# ChinaPass｜中国生存包 — China travel content: verified answers and city guides（English） > Live in China without a Chinese number. Machine-readable full text of the travel FAQ and the city guides on chinapass.app in English, for AI answer engines. Each section states where it comes from and when it was reviewed. Canonical pages: https://chinapass.app/help// (index of indexes: https://chinapass.app/llms.txt). Content updates overthe air — re-crawl for the latest. Questions and corrections: kexuejin@gmail.com --- # Transport ## 12306 On-Sale Times by Station: When Train Tickets Actually Drop Source: https://chinapass.app/help/12306-station-on-sale-times/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** 12306 sells tickets 15 days ahead, and the moment they drop depends on the departure station, not the arrival. Stations release between 08:00 and 18:00 in batches — verified examples: Shanghai Hongqiao 13:45 (other Shanghai stations 14:45), Hangzhou East and most Hangzhou stations 10:45, Tianjin stations 16:00–16:15. Look up your exact station in the 12306 app under 出行向导 → 起售时间, then be ready with passenger details saved a few minutes before your station's moment. ### The rule, then the clock Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and every other major hub has its own moment in the same 08:00–18:00 band. Rather than trusting a cached table — stations occasionally adjust — check the authoritative source per station. | Departure station | On-sale time | Verified | | --- | --- | --- | | Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) | 13:45 | spring 2026, via state-media ticketing guide | | Shanghai, Shanghai South, Songjiang, other Shanghai stations | 14:45 | spring 2026, same source | | Hangzhou East / Hangzhou / Hangzhou South / Hangzhou West | 10:45 | spring 2026, Hangzhou government ticketing notice | | Fuyang, Tonglu, Jiande and other county stations under Hangzhou | 10:30 | same notice | | Tianjin, Tianjin West, Tianjin North | 16:15 | spring 2026, Tianjin government ticketing notice | | Tianjin South, Binhai, Binhai West | 16:00 | same notice | ### Looking up any station's on-sale time in 30 seconds - Open the 12306 app → 出行向导 (Travel Guide) → 起售时间 (On-Sale Times). - Enter the departure station and a date; the app returns that station's exact release minute. - Set the same lookup for your return leg — the return departure station runs on its own clock. - Web users: the same lookup exists on 12306.cn under 出行向导. ### Using the moment, not just knowing it - Save all passengers (passport details included) before the on-sale date — completing forms during the drop is how seats vanish. - Use 购票信息预填 (pre-fill) on the train list the day before: your order submits in one tap at the release minute. - Missed the first minute? Do not refresh blindly. Submit the official waitlist (候补) immediately — it keeps queueing for returned tickets and cancellations and outperforms every paid 'accelerator', which has no priority whatsoever. - Since 19 January 2026 a free correction refund exists: bought the wrong ticket? Cancel free within 30 minutes of payment if departure is 4+ hours away, once per person per day — useful for fixing a wrong date without paying the tiered refund fees. **What time do 12306 tickets go on sale each day?** There is no single daily time. Each departure station has its own release minute between roughly 08:00 and 18:00 — for example Shanghai Hongqiao at 13:45, Hangzhou stations at 10:45, Tianjin stations around 16:00–16:15. Check your station in the 12306 app under 出行向导 → 起售时间. **How many days in advance can I buy Chinese train tickets?** 15 days, counting the current day. Tickets for 1 October 2026 went on sale 17 September; tickets for the 7 October return peak opened 23 September. **Why is my ticket sold out at the exact release moment?** Popular routes on holiday dates can exhaust the initial inventory within minutes of the drop. Submit the official waitlist (候补) right away — cancellations and added capacity flow to the queue fairly. Third-party booking apps have no priority over the queue, whatever they advertise. **Do foreigners use the same on-sale times on 12306?** Yes — passport accounts buy on the same presale calendar and station clocks as everyone else. Register and verify the passport as a passenger before the on-sale date so nothing blocks the purchase at the drop. **Can I change the on-sale time of my station?** No — the release minute belongs to the departure station and cannot be changed. What you can control is preparation: saved passengers, pre-filled orders, and being logged in several minutes early. ## Can I use the Shanghai metro with a foreign card? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/shanghai-metro-foreign-card/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Yes. Activate the Shanghai metro code inside Alipay's Transport tab using your bound international card, then scan at the gate. If you would rather not, every station has machines with an English interface that accept cash and foreign cards for single journeys. ### The QR route - Alipay → Transport tab → activate the Shanghai code once - Works with a foreign card and an international phone number - Distance-based fare deducted on exit ### The token route Station machines sell single-journey tokens and accept cash and international cards. Slower per trip, but dependable when your phone is flat or the code will not activate. ### Airport connections Hongqiao is directly on the metro network. Pudong is served by the maglev and metro Line 2 — both accept the same QR code once activated. **Do I need to activate a new code in each city?** Yes, once per city, but it is a single tap inside the same Transport tab. **Can I use WeChat instead of Alipay?** Both support transport codes in Shanghai. Alipay's English interface is usually the easier first setup. **Is there a day pass?** Some cities sell day passes at station counters, but the distance-based QR fare is typically cheaper for a normal day of sightseeing. ## China Metro QR Codes for Foreigners: Every City's Best Method (2026) Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-metro-qr-code-foreigner/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Foreign visitors have three routes into China's metros. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu you can tap a Visa, Mastercard, AmEx or UnionPay bank card directly at the gates — no app, no ticket. Everywhere else, activate the ride code inside Alipay (Transport → your city), or use the local metro app like Shanghai's Metro大都会. Single-ride tickets from machines and staffed counters also accept cash and foreign cards. ### The three methods, ranked - Tap your bank card at the gate — the newest and simplest option, but only in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu (plus Beijing's suburban S2 line and Shanghai's maglev and city rail lines). Hold a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or UnionPay card on the gate reader like a transit card. No purchase, no app, no registration. - Alipay ride code — works in essentially every city with a metro (China has 55 of them). Open Alipay → Transport (出行) → pick your city → verify your identity once → a QR code appears, refreshed each ride. Payment pulls from your linked foreign card. One activation covers buses too in most cities. - Local metro apps — Shanghai's Metro大都会 (Metro Dahuiyuan) app registers with a passport and binds the same payment channels as Alipay or WeChat, then rides are charged after you exit (先乘后付). Worth it only if you ride Shanghai's metro daily and want its trip-history features. ### City-by-city: the best method for each of the 10 metro cities Guilin and Zhangjiajie — two of China's most-visited scenic areas — have no metro at all. City buses take cash or Alipay, and for the scenic areas themselves you are dealing with shuttle buses and park tickets, not metro gates; see our Guilin-Yangshuo and Zhangjiajie booking guides for those. | City | Best method for foreigners | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Beijing | Tap card at gate | Foreign cards work on subway lines and the S2 suburban line; Alipay ride code also fine | | Shanghai | Tap card at gate, or Metro大都会 app | All station service centers take foreign cards for tickets; maglev gates accept tapped cards too | | Guangzhou | Tap card at gate | Alipay ride code covers buses as well | | Chengdu | Tap card at gate | City buses also accept tapped cards on POS readers | | Shenzhen | Alipay ride code | Fastest setup — activate in under a minute with a passport | | Chongqing | Alipay ride code | Deep valley lines with long escalators; allow transfer time | | Xi'an | Alipay ride code | Lines 2/3 cover the Bell Tower and Terracotta Army connections | | Hangzhou | Alipay ride code | Also valid on Shaoxing and Huzhou connected lines | | Nanjing | Alipay ride code | Line to the high-speed south station runs late | | Suzhou | Alipay ride code | Connects with Shanghai metro network transfers at border stations | ### Activating the Alipay ride code, step by step - Open Alipay → Transport (the bus icon, labeled 出行). - Select the city you are in — the app uses location, but confirm manually when traveling. - First time only: verify your identity with your passport photo. This is the same verification you did when linking your card. - The ride code appears with a refreshed background each time. Hold it over the gate scanner — same lane as locals, same fare. - Repeat per city. Each city's code activates on first selection; after that it is one tap away. ### When the QR route fails, fall back to tickets - Every metro sells single-ride tickets at machines and staffed counters. Machines take coins and small notes; staffed counters accept cash and, in big cities, foreign bank cards — Shanghai runs foreign-card POS at every station's service center. - Day passes (one-day, three-day) are usually sold at counters and make sense if you are doing 4+ rides a day. - Gates are narrow at rush hour and security checks exist at every entrance — bags go through an X-ray scanner, which takes 10–20 extra seconds per station. - No signal in the station? Ride codes are generated offline once activated, but if the app shows a blank screen, head to the counter — this is the failure mode that catches people whose eSIM just died. **Can foreigners use the metro in China without a Chinese phone number or bank card?** Yes. Alipay registers with an overseas number and a linked foreign card, and the ride code works the same as for locals. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu you can skip the app entirely and tap a foreign Visa/Mastercard/AmEx/UnionPay card at the gate. **Which cities let foreigners tap a bank card on the metro?** Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu accept tapped foreign bank cards at metro gates, per the official 2026 guidance for foreign business travelers, plus Beijing's S2 line and Shanghai's maglev and city rail lines. Other cities still need a ride code or a ticket. **Is the Alipay ride code more expensive than a metro ticket?** No — same fare as a single-ride ticket, and in Shanghai riders get the same local discounts, including 10% off after spending ¥70 on metro in a month. The 3% foreign-card service fee only applies to Alipay purchases over ¥200, which a metro ride never is. **Do I need to activate a new ride code in every city?** Yes — the code is city-specific. Open Alipay → Transport and select the new city; activation takes seconds since your identity is already verified. Your previously activated cities stay one tap away. **What if the gate shows an error when I scan?** Stand back and regenerate the code, then try the same lane again. If it fails twice, walk to the staffed counter — they will let you through with a paper ticket after a quick check. Do not tailgate through a gate; fines run 5–10× the fare. ## China Train Stations with a Passport: Entry, Gates and E-tickets Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-train-station-passport-entry/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Book through the official 12306 route that accepts your passport, complete identity verification before travel and bring the original passport used for the booking. The e-ticket is the ticket; a staffed lane is the fallback when a gate cannot read a foreign passport or your booking details do not match. Do not rely on a paper ticket or arrive at the last minute during a holiday peak. ### Before the station - Use the passport number and name exactly as registered in 12306. - Check the station, departure time, platform and gate information in the official app. - Keep the original passport, booking confirmation and onward travel details accessible. ### At security and the gate Pass security with the same passport and ticket record. If an automatic gate rejects the document, do not repeatedly retry or ask another traveller to use their QR code; go to the staffed service channel and explain that you booked with a foreign passport. ### If the booking name differs Do not assume a minor spelling variation is harmless. Contact 12306 or the station service desk before departure and follow the correction/refund rules shown in the official booking record. **Do I need a paper ticket in China?** The normal 12306 booking uses an electronic ticket, but the passport used for booking is still your identity document. Follow station instructions if a gate needs assistance. **Can a foreign passport enter a train station?** Yes, when the ticket was booked and verified through the supported 12306 passport process. Bring the original passport used for booking. **What if the automatic gate will not scan my passport?** Go to the staffed lane. Do not keep retrying or borrow another passenger's QR code. **How early should I arrive during Golden Week?** Arrive earlier than a normal day. Holiday queues and security checks can be substantially longer even when the train time is unchanged. ## How do I book China high-speed trains with a passport? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/book-12306-train-with-passport/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Register an account on en.12306.cn with your passport — the name must match your passport exactly. Pick your train, pay with an international Visa or Mastercard, then show the e-ticket QR code together with your passport at the gate. No paper ticket is needed. ### Registration is the only hard step The English site at en.12306.cn accepts foreign passports only. Enter your name exactly as printed in the machine-readable zone, including the order of given and family names. A mismatch is the usual cause of failed verification. First-time accounts sometimes require an in-person check at a station ticket office before online booking works. Budget 20 minutes for this at your arrival station if it comes up. ### Booking and paying - Sales run 05:00–23:00 China time - The English site takes international Visa and Mastercard - You can also book inside the Alipay or WeChat mini-program with a bound card - Book 2–3 days ahead in peak season; trains sell out on holidays ### Changing or refunding One change is free per ticket. Refund fees scale with timing: free eight or more days before departure, then 5–20% as the departure approaches. **Why does 12306 say my verification failed?** Almost always a name mismatch against the passport, or a first-time account that needs station verification. See the dedicated page on 12306 verification failures. **Which station should I choose for Shanghai?** Big cities have several. Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Station are different places; the correct one is printed on your ticket. Check before you book the hotel. **Do I need to print the ticket?