Your Complete Travel Guide to China

What Every Tourist Needs to Know Before They Land

China is unlike anywhere else on earth. It’s ancient and ultramodern at the same time. You can eat street dumplings in the shadow of a 600-year-old temple, and then tap your phone to pay for everything on the walk home.

It’s electric, chaotic, and one of the most rewarding travel experiences you will ever have — if you know what you’re walking into.

I’ve spent years learning Mandarin and exploring China, and I can tell you honestly: a little language goes an enormous way here. Unlike places such as Singapore, where English is commonly used in tourist areas, large parts of China — even in major cities — can leave tourists stranded without some basic Mandarin phrases.

The good news? You don’t need to be fluent. You just need to be prepared.

That’s why learning even basic beginner Mandarin before travelling to China can completely change your experience.

Simple travel phrases help with taxis, restaurants, shopping, trains, and everyday interactions that many tourists struggle with.

In this guide I’m going to walk you through everything a first-time tourist needs to know:

entry requirements, getting around, paying for things, shopping, bargaining, and the Mandarin phrases that will actually get you out of trouble.

I’ll also share why I recommend Rocket Languages as one of the best tools for preparing your Mandarin before you travel.

1. Before You Leave Home

Visa & Entry Requirements

China has different visa rules depending on your nationality, and these change regularly. As of 2025, New Zealand, Australian, and many European passport holders can enter China visa-free for short stays (typically 15–30 days), but you must check the current rules for your specific passport before booking anything.

Key things to sort before you go:

• Valid passport (at least 6 months beyond your travel dates)

• Check current visa-free eligibility for your passport at the Chinese embassy website

• Register your accommodation within 24 hours of arriving (hotels do this automatically; Airbnb stays may require registration at the local police station)

• Download your apps BEFORE you land — more on this below

  
  

The Great Firewall — Plan for This

This is the one thing most tourists don’t prepare for and then panic about. China blocks Google, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most Western news sites. Your normal digital life can stop working the moment your phone connects to a Chinese network.

What you need to do:

• Download a VPN before you arrive (this is critical — you usually cannot reliably download VPNs from within China)

• Popular choices include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill — check current reviews as reliability changes

• Set up WeChat before you go. It’s how Chinese people communicate and pay for things

• Download offline Google Maps or Maps.me for navigation, since Google Maps may not work reliably without a VPN

  
  

Pro tip: Screenshot or download everything you might need offline — hotel addresses in Chinese characters, maps, emergency contacts, and your itinerary. Don’t assume you’ll be able to search for things on the go.

Essential Apps to Download Before You Fly

• WeChat — messaging, payments, everything

• Alipay — payments (link to an international card if possible before you go)

• DiDi — Chinese Uber equivalent

• Pleco — excellent offline Mandarin dictionary with character recognition

• Rocket Languages Mandarin app — practical beginner Mandarin lessons for travelers

• A VPN of your choice

  
  

2. Getting Around China

China’s infrastructure is genuinely world-class in most major cities. High-speed rail — often described as “jets on rails” — connects cities faster and more affordably than flying. Metros are excellent. Taxis are cheap. The challenge is that very little of it is in English outside of Shanghai and parts of Beijing.

High-Speed Rail

If you’re travelling between cities, take the train. Seriously. The G-class trains are comfortable, punctual, and an experience in themselves.

Beijing to Shanghai takes just over four hours, for example. Book on the Trip.com app, which has an English interface and accepts international cards.

Tips:

• Carry your passport — you need it to collect train tickets and sometimes to board

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early; stations are enormous and security is thorough

• Have your destination written in Chinese characters to show staff if needed

  
  

City Metro Systems

Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu have extensive metro systems that are cheap, clean, and usually include English signage.

Pay with your phone using WeChat Pay or Alipay, or buy a travel card at the station.

The metro is almost always the fastest way to move around during peak hours.

Taxis and DiDi

Taxis exist everywhere, but communication can sometimes be challenging. This is where basic Mandarin travel phrases — or a screenshot of your destination in Chinese characters — become essential.

Better yet, use DiDi, the Chinese equivalent of Uber. The app automatically shows the driver your destination, so you don’t need to speak much at all.

Save your hotel’s address in Chinese characters in your phone’s notes app the moment you check in. It will save you repeatedly.

3. Money, Payments & the Cashless Revolution

This surprises many Western tourists. China has largely leapfrogged traditional credit cards and gone straight to mobile payments.

In many cities, some vendors — especially markets, food stalls, and small restaurants — may not accept foreign cards at all. Everything runs through WeChat Pay and Alipay.

Setting Up Mobile Payments

Getting set up as a foreign visitor used to be difficult, but it has improved significantly.

What to know:

• Alipay now allows international visitors to link foreign Visa and Mastercard accounts

• WeChat Pay has also expanded support for international cards

• Set both of these up at home before travelling

  
  

Bring some Chinese Yuan (RMB) as backup. International ATMs work in major cities, but fees can be high.

How Payments Actually Work

Everything revolves around QR codes.

Either:

• You scan their QR code to pay

  OR

• You display your QR code for them to scan with their handheld scanner

• 
  

You’ll get used to it very quickly.

