Navigate China like a pro: Essential tips for independent travel to China in 2025

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You can’t travel independently in China.” “Don’t even think about bringing kids.” “You’ll never manage without a tour group.”

These were the opinions our family had heard when planning our first trip to China—warnings that made us nervously scale back our plans. Now, after visiting China a few times, with our teenage daughter living in Qingdao, we can confidently say those views couldn’t have been more wrong.

Yes, travelling in China presents unique challenges. But with the proper planning and research, independent travel in China can be done easily. Drawing from our family’s experience, here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to China.

Do I need a Visa for Inderpendant Travel to China?

China has many different types of Visas for people wanting to travel to China. Depending on several factors, such as what country you come from, how long you want to stay, and where in China you want to go, you may be required to apply for a visa in your home country.

a girl appraoching immigration at Xiamen Airport in China
Approaching immigration in China at Xiamen Airport

People from certain countries can visit China visa-free on a 72-hour transit visa and a 30-day tourist visa. Luckily, Australia is now included on the list of countries where citizens can visit visa-free for 15 days.

  • Check this website for general information, and then contact your local embassy or consulate to understand better the visa application process, required documents, and processing time.

Will people speak English in China.

English is not widely spoken, especially outside major tourist areas. Don’t let this put you off, most of the time, you can manage with pointing and gestures. If you need some complicated information, such as directions, you will need something more like Google Translate.

Many Chinese people are inquisitive about where you come from.

We got lost in the Xi’an Old Town area when looking for our hotel and may have never found our way except for a lovely lady who took us to our hostel. Our daughter lives in Qingdao, popular with domestic tourists but not international tourists.

Nearly no one speaks English but you can often get by using gestures such as pointing at your device’s screen. The Chinese want to be helpful and those who can speak English will be curious about where you are from and what you are doing in China.

In big cities like Beijing, where there are many tourists, English is widely spoken. So just be prepared and have things like your hotel address stored somewhere in Mandarin so local people can read it.

Money in China

While cash is still king in many countries, China is not one of them. The Chinese currency is the Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan, is still accepted everywhere, but the preferred way to pay for things is via QR code.

a girl about to scan her alipay code to pay for food in beijing
Using Alipay in Beijing

Two companies or apps like Alipay and WeChat are the way to go. You download the app and verify yourself by uploading your passport and your international phone number, and you are ready to spend time in China. It can be stressful, it was for us as you never know if it works until you arrive in China.

Most vendors display a QR code. Open the app, tap “Scan,” and point your camera at the code.

In some stores, show your personal QR code in the app under “Pay” for the cashier to scan. We always have some cash tucked away for unexpected difficulties when paying.

It may seem confusing at the start if you have never used it, but by the end, you will find it very easy and similar to tapping and going with your credit card. Alipay and WeChat are your best options as credit cards are not widely accepted.

Can I access the Internet and use my Mobile in China

You can easily get a SIM card at the airport on arrival or pre-order some in your own country before arriving. We found preordering them the easiest, and you can just slip them into your phone on arrival. Being connected is important for independent travel in China!

Taking photos and sharing them in China

If you choose to get a SIM in China, you must show them your passport as a form of identification. Your best bet is to get this at the airport, as the staff will be used to dealing with English speakers, especially if you are landing in Beijing or Shanghai.

Take into consideration if you really want to be standing in line waiting to get a SIM card after being on a long and tiring flight to China. We recommend getting a SIM in your own country.

Western sites like Google, Facebook, and TikTok are banned in China, and you will not be able to access them unless you have a preinstalled VPN on your device. When I say pre-installed, you cannot install the VPN once in China, it must be done before you arrive.

The VPN gets around this by using a proxy provider that makes your phone appear as if it is in another country. We used LetsVPN when we were in China and had no issues.

Most hotels will have Wi-Fi, but the internet is generally not great in China, and it is often slow and times out. Our daughter lives in China and constantly complains about the quality of the internet.

How do I get around in China?

For those of us who love train travel, you will love China. China has the world’s largest network of high-speed trains that can transport you all around the country. Trains are faster and cheaper than catching flights. Trip.com is the best online site to book your China bullet trains in advance for your vacation.

metro and fast trains in China
Catching trains in China is popular

Most cities have cheap subway systems and an efficient way to get around the city you are staying in. Many people opt for ride-sharing companies such as Didi (think Uber), which sometimes can be just as cheap and faster than public transport. We have used Didi extensively in Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an and Qingdao.

Find China videos on our YouTube channel!

There are no real budget airlines in China, and most airlines have similar prices for point-to-point destinations in mainland China. We priced flights compared to trains from Qingdao to Beijing and found that the train was over 50% cheaper.