** No. The QR plus your passport gets you through the gate. Print an itinerary only if you need it for reimbursement. ## How do I use DiDi without a Chinese phone number? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/didi-without-chinese-phone-number/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** You can register DiDi with an international phone number and switch the app to English, or skip registration and use the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay with your bound foreign card. Set your destination in English or as a saved pin, and expect messages from the driver in Chinese. ### Two ways in - DiDi app: registers with an international number, has an English interface - Alipay or WeChat mini-program: uses the wallet account you already have, no separate signup, pays with the bound card ### The part that actually goes wrong Finding the pickup point, not the car. Large stations, malls and airports have several exits and the driver will not circle. Pin your location manually instead of trusting GPS, which drifts indoors. Drivers often send a message in Chinese when they arrive. A short reply phrase card saves the pickup. ### Paying - Bind a foreign card in the app or pay through the wallet mini-program - Cash is still accepted, but drivers rarely carry change for large notes - Airport and late-night trips may carry a surcharge **Is DiDi available in English?** The app has an English interface. Coverage of English in the mini-program route is thinner, but the map makes it workable. **Can I pay with cash?** Yes, but have small notes ready. **What about taxis?** Street taxis still work and take cash or QR. Have your destination written in Chinese — the address in characters is the reliable part. ## How do I use the Beijing subway with a QR code? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/beijing-subway-qr-code/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Open Alipay, go to the Transport tab, choose Beijing and activate the metro code once — it uses your bound foreign card. After that, scan the QR at the turnstile and the fare is deducted automatically. No Chinese phone number and no separate app needed. ### Activating the code - Alipay → Transport tab → activate the city code once per city - It is a built-in mini-program, so nothing new to install - An international phone number is enough to activate it - Fares are the same as locals get, including transfer discounts ### At the turnstile Scan at the entry gate and again at the exit — the system charges on exit based on distance. If the gate does not open, you are usually at a gate for the other direction, or your phone brightness is too low for the reader. ### Fallbacks that always work - Every station has ticket machines with an English button, taking cash and card - Staffed counters sell single-journey tokens - The same code works in 300+ other cities, so set it up once and reuse it **Do I need a Chinese phone number?** No — the transport code activates with an international number. **Does the QR work on Beijing buses too?** Yes, the same transport code covers buses in most cities. **What if the gate rejects my code?** Try an adjacent gate, raise screen brightness, and confirm the Beijing code is the active one if you have several cities enabled. ## Why does 12306 verification fail for foreign passports? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/12306-verification-failed/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** The three usual causes are: the name does not match the passport exactly, the account is new and needs one in-person check at a station ticket office, or the payment card is rejected. Fix the name first — it accounts for the large majority of cases. ### Cause 1: the name does not match 12306 compares your entry against the passport's machine-readable zone. Copy the ordering exactly, including hyphens and any middle names, and do not swap given and family names to match local convention. ### Cause 2: first-time accounts Some new accounts must be verified once at a staffed ticket office before online booking unlocks. Bring the passport you registered with. This is a one-time step and takes about 20 minutes. ### Cause 3: the card, not the account - Try booking inside the Alipay or WeChat mini-program instead, using a bound card - Switch from debit to credit if the debit card is declined - Buy at the station counter with cash or card as a guaranteed fallback **Can I book without verifying?** No. Verification is required before the first purchase on a new account. **Does the English site accept all foreign passports?** It accepts foreign passports; mainland ID cards are handled on the Chinese site. If your passport is rejected, the name format is the first thing to check. **Is there a workaround?** Station counters and the Alipay mini-program are the two reliable alternatives when the English site refuses a booking. --- # Paying ## Alipay vs WeChat Pay for Foreigners 2026: Which to Set Up First Source: https://chinapass.app/help/alipay-vs-wechat-pay/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Set up both, with Alipay first. Fees are identical on foreign cards: free under ¥200 per transaction, 3% above. Verified users can spend up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year on both platforms. Alipay wins on setup (full English UI, ~5-minute passport verification) and travel features like metro codes and tax-refund lookups; WeChat Pay wins as backup because many small merchants accept only WeChat. Neither lets foreign-card users send red packets or peer-to-peer transfers — those need a Chinese bank card. ### The comparison that actually matters Limits and fees are the platforms following central-bank guidance for foreign-card users and have been stable since 2024 — but they can change, so trust the in-app notice over any blog (including this one) for a large purchase. WeChat has periodically offered newly linked foreign cards a 60-day fee-free period on daily spending under ¥1,000 — check whether it applies to your account when you link; it is the single best deal in this whole table. | Feature | Alipay | WeChat Pay | | --- | --- | --- | | English interface | Full, mature | Partial | | Passport verification | ~5 minutes, usually same-day | Can take 24–72 hours | | Foreign-card networks | Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, JCB, Discover, Diners, overseas UnionPay | Same set | | Fee ≤ ¥200 | None | None | | Fee > ¥200 | 3% of full amount | 3% of full amount | | Single-transaction cap | US$5,000 verified | US$5,000 verified | | Annual cap | US$50,000 verified | US$50,000 verified | | Metro/bus ride codes | Yes, nationwide | Many cities | | Also does | Maps, tax-refund lookup, Train/Didi/Taobao mini-programs, menu translation | China's chat app — messaging rides on the same install | ### The setup order that works - Install and register Alipay with your home phone number, verify your passport (photo of the biographical page + face scan), link your card, and make a small test payment before you fly. - Install WeChat and do the same inside its Wallet — even if verification takes longer, do it at home, not at a Chinese checkout counter. - Bring a second card on a different network and link it to both apps. A Visa decline and a Mastercard decline are often different bank decisions; switching apps or cards fixes most counter-side failures. - Activate the Alipay ride code on arrival — it covers metro and buses in nearly every city. ### What neither app will do with a foreign card - No red packets, no peer-to-peer transfers, no splitting bills via transfer — foreign cards only pay merchants. If friends offer to pay you back, take it in cash or settle directly at the register. - Occasionally flaky: shared power-bank deposits, bike-share deposits, and a minority of mini-programs that demand a Chinese bank card or ID. Rare for tourists, but have cash for plan B. - No signal, no payment. Both apps fail identically when your data does — keep ¥500 or so in small notes as the universal fallback. ### The official one-stop alternative China also ships a purpose-built app for visitors, Alipay English-based Nihao China (入境通Easy Go), which bundles payments, transit codes across dozens of cities, tax refund and other entry services in one place. If juggling two apps sounds tedious, it is a legitimate primary; the trade-off is that some merchant flows still assume the two domestic apps. **Which should a foreigner set up first, Alipay or WeChat Pay?** Alipay first: full English interface, passport verification in about 5 minutes, and it covers transit codes, Didi, and tax-refund features. WeChat Pay second, because many small merchants accept only WeChat — having both avoids the awkward moment when a stall displays a single QR code. **What fees do Alipay and WeChat Pay charge on foreign cards?** The same on both: no service fee on transactions of ¥200 or less, 3% on the full amount above that, plus whatever foreign-transaction fee your own bank charges. Keep individual payments under ¥200 when practical — a ¥400 bill split into two ¥200 payments avoids the 3%. **What are the spending limits for foreign cards?** Verified users: up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year on both platforms, following central-bank guidance issued in 2024. Unverified or partially verified accounts face much lower caps, which is why passport verification before travel matters. **Can I send red packets or transfer money with a foreign card?** No. Foreign cards work only for merchant payments on both platforms. Red packets, peer-to-peer transfers and most person-to-person splits require a Chinese bank card. **Do I need a Chinese phone number for either app?** No. Both register with an overseas mobile number capable of receiving SMS, then verify identity with your passport. The registration itself is free; a tiny card-verification charge under $1 may appear and be refunded when linking a card. ## Can I use a Visa or Mastercard in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/can-i-use-visa-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Yes, but only in a narrow slice of places. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at international hotels, major department stores and airport shops. Small restaurants, convenience stores, taxis and most ticket counters run on Alipay or WeChat Pay, so the practical answer is: a foreign card works day to day only after you link it to a wallet. ### Where a physical card works Expect card acceptance at international hotel chains, high-end malls, airline counters and tourist-facing department stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Beyond that tier it drops sharply. - International hotels and their restaurants — reliably yes - Large department stores and supermarket chains — usually yes - Airports, high-speed rail ticket offices — yes - Small restaurants, street food, taxis, corner shops — usually no ### Why contactless alone will not get you through the trip China's retail payments moved to QR codes on phones. A market stall, a noodle shop and a metro turnstile all expect you to scan, not to tap. Carrying only plastic means falling back on cash constantly. Linking the same card to Alipay or WeChat Pay takes about five minutes with a passport and turns the card into something that works at those same stalls. ### What to do before you board - Install Alipay and WeChat at home, not after landing - Link your Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex or Discover card and complete passport verification while you still have home Wi-Fi - Carry ¥300–500 in cash as a fallback for the first day - Bring a second card from a different network in case one is declined **Should I get a UnionPay card instead?** Not necessary for a short trip. UnionPay is issued in many countries and is accepted more widely than Visa or Mastercard, but a foreign card linked to Alipay covers the same ground. **Are ATMs available for foreign cards?** Yes, at major bank branches and airports, though not every machine accepts foreign cards. Look for the Visa Plus or Mastercard Maestro mark, and withdraw during bank opening hours in case the machine keeps your card. **Will my bank block the transactions?** Sometimes. Set a travel notice before departure, and be ready to approve a push notification — many first payments in China are held until you confirm them. ## Does Alipay work without a Chinese bank account? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/does-alipay-work-without-chinese-bank-account/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Yes. The international version of Alipay registers with a non-Chinese phone number, verifies identity with your passport and binds a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex or Discover card. No Chinese bank account or mainland phone number is required for everyday payments. ### What verification actually asks for Identity verification wants your passport number and, in most cases, a photo of the photo page. The name on the card must match the name on the passport — this is the single most common reason linking fails. Do this at home. Completing verification on hotel Wi-Fi the night before an early train is the version of this story that ends badly. ### The limits foreign cards hit - Small transactions are fee-free; larger ones carry roughly a 3% service fee - Some regions' cards are rejected entirely by one wallet but accepted by the other — try both before assuming your card will not work - A few services, such as in-app top-ups and some vending machines, still require a mainland-issued card - Person-to-person transfers to some merchants may be limited until you have a usage history ### If linking keeps failing Try the other wallet first — it is the fastest test. If both reject the card, the cause is usually the issuing country, the card type (some debit cards are declined where credit cards pass), or a mismatch between the cardholder name and the passport. **Do I need a Chinese phone number?** No. Registration and verification work with an international number. **Can I top up a balance instead of binding a card?** Direct top-ups from a foreign card are limited. Binding the card and paying from it is the flow that works. **Does it work offline?** No — payment needs a data connection. Load the ChinaPass phrase cards so you can still explain a failed payment without one. ## How do I link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/link-foreign-card/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Open Alipay or WeChat, go to the wallet's card section, add your international Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex or Discover card and complete identity verification with your passport. The passport name must match the cardholder name. Once linked, scan merchant QR codes to pay. ### The steps - Install Alipay or WeChat and open the wallet or cards section - Choose add card and enter the international card number and expiry date - Complete identity verification with your passport number - Pay by scanning any merchant QR code ### What to expect after linking - Small transactions are fee-free; larger ones carry roughly a 3% service fee - Cards issued in some regions are rejected entirely — try the other wallet - A few services still need a mainland-issued card, so keep some cash ### Common failure points Card rejected, verification SMS never arrives, and the QR will not scan at the counter. The ChinaPass app carries offline troubleshooting for each of these, which matters most when you are standing at a till with no data. **Do I need a Chinese bank account?** No. A passport and an international card are enough. **Why was my card rejected?** Most often the issuing country or a debit-versus-credit restriction. Try the other wallet, then a second card. **What is the fee?