Planning · 1 Nov 2026
Planning your first trip to China: what actually matters
More foreign visitors are coming to China than ever: more than 22 million in the first half of 2026, most of them visa-free. The visa usually isn’t the hard part anymore. The hard part is everything after you land.
Three things make or break a first trip. Payments: set up Alipay with your own card before you fly. Connectivity: get an international eSIM so your usual apps keep working. Bookings: popular sights like the Forbidden City and holiday bullet trains are sold on timed, passport-linked tickets that can sell out days ahead.
Also check that your hotel accepts foreign passports. Some smaller ones still don’t. If you’d rather not deal with any of this, that’s what we’re for.