Short answer: First time in China? Start here. This guide covers the practical things first-time visitors actually need: whether you need a visa, how to pay with Alipay and WeChat Pay, how to book trains, how to get around cities, what to eat, and how to stay safe — in plain, step-by-step English, with no jargon and no prior knowledge assumed.
China is easier for first-time visitors than it looks, once the first five things are sorted: a visa (or visa-free entry), a payment app, a train ticket, a way to get around the city, and a backup plan for when something does not work. That is what this site is for.
Start with the essentials
1. Visa — do you even need one?
Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free for a short stay, while others still need a tourist (L) visa. Check the visa-free list first, then the L visa guide if you are not covered. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source linked in each guide before you book.
2. Payments — set up Alipay before you fly
China runs on QR-code payments. How to Set Up Alipay for Foreigners walks you through downloading the app at home, signing up with your home phone number, verifying with your passport, and linking an international card — no Chinese bank account or Chinese phone number needed. A WeChat Pay guide is coming next, as a backup payment method.
3. Transport — trains, metro, and ride-hailing
High-speed trains connect almost every city on a first trip, and metro systems in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu are cheap, clean and easy to use with a payment app. Coming guides cover booking train tickets as a foreigner, seat classes and prices, and getting around cities by metro, Didi and taxi.
4. Food — what to eat, and how to order it
Food is one of the best parts of a first trip to China — and one of the most confusing. Coming guides cover ordering food as a foreigner, Chengdu food for first-timers, and how to handle dietary needs without speaking Chinese.
5. Safety — what first-timers actually worry about
Is China safe for first-time visitors? What works online and what does not? What should you pack? The safety, internet, packing and translation guides in this series answer those questions directly, with checklists you can use before and during your trip.
Popular guides
- How to Set Up Alipay for Foreigners: A Step-by-Step Guide — the first guide to read, and the one to finish before you fly.
- How to Set Up WeChat Pay for Foreigners — coming soon.
- China Visa-Free Countries List 2026 — coming soon.
- China Tourist (L) Visa Guide — coming soon.
- How to Book China Train Tickets as a Foreigner — coming soon.
- How to Get Around Chinese Cities: Metro, Didi, Taxis — coming soon.
A 10-day first-trip route: Beijing – Xi’an – Shanghai
If you only have about ten days, this classic route gives you the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, and modern Shanghai, without rushing every day. A full day-by-day itinerary is coming soon.
- Days 1–4, Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs and Beijing food.
- Days 5–6, Xi’an: Terracotta Army, city wall, Muslim Quarter.
- Days 7–10, Shanghai: The Bund, old and new Shanghai, day-trip options, and a slower final day for shopping and food.
Free China First Trip Checklist
Use this checklist before you fly. No sign-up needed — save or print this page.
- Passport valid, visa or visa-free eligibility checked
- Alipay set up at home: home phone number, passport verified, international card linked, small test payment planned
- WeChat Pay set up as a backup payment method
- eSIM or SIM card arranged, and a translation app installed
- First hotel booked, train tickets booked, and hotel address saved in Chinese characters for taxi drivers
- Some cash in small bills as a backup, and your bank told you will use your card in China
- Travel insurance, and emergency numbers saved in your phone
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China?
It depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. Some nationalities are visa-free for a short stay; others need a tourist (L) visa. Check the visa guides on this site, and always confirm with the official source before you travel.
Can I pay by card or cash in China?
International cards work in larger hotels and shops, but daily life runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Set up Alipay before you fly, and carry some small-bill cash as a backup.
Do I need to speak Chinese?
No. With a payment app, a translation app, and hotel addresses saved in Chinese characters, most first-time visitors get around fine. The translation guide in this series covers exactly how.
Is China safe for first-time visitors?
For most visitors, yes — with the usual big-city care about scams, pickpockets in crowds, and traffic. A dedicated safety guide is coming in this series.
When is the best time for a first trip?
Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable for Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. Summer is hot and busy; winter is cold in the north but quieter and cheaper.
About this site
First Time in China is a practical, text-led guide for first-time visitors to China. It focuses on what to do, step by step, not on general introductions. Guides are updated regularly, especially time-sensitive pages about visas, payments and trains. For questions about this site, use the contact details on the Privacy Policy page, and see the Privacy Policy for how this site handles visitor data.