China Travel Decisions
What do you need help with in China?
Clear travel rules, practical how-to guides and decision tools for international visitors.
Photo: Legolas1024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Browse by travel need
Start with the task in front of you
Entry & VisaCheck entry rules and prepare the documents you need.
TransportationBook rail, move between cities and recover from travel snags.
Hotels & StaysBook a room, check in and handle registration.
Food & DiningOrder food, explain dietary needs and solve QR menu problems.
Money & ShoppingPay, withdraw cash and claim eligible refunds.
Phone & InternetGet connected and use the apps needed on arrival.
Rules & SafetyCheck device, medicine and everyday travel rules.
DestinationsFind ticket, route and timing decisions for each stop.Solve a problem now
When something is blocking your trip
How to Pay in China When Alipay or WeChat FailsSwitch between compatible foreign POS cards, RMB cash, official ATM withdrawals and transit-counter payments when QR payments fail.
12306 Passport Verification Failed?Fix pending or rejected foreign-passport identity checks, document upload and station-window verification.China Hotel Refuses Foreign Guests? What to Do at Check-in (2026)Verify the exact property before booking with a foreign passport, then use the official rule, front-desk message and recovery steps if check-in fails.
UOM Verification Code Not Received? Fix SMS ProblemsOfficial UOM links, Chinese registration labels, and checks when the website will not open.Decision tools & topic hubs
Find the right route, then take the next step
Do I need a visa for China?Ordinary-visit entry check: visa-free stay, regional paths, or when a visa is still required.
China Transit Visa CheckerFind whether 30-day visa-free, 24-hour transit, or 240-hour transit may apply to your route.China Transportation for Foreign Tourists: Rail, Flights & City TransportStart with the blocked transport stage and follow the shortest rail, flight, metro, DiDi, airport-transfer or accessibility recovery path.
Drone in ChinaRegistration, UOM verification and flight permission.Paying in ChinaWallet setup, foreign cards and payment failure backups.Recently published
Fresh decisions
Restaurant QR Failed: Wrong Code, Bad Translation, or UnpaidYou have three weeks in China but the itinerary is built from city names and train times, so transfer days disappear and the trip turns into a sequence of station-to-hotel moves instead of sightseeing.Which China visa path applies to my trip?It depends on your passport, whether you are transiting to a third country, and your trip length. Check visa-free entry first, then 240-hour transit, otherwise apply for a visa.How do I plan a 2-day Xi’an itinerary with the Terracotta Warriors?Plan one city day and one dedicated Terracotta Warriors day, and book the museum admission through the official channel before you commit to nonrefundable travel legs.How do I visit Hangzhou West Lake in one day?Pick one shore or causeway segment rather than the whole lake, confirm your Shanghai-to-Hangzhou train and return train on 12306 before you leave, and finish when you have a confirmed return train plus a route you can.
How we build trust
Official policy
We cite the source of the rule.
Traveler experience
Recent reports are dated and distinguished from rules.
A usable next step
Each page helps you act or recover when a gatekeeper says no.