** Expect roughly 3% on larger transactions, with small everyday amounts fee-free. Check the wallet's own disclosure — it changes. ## How does the China departure tax refund work? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-departure-tax-refund/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Spend above the minimum threshold at a participating store in a single day, ask for the tax refund form and keep the goods. At departure, show the goods and the form to customs before check-in, then collect the refund at the airport refund counter — cash or back to your card. ### The conditions - Minimum spend in one store on one day — the threshold is set nationally and is low enough for a single department-store visit - The store must participate — look for the tax refund sign - Goods must leave the country with you and be unused - There is a time limit between purchase and departure ### At the airport Customs inspection comes before check-in for goods you are checking in, so arrive early. Have the goods, the form and the receipts together — inspects do happen, and they are quicker if everything is in one envelope. After the stamp, go to the refund counter in the departure hall. ### Cash or card Cash is immediate; card refunds take days to weeks and sometimes never arrive if the card is closed. If the amount matters to you, take cash. **What percentage do I get back?** The refund is a portion of the VAT included in the price — up to around 11% depending on the goods. The exact rate is printed on the form. **Can I claim for online purchases?** Generally no. The scheme applies to participating physical stores with the refund form issued at the time of sale. **What if I am leaving overland or by ferry?** Major land and sea ports have refund points too, but coverage is thinner — check your departure port before you rely on it. ## Should I carry cash in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/should-i-carry-cash-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Carry ¥300–500 in cash. Mobile payment covers almost everything in cities, but cash is what works at market stalls, small temples, rural transport and in the first hours before your wallet is set up and verified. ### Where cash still wins - Small market stalls and street food carts - Rural attractions, village transport and mountain areas - Temple donations and small entry fees - The first day, before verification completes ### How much ¥300–500 is enough for a typical trip as a buffer. Bring small notes — change for a ¥100 note is a real friction point at a stall. Withdraw from an ATM at the airport on arrival rather than exchanging at home, where the rate is usually worse. ### What cash does not solve Cash will not book a high-speed train online, reserve a museum slot or pay for a DiDi. Treat it as a fallback layer, not a strategy. **Can I pay in US dollars or euros?** No. Only CNY is accepted in normal retail. Exchange at the airport, a bank or an ATM. **Are ATMs hard to find?** Major bank branches and airports are reliable. Look for Visa Plus or Mastercard Maestro marks on the machine. **Should I tip in cash?** Tipping is not customary and may be refused. No need to budget for it. ## Using Chinese ATMs with a Foreign Card: Fees, Limits and Cash Backup Source: https://chinapass.app/help/cash-atm-foreign-card/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Use ATMs operated by established banks, check your own bank's foreign-currency and ATM fees before travelling, and carry a small cash backup for places that do not accept mobile payment. Chinese ATM limits, accepted cards and surcharges vary by bank and machine, so never rely on a single universal amount or a street-side exchange rate. ### Before you leave home - Ask your card issuer about foreign ATM fees, daily limits, declined cash advances and supported networks. - Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay as the primary everyday method. - Carry a modest cash reserve for the first day, a remote area, a payment outage or a card that is not accepted. ### At the ATM - Choose a bank-owned ATM, inspect the card slot and keypad, and cover the keypad when typing a PIN. - Decline dynamic currency conversion and choose the local currency if your account supports it. - Take the receipt, keep the card and stop if the machine retains it; contact the bank immediately. ### If the machine rejects the card Do not keep retrying at a random machine. Check the bank's accepted cards and limits, use a branch or major-bank ATM, and rely on your mobile wallet or backup cash while you contact the issuer. **How much cash should I carry in China?** Carry a small reserve rather than all your spending money. The right amount depends on your itinerary, but mobile payment is usually primary and cash is the fallback. **Can I withdraw cash with any foreign Visa or Mastercard?** Acceptance depends on the bank, ATM operator and your card issuer. Confirm the networks and fees with the issuer and use an established bank ATM. **Should I accept the ATM's exchange rate?** If your card supports choosing a currency, decline dynamic conversion and let the card issuer apply the rate, then compare the fee. **What if an ATM keeps my card?** Contact the bank immediately and follow its card-recovery process. Do not let an informal helper take the card to another machine. ## WeChat Pay Unsupported Card: Limits, Fees and Failed Payments Source: https://chinapass.app/help/wechat-pay-foreign-card-limit/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** A foreign card may be linkable to WeChat Pay when the card, issuer and payment channel support it, but there is no single universal foreign-card limit for every visitor. The app and your card issuer can impose card, transaction, daily or merchant-category limits, and fees vary. Set up the wallet before departure, keep a second payment method and read the exact error shown by WeChat Pay or your bank. ### What to check before linking a card - The card issuer allows online, international and CNY transactions. - The card is a supported Visa, Mastercard, JCB or other network type in the region where you are using it. - The billing address, name and verification details match the card record. - You have a backup card, cash or another wallet for a declined transaction. ### Why a payment can fail - The merchant or payment channel does not support the card type. - The issuer declined the transaction, the CNY amount or the online category. - A per-transaction, daily or cumulative limit was reached. - The card needs online or overseas authentication that was not completed. ### What to do at the counter Check the exact WeChat Pay error, then ask the issuer about the declined category and limit. Do not repeatedly tap payment or assume that a different tourist will have the same limit. **Is there one foreign-card limit for WeChat Pay?** No. Limits can depend on the card issuer, card type, merchant, transaction and account settings. The app and issuer are the sources of truth for your specific card. **Why was my foreign card declined?** Common causes are issuer decline, unsupported merchant category, authentication not completed or a limit reached. Read the exact error and contact the issuer. **Does WeChat Pay charge more with a foreign card?** Fees depend on the payment channel and issuer. Check the confirmation screen and the card issuer's foreign-transaction terms before relying on a quote from another traveller. **Should I carry a backup payment method?** Yes. Keep a second card, Alipay or a small cash reserve for a declined or unsupported transaction. ## What Foreign Cards Really Cost in China 2026: Fees, Limits and the Cheap Path Source: https://chinapass.app/help/foreign-card-fees-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Three costs stack when foreigners pay in China: the Alipay/WeChat 3% service fee on transactions over ¥200 (free below), your home bank's foreign-transaction fee of typically 1–3%, and — if you withdraw cash — your bank's ATM fee plus conversion built into the rate. The cheap path: pay by QR with amounts kept under ¥200 when splitting is practical, withdraw RMB in large infrequent amounts at Bank of China or ICBC ATMs (they charge no local ATM fee for foreign cards), never exchange at hotel desks, and carry a no-foreign-transaction-fee card. ### The three-layer cost stack Worked example: a ¥1,000 restaurant dinner on a 2%-FX-fee card costs ¥30 in platform fee (3%) plus about ¥20 in FX fee — roughly ¥50, or 5%. The same dinner split into five ¥200 payments costs only the FX fee. The platform fee applies to the FULL amount, not the portion above ¥200, which is why splitting works. | Layer | Typical cost | Where it applies | | --- | --- | --- | | Platform service fee (Alipay / WeChat Pay) | 0% ≤ ¥200 · 3% of full amount > ¥200 | Every foreign-card payment through the apps | | Your bank's foreign-transaction fee | 1–3%, or 0% on travel cards | Every RMB transaction, including app payments and ATMs | | Cash logistics | Your bank's ATM fee (Chinese banks charge none); conversion ~0.5–1% above mid-market | ATM withdrawals and bank-counter exchange only | ### Cutting each layer - Platform fee: keep payments under ¥200 where the merchant allows splitting; on WeChat, watch for the new-card 60-day fee-free promotion on daily spending under ¥1,000; large fixed costs (hotels, trains) usually accept foreign cards directly at their own terminals or via Trip.com — channels that route around the app fee. - FX fee: the one cost you control before you fly. A no-foreign-transaction-fee Visa or Mastercard makes layer two vanish for the whole trip. - ATMs: Bank of China and ICBC machines accept foreign Visa/Mastercard debit reliably with no local ATM fee — your bank's own fee still applies, so withdraw ¥1,500–2,000 at once rather than ¥200 five times. Arrival halls of every international airport have them. - Exchange desks: hotel counters typically run 3–5% below mid-market; airport kiosks worse. Bank of China branches give the official rate with a small commission and are the right answer if you must exchange paper cash. ### Limits to know before a big purchase - Verified foreign-card users can transact up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year through Alipay or WeChat Pay — hotel bills and intra-China flights fit inside the cap; a semester's rent does not. - Chinese ATMs commonly allow around ¥20,000 per day per card, subject to your own bank's lower limit. - Both app caps and ATM limits can move — for anything large, check the in-app fee notice or ask the ATM's on-screen maximum before committing. ### When a payment fails at the counter - Try the other app first — a decline is often one platform's risk engine, not your money. - Switch to your second card on the other network. - Change direction: instead of scanning their printed code, show your payment barcode for the cashier to scan you. - Split the amount or drop below ¥200 to sidestep a fee threshold. - If it is a verification or fraud-hold problem, step aside — never debug an account while blocking the queue — and use cash for that purchase. **What is the real cost of paying with a foreign card in China?** About 4–6% all-in on large payments: 3% platform fee (over ¥200, on the full amount) plus 1–3% FX fee. Under ¥200 the platform fee is zero, so small payments cost only your bank's FX fee — or nothing on a no-FX-fee card. **Which ATMs can foreigners use in China?** Bank of China and ICBC ATMs accept foreign Visa and Mastercard debit cards and charge no local ATM fee; your home bank's fee and the exchange spread still apply. Airport arrival halls always have machines. Withdraw larger amounts less often to minimize per-withdrawal fees. **Should I exchange cash before arriving in China?** No — rates abroad are poor and you will get a better deal from Chinese ATMs or a Bank of China branch. Carry a small amount of RMB only if your home country offers a reasonable rate; otherwise rely on cards plus an airport ATM on landing. **How do I avoid the 3% Alipay and WeChat Pay fee?** Keep individual payments at ¥200 or below — the fee applies to the full amount above that threshold, so splitting a ¥400 bill into two ¥200 payments saves the whole fee. Hotels, airlines and large retailers also accept foreign cards through their own terminals, which bypass the app fee entirely. **How much cash should I carry in China?** ¥500–1,000 in mixed small notes covers most trips: street stalls without QR codes, temple donation boxes, rural vendors, and the day your data connection fails. Merchants are legally required to accept cash, and compliance is generally good. --- # Connectivity ## Are Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp and Google Blocked in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/blocked-apps-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** On a local mainland network, Google services, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X are generally unavailable; WhatsApp and Telegram can be unreliable. International roaming and some travel eSIMs route traffic through a home network and may work, but no provider guarantees every app. Set up payments, maps, translation and backups before departure rather than relying on a workaround after arrival. ### What visitors usually experience - Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Drive and other Google-hosted services are commonly inaccessible on local networks. - Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X are commonly inaccessible or unstable. - WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and iMessage can vary by network, city and time. - Domestic services such as Amap, WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Bilibili and Xiaohongshu are designed for the local network. ### What to prepare before boarding - International roaming or a travel eSIM details, with the provider's supported-app list checked. - Offline map and translation packs downloaded before departure. - Alipay or WeChat Pay set up and tested. - A second communication channel for tickets, guides and emergencies. ### Legal and safety boundary This page does not recommend or sell circumvention tools. Rules and enforcement can change, and commercial VPN apps may be removed without notice. Choose connectivity that is lawful where you travel and follow your provider's terms. **Is Instagram blocked in China?** It is generally unavailable on local mainland networks. Availability can differ with roaming or a travel eSIM, so check the provider's current support list. **Does WhatsApp work in China?** It is not reliable on a local connection. International roaming or some travel eSIM routes may work, but no method is guaranteed. **Can I use Google Maps in China?** Do not rely on it as the only map. Download an offline area before you fly and use a local map service for live navigation. **Should I buy a VPN before arriving?** This site does not recommend a specific tool. Check lawful connectivity options, provider terms and local rules before choosing one. ## Does Google Maps work in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/use-google-maps-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Google Maps will often load, but in mainland China its business data is thin and its coordinates use a different datum from local maps, so pins and walking directions drift. Use a local map app for street-level navigation and keep offline maps as a backup. ### Why the pins land in the wrong place Mainland map data uses a coordinate system that is offset from the one used internationally. Local apps correct for it; international apps often do not. The result is a pin that is a block or two away, which is exactly the error that makes you miss a turnstile or a restaurant entrance. ### What to use instead - Amap — the most complete local coverage and an English interface - Apple Maps — works in China and is accurate enough for most city navigation - Baidu Maps — comprehensive in Chinese - Keep a hotel card with the address in Chinese characters to show a driver ### Offline habits that help - Download the city for offline use before you land - Save your hotel and each day's first stop as pinned locations - Screenshot directions — a screenshot survives a dead battery better than a live route **Can I use Google Maps at all?