China travel guide

Getting there

Major international gateways include Beijing Capital and Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Chengdu and Shenzhen. High-speed trains link mainland China with Hong Kong, and land borders connect to several neighbouring countries.

Best time to visit: Apr–May and Sep–Oct – mild weather and clear skies in most regions.

Tougher months: Major national holidays (Chinese New Year, early May and the first week of October) when transport and sights are packed; also July-August heat and rain in many areas.

Weather by month in Beijing

• 2°J
• 6°F
• 13°M
• 21°A●
• 27°M●
• 31°J●●
• 31°J●●●
• 30°A●●
• 26°S●
• 19°O●
• 10°N
• 3°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Shanghai, Asia/Urumqi. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 81 of 198 other passports can enter China without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 117 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of mainland China (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-04). Read the advisory.

Source and more: China travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to China are based around Beijing, Shanghai or Xi'an. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–55 for a backpacker and US$90–170 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun China page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, C, I. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +86.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Beijing (North · imperial capital): The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutong lanes and the Great Wall within reach.
• Shanghai (East coast · megacity): Art deco Bund, futuristic skyline, French Concession streets and superb dining.
• Xi'an (Shaanxi · ancient capital): Home of the Terracotta Army, intact city walls and the eastern end of the Silk Road.
• Guilin & Yangshuo (Guangxi · karst scenery): Limestone peaks, rice fields and rivers ideal for cycling and bamboo rafting.
• Chengdu (Sichuan · pandas & food): A relaxed teahouse city known for pandas and some of China's spiciest cuisine.
• Zhangjiajie (Hunan · national park): Otherworldly sandstone pillars, glass walkways and cable cars.
• Hangzhou & Suzhou (Yangtze delta · lakes & gardens): West Lake's willows and pagodas and Suzhou's UNESCO-listed classical gardens.
• Yunnan (Lijiang & Dali) (Southwest · old towns & mountains): Ethnic minority cultures, cobbled old towns and Tiger Leaping Gorge beneath snow peaks.

Things to do

• Hike the Great Wall. Walk restored and wild sections such as Mutianyu or Jinshanling as the wall snakes over mountain ridges.
• Explore the Forbidden City. Pass through vast courtyards and golden-roofed halls of the imperial palace in Beijing.
• Meet the Terracotta Army. Stand before thousands of life-size clay warriors guarding Qin Shi Huang's tomb near Xi'an.
• Cruise the Li River. Float between Guilin and Yangshuo through a dreamlike landscape of karst peaks and bamboo groves.
• See the Bund at night. Watch Shanghai's colonial waterfront face off against the neon towers of Pudong across the river.
• Wander Zhangjiajie's pillars. Walk among thousands of towering sandstone columns wrapped in mist and forest.
• Meet giant pandas in Chengdu. Visit a breeding centre early in the morning, then try fiery Sichuan hotpot.
• Stroll a classical garden in Suzhou. Lose yourself in rockeries, pavilions and carp ponds designed for contemplation.

Source: full China guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Peking duck – crispy roast duck with pancakes
• Xiaolongbao – soup-filled dumplings from Shanghai
• Hotpot – spicy broth for cooking meat and vegetables at the table
• Jiaozi – boiled or fried dumplings

Source: RoamSun China guide

Talk

Twenty basic Mandarin phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Renminbi (Chinese yuan) (CNY). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not customary, except for tour guides.

Emergency numbers: 110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance.

• Mobile payment apps dominate; set them up with an international card, but carry some cash as a backup.
• ATMs at major banks generally accept foreign cards, and international cards are increasingly accepted in big hotels and stores.
• China is generally very safe for travellers, with low levels of violent crime.
• Carry your passport at all times – hotels must register it and it's needed for trains and many sights.

Source: RoamSun China facts