Quick tourist pricing guide:

• 1 USD ≈ 7 CNY

• 1 NZD ≈ 4.3 CNY

• Street food: 5–20 CNY

• Restaurant meal: 30–100 CNY

• Metro ride: 3–6 CNY

• Taxi trip: 15–40 CNY

  
  

Important Payment Phrases

English	Mandarin	Pronunciation
How much is this?	这个多少钱？	Zhège duōshǎo qián?
I want to pay	我要付款	Wǒ yào fùkuǎn
Do you accept WeChat Pay?	你们接受微信支付吗？	Nǐmen jiēshòu Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?
Can I pay by card?	可以刷卡吗？	Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?
Do you have change?	你有零钱吗？	Nǐ yǒu língqián ma?
Receipt please	我需要发票	Wǒ xūyào fāpiào
Too expensive!	太贵了！	Tài guì le!

4. How to Bargain Like a Local

Bargaining is still very much part of the culture at markets, tourist areas, and independent shops.

If you’re buying souvenirs, clothes, or market goods, expect the first price to be far higher than what locals would pay.

This isn’t considered rude — it’s simply part of the process.

Bargaining Rules

• Start low — around 30–40% of the initial price

• Be friendly and smile

• Be willing to walk away

• Buying multiple items helps

• Don’t get emotional

• Cash can still help at markets

  
  

Bargaining Phrases

English	Mandarin	Pronunciation
Can you go cheaper?	能便宜点吗？	Néng piányi diǎn ma?
That’s too expensive	太贵了	Tài guì le
What about this price?	这个价格怎么样？	Zhège jiàgé zěnme yàng?
I’ll give you 50 yuan	我出50块	Wǒ chū wǔshí kuài
Final price?	最低多少钱？	Zuì dī duōshǎo qián?
I’m buying three, cheaper?	我买三个，能便宜点吗？	Wǒ mǎi sān ge, néng piányi diǎn ma?
Okay, deal	好，就这样吧	Hǎo, jiù zhèyàng ba
No thanks	不要，谢谢	Bù yào, xièxie

5. Essential Mandarin Phrases Every Tourist Needs

Even basic beginner Mandarin transforms your trip. Chinese people genuinely appreciate foreigners making an effort.

Even imperfect pronunciation earns goodwill.

Basics

English	Mandarin	Pronunciation
Hello	你好	Nǐ hǎo
Thank you	谢谢	Xièxie
You’re welcome	不客气	Bù kèqi
Sorry / Excuse me	对不起	Duìbuqǐ
I don’t understand	我听不懂	Wǒ tīng bù dǒng
Do you speak English?	你会说英语吗？	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Please speak slowly	请说慢点	Qǐng shuō màn diǎn
Can you write it down?	请写下来	Qǐng xiě xiàlái

6. Culture, Customs & Things Nobody Tells You

China has many cultural differences that guidebooks barely mention.

Food Culture

• Sharing dishes is normal

• Slurping noodles is acceptable

• The host often insists on paying

• Spice levels vary dramatically between regions

• Tea is constantly refilled

  
  

General Etiquette

• Use your whole hand when pointing

• Keep public confrontations calm

• Give and receive items with two hands

• Tipping is uncommon

• Queue jumping can happen

  
  

Toilet Culture

Public toilets in China vary enormously depending on where you are. In major cities, airports, shopping malls, and modern tourist areas, many toilets are now very modern and clean.

However, squat toilets are still common in older buildings, train stations, rural areas, and smaller towns, and toilet paper is not always provided.

Carry a small pack of tissues or wet wipes with you just in case. You will thank yourself later.

7. Get Your Mandarin Ready Before You Land

Everything above — bargaining confidently, ordering food, taking taxis, asking directions — becomes dramatically easier when you’ve spent even a few weeks learning practical Mandarin before your trip.

I’ve tried many language learning systems over the years:

• apps that gamify language learning into oblivion

• random YouTube lessons

• overly academic courses

• phrasebooks with no speaking practice

  
  

Rocket Languages consistently stands out because it focuses heavily on practical conversation and listening comprehension.

Why Rocket Languages Works for Travel Mandarin

• Audio lessons built around real conversations

• Excellent tone explanations

• Strong beginner Mandarin structure

• Practical travel vocabulary

• High-quality native speaker audio

• Offline lessons for use inside China

• Flexible learning structure

My honest advice: Start 6–8 weeks before your trip and study 20–30 minutes a day.

You won’t become fluent overnight, but you’ll become the tourist who can:

• ask for directions

• order food confidently

• bargain at markets

• thank people properly

• handle basic travel situations independently

That changes your entire China travel experience.

Final Word

China will surprise you.

It will challenge you.

It will serve you the best meal of your life down an alleyway you almost didn’t walk down.

It will be loud, beautiful, chaotic, and unforgettable.

Go prepared. Learn some Mandarin. Download the apps. Bring tissues. And when a market vendor gives you a ridiculous tourist price, smile and confidently say:

“太贵了！”

(Tài guì le! — Too expensive!)

See you on the other side.

Shane