First time in China? Start here. This guide covers the practical things first-time visitors actually need: whether you need a visa, how to pay with Alipay and WeChat Pay, how to book trains, how to get around cities, what to eat, and how to stay safe — in plain, step-by-step English, with no jargon and no prior knowledge assumed.
China is easier than it looks, once the first five things are sorted: a visa (or visa-free entry), a payment app, a train ticket, a way to get around the city, and a backup plan for when something does not work. That is what this site is for.
1. Check your visa first → 2. Set up Alipay before you fly →
Start here in 5 steps
Many nationalities can now enter visa-free for a short stay, while others still need a tourist (L) visa. Check the visa-free list first, then the L visa guide if you are not covered. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source linked in each guide before you book.
China runs on QR-code payments. Alipay walks you through downloading the app at home, signing up with your home phone number, verifying with your passport, and linking an international card — no Chinese bank account or Chinese phone number needed. WeChat Pay is the backup most locals use every day.
High-speed trains connect almost every city on a first trip, and metro systems in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu are cheap, clean and easy to use with a payment app. Learn how to book train tickets, choose a seat class, and get around cities by metro, DiDi and taxi.
Food is one of the best parts of a first trip — and one of the most confusing. Learn how to order as a foreigner, including dietary needs without speaking Chinese, then try the Chengdu food guide for first-timers.
Is China safe? What works online and what does not? What should you pack? The safety guide, internet guide and packing checklist answer those directly, with checklists you can use before and during your trip.
Use this checklist before you fly. No sign-up needed — save or print the packing checklist and the list below.
Popular guides
How to Set Up Alipay for Foreigners
The first guide to read, and the one to finish before you fly.
How to Set Up WeChat Pay for Foreigners
Your backup payment app, and the one most locals use every day.
All city guides → All itineraries → All payment guides →
A 10-day first-trip route: Beijing – Xi’an – Shanghai
If you only have about ten days, this classic route gives you the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, and modern Shanghai, without rushing every day. See the full 10-day Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai itinerary, day by day.
Days 7–10 · Shanghai
The Bund, old and new Shanghai, day-trip options, and a slower final day for shopping and food.
First-trip cities
Chengdu Food Guide for First Timers
Hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and street snacks.
New guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China?
It depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. Some nationalities are visa-free for a short stay; others need a tourist (L) visa. Check the visa guides on this site, and always confirm with the official source before you travel.
Can I pay by card or cash in China?
International cards work in larger hotels and shops, but daily life runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Set up Alipay before you fly, and carry some small-bill cash as a backup.
Do I need to speak Chinese?
No. With a payment app, a translation app, and hotel addresses saved in Chinese characters, most first-time visitors get around fine. The translation guide in this series covers exactly how.
Is China safe for first-time visitors?
For most visitors, yes — with the usual big-city care about scams, pickpockets in crowds, and traffic. See the dedicated safety guide, internet guide and packing checklist.
When is the best time for a first trip?
Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable for Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Summer is hot and busy; winter is cold in the north but quieter and cheaper.