** On an international eSIM or roaming connection it often loads, but treat it as a rough overview, not a walking guide. **Is there an English local map app?** Amap has an English interface and covers transport, walking and indoor malls. **How do I tell a driver where to go?** Show the address in Chinese characters. It is the single most reliable input, and hotel cards exist for exactly this. ## Does WhatsApp Work in China? The 2026 Answer for Visitors Source: https://chinapass.app/help/whatsapp-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** No — WhatsApp is blocked on mainland China networks (hotel Wi-Fi, local SIM cards, public hotspots — all of it), for messaging as well as voice and video calls. It works normally in Hong Kong and Macao. The reliable, compliant way to keep using it on a visit: international roaming from your home carrier, or a travel eSIM whose data routes through overseas lines. Set everything up before you fly. ### What's blocked and what works on local networks The blocking applies to every connection type on the mainland: hotel Wi-Fi, café Wi-Fi, office networks, and any SIM card bought in China. Hong Kong and Macao have no such restrictions — WhatsApp and Google all work normally there, including on cross-boundary trips from Shenzhen or Zhuhai. | Service | On mainland networks | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | WhatsApp (messages, calls) | Blocked | Blocked since 2017; also removed from the China App Store in April 2024 | | Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X | Blocked | All Meta/Google social platforms are inaccessible | | Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps | Blocked | Google services generally unreachable; see our Google Maps page for workarounds | | WeChat (微信) | Works | The local default for everything — register before arrival | | Alipay / WeChat Pay | Works | International card linking works normally | | Didi, Meituan, Amap, Baidu Maps | Works | Local super-apps unaffected | | iMessage / FaceTime, Apple services | Works | Apple's services operate normally in mainland China | | Bing search | Works | The China edition of Bing is reachable; DuckDuckGo and other overseas search engines are not | | ChatGPT and several overseas AI services | Blocked | Plan around it if you rely on one daily | ### The two reliable, compliant ways to keep WhatsApp - International roaming from your home carrier: your data exits through your home network, so WhatsApp, Google and everything else behave as if you never left. The catch is price — typically US$5–12 per day on US and European carriers. - A travel eSIM for China: data-only, but it connects to local 5G while routing your traffic through overseas lines, so blocked services work out of the box. A 10 GB / 15-day plan typically costs US$10–20 — far cheaper than roaming. Our eSIM comparison page lists what to check before buying. - Both are ordinary consumer data services. What you should not plan around: unauthorized VPN tools used to circumvent national network controls — that violates Chinese regulations, and free/unknown VPN apps also carry real data-theft risk. Skip them; the two options above are simpler and reliable. ### Set these up before you fly - Install and update WhatsApp before departure — it is no longer on the China App Store, and if your Apple ID region is set to China you can't download it there at all. - Register WeChat before arrival: new accounts need an existing user to verify you, which is much easier while you can still message your contact freely. - If you use a travel eSIM, install the QR profile and turn on data roaming for it before boarding — activation on landing then takes 2–5 minutes. - Download offline Google Maps areas (or install Amap) — map apps are the other thing people miss on day one. ### WhatsApp calls and video calls - Voice and video calls work over roaming or a travel eSIM — call quality just tracks your data speed, and 4G/5G in Chinese cities is excellent. - On local mainland connections (Chinese SIM, hotel Wi-Fi), calls do not connect at all — the block covers calls, not just messages. - Many travelers keep WhatsApp for family back home and add WeChat for anything local — guides, drivers, hotels, and anyone Chinese you meet. The two coexist without friction. **Does WhatsApp work on hotel Wi-Fi in China?** No. Hotel networks are part of the mainland internet and the block applies equally. Only roaming or a travel eSIM keeps it working. **Can I download WhatsApp inside China?** Not from the China App Store — Apple removed WhatsApp and Threads there in April 2024 at the government's request. Install and update it before you fly. Android users should also sideload updates beforehand if their account region is China. **Can I make WhatsApp voice and video calls in China?** Yes, if your data goes through international roaming or a travel eSIM. On any mainland local connection, calls will not connect. **Is my home SIM card enough?** Functionally yes — roaming routes data abroad so WhatsApp works — but daily roaming fees (US$5–12) add up fast. For trips longer than a few days a travel eSIM is the economical choice. **What about Hong Kong and Macao?** No restrictions — WhatsApp, Google, Instagram and every other blocked service work normally there, on local SIMs and Wi-Fi alike. Handy to know for Shenzhen/Zhuhai day trips: services come back the moment you cross. **Do I still need WeChat if I have WhatsApp?** For talking to people at home, no. For anything local — messaging your hotel, joining a tour group chat, receiving merchant updates — WeChat is the only game in town. Register it before arrival. ## Getting a Chinese Phone Number as a Foreign Visitor Source: https://chinapass.app/help/chinese-phone-number-foreigner/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Many short visitors can start with international roaming or a travel eSIM and may not need a mainland number. If a local number is required for a service or long stay, use an official carrier store or authorised channel, bring your passport and complete the carrier's real-name process. Requirements, activation and prepaid rules vary; avoid street sellers who cannot explain the account or provide a receipt. ### Do you actually need a local number? - Short trip, reliable roaming and an eSIM can cover many ordinary services. - A local number may help for long stays, certain app sign-ups or services that require a mainland mobile number. - Keep your home number active for banking, email and 2FA while you set up connectivity. ### At an official carrier channel - Bring the original passport and the details required by the carrier for real-name registration. - Ask about prepaid validity, activation, top-up, handset compatibility and the account holder's responsibilities. - Keep the SIM, receipt and service number in your travel documents. ### If a street seller offers a number Treat it as a risk to your accounts and personal data. A temporary number can be reassigned or tied to someone else's identity, which can make later sign-in and recovery difficult. **Can tourists use a Chinese phone number?** A local number may be obtained through official channels when the carrier's foreigner process applies, but availability and documentation vary. **Can I use an international roaming SIM instead?** For many short trips, roaming or a travel eSIM is the lower-friction first option. Check coverage, data limits and which services route through the home network. **What ID is needed for a local SIM?** The carrier may require your original passport for real-name registration. Ask the official store before visiting and keep the SIM receipt. **Is a cheap street SIM safe?** It can create identity, account-recovery and activation problems. Use an official carrier or authorised channel when a local number is necessary. ## VPNs and blocked apps in China: what works, what is legal Source: https://chinapass.app/help/vpn-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-13 **Short answer:** Mainland China blocks Google, Facebook, YouTube and X permanently, and restricts internet access further around political events. Chinese cybersecurity law states that VPN products and services must be licensed by the government, so most consumer VPN apps are not licensed — using one is a legal grey area that travellers take on themselves, and we do not recommend or sell specific tools. The option that avoids the question entirely for a short trip is international roaming or a travel eSIM: roaming traffic is routed through your home carrier's network, so your usual apps usually keep working. Plan for a week without Google Maps regardless: download the offline map, install Alipay and a translation app before you fly. ### What is actually blocked - Permanently blocked: Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and most Google-hosted services. - WhatsApp and Telegram generally do not work on a local connection; Signal and iMessage are unreliable. - Blocking can tighten around political events and anniversaries — news sites and messaging can become unreachable for days. - Domestic alternatives work perfectly: Baidu Maps, Amap (高德), WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu. ### The legal position, stated plainly - Chinese cybersecurity law requires online products and services — VPNs explicitly included — to be licensed by the Chinese government (UK FCDO, citing the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). - Most consumer VPN services are therefore unlicensed. Enforcement against individual tourists is rare, but this is not a right and we do not present it as one. - We do not recommend, sell or link specific circumvention tools. Anyone who chooses to use one is making their own decision, and should assume that commercial VPN apps on app stores may be removed without notice. - Nothing on this page is legal advice. ### The short-trip options, ranked by friction - 1. International roaming from your home carrier. Your traffic is routed through your home network, so your usual apps normally work. Expensive per day, and some carriers throttle data. - 2. A travel eSIM installed before you fly. Same routing logic, cheaper than roaming, keeps your home number active for SMS codes. This is what most short-stay visitors use — see our eSIM page. - 3. Hotel and cafe wifi. Fast, free and on the domestic network: expect Google and friends to be unavailable, and treat public wifi as untrusted for banking. - 4. A China SIM. Cheapest for long stays, but it puts you on the domestic network with Chinese data rules attached. - Whichever you pick: install everything you need before you land. App stores, maps and translation packs are much harder to fetch once you are behind the wall on a local connection. ### What to install before you fly - Offline Google Maps area (or Amap/Baidu Maps once you arrive) for the cities you are visiting. - Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card linked — payment is the thing that breaks first without data. - A translation app with the offline Chinese pack downloaded (about 44 MB). - Didi (ride-hailing) and 12306 (trains), both of which need a working login before you arrive. - ChinaPass keeps the booking channels, checklists and city steps offline on your phone — no Chinese number or internet needed at the moment you need them. **Can I just use my normal roaming plan?** For most short trips, yes — that is the lowest-friction option and it usually keeps your usual apps working, because roaming traffic routes through your home carrier. Check the daily price and the data cap before you go. **Will a travel eSIM really bypass the block?** A travel eSIM is a roaming product: your data leaves China through your home carrier's network rather than terminating locally, which is why blocked sites often stay reachable. It is not guaranteed — carriers and routes differ, so treat it as likely rather than certain. **Is using a VPN illegal in China?** Cybersecurity law requires VPN products and services to be licensed, and most consumer VPNs are not. Enforcement against individual visitors is rare, but the legal position is not on your side. We do not recommend specific tools. **Does WhatsApp work in China?** Not reliably on a local connection. On international roaming or a travel eSIM it usually works. If messaging is critical, ask your contacts to use a channel that works domestically, or keep both. ## What is the best eSIM for China in 2026? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/best-esim-for-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** For most short trips, a travel eSIM installed before you board is the simplest option: no shop visit, no passport registration, and data from the moment you land. Choose by data allowance and whether the plan routes outside the mainland, then keep your home SIM for calls. ### Four options compared - Travel eSIM: install at home, works on landing, no registration, priced per GB - Local SIM: cheapest per GB, but needs a passport registration at a shop - Pocket Wi-Fi: good for a group, another device to charge and carry - Home roaming: effortless, usually the most expensive per MB ### Why it matters more in China than elsewhere Payments, maps, ride-hailing and ticket entry all assume a working data connection. Hotel Wi-Fi alone leaves you stuck at the moments that matter — in a taxi, at a turnstile, at a counter with a QR code in front of you. ### Practical notes - Install and activate the eSIM at home while you have support and time - Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable before buying a plan - Keep the home physical SIM installed for banking SMS - Download offline maps as a backup regardless of which option you pick **Do travel eSIMs work everywhere in China?** Coverage follows the partner network, which is good in cities and along main routes. Remote areas depend on the same towers any visitor would use. **Can I buy a local SIM at the airport?** Yes, at major international airports, with your passport. It costs less per GB but takes time on arrival. **How much data do I need?