China is the only country we have flown in that sometimes uses big planes like 737 for domestic routes. Flying on a jumbo on a domestic route between Tianjin and Chengdu was quite a novelty.

What is the Accommodation like in China

Many big accommodation sites like Booking.com and Expedia will only have a few hotels listed in China except for big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. This is because there are hotels that only serve Chinese.

In China by law, hotels must register guest details with the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and have special licenses to accommodate foreign guests. Not all Chinese hotels have the capacity to handle these extra obligations and find it easy to deal with domestic Chinese tourists.

We have stayed at brands like Holiday Inn and Ibis in China, and you will find that they are comparable to what you will find in Western countries.

Our Holiday Inn in Qingdao that we stayed at even had free beer on a Friday night, now i have never seen that anywhere else.

For first-time visitors, staying at a known Western brand hotel will put you at ease and make you feel more comfortable with your surroundings; I know it did for us. If you book through the hotel’s official website, you can pay with a Visa or Mastercard, which is one less problem you will have when arriving.

Airbnb is banned in China, so you will not be able to find accommodation that way. You are better off staying at a hotel anyway, where there is a front desk to help you with any concerns regarding directions, transport or money.

What is the food like in China?

Don’t expect to be able to get honey chicken or sweet and sour pork like you do in Western countries. Chinese food, or is it just called food when in China, has some pretty diverse options and most likely will have things you have never eaten or even heard of. Being such a big country, the types of cuisine will vary from region to region.

Eating at a local restaurant in China

The biggest problem we had was finding places where the staff spoke English or there was an English menu, especially if you chose just to eat in a local restaurant. This will be fine if you are in tourist spots around the cities like Beijing.

You can easily pick up a meal for under $10 at most local restaurants. If you are having trouble deciding where to eat, just go where you see lots of locals eating.

Some places will have pictures or just look around at what others are eating. You can always eat at Western restaurants or you will find McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King everywhere.

Don’t be afraid to ask. There will probably be someone who can speak some level of English to help you out with your selection.

Read about our trip to Qingdao China

Cultural Etiquette in China I need to know about

One thing in China that is a little off-putting is people spitting and clearing their throats all the time. Just remember, this is not something we do in the West, but it is something they do in their country.

Dress modestly. If you go to the beach, you will not see people in bikinis. It is a one-piece bathing suit society.

We found there is no such thing as a line in China people just cut in and push forward at will, while public displays of affection are not seen or welcomed.

Our daughter tells us when eating with Chopsticks don’t leave them stabbed into the food or sitting in the bowl when taking a break, make sure they are lying down on the side of the bowl.

How safe will I be in China?

We have visited around 45 different countries and felt safer in China than most Western countries we have visited. Like all places, you should be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.

a police officer watching the roads in Qingdao
We felt safer in many spots in China than in other countries

In China, you will see security cameras on every corner. For some people, this can be off-putting, but in terms of safety, it makes you feel safe. We always say err on the side of caution in big cities, do some pre-planning and read up on local laws and regulations.

Additional Tips:

  • Download a reliable offline map app like Maps.me, which allows you to access maps when disconnected. You will need to search for your areas or cities visiting and download the offline maps to use once at your destination. Maps.me was invaluable on our trips to China and is a must-have on your phone. Google Maps does not work well in China and will be useless to you.
  • If you are taking medication in China, always get a note from your doctor explaining what it is and what it’s for. Then copy and paste this letter into Google Translate and get it in Chinese, which may help in some situations. Just because your medication is legal in your country may require some explaining in China.
  • Consider hiring a local guide or going on a tour to sites you are really interested in. Many sites may not have too much information in English, and an English-speaking guide will be invaluable in these types of places.

The information above will help you plan a smooth trip to China. China is a fantastic country that is waiting to be explored. There is so much to see and do in China on any trip. Do as much planning as you can before you leave as possible

This will make things easier once you arrive. What I will say is that China can be somewhat frustrating, especially if you venture out of the main cities. Still, with a bit of patience and understanding that it is not your country, nor should it act like your country, the experience will be very rewarding.

We know you can do it. You can plan your Chinese vacation, but if you need help, Wyld Family Travel offers travel planning and consultation services. Just reach out to us at mark.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com or bec.wyld@wyldfamilytravel.com

Author bio:

Father, husband, traveller, and chief destination manager here at Wyld Family Travel. When Mark is not discussing travel or planning travel, you will find him working in disability support. Mark is a family travel advocate, having travelled to over 45 countries with his kids from 10 months to their teenage years. You will find his work here and on other popular websites.

Having a beer in Pilsen Czech
Mark Wyld

Content Creator