China travel FAQs
Practical answers about payments, visas, and arriving in Shanghai.
Paying in China
Set up your everyday payment method and a backup.
How do I pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Visitors can register with an overseas phone number and link a supported international bank card. You do not need to open a Chinese bank account just to use this option.
- Install Alipay or WeChat from your app store and register your phone number.
- Follow the wallet prompts to add your card and complete any requested identity and issuer verification.
- At checkout, scan the merchant’s payment QR code or show your own payment code. Check the amount before confirming.
Card support varies by payment product. If linking fails, contact the app’s support or your card issuer.
Can I use a foreign bank card or cash?
Yes. Mobile wallets, bank cards, and renminbi cash are available payment options. For direct card payments, look for your card network’s logo at the checkout and confirm acceptance with the merchant.
For a cash backup, withdraw RMB at an ATM displaying your card network’s logo, or use a bank or authorized currency-exchange outlet. Ask your issuer about overseas withdrawals before you travel.
Will I pay extra fees with an overseas card?
Fees and limits depend on the wallet, card, and transaction. Read the fee shown in the app and its service terms before confirming. Check your card issuer’s terms for any separate foreign-transaction or currency-conversion charges.
Do not assume every payment app or card has the same fee or spending limit.
Visas & entry
Check your passport, purpose of visit, travel dates, and route.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
It depends on your nationality, passport type, purpose, and length of stay. Some ordinary-passport holders qualify for tourism visits of up to 30 days under China’s unilateral visa-free policy. That is not a rule for every traveler.
Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ current country list, eligible purposes, and policy expiry date. Other visa exemptions have their own conditions. If your trip is not covered, check the visa instructions from the Chinese embassy or consulate serving where you apply.
Visa-free eligibility does not guarantee admission. Border inspection authorities make the entry decision. Carry documents supporting your visit, such as accommodation and onward or return travel arrangements.
How do I apply for a tourist visa?
A tourist visa is generally category L. Start with the official instructions for your application location; requirements and submission procedures differ between offices.
- Find the Chinese embassy, consulate, or authorized visa application centre serving your place of residence. The Visa for China directory lists participating centres.
- Read that office’s current L-visa checklist and use the application system it specifies.
- Prepare your passport, photograph, form, and the supporting documents requested for your case. These may include travel bookings, accommodation details, or an invitation.
- Follow the office’s instructions for document submission, any required appointment or biometrics, payment, and passport collection.
Confirm processing times and fees with your office. An online form or submission receipt is not an issued visa. The linked Copenhagen checklist is an example, not a worldwide checklist.
Can I use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy?
Only if your passport and itinerary meet the transit rules. Eligible travelers need an ordinary passport and confirmed onward travel to a third country or region. Entry and travel within China must stay within the permitted ports and areas.
A return trip from country A through Shanghai and back to country A does not meet the third-country-or-region requirement. Check the National Immigration Administration’s current eligibility, route, and port rules before booking.
This is a transit arrangement, separate from the 30-day visitor exemption. Do not treat a short stay alone as proof of eligibility.
After you arrive
Get connected, register your stay, and travel onward.
How can I get a local SIM card?
Bring your passport to a telecom operator’s service shop. Local SIM activation requires real-name registration. Ask staff to check your phone’s compatibility and explain the data, call, and text allowance before you choose a plan.
If you prefer to use your existing number, ask your home carrier about roaming coverage and costs before departure. Keep access to the number used for payment-app verification.
Do I need to register where I am staying?
Yes, including when you enter visa-free. Hotels register their international guests’ accommodation; present your passport at check-in.
For a non-hotel stay, such as a friend’s home or private residence, you or your host must complete accommodation registration with the local public security authorities within 24 hours of check-in. Ask your host how to complete the local process.
How do I buy train tickets with a foreign passport?
Use China Railway’s official 12306 website or app, which offers English, or buy at a staffed railway ticket counter with your passport. Enter each passenger’s name and document details carefully and complete the required identity checks.
Check the departure station as well as the city: Shanghai has several railway stations. Carry the identity document used for your booking for ticket inspection.