.cn. Ignore lookalike sites that charge a fee. Paper cards still exist at the port.
- Shenzhen Metro has accepted foreign contactless cards on 17 lines since 10 September 2026 — confirm at the gate on the day.
Sources: National Immigration Administration; Shenzhen Metro. We will update this block when an official page changes — not before.
01
Entry & visas
Which rule gets you in.
Guide
240-hour visa-free transit
240小时过境免签
Lets citizens of eligible countries transit China without a visa for up to 240 hours. It covers 57 countries and 65 ports of entry (National Immigration Administration). Which ports count depends on the city.
Read →Guide
30-day visa-free entry
30天免签
50 countries, not including the United States. For most, currently announced through 31 December 2026 — confirm before you book.
Read →Guide
Entering from Hong Kong
香港入境
Land crossings, ferries and high-speed rail into Shenzhen, and which visa rule each one allows.
Read →Guide
Which visa-free rule can you use?
免签规则自测
A plain decision tree for US, UK, Australian and other passports, and for a day trip from Hong Kong.
Read →02
Money & payments
Pay the way the city actually pays, without surprise fees.
Guide
Alipay & WeChat Pay with a foreign card
支付宝 · 微信支付
Set both up at home. Single payments over ¥200 typically carry a 3% fee. Full step-by-step guide.
Read →Guide
Cash & ATMs
现金
To be verified before publishing.
Read →Guide
Paying by card in each city
刷卡
Varies by city. Shenzhen’s metro takes contactless foreign cards at every gate.
Read →Guide
Night-before payment checklist
出发前清单
A tick list: wallets, the bank, a map, a data plan, a Chinese address, and a test payment.
Read →03
Internet & apps
What to install before you land.
Guide
eSIM & mobile data
eSIM
International eSIMs often reach familiar apps on cellular data; hotel Wi-Fi usually does not. A local Chinese SIM is a different path.
Read →Guide
Maps: Amap vs Google Maps
高德地图
Use Amap (高德地图), or show the driver a Chinese address card. A full comparison is coming.
Read →Guide
Translation apps
翻译
Coming soon.
Read →Guide
Do you need a VPN?
VPN
It depends on your data path. Honest setup advice, without a product recommendation.
Read →04
Between cities
High-speed rail, flights and drivers.
Guide
High-speed rail
高铁
Book on 12306 with your passport, complete identity verification, and board with the same document.
Read →Guide
DiDi and taxis
滴滴 · 出租车
Three official routes into DiDi, including Alipay and WeChat, and how to handle a street taxi.
Read →Coming soon
Domestic flights
国内航班
Coming soon.
Being writtenComing soon
Hiring a driver between cities
跨城包车
For example Kunming to Dali to Lijiang, and what it really costs. Being researched.
Being written05
Safety & emergency
Calm, practical, verified.
Guide
Emergency numbers
紧急电话
110 police, 119 fire, 120 ambulance, 122 traffic — nationwide, from official English municipal pages.
Read →Guide
Health & pharmacies
医疗 · 药店
Coming soon.
Read →Guide
Avoiding overcharging
防坑
Official advice for seafood: read the price tag, watch the weighing, agree the total before it’s cooked. More tips coming.
Read →Quick answers
What is China’s 240-hour visa-free transit?
It lets citizens of eligible countries transit China without a visa for up to 240 hours when travelling on to a third country or region. According to the National Immigration Administration it covers 57 countries and 65 ports of entry (as of 20 August 2026). Which ports count depends on the city. Full guide: the 240-hour transit page on this site.
Is the United States on the 30-day visa-free list?
No. US passports are not on the 50-country 30-day waiver. They are on the 240-hour transit list, with that rule’s conditions. See our visa-rule checker.
Is there a fee for using a foreign card with Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Yes. With a foreign card linked, single payments over ¥200 typically carry a 3% fee. For large bills, tap a physical card where accepted or split the payment. Full setup guide on this site.
Which map app should I use in China?
Amap (高德地图). Google Maps is unreliable for directions even when it opens. Alternatively, show your driver a Chinese address card.
What are the emergency numbers in China?
110 police, 119 fire, 120 ambulance, 122 for traffic accidents. They are nationwide.