Straight answers to the questions every first-time visitor asks.
Money & payments
- Can I use my credit card? Rarely directly — bind it to Alipay/WeChat Pay instead. Cash backup ¥300–500
- Is China expensive? No: excellent meals ¥30–80, metro ¥2–8, 4-star hotels ¥400–700. Only international-style luxury costs Western prices
- Tipping? Not customary anywhere. Tour guides and drivers on multi-day private trips are the exception (~¥50–100/day)
Daily life
- Tap water? Don't drink it. Bottled water everywhere; hotel kettles for boiling
- Toilets: squat toilets common in stations and older areas; western toilets in malls, hotels, airports. Carry tissues and hand sanitizer — not always provided
- WiFi: widespread but often needs a Chinese number to log in — your SIM solves this
- Smoking: common outdoors and in some restaurants despite bans; non-smoking is the norm indoors in big cities
- Drinking age: 18. Alcohol is sold everywhere with no ID checks
Getting around
- Do I need to speak Chinese? No — apps cover it. Learning 10 phrases earns enormous goodwill
- Left or right? Drive on the right, same as continental Europe/US
- Trains need booking how far ahead? 15 days for high-speed; flights anytime
Rules that surprise people
- VPN connectivity tools exist in a grey zone — tourists using them is tolerated and universal practice
- Jaywalking and e-scooter rules are enforced with fines in big cities
- Drones need registration (see Photography guide)
- Always carry ID — passport or copy
Is it safe?
Yes — among the safest large countries for tourists. Your real risks: scams, traffic as a pedestrian, and the occasional fiery hotpot. Read the Safety section once, then relax and enjoy.