Survival Guide
Everything you need to know to survive and thrive in China as a foreigner.
Booking fallback
Book passport-name train tickets before you land
Start with the first-night hotel if anything is uncertain. Then book the passport-name train and airport transfer, with eSIM as the backup that keeps the chain reachable.
Foreign-passport hotel check-in blocker
Hotel check-in procedures can vary by property. Check the property's passport procedure before you book, then save the reply, Chinese address and reservation details for arrival.
Read the foreign-passport hotel guideChina first trip booking planDo not leave ticketed sights to the same-day queue
The Forbidden City, Great Wall day trips and popular shows often use timed entry. Add tickets and tours to the booking checklist before you arrive instead of finding out at the gate.
Getting Around Cities
- •Didi is China's Uber — works in English, accepts foreign cards
- •Metro/subway is the fastest way in big cities — buy tickets at English kiosks or use Alipay QR
- •Taxis are cheap but drivers rarely speak English — show hotel address in Chinese
- •Buses are cheap but confusing for tourists — no English announcements
- •Shared bikes (Meituan Bike, Hello Bike) are everywhere — scan QR to use
Inter-City Travel
- •High-speed trains are incredible — book via Trip.com or 12306 with passport
- •Bullet trains reach 350km/h — Shanghai to Beijing in 4.5 hours
- •Save your ticket — you need it to scan to exit the station
- •Domestic flights are cheap and frequent — use Trip.com English version
- •Long-distance buses exist but are not recommended for tourists
Navigation
- •Google Maps does NOT work — use Amap or Baidu Maps
- •Amap has an English interface — essential for getting around
- •Offline maps are critical — download before arriving
- •Addresses in China are confusing — use landmarks and screenshots
📋 Quick Reference
Emergency
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Fire: 119
Key Phrases
Hello: ni hao
Thank you: xie xie
How much?: duo shao qian
Help!: jiu ming
Useful Numbers
China Mobile: 10086
China Unicom: 10010
Tourist Hotline: 12301
Embassy: look up yours