** Around 1–2 GB per week for maps, messaging and payments; more if you tether a laptop or stream video. --- # Booking ## China Attraction Ticket Release Times: When Every Major Site Opens Bookings (2026) Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-attraction-ticket-release-times/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** Every major Chinese sight releases tickets on a fixed countdown, and the clocks differ: the Forbidden City opens bookings 7 days ahead at 20:00; the Terracotta Army 7 days ahead; Shaanxi History Museum 5 days ahead at 17:00; Tiananmen Square 1–7 days ahead; Suzhou museums 7 days at 08:00. Work backwards from your visit date, set an alarm for each release time, and book trains first (15-day presale) since sight dates cannot move around sold-out train times. ### The release-time table Times are Beijing time. Windows are what each operator published as of October 2026 — museums occasionally adjust them for holidays, so treat the official channel as the final word. - Free museums follow the same release mechanics as paid ones — Shaanxi History Museum costs nothing and is among the hardest reservations in the country precisely because the cap, not the price, is the constraint. - 'Rolling' release means tickets appear as inventory rather than one timed drop; booking early in the window still matters on holiday dates. | Site | Bookings open | Release moment | Channel | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing | 7 days ahead | 20:00 | 官方故宫博物院 WeChat mini program / intl.dpm.org.cn | | Tiananmen Square, Beijing | 1–7 days ahead | rolling | 天安门广场预约参观 mini program | | Terracotta Army (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum), Xi'an | 7 days ahead | rolling | official museum site / WeChat channel | | Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an | 5 days ahead | 17:00 | 陕西历史博物馆 official WeChat account | | Suzhou Museum and the Suzhou gardens | 7 days ahead | 08:00 | each site's official WeChat account | | Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan, Hunan | up to 7 days ahead | rolling, 2 timed entries/day | official scenic-area channel | | Great Wall (Mutianyu / Badaling), Beijing | a few days ahead | rolling | official scenic-area WeChat channels | | Train tickets (nationwide 12306) | 15 days ahead | per-station on-sale time | 12306 app or website | ### The booking order that avoids dead ends - Lock the Forbidden City first — it has the tightest window and no same-day tickets, so every other date should flex around it. - Book trains second: the 15-day presale means your sight dates must already be settled, and holiday trains sell out faster than museum slots return. - Everything else — free museums, the Wall, parks — has enough capacity that booking a few days out is realistic outside Golden Week. - Set a phone alarm for each release moment with the mini program already open and passenger details saved; the difference between getting in and missing out at 20:00 is usually under two minutes. ### What to do when the drop is missed - Check again after 22:00 the same evening: cancellations flow back into inventory, and some museums re-release unclaimed reservations. - Shift one day rather than one attraction — adjacent weekdays have dramatically better availability than 2–4 October style holiday peaks. - For the Forbidden City, the morning and afternoon sessions release together; if your date is gone entirely, the fallback is the neighbouring Beijing sights or a different day, never the scalper claiming to have 'internal tickets' — those do not exist. - For free museums, returning foreigners' slots also reappear — worth two checks before giving up. **What time does the Forbidden City release tickets?** Tickets (including Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery add-ons) go on sale 7 days before the visit date at 20:00 Beijing time, through the official Palace Museum mini program. There are no same-day tickets and no third-party sellers. **What time does Shaanxi History Museum release free tickets?** Reservations open 5 days ahead, with new slots released daily at 17:00 Beijing time through the museum's official WeChat account. Example: 30 March reservations open for 4 April. Holiday schedules can vary — re-check the official account near your date. **How far in advance do Terracotta Army tickets go on sale?** About 7 days ahead through the museum's official channels. The entry ticket covers both the pits and Lishan Garden; timed-entry slots matter on holiday dates, so book on the first day of the window. **Do I need to book Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City separately?** Yes — they are separate systems. The square is a free reservation made 1–7 days ahead with your passport; a Forbidden City booking for the same day generally lets you cross the square during opening hours, but the flag-raising ceremony needs its own reserved slot. **When do train tickets go on sale relative to attraction tickets?** Train tickets open 15 days ahead, earlier than any attraction window — which is why the booking order is sights first (fixed dates), trains second. If your train on a holiday is sold out, use 12306's official waitlist rather than shifting museum dates. ## China Golden Week October 2026: Booking Deadlines and Release Times Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-golden-week-october-2026/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** China's 2026 National Day Golden Week runs Thursday 1 October to Wednesday 7 October, with makeup workdays on 20 September and 10 October. Train tickets go on sale 15 days ahead — 17 September for 1 October travel, 23 September for 7 October returns. The Forbidden City releases tickets 7 days ahead at 20:00 and sells out in minutes. Book hotels and trains first, museums second, and avoid 2–4 October for the busiest sights. ### Golden Week 2026 dates, and the 13-day super window The State Council's official 2026 holiday schedule (announced 4 November 2025) sets National Day at 1 October (Thursday) through 7 October (Wednesday) — 7 days, with two makeup workdays on Sunday 20 September and Saturday 10 October. Mid-Autumn Festival is a separate 3-day break, 25–27 September. Take 3 days of leave on 28–30 September and you get a 13-day run from 25 September to 7 October — the longest domestic travel window of the Chinese year. That is why rail operators expect roughly 190 million passenger trips between 27 September and 8 October, with the single busiest day on 1 October. For you as a visitor this means two peaks stacked back to back: 25–27 September (Mid-Autumn trips) and 1–7 October (Golden Week). Late September is no longer a quiet shoulder season in 2026. ### Train tickets: the release calendar that matters China Railway sells tickets 15 days in advance, counting the current day. Each station also has its own on-sale time of day (check 12306 app → 出行向导 → 起售时间). The dates to set alarms for: - Missed the on-sale moment? Use 12306's official waitlist (候补) — it fills returned tickets fairly and beats any third-party 'accelerator', which has no priority anyway. - You can register and book on 12306 with a passport. Do the registration and passenger verification before the on-sale date, not on it — see our step-by-step 12306 guide below. - Since 19 January 2026, 12306 also offers a free correction refund: cancel a mistakenly bought ticket within 30 minutes of payment and more than 4 hours before departure, at no charge, once per person per day. | On-sale date | What opens | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | | 16 September | Tickets for 30 September | Day-before travel; popular with people starting early | | 17 September | Tickets for 1 October | Golden Week day 1 — the single hottest sale of the year | | 23 September | Tickets for 7 October | Last holiday day; the return-trip peak | | 24 September | Tickets for 8 October | Post-holiday return tail | ### Forbidden City: the hardest ticket in China The Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets. Tickets (including the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery add-ons) go on sale 7 days before the visit date, at 20:00 Beijing time, only through the official 故宫博物院 WeChat mini program — no third-party seller is authorised. Foreign visitors book with a passport and enter with the same passport. During Golden Week the hot days (2–4 October) typically sell out within minutes of the 20:00 release. Two details foreign visitors get wrong: It is open on Monday 5 October. The Palace Museum closes Mondays except on statutory holidays — and the whole 1–7 October period counts, so the Monday closure does not apply. Do not plan around a 'Monday closed' blog post written for normal weeks. Tickets are one-name, one-day, one-session. Orders cannot be changed to another person, date, or morning/afternoon session — only refunded. If your plan is fluid, book the date you are surest about, and cancel by 24:00 the day before to avoid a no-show mark. ### Tiananmen Square needs its own free reservation The square uses a separate, free, real-name reservation made 1–7 days ahead through the 天安门广场预约参观 mini program (or the Beijing Tong apps); foreign visitors register with a passport. Choose a slot — flag-raising, morning, afternoon, or flag-lowering. If you already hold a same-day booking for the Forbidden City, the National Museum, or another site in the area, that booking generally lets you cross the square during opening hours without a separate square reservation — but watching the flag-raising ceremony always requires its own reserved slot, and during National Day week the flag-raising crowd is enormous; the 1 October ceremony draws tens of thousands and requires arriving hours before dawn. Security lines around the square are longest 1–3 October. Building in 30–60 extra minutes for checkpoints is realistic, not pessimistic. ### Everything else that sells out, in order - Hotels first — not because they vanish, but because prices in central Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an multiply during the holiday. If your dates are fixed, this is the booking with the most money at stake. - High-speed rail on 1 and 7–8 October between megacities (Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Xi'an, Shanghai–Hangzhou). Off-peak directions and times stay available longer. - The Forbidden City (see above), followed by other headline museums that run 7-day advance windows — check each museum's own mini program for its release time; they differ. - Great Wall day trips: the Badaling cable car and the Mutianyu shuttle both queue badly mid-holiday. First buses and first trains beat the crowds by hours. - Nothing at the airport: you still need your visa-free or visa route sorted before you fly — see our visa-free country list if you have not checked your passport's route. ### Crowd tactics that actually work - The worst days for headline sights are 2–4 October. If you land during the holiday, spend those days on neighbourhoods, parks, and food streets, and save museums for 1, 5, 6 or 7 October. - Morning entry beats everything: arrive at opening time, before tour groups unload mid-morning. - The reverse also works: from about 15:30, day-trippers start leaving major sights and lines at the top attractions visibly shorten. - Book in this order: hotels → trains on the exact on-sale dates above → Forbidden City and other timed museums → everything else. Do not lock the rest of an itinerary before you hold the Forbidden City ticket — dates cannot be changed. - Already in China without plans? Same-day museum tickets do not exist, but parks, temples, walls and water towns generally still sell at the gate; expect queues rather than sellouts. **When do Golden Week 2026 train tickets go on sale?** Fifteen days before travel, counting the sale day. Tickets for 1 October open on 17 September 2026; tickets for the 7 October return peak open on 23 September. Each departure station also has its own daily on-sale time, listed in the 12306 app under 出行向导 → 起售时间. **Is the Forbidden City open on Monday 5 October 2026?** Yes. The Palace Museum closes on Mondays except during statutory holidays, and the whole 1–7 October Golden Week counts as a statutory holiday period. It is open and will be extremely busy; tickets released 7 days ahead at 20:00 will sell out fast. **Can foreigners buy Golden Week train tickets with a passport?** Yes. 12306 accepts passport registration for foreign users; verify your passport as a passenger before the on-sale date. At the station you enter through manual or e-gates that read passports, and you carry the physical passport you booked with. **Do I need to reserve Tiananmen Square, and can foreigners do it?** Yes — it is free and required. Foreign visitors reserve 1–7 days ahead with a passport through the 天安门广场预约参观 mini program. A same-day booking for the Forbidden City or National Museum generally covers walking across the square, but the flag-raising ceremony needs its own reserved slot. **Is Golden Week a bad time to visit China?** It is the most crowded week of the Chinese year, but manageable if you book everything in advance, keep 2–4 October away from headline sights, and enter attractions at opening time. If your dates are flexible, late October offers similar weather with a fraction of the crowds. **What are the 2026 makeup workdays around Golden Week?** Sunday 20 September and Saturday 10 October 2026 are official workdays that bracket the holiday. This barely affects visitors, but expect normal commuter crowds on those two days and quieter-than-usual offices on 20 September. ## How do I book Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/book-forbidden-city/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Book on the official international site intl.dpm.org.cn using your passport details, around 7 days ahead — the Palace Museum sells out fastest of any sight in China. Your passport is the ticket: show it at security. If it is sold out, foreigners can buy at the on-site ticket office with a passport, subject to availability. ### Book on the official site Use intl.dpm.org.cn and skip the WeChat mini-app queue. Official domains end with dpm.org.cn — anything else, including forbiddencity-ticket.com and lookalikes, is a reseller charging a markup. - Slots open roughly 7 days ahead - 60 CNY in peak season, 40 CNY off-season - Real-name: enter the passport you will carry - Closed Mondays outside public holidays ### Entry is the passport There is no paper ticket to collect. Show the passport at security. Arrive about 30 minutes early for the 9–11 AM peak. ### When it shows sold out - Foreigners can buy at the on-site ticket office with a passport, subject to availability - Check for late releases the evening before - Avoid third-party resellers — many cannot ticket foreign passports at all **How far in advance should I book?** As soon as your dates are fixed. Slots open about 7 days ahead and popular days go within hours in peak season. **Can I change the name on a booking?** Real-name bookings are tied to the passport used, so changes are generally not possible. Book with the passport you will actually carry. **Is the Great Wall the same system?** No — each section has its own channel. Mutianyu has its own booking flow; see the dedicated page. ## How do I book Mutianyu Great Wall tickets as a foreigner? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/great-wall-tickets-mutianyu/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Book Mutianyu with your passport through the official Mutianyu channel or a mainstream ticketing app, a few days ahead in peak season. The entry ticket, cable car and toboggan are priced separately, and the passport you booked with is what you show at the gate. ### What you are actually buying - Park entry — real-name, tied to your passport - Cable car up and down, or chairlift plus toboggan — sold separately - Shuttle bus inside the scenic area on some routes ### Which section to pick Mutianyu is the usual choice for a first visit: restored, less crowded than Badaling, and with a toboggan ride down. Badaling is the closest to the city and the busiest. Jinshanling and Jiankou are for walkers and are not restored. ### Getting there - Private car or hired driver is the simplest for a group - Tourist buses run from central Beijing in peak season - Public transport works but adds two to three hours to the day **Can I just turn up and buy a ticket?** Often yes outside holidays, but daily caps apply in peak season and real-name booking is standard. Book ahead if your dates are fixed. **Is the toboggan worth it?** It is the reason many people pick Mutianyu. Buy it with the entry ticket — it sells out on busy days. **How long does the visit take?** Half a day including transport, longer if you walk beyond the restored stretch. ## How do I book Terracotta Army tickets with a passport? