Are you ready to see the country that is widening the goal post for global tourist destinations? From the tropical beaches of Sanya to the Kung fu Panda mountains of Chengdu, there is a piece of China for absolutely everyone.
This is the guide I wish someone handed me before my first flight to Beijing. From the Top 10 China travel tips, Top 5 things to eat to city comparisons and the apps you actually need, I’ll cover it all.
I’ve spent the better part of the last decade moving from Beijing to Chengdu to Hanzghou from tourist to student to worker and back to tourist again! This guide is the stuff I tell my friends before they visit. No AI fluff, just the real tea from someone who’s figured it all out along the way with a camera roll circa 2012 to prove it. So let’s get into it.
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Top 10 Travel Tips for China
1. Get Alipay (支付宝) sorted BEFORE you fly
China is basically cashless. Download it, verify it, link your card. Have a backup plan, 1,000 RMB(CNY) emergency cash won’t hurt. I’ve seen people locked out of their verified accounts overnight for no reason. The cash is your insurance policy.
2. Download an eSIM and install it BEFORE you fly
Get an eSIM from Trip.com, in my experience you will still have full access to the apps on your phone that you would normally lose access to upon arrival. Install it before you get on the plane, not after. Do this before you download a vpn and just incase get a free vpn (Chinese ones work better than western). My vote stays with esim > vpn, but do yourself a favour and just install both.
3. Download Amap (高德地图)
Amap is your new bestie. It works in English and will save your life on the metro (地铁) Plot your routes before you leave the hotel as data can be spotty underground and the last thing you want is standing in a tunnel with no signal and no idea which exit to take.
4. The Metro (地铁) is elite
Clean, fast, cheap, and goes everywhere. You have Alipay so just open ‘transport’ and click ‘metro’ to generate a QR code for entry and exit. Rush hour is a war zone though — avoid 8-9am and 5-7pm if you value your personal space. The doors close whether you’re fully inside or not.
5. Bring a Power Bank (充电宝)
Your phone is your map, your wallet, your translator and your camera (obviously). It WILL die. Most convenience stores have rental power banks — scan with Alipay, return anywhere. Where there is an available space, do not try this near the bund you will be walking miles to find one. Make sure you’re in a place with returns available or you will be paying a fee.
6. Be Prepared, Always
It’s China, always expect the unexpected. Long journeys, unfamiliar food and busy cities mean anything can happen, at any time and that’s why I never travel without SafetyWing insurance. Quick to set up and one less thing to worry about once you land.
Means “don’t want.” Use it when street vendors get too pushy. Also useful: “Duo Shao Qian” (多少钱) “how much?” and “Zai Na Li” (在哪里) “where is it?” The basics get you surprisingly far.
7. Squat Toilets (蹲厕) are survivable
They’re everywhere. Usually there’s a western stall (坐厕) at the end of the row. Check the last door. You’ll survive. ALWAYS bring tissues and hand sanitizer.
8. People Will Ask for Photos (拍照)
Usually polite, sometimes random. Smile, say yes or no, move on. You’re basically a celebrity so lean into it or shut it down — your call. Rarely aggressive, mostly just curious. In tourist zonesm the Bund, the Forbidden City, West Lake — it’s constant. In remote spots like Zhoushan or Harbin, it’s occasional but more intense because they genuinely don’t see foreigners often.
9. Weather (天气) is extreme
Summer is humid AF — 35°C and sticky everywhere south of Beijing. Winter is freezing — sub-zero and windy in the north, wet and cold in the south. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots. Check the forecast and pack layers.
10. Taxis (出租车) and Didi (滴滴) are life savers
Open Alipay and select Didi within the app. Easy peasy. Taxis are everywhere but drivers rarely speak English. If you are sensitive to the smell of smoke, get a premium, compared to a western uber its pennies.
The Apps You Actually Need
| App | Why You Need It |
| Alipay (支付宝) | Pay for literally everything |
| WeChat (微信) | Messaging, mini-apps, payments |
| Amap (高德地图) | Navigation that actually works |
| Papago | Translate menus and signs |
| Trip.com (携程) | Trains, hotels, attractions, eSIMs |
| Dianping (大众点评) | Restaurant reviews (like Yelp but better) |
Which City Is Best For Me?
| Destination | Best For | Vibe | Budget |
| Beijing | History lovers, first-timers. | The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Beijing Roast duck. Ancient meets modern | Mid to high |
| Shanghai | City lovers, foodies, short breaks | Skyscrapers, Museums, Dumplings.Diverse and modern. | High |
| Chongqing | Adventurous travellers, street food lovers, photography fans | The city built into a mountain. Futuristic, hotpot, spice-heavy, cyberpunk.. | Low to mid |
| Chengdu | Foodies, panda lovers, slow travellers | Pandas, mountains, tea house culture. The relaxed vibe. | Mid |
| Harbin | Skiers, winter seekers, the unexpected | The hidden gem. Ice and snow city, empty slopes. Weekend escape. | Low to mid |
| Hangzhou | Nature lovers, couples, slow down | Peaceful, green tea-scented, West lake and night markets. 45 minutes from Shanghai. | Mid |
| Sanya (Hainan) | Beach lovers, island addicts, tropical escape | Hawaii without the price tag. Coconuts, coconut chicken and turquoise water | Mid to high |
5 Foods You Can’t Leave China Without Eating
1. Peking Duck (北京烤鸭) — Beijing
Crispy skin, thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, cucumber. The whole duck or nothing. Quanjude (全聚德) for history, Siji Minfu (四季民福) for locals, Da Dong (大董) for modern.
2. Hotpot (火锅) — Chengdu or Chongqing
Numbing-spicy broth, dipping sauces, and meat cooked at your table. Ma la (麻辣) will make your mouth buzz. Haidilao (海底捞) for the show, local spots for the fire.
3. Xiaolongbao (小笼包) — Shanghai
Soup dumplings. Bite the top, slurp the broth, eat the rest. The best spots have no English menu.
4. Hainan Coconut Chicken (海南椰子鸡) — Sanya
Fresh coconut water as broth, tender chicken dropped at the table, ginger-lime dipping sauce. Light, sweet, completely different from mainland hotpot. Sanya’s signature and worth the flight.
5. Bubble Tea (珍珠奶茶) — Everywhere
Originated in Taiwan, perfected in China. Every corner, every mall, every train station. Milk tea, tapioca pearls, and the sugar rush that fuels your metro transfers. Try Heytea (喜茶), Guming (古茗), or Mixue (蜜雪冰城) for the budget option.
If you try it all and hate it anyway, there’s a McDonalds on the corner don’t worry.
China is not a “figure it out when you land” situation. It’s a “download the apps, pack the cash and mentally prepare” situation. The reward? A country that will humble you, feed you, and leave you wondering why you didn’t come sooner.
So pack your bags and let China show you what it’s got.
Where to Next? Your China City Guides
To help you decide your first Chinese adventure, I’ve written detailed guides for every city I’ve loved and hated from my very own archives. Including where to stay, the best hotels, top things to do, eat and a 3 day itinerary, check them out below.
