The most comfortable and recommended times for a China tour are during the spring months of April and May, as well as the autumn months of September and October. Additionally, March, June, November, and December offer pleasant weather (Southern China is not very cold in winter.) and are also good times to visit. It's best to avoid traveling during the peak summer months of July and August, which are the high seasons for family and student travel. Additionally, it's advisable to avoid Chinese public holidays, such as May 1st to 5th and October 1st to 7th, when many locals are on vacation and popular tourist spots can be exceptionally crowded.

China is generally a very safe country with minimal crime, but it's still advisable to stay vigilant, particularly in crowded areas. You should stay alert to traffic in China, particularly the ubiquitous and nearly silent electric scooters.

1) E-payment and social tool: Alipay , WeChat . Please refer to our files: “Mobile Payment In China - Alipay”, “Mobile Payment In China - Wexin Pay”. In addition to making payments, you can also communicate with us via the chat boxes in Alipay and WeChat. Please note that Alipay also works well for transportation purposes.

2) Map: Maps.Me, Apple Map (works for public transportation), google Map (not accurate sometimes), and Chinese maps like Baidu  and Gaode . We recommend you copy and paste the Chinese names of the locations you want to go so that there will not be any problems caused by translation errors.

3) Ride-hailing: Didi  - the Chinese equivalent of Uber. Go to settings-general-language and you can choose between the Chinese or English version. The app allows you to input the destination in both Chinese and English. In fact, you can find Didi's mini-program in both WeChat and Alipay. If your Chinese is proficient enough, you can also hail a ride using Baidu Map and Gaode Map.

4) Translation: Not many people speak English in China. Translation apps are essential. We suggest you download some offline languages from the translation apps you have, such as Google Translate or Apple Translate. In China we use Baidu Translate or Youdao Translate. You can also use the translate mini-program in Alipay.

Get an eSIM Card or a Chinese SIM Card.

If your smartphone supports embedded eSIMs, you can purchase an online eSIM data package for China before your departure to China. For details, please refer to our file: “Exploring China with eSIMs”.

Upon arrival at international airports like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, you can purchase a Chinese SIM card with your passport. However, these SIM cards may not provide access to foreign social media, apps and news channels you use daily outside China, such as Facebook, Google services, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok.

You may need a VPN for access.

Even if you have an eSIM, you may need a VPN (Virtual Private Network) where there is wifi available to save your data. According to our customers’ feedback, LetsVPN(https://letsvpn.world/) and Astar VPN (https://astarvpn.com/index.html) work well in China.

China utilizes 2 or 3 thin-pin sockets at 220V, which may differ from your home country's outlets.

Generally, we do not drink tap water directly. It's common in China to drink boiled hot water, easily found for free at train stations, airports, restaurants, and even on trains. If you would like to make your own tea or coffee at any time, it’s advisable to bring your own reusable bottle or cup, which not only offers convenience but also promotes sustainability. In your hotel rooms in China, there is always an electric kettle and teacups available.

China is increasingly becoming a cashless society, with mobile payment apps like Wexin Pay and Alipay widely accepted. You may not need to use any cash at all during your whole trip.

But some people may still worry that they don't work, or they may not want to use them. Cash is still widely accepted in China, especially in larger shops and restaurants. It's just that sometimes street vendors or smaller shops may not have enough change for you. It's advisable to exchange an appropriate amount of cash at the airport when you first arrive in China, especially if you rely on ATMs or banks for withdrawals. Due to the rapid development of electronic payment systems, there may be fewer ATMs or banks available, making it sometimes challenging to access cash.

Foreign credit cards are generally accepted in large shopping malls and well-established businesses in China, rather than in smaller street shops, supermarkets, local restaurants or tourist sites etc.

In China, almost all hotels have sitting toilets nowadays. Squatting toilets are rare in hotels, unless you're staying in very basic ones.

Public toilets usually have both sitting and squatting options, with squatting being more common. Don't forget to bring your own toilet paper since it's not always provided, but public toilets are always free of charge.

Many popular tourist sites especially museums in China require online reservations, ranging from 1 to 7 days in advance. Those popular tourist sites include but not limited to:

Beijing: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, National Museum

Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors, Hanyangling Tomb, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Stele Forest, Shaanxi History Museum

Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Chengdu: The Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, Leshan Giant Buddha

Jiuzhaigou.

If you plan to visit these sites, we strongly recommend you book tickets with your travel company at least 15 days in advance. Please be aware that obtaining tickets for the Forbidden City may not be guaranteed, especially during high seasons and holidays due to the significant disparity between supply and demand. For additional tourist sites that may require advance online reservations or if you are not sure, please always consult with your travel company or local travel agents for assistance in advance.

It's advisable to arrive at the train station at least 30-40 minutes before the scheduled departure time. For details, please refer to our file:” Tips For China Train Travel”.