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/terracotta-army-tickets/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Book through the museum's official site or its WeChat channel with your passport, a few days ahead in peak season. Real-name booking applies to every visitor including foreign passport holders, and the passport you booked with is what you show at the gate. The site is outside Xi'an, so allow most of a day. ### Booking with a passport - Real-name booking — enter the passport you will carry - Peak-season entry is around 120 CNY; off-season is lower - Book a few days ahead for holidays and summer - Bring the passport itself, not a screenshot ### Getting there from Xi'an The museum sits east of the city. Tourist buses run from the railway station area, and a car saves about an hour each way. Most visitors combine it with the city wall or the Muslim Quarter on the same day. ### How long to allow Two to three hours on site is comfortable. Pit 1 is the largest; the bronze chariots in the exhibition hall are the part people skip and then regret. **Do I need a guide?** Not required, but the site makes far more sense with context. Audio guides are available at the entrance in English. **Can I buy on the day?** Usually yes outside holidays, but real-name limits apply in peak periods. Book ahead if you are travelling in summer or during a public holiday. **Is it the same ticket as the tomb mound?** The ticket covers the museum site including the mound area; check what is open on your date, as excavation areas rotate. ## How do I reserve the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/shaanxi-history-museum-booking/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Entry is free but daily slots are capped, so reserve a few days ahead through the museum's official channel with your passport. Tickets are released five days ahead at 17:00 daily, and visitors without a booking cannot enter. ### Free does not mean walk-in The cap is the constraint, not the price. Reservations open a few days ahead and the morning slots are usually gone first. Reserve as soon as your Xi'an dates are fixed. - Free entry to the main halls; some special exhibitions are ticketed separately - Closed Mondays, except on public holidays - Real-name booking with your passport ### If it shows full - Check again the evening before — late releases and cancellations appear - Try the paid special exhibition, which sometimes includes main-hall access - Build the day around the city wall and Muslim Quarter and try the next morning **How long does a visit take?** Two to three hours for the main halls at a comfortable pace. **Is there an English audio guide?** Yes, available at the entrance, and captions in the halls are bilingual. **Can I reserve with a foreign passport?** Yes — select the passport option during real-name reservation and bring the same document. --- # Staying ## Buying Medicine in China: Pharmacies, OTC Rules and Delivery Source: https://chinapass.app/help/buying-medicine-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Pharmacies (药店, green cross sign) are dense in every Chinese city and common minor ailments — headache, diarrhea, colds, allergies — are handled over the counter for ¥10–40. Look for the OTC mark for self-service items; anything else needs a doctor's prescription. Foreign passports work for real-name checks. A heavily restricted list (ephedrine cold medicines and similar) is ID-registered and capped regardless of prescription status. ### How pharmacies work - Look for the green cross sign and the word 药店 (yàodiàn). Big chains include 老百姓大药房 (LBX Pharmacy), 益丰 (Yifeng), 大参林 (Da Zhong Lin) and 一心堂 (Yixintang) — they are standardized and price-labeled. - Most common OTC items cost ¥10–40. The counter staff are usually licensed pharmacists and will recommend items if you describe symptoms — translation apps work fine for this. - Many pharmacies in city centers and near hospitals run 24 hours; Meituan Maps or Amap searching 药店 shows opening hours and 24h flags. - Prescription drugs legally require a prescription reviewed by an on-duty pharmacist — pharmacies cannot sell them without one, and the rule is enforced more strictly each year. ### What you can buy without a prescription The OTC mark on the box is the signal: red OTC (甲类) must be sold from the counter, green OTC (乙类) can sit on open shelves — both are yours without a prescription. Combination cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine are NOT in this free category — see the restricted list below. | Need | Common Chinese product | Approx. price | | --- | --- | --- | | Pain/fever | 布洛芬 (ibuprofen) or 对乙酰氨基酚 (acetaminophen) | ¥10–20 | | Stomach/diarrhea | 蒙脱石散 (montmorillonite powder), 口服补液盐 (oral rehydration salts) | ¥10–25 | | Colds (non-restricted) | Basic single-ingredient remedies with OTC mark | ¥15–30 | | Allergies | 氯雷他定 (loratadine), 西替利嗪 (cetirizine) | ¥15–25 | | Motion sickness | 晕车药 (buscopan-type tablets or patches) | ¥10–20 | | Muscle strain | 云南白药 sprays and plasters, pain-relief plasters (膏药) | ¥15–40 | ### What needs a prescription — and the restricted list - Antibiotics and essentially all 'real' prescription drugs require a doctor's prescription from a licensed physician. Your foreign prescription has no force in China — but a short hospital or clinic visit produces one, and internet hospitals offer online consultations that issue valid e-prescriptions. - A national restricted list (tightened by a 2026 regulator notice) bans online sale entirely — pharmacies and delivery apps alike — for: all injectables (except insulin), vaccines, blood products, narcotic/psychotropic medicines, pregabalin, tramadol combinations, and several high-risk prescription drugs (warfarin, carbamazepine, mifepristone and similar). - Cold and cough medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine (common in combination cold remedies) can be bought only offline, with your passport checked and registered, capped at 2 retail packs per purchase — and the pharmacy will log it. - Expect outright refusal for bulk purchases or requests without clear personal need; pharmacies are required to report unusual buying patterns. ### Medicine delivery: 30 minutes to your door - Meituan (美团买药), Ele.me and JD Health deliver OTC medicine in roughly 30 minutes in cities, 24h in many districts — the fastest option for traveler ailments, ordered through apps you likely already have. - Delivery requires payment through Alipay or WeChat Pay (both link international cards), and real-name items will ask for ID details. - Everything on the national restricted list is automatically unavailable online — that's regulation, not stock shortage. If an item can't be found in any delivery app, it's on the list; go to a pharmacy in person. ### Bring your own — with care - Personal-use quantities of your regular medication are allowed into China; keep them in original packaging with the prescription label, and carry a copy of the prescription — customs occasionally asks. - Check controlled substances before flying: codeine-containing painkillers and ADHD stimulants (amphetamine-class medicines) are controlled in China and can cause real trouble at the border. If you rely on one, research the import rules and carry documentation. - Western brand names often don't exist in China — the active ingredient (INN) is what to search for, e.g. 'ibuprofen 布洛芬'. ### Authenticity and serious illness - All legitimate medicines carry a 国药准字 registration number on the box, plus a traceability code you can scan with Alipay or WeChat to verify maker and batch. Refuse anything without both — no exceptions, including 'gifts' from well-meaning strangers. - For anything beyond minor ailments, go to a hospital (医院) or an international clinic — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu have English-speaking international departments. Emergency ambulance: 120. Pharmacies are for the small stuff. **Can foreigners buy medicine in China without Chinese ID?** Yes. Ordinary OTC items need no ID at all. For real-name items (like ephedrine-containing cold medicine), your passport is the accepted document — that's what the registration is designed for. **Can I buy antibiotics over the counter?** No. Antibiotics require a doctor's prescription, and pharmacies face real penalties for selling them without one. An internet-hospital online consultation is the quickest legitimate route to an e-prescription. **Can I get medicine delivered to my hotel?** Yes — Meituan, Ele.me and JD Health deliver OTC medicine to hotels in cities, often within 30 minutes. Set the delivery address to the hotel's Chinese address and have it handed to the front desk. **Why can't I find a cold medicine on any delivery app?** Combination cold remedies with ephedrine/pseudoephedrine are banned from all online channels by national regulation — offline pharmacies only, with passport registration and a 2-pack cap. This is deliberate, not a stock issue. **Is my home-country prescription valid in China?** Not directly — Chinese pharmacies can only accept prescriptions issued by licensed Chinese physicians. Bring your medication in original packaging for personal use, or see a clinic in China for a local prescription. ## Can You Drink Tap Water in China? What Visitors Should Know Source: https://chinapass.app/help/drinking-water-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** No — don't drink tap water in mainland China. It is treated at the plant, but old pipes and rooftop storage tanks mean it isn't potable as delivered. Tap water is fine for brushing your teeth and becomes safe after a rolling boil. Bottled water is everywhere and cheap (¥1–3 for a 550 ml bottle), and every hotel room has a kettle. ### What tap water is safe for - Brushing your teeth: fine. Nobody skips this, including locals. - Washing food you will peel (fruit you'll peel yourself, vegetables): fine. - Drinking after a rolling boil: safe — this is exactly what the hotel kettle and every office water dispenser are for. - Drinking straight from the tap: no. Locals don't do it either; hot-water culture exists partly for this reason. ### Bottled water: brands and prices A 550 ml bottle from a convenience store or supermarket runs ¥1–3 — roughly a third of Western European prices. Large 1.5 L bottles cost only marginally more. You can also buy 24-bottle shrink-wrapped cases in supermarkets for hotel stays. In rural areas, small towns, or at trailheads, buy sealed bottles rather than refilling — that is the only real rule to remember. | Brand | Typical price | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | 农夫山泉 Nongfu Spring | ¥1.5–3 | The default; red cap. Sold at every convenience store and street kiosk | | 怡宝 C'estbon | ¥1.5–2.5 | Green cap, purified water, common in the south | | 娃哈哈 Wahaha | ¥1–2 | Cheapest of the big names | | 百岁山 Ganten | ¥2.5–4 | Slightly premium mineral water, elegant blue bottle | ### Your hotel room - Every mid-range and above hotel provides an electric kettle. Use it freely — boiling tap water for tea or filling a bottle after it cools is normal practice. - Most hotels also leave two complimentary bottles of water per day; four- and five-star hotels are generous with this. If the room runs out, the front desk provides more, usually free. - High-end hotels sometimes have filtered or 'drinking water' taps in rooms. Fine to use — but when in doubt, the kettle and bottled water are the safe default. ### Hot water is everywhere — and free - Airports, railway stations, and trains have free hot-water dispensers (开水/热水). Bring a bottle and refill — on trains this is a universal habit, not a hack. - Restaurants serve hot tea or hot water by default, and it is free. Cold water at restaurants is usually bottled or filtered — served chilled, not from the tap. - Asking for '热水' (rè shuǐ, hot water) gets you a free refill at almost any shop, train, or office lobby. ### Ice, salads, and street food - Chain restaurants, coffee shops (Starbucks, Luckin, Manner), and hotel restaurants use filtered water and commercial ice — their iced drinks are fine. - At street vendors and very small local eateries, iced drinks are the one thing worth being cautious about; sealed bottled drinks are the safe fallback. - Rinse-in-tap-water salads at budget restaurants are a mild risk the same way they are in most of Asia — your call on how adventurous to be. **Can I drink tap water after boiling it?** Yes. A rolling boil makes it safe to drink — this is standard practice, and the kettle in your room exists for it. The taste is a bit flat compared to bottled water because it is softened/purified municipal supply. **Is the ice in drinks safe?** At chains, cafes, and hotel venues, yes — their ice comes from filtered supplies. Be more cautious with street vendors' iced drinks in very small towns. **How much does bottled water cost?** ¥1–3 for a 550 ml bottle at convenience stores and supermarkets. Airport and scenic-area kiosks mark up to ¥5–10, so stock up before entering stations or attractions. **What about water for baby formula?** Use bottled purified water (纯净水) or boiled-and-cooled tap water. Brands labeled 纯净水 rather than 矿泉水 (mineral water) are preferred for formula since mineral content is lower. **Is tap water safe in Hong Kong and Macao?** Yes — Hong Kong's supply meets WHO drinking standards and is officially potable, though many residents still filter or boil it. Mainland rules of thumb don't apply there. ## How to Find Hotels in China That Accept Foreign Guests Source: https://chinapass.app/help/hotels-that-accept-foreigners/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Look for properties that explicitly say they accept international guests or passports, then message the hotel before paying to confirm the check-in document and registration process. International chains and larger hotels are usually the safest first choice, but the requirement is property-level: some budget hostels and small inns cannot register foreign guests. ### Questions to ask before booking - Do you accept guests with foreign passports at this specific branch? - What original document do you need at check-in, and is a passport copy accepted? - Can the hotel complete the local accommodation registration? - What is the deposit and refund policy at check-in and check-out? ### Signs that a listing needs confirmation - It only says 'Chinese ID accepted' or 'local guests only'. - The price is dramatically below comparable hotels and the passport question is unanswered. - The property is a small hostel or short-term rental with no clear address or reception policy. - The booking page asks for a Chinese mobile number but does not explain passport check-in. ### At check-in Carry the original passport and keep the booking confirmation and property address. A hotel may scan the document for registration and return it immediately; follow the property's instructions and do not hand it to an informal helper. **Do all hotels in China accept foreigners?** No. A property must have the ability and licence to register foreign guests, and some smaller properties do not. Confirm before paying. **Can I stay with a friend instead?** Yes, but ask the host and the local authority how the private accommodation must be registered. Carry your passport and the host's address. **What if the hotel says a passport copy is enough?** Follow the property's current instructions, but be prepared for the original passport because foreign-guest registration normally involves identity verification. **How do I avoid a check-in problem after booking?