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Travel Essentials › China

Travel Essentials

China: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types A, C and I, 220 V. Emergency: Police 110, Ambulance 120, Fire 119. Tipping: Not customary and may be refused; upscale hotels and tour guides are the exception. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The China Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types A, C and I, 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: gov.uk

Tipping

Not customary and may be refused; upscale hotels and tour guides are the exception.

Water And Health

Tap water

Drink bottled or treated water

Vaccines

Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid; Japanese encephalitis and rabies for some travelers

Malaria

None in practice: WHO certified China malaria-free in 2021, though CDC still lists a risk in some rural areas

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• WeChat: The essential super-app: messaging, payments (WeChat Pay), mini-programs for tickets, taxis and almost everything else.
• Alipay: Links to foreign cards and lets you pay by QR code at nearly every shop, stall and taxi.
• DiDi: China's dominant ride-hailing app, with an English interface.
• Amap (Gaode): The most accurate maps and transit directions; Google Maps does not work well in China.
• Railway 12306: The official app for booking high-speed train tickets with your passport.
• A VPN app: Google, WhatsApp and many foreign sites are blocked, so install a VPN before arriving.
• Meituan: Food delivery, restaurant deals, bike rentals and bookings.
• Trip.com: Booking flights, trains and hotels in English.
• Dianping: China's restaurant review app for finding where locals eat.
• Baidu Translate: Works without a VPN for camera and voice translation.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings and gift-giving. A nod or slight bow with a handshake is common; when giving or receiving gifts or business cards, use both hands as a sign of respect.

Dining etiquette. Wait to be seated by the host, don't stick chopsticks upright in rice (resembles funeral incense), and expect the host to order and pay for the group meal.

Saving face. Avoid direct public criticism or confrontation; being calm and indirect helps preserve mutual 'face' in disagreements.

Safety And Scams

China is very safe for tourists with low rates of violent crime; the main risks are petty scams and pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas.

Tea ceremony scam. Friendly strangers (often near tourist sites) invite you for tea or a drink at a private venue, then present a hugely inflated bill; politely decline invitations from strangers to unfamiliar venues.

Fake taxi meters or overcharging. Unlicensed taxis or rigged meters can overcharge tourists; use official taxi ranks or ride-hailing apps like Didi.

Art student/scenic spot scam. Students invite tourists to an art exhibition that turns into high-pressure sales; be wary of unsolicited English-speaking guides near major sights.

Women travelers. Women travel very safely in China with low rates of harassment or catcalling compared to many other regions, though normal precautions on late-night transport still apply.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Use Caution

Homosexuality is legal and there is no explicit anti-LGBTQ+ law, but same-sex marriage is not recognized and public attitudes are conservative outside big cities; public displays of affection may draw stares, especially away from Shanghai, Beijing, or Chengdu.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Spring (Apr-May) and autumn (Sep-Oct) offer the mildest, driest weather across most of China; summers are hot and humid, winters cold in the north.

Do You Need A Visa?

China visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Chinese phrases · Basic Chinese (Cantonese) phrases · Basic Uyghur phrases · Basic Chinese (Hakka) phrases

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