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
Intercity travel breaks when the name, passport number or station is wrong. Book the first rail leg with the passport you will carry, then confirm hotel, transfer and eSIM backups.
Find foreign-passport hotelsBook a safer final-night hotelBook an airport-friendly hotelBook a Shenzhen shopping-area hotelBook near electronics shopping areasBook China trains with passportReserve China airport transferBook China attraction tickets
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 planGetting 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