** Send the hotel a pre-arrival message with your nationality and ask for written confirmation that the branch accepts your passport. ## Power Plugs in China: Which Adapter You Actually Need (220V, Types A, C, I) Source: https://chinapass.app/help/power-plugs-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** China uses 220V/50Hz electricity with three socket types in circulation: Type A (two flat pins), Type C (two round pins) and Type I (three angled pins, the Australian shape). Most phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage (100–240V), so you need only a plug adapter, not a converter. A single universal travel adapter covers everything; hotels almost universally provide USB ports or bedside sockets, and convenience stores sell adapters cheaply if you arrive without one. ### The socket zoo, and which one you will meet - Type A: two flat parallel pins — the US/Japan shape. Extremely common in hotels; most US, Japanese and Chinese two-pin chargers plug straight in. - Type C: two round pins — the European shape. Also common, especially in newer buildings; most European two-pin chargers plug straight in. - Type I: three flat angled pins — the Australian/Chinese three-pin shape. Used for high-power appliances (kettles, heaters) and many Chinese-built devices. - The catch for visitors: UK (Type G), and three-pin US/EU grounded plugs do not fit without an adapter. Buy one universal adapter before you fly — a few dollars — or grab one at an airport convenience store on arrival. ### Voltage: adapter vs converter - China runs 220V at 50Hz. Check the fine print on your charger's brick: 'Input: 100–240V, 50/60Hz' means it is dual-voltage — plug adapter only, safe everywhere in China. Nearly every phone, laptop, camera and e-reader charger made this decade qualifies. - Single-voltage appliances — basic hair dryers, curling irons built for 110–120V (US/Japan models) — need a step-down converter, or better, leave them home: hotels above budget level provide in-room hair dryers, and hotel hair dryers are wired for the local voltage. - North American 120V-only devices plugged into 220V without a converter will burn out fast — the adapter only changes the pin shape, not the volts. ### The practical packing list - One universal travel adapter (Type A/C/I coverage) per person — this is the whole kit for most travelers. - A short USB-C or multi-port charging cable: hotel rooms almost always have USB sockets or plenty of outlets near the bed, and high-speed trains have outlets at every seat (and often USB ports too). - A power bank, charged before flight day: sightseeing days run long, rental power banks via WeChat/Alipay exist everywhere but need a working account and a return dock. - Forgot everything? Convenience stores (FamilyMart, Lawson) and hotel front desks usually sell or lend adapters — the front-desk lending shelf is reliable at international chains. **Do I need a voltage converter for China?** Almost certainly not. China is 220V/50Hz, and any charger labeled 'Input 100–240V' — which includes nearly all modern phone, laptop and camera chargers — handles it natively. You only need a plug adapter. A converter is needed solely for single-voltage 110–120V appliances like some US hair dryers. **Which plug adapter do I need for China?** One universal adapter covering Type A (flat two-pin), Type C (round two-pin) and Type I (three angled pins) covers every socket you will meet. Visitors from the US and Japan: your two-pin plugs fit many sockets as-is, but bring an adapter for three-pin devices. UK and Australian visitors: Australian-style plugs fit Type I sockets directly. **Do Chinese hotels have USB ports?** Almost universally, at every level above the most basic. Newer rooms have USB-A or USB-C sockets built into bedside panels and desk outlets. If yours doesn't, the front desk can usually lend a cable or adapter. **Can I charge my laptop on a Chinese high-speed train?** Yes — every seat on high-speed trains (G/D trains) has a 220V outlet, and many have USB ports too. The power is stable enough for laptops; just bring your usual charging brick with an adapter on the plug. **Is the electricity in China the same as Hong Kong?** Voltage is the same 220V/50Hz family, but sockets differ: Hong Kong uses UK-style Type G three rectangular pins. If your trip includes both mainland China and Hong Kong, a two-region adapter or a universal one is required. ## Receiving and Sending Packages in China: Hotels, Lockers and Cainiao Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-parcel-delivery-pickup/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** The easiest way to receive a package in China is to have it sent to your hotel front desk — they sign for you and hold it. Self-pickup routes (Hive Box lockers, Cainiao 驿站 stations) open with an SMS pickup code and therefore need a Chinese phone number. Sending packages out is simple: SF Express (顺丰) counters and couriers take parcels with a Chinese-filled waybill, and hotels will hand parcels to the courier for you. ### Hotel front desk: the traveler default - Give the sender the hotel's full Chinese address plus the hotel's phone number, and put your name exactly as it appears on your booking — that's how the front desk matches parcels to guests. - Mention it at the front desk ('I'm expecting a package') — they'll flag it and call your room when it lands. This works at every mid-range and above hotel; hostels are more hit-and-miss. - You'll need to show your passport when collecting — parcels are nominally real-name, and matching the name on the parcel to your ID is the drill. - This also works for the practical traveler move: shipping a suitcase of purchases ahead to your next hotel or to the airport instead of hauling it on trains. ### Hive Box lockers and Cainiao stations Lockers (found in apartment and office lobbies) hold parcels free for 18–24 hours, then charge a small storage fee. Cainiao stations — the little shops marked with a cainiao logo in every neighborhood — are more flexible: staff hold parcels for days, and if you show your passport and the code, someone will usually pull it for you even without the app. | Pickup point | How it opens | Chinese number needed? | | --- | --- | --- | | 丰巢 Hive Box lockers | SMS pickup code entered on the locker screen (or scan QR) | Yes — the code is texted to the recipient number | | 菜鸟驿站 Cainiao station | Show pickup code from the Taobao/Cainiao app; staff retrieves | Yes for the code; staff often help foreigners who show passport | | Courier home/office delivery | Door delivery; courier calls first (in Chinese) | Yes — and answering that call is its own challenge | ### The Chinese phone number problem - Every self-pickup flow assumes the recipient gets an SMS code — meaning a mainland number. Without one, your options are: hotel front desk, a Chinese SIM bought on arrival (official carrier halls and airport counters register eSIM/SIM to passports in minutes), or asking the sender/shop to reroute. - If you're shopping on Taobao or JD yourself, enter the hotel address and the hotel's phone number as the contact — the front desk handles the rest. - A Chinese number also unlocks the reverse: sending packages yourself through the SF Express mini program instead of hunting for a counter. ### Writing the address so it actually arrives - Courier systems are addressed in Chinese characters — pinyin or English often fails at sorting. Copy the Chinese address from the hotel's booking page, business card, or the 'copy address' button in Amap/Baidu Maps. - Structure that always works: hotel name + branch/district + street address, then your name in English as on your passport, then a contact phone number. - For international parcels inbound, expect customs duties above modest de-minimis values and 1–3 weeks of transit — fine for a forgotten charger, not for anything urgent. ### Sending packages out - 顺丰 SF Express is the premium carrier everyone defaults to — fast, careful, slightly pricier; 京东物流 JD Logistics is the close second. Counters exist inside most neighborhoods and near metro stations; couriers also pick up from addresses. - Shipping luggage between cities is a real, cheap traveler hack: ¥20–60 moves a suitcase 500 km in 1–2 days, which is how people do 'train light, shop heavy' itineraries. Ask the hotel front desk to arrange it — they do this constantly. - Parcels are X-rayed at hubs; power banks and loose lithium batteries can't travel by air freight — ground shipping (陆运) takes them, air doesn't. Liquids are fine domestically. **Can I get a package delivered to my hotel in China?** Yes — the standard method. Use the hotel's Chinese address and its phone number as the contact, put your name as it appears on the booking, and tell the front desk to expect it. Collect with your passport. **Do parcel lockers work without a Chinese phone number?** No — Hive Box lockers open with an SMS code sent to the recipient's number. Without a mainland number, route the parcel to your hotel front desk or use a Cainiao station and ask staff for help showing your passport and tracking details. **Can I ship my luggage to another city instead of carrying it?** Yes — intercity luggage shipping via SF Express or JD Logistics is common and cheap (¥20–60 per suitcase for several hundred kilometers, 1–2 days). Hotels will arrange pickup; address it to your next hotel. **Can I order from Taobao or JD as a foreigner?** Yes — both accept international cards through Alipay or WeChat Pay, and registration supports overseas numbers. Delivery addresses still work best in Chinese characters, and the phone number you list should be one that can receive calls/SMS. **How do I send a package home from China?** SF Express for speed or China Post for economy — both handle international parcels, with customs declarations filled at the counter (bring your passport for ID). For valuables or documents, SF is the safer bet. ## What do I need for hotel check-in in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/hotel-check-in-passport-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Bring your passport — it is the only ID that will do. The hotel registers your stay with the police automatically at check-in. Not every property is licensed to host foreign guests, so book places that show they accept international travellers. ### At the desk - Passport required — a driving licence or ID card will not work - The hotel scans it and registers your stay; this is routine and quick - Expect a deposit, refundable at checkout, sometimes cash only ### Why some hotels turn foreign guests away Properties need the right licence to register foreign guests. Many budget hostels and small inns do not have it, and some properties simply have not configured their system for passports. This is a property-level limitation, not a rule about you. Booking platforms usually flag it. If a hostel is dramatically cheaper than neighbours, check the listing before you pay. ### If you are staying with friends Hotels register you automatically. In private accommodation you are expected to register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. **Can I use a copy of my passport?** No for check-in — the physical document is scanned. Keep a photo of it separately for everything else. **Does the hotel keep my passport overnight?** No. It is scanned at the desk and handed straight back. If anyone asks to hold it, that is not standard practice. **Do I need a visa to check in?** You need to be lawfully in the country; the hotel registers whatever status your passport and visa show. --- # Before you go ## Canton Fair 2026 Autumn Session: Dates, Phases and Buyer Survival Guide Source: https://chinapass.app/help/canton-fair-2026-buyer-guide/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** The 140th Canton Fair (autumn session) runs 15 October – 4 November 2026 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, in three 5-day phases: Phase 1 (15–19 Oct) electronics and machinery, Phase 2 (23–27 Oct) home and gifts, Phase 3 (31 Oct–4 Nov) textiles, health and food. Overseas buyers pre-register free with a passport and business details, then collect a buyer badge on site. Match your travel dates to your product category before booking anything — halls are product-specific, and hotels around Pazhou fill weeks ahead. ### Phase dates and what's on show All phases run 09:30–18:00 daily, including weekends, at the China Import and Export Fair Complex on Pazhou Island, Guangzhou. The fair is enormous — over 25,000 exhibitors across roughly 1.5 million square metres — so walking into the wrong phase's halls for your category is the classic first-timer mistake. Pick the phase, then plan meetings against the hall map in the official app. | Phase | Dates (2026) | Main categories | | --- | --- | --- | | Phase 1 — Advanced Manufacturing | 15–19 October | Electronics & appliances, machinery, vehicles & parts, hardware & tools, new energy, lighting, chemicals & materials | | Phase 2 — Quality Home Life | 23–27 October | Kitchenware & tableware, home decor, gifts & premiums, glass & ceramics, building & furniture, gardening | | Phase 3 — Better Life | 31 October – 4 November | Textiles & garments, shoes & bags, toys & baby products, office supplies, medicine & health, food, pet products, sports & travel goods | ### Registration: what buyers actually need - Pre-register free on the official Canton Fair buyer system before travel: passport details plus company information, selecting the phases you will attend. - Collect your buyer badge on arrival using the pre-registered express channel — bring the physical passport you registered with. The badge is your entry pass for the phases selected; re-entry across days uses the same badge. - Your passport situation matters before you even land: many buyer nationalities now enter China visa-free for business — the 50-country unilateral list and 240-hour transit route both cover business meetings. Check your passport's route before booking. - An invitation letter is only needed for nationalities applying for a business visa; pre-registered buyers can generate one through the buyer system if required. ### The survival part: payment, transit, hotels - Hotels near Pazhou triple in price and sell out 30–45 days ahead of each phase — this is the booking with real money at stake, more than flights. Staying along the metro lines 8 or 11 (both serve the complex) a few stops out cuts cost sharply. - Payment: set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your foreign card before flying — the fair complex, hotels and restaurants are overwhelmingly QR-payment; cash still works but lines move slower. Big transactions (hotel deposits, sample orders) may hit foreign-card limits, so carry a second card and cash buffer. - Transit: Guangzhou is one of the four cities where foreigners can tap a foreign bank card directly at metro gates. Taxis are cheap but queue terribly at phase closing time (18:00); the metro over the river beats them most evenings. - Tax refund: purchases above the departure tax-refund threshold can be refunded at Guangzhou airport on departure — keep receipts and carry goods in hand luggage-eligible condition. - Timing tip: phase-change days (20–22 Oct, 28–30 Oct) are when exhibitors rotate — the complex is closed for build-up. Do not plan meetings on transition days; use them for factory visits in the Pearl River Delta instead. **When is the Canton Fair 2026 autumn session?** The 140th session runs 15 October to 4 November 2026, in three 5-day phases: 15–19 October (electronics and machinery), 23–27 October (home and gifts), and 31 October–4 November (textiles, health and food). Halls are open 09:30–18:00 daily within each phase. **Do I need a visa to attend the Canton Fair?** It depends on your passport. Citizens of the 50 unilateral visa-free countries can enter for business meetings without a visa, and 240-hour transit covers those continuing onward. Buyers from the US or other non-listed nationalities generally apply for a business visa using an invitation letter generated through the fair's buyer system. **How do I register as a buyer for the Canton Fair?** Pre-register free on the official buyer service system with your passport and company details, selecting your phases. On arrival, collect the buyer badge at the express channel with your physical passport. Registration is free for overseas buyers. **Which phase of the Canton Fair should I attend?** The one carrying your product category: electronics, machinery and vehicles are Phase 1 (15–19 Oct); home goods, kitchenware, gifts and furniture are Phase 2 (23–27 Oct); textiles, apparel, toys, health products and food are Phase 3 (31 Oct–4 Nov). Check the official section list before booking flights — the phases share almost no exhibitors. **When should I book a hotel for the Canton Fair?** 30–45 days before your phase at the latest. Pazhou-adjacent hotels sell out or triple in price; metro lines 8 and 11 make a slightly farther hotel practical and much cheaper. **Can I use Alipay and cash at the Canton Fair?** Yes to both. The complex and its vendors run on QR payments, so set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before arrival; cash is accepted but slower. For large sample orders, cards and bank transfers are handled by exhibitors directly — confirm terms in writing before leaving the booth. ## China trip itineraries: 7 days, 10 days, and a 240-hour transit route Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-trip-itinerary/ · Verified: 2026-09-13 **Short answer:** Most first trips work best as a one-way line, not a loop: fly into Beijing, take the high-speed train to Xi'an, then the train to Shanghai and fly home (or reverse it). Seven days covers those three cities without rushing; ten days adds Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food) or Guilin/Yangshuo (karst river scenery). If you are travelling on the 240-hour visa-free transit, stay inside one permitted region and plan around the fixed onward flight — a Beijing-only 4-day route is the safest version. Build every stop around one pre-booked timed entry (Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, a museum), because those are the tickets that sell out. ### Before you pick a route: four rules that shape it - Book the two ends first: international flights and the timed-entry tickets that sell out (Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Shaanxi History Museum, Chengdu panda base). Everything else can move. - High-speed rail is the backbone: Beijing–Xi'an 4.5–5.5 h, Xi'an–Shanghai 6–6.5 h, Shanghai–Hangzhou ~45 min, Shanghai–Suzhou 25 min, Chengdu–Chongqing ~1.5 h. Book with your passport number on 12306 or an authorised app. - Do not pack in a city per day. Each move costs half a day with check-out, station, security and the new hotel. - Chinese museums close on Mondays (with public-holiday exceptions). Put the timed-entry, must-see museum on a Tuesday–Friday. ### 7 days — the classic first trip - Days 1–3 Beijing: Forbidden City + Jingshan on day 1 (pre-book 7 days ahead, 20:00 release), Mutianyu Great Wall on day 2, Temple of Heaven + hutongs on day 3. - Day 4 Xi'an: morning high-speed train from Beijing; afternoon City Wall by bike, evening Muslim Quarter. - Day 5 Xi'an: Terracotta Army in the morning (timed slot), Shaanxi History Museum or Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon. - Days 6–7 Shanghai: train to Shanghai; the Bund and Yu Garden, then Wukang Road and a half-day out to Zhujiajiao or Suzhou by train. - Why this order: it is a clean line, so you never backtrack, and both ends have the best international flight connections. ### 10 days — add one of two very different detours - Chengdu (food + pandas): fly or take the train from Xi'an, 2–3 nights. Panda base at opening, Wuhou Shrine and Du Fu Cottage (all timed-entry), hotpot and teahouses. Then fly Chengdu → Shanghai. - Guilin / Yangshuo (scenery): fly or train to Guilin, 2–3 nights. Li River bamboo raft (Yangdi–Xingping), a day cycling the Yulong River, Longji rice terraces if you have a third night. Then fly to Shanghai. - Pick one, not both: they are 1,000 km apart and doing both turns a holiday into a transit exercise. ### 240-hour visa-free transit — a route that fits the permit - The permit is for transiting to a third country: you need a confirmed onward ticket, and you cannot return directly to where you came from. - Stay inside one permitted area. A Beijing-only or Shanghai-only route avoids the cross-region questions entirely. - Beijing 4 days: Forbidden City, Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven, 798, plus a hutong evening. - Shanghai 4 days: the Bund, Yu Garden, Wukang Road, Suzhou day trip (Suzhou is inside the permitted Shanghai region). - Count carefully: your stay is counted from midnight of the day after entry, so 240 hours is effectively up to 10 nights — but keep a buffer day before your onward flight. ### How to book each stop - Forbidden City: official international site intl.dpm.org.cn with your passport, 7 days ahead, 20:00 release — full steps. - Terracotta Army and Shaanxi History Museum: real-name reservation only, official WeChat account, 5 days ahead at 17:00 for the museum — Terracotta, Shaanxi museum. - Trains: passport-based booking on 12306 — step by step. - City-by-city booking mechanics: our city guides for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guilin list every channel and release window. **Is 7 days enough for a first trip to China?** For three cities on one line — Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai — yes, without rushing, because high-speed rail does the moving in half a day. What you cannot do in 7 days is add a fourth city in a different direction. **Should I start in Beijing or Shanghai?** Start in Beijing if you want the biggest sights first and the jet lag to work for you (early starts beat the crowds). Start in Shanghai if you want a softer landing — it is the easiest city to arrive in and the food and transport are the most familiar. **Do I need to pre-book every attraction?** No. Only the high-demand timed-entry sites need pre-booking: Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Shaanxi History Museum, the Chengdu panda base, and major museums. Parks, streets, the Bund, hutongs and city walls can be walked up or bought on the spot. **Can I do this itinerary on the 240-hour visa-free transit?** Partially. The 7-day route crosses regions, which the transit permit does not allow, so shorten it: pick Beijing or Shanghai and stay inside that permitted area for 4–5 days, with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. ## China's Public Holidays: The Full 2026 Calendar, and What February 2027 Looks Like Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-public-holidays-calendar/ · Verified: 2026-10-11 **Short answer:** China has exactly seven statutory public holidays, and they are fixed by a State Council notice published once a year, usually in late October or early November of the year before. For 2026 that notice was published on 4 November 2025. In 2026 the seven blocks are: New Year 1–3 January, Spring Festival 15–23 February, Qingming 4–6 April, Labour Day 1–5 May, Dragon Boat 19–21 June, Mid-Autumn 25–27 September, and National Day 1–7 October — 33 days in total. **There is no public holiday in December.** A visitor in December gets normal opening hours, and the Palace Museum's regular Monday closure still applies. The 2027 schedule is not published yet; Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February, and the State Council has never pre-announced when the notice will appear — historically late October to early December of the previous year. ### The complete 2026 calendar, as officially published These dates come from the State Council notice 国办发明电〔2025〕7号, published 4 November 2025, not from travel blogs: New Year 1–3 January (3 days), Spring Festival 15–23 February (9 days), Qingming 4–6 April (3 days), Labour Day 1–5 May (5 days), Dragon Boat 19–21 June (3 days), Mid-Autumn 25–27 September (3 days), National Day 1–7 October (7 days). Four of the seven blocks include 调休 — make-up working days. Those are specific weekends that become **working** days, and a visitor who assumes "it's a weekend, so it must be closed" gets it exactly backwards. In 2026 the named make-up days are 4 January, 14 February, 28 February, 9 May, 20 September and 10 October. Qingming, Dragon Boat and Mid-Autumn have no make-up days at all. ### December has no holiday, and April has exactly one The notice enumerates exactly seven holidays and none of them falls in December. That is not an omission — the regulation on national holidays lists the same seven as the complete set, and no additional holiday has ever been added. December therefore behaves like an ordinary month: normal opening hours everywhere, and the Palace Museum's regular Monday closure still in force. April has Qingming, and in 2026 it ran Saturday 4 to Monday 6 April — three days with no make-up working day attached, and it swallowed the Monday, so the Palace Museum's usual Monday closure was suspended that week. ### February 2027: the date is certain, the schedule is not Chinese New Year 2027 falls on **Saturday 6 February 2027**. The official holiday block, however, does not exist yet, and the State Council has never issued an advance date for publishing it. From the historical record: the 2026 schedule came out on 4 November 2025, the 2025 one on 12 November 2024, the 2024 one on 25 October 2023, the 2023 one on 8 December 2022. Assume late October to early December 2026. Because New Year 2027 lands on a Saturday, the block will almost certainly start on New Year's Eve, Friday 5 February, and run into the following week — the same pattern as 2026, where the block ran from Sunday 15 February to Monday 23 February. The regulation attaches 除夕 (New Year's Eve) to the Spring Festival holiday itself, so a Friday start is the normal shape, not a guess. ### The zodiac year changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January 2026 is the Year of the Horse and 2027 the Year of the Goat. The change happens at the Spring Festival, so on 1 January 2027 you are still in the Year of the Horse — the Horse year does not end until 6 February 2027. This trips up anyone who assumes the animal year runs January to December, and it matters for anything that refers to "the year of the …". ### What actually closes — and the one rule that is suspended The Palace Museum closes all day on Mondays. That rule has an explicit exception: **on statutory holidays the Monday closure is suspended**, and the museum also extends or shortens opening hours around holiday periods, announced on its own site. So during a holiday week the one day you would normally avoid is the one day that is open. Two booking facts that hold throughout: the Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets, and tickets — the main gate plus the Clock and Treasure galleries — open for booking at 20:00 exactly seven days before your visit date. Non-mainland visitors book with a passport or a Foreign Permanent Resident ID card. Capacity is capped, so in a holiday week a sold-out notice is a real risk. On crowd size, the State Council Information Office briefed reporters on 28 September 2026 ahead of the National Day holiday: 2.13 billion cross-regional trips over the seven days, about 300 million a day, roughly 1.7 times normal. If you want a quiet China, that number is the argument for December. **Is there a public holiday in December in China?** No. The State Council notice enumerates exactly seven statutory holidays — New Year, Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn and National Day — and none falls in December. December runs on normal opening hours, with the Palace Museum's regular Monday closure still in force. **When will China's 2027 holiday schedule be published?** No date has been announced, and the State Council has never pre-announced one. Historically: the 2026 schedule was published on 4 November 2025, the 2025 one on 12 November 2024, the 2024 one on 25 October 2023, the 2023 one on 8 December 2022. Assume late October to early December 2026. Chinese New Year 2027 itself is certain — Saturday 6 February 2027. **What are 调休 make-up working days?** Specific weekends that become working days, named in the annual State Council notice. In 2026 there were six: 4 January, 14 February, 28 February, 9 May, 20 September and 10 October. For a visitor the practical effect is the opposite of the intuition — during a holiday block offices and shops are closed, so do not assume "weekend" means "open". **Is the Palace Museum open on a public holiday that falls on a Monday?** Yes. The Palace Museum closes all day on Mondays as its normal rule, but that rule is explicitly suspended on statutory holidays, and opening hours are extended or shortened around holiday periods with notices published on the museum's own site. ## Chinese New Year 2027 for Visitors: Dates, What's Known, and the Booking Math Source: https://chinapass.app/help/chinese-new-year-2027-travel/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027 — the start of the Year of the Goat, with New Year's Eve on 5 February. The official public-holiday arrangement has NOT been published yet; the State Council releases each year's schedule the preceding November (the 2026 schedule landed 4 November 2025). What is already certain: trains sell 15 days ahead, spring festival travel will run roughly 40 days around the holiday, and headline museums keep their normal advance-booking windows. This page updates the moment the schedule drops. ### What is certain right now - The date: New Year's Day (正月初一) is 6 February 2027, a Saturday. New Year's Eve (除夕) is 5 February. 2027 begins the Year of the Goat (丁未年). - The holiday will be long: since the 2025 system revision, Spring Festival carries 4 statutory days (New Year's Eve plus days 1–3), and recent practice extends it by swapping adjacent weekends — 2026 got 9 consecutive days. Expect 2027 to land in the same range, but the exact block is unknown until the announcement. - Train presale is 15 days ahead counting the sale day, with each departure station having its own on-sale minute. The moment the holiday block is announced, the whole release calendar is computable: subtract 15 days from any travel date. - Spring festival travel (春运) will span roughly 40 days centred on the holiday — for a 6 February New Year, that is mid-January to late February. ### What to expect, based on the 2026 pattern The 2026 schedule (announced 4 November 2025) ran the holiday from 腊月廿八 through 正月初七 — two days before New Year's Eve through seven days after New Year's Day — with two weekend makeup workdays. If 2027 follows the same shape, the block would sit around early-to-mid February 2027. That is an expectation, not an announcement; do not book non-refundable travel against it. - Watch for the announcement on gov.cn around November 2026 — we will update this page with the exact dates, the makeup workdays, and the full train-ticket release calendar within a day of publication. - Hotels in destination cities (Harbin's ice festival season, Sanya beaches, Xi'an) start their holiday pricing steps well before the official announcement — the market moves on the lunar date, not the government notice. - Airfare and hotel booking engines already accept February 2027 dates; just hold refundable rates until the schedule is official. ### What closes, what doesn't (holiday-week reality) - Open as normal: headline museums keep their advance-booking windows and statutory holidays suspend Monday closures; all payment systems; taxis and Didi; convenience stores. - Closed or reduced: government offices, bank counters, and many family-run restaurants and small shops for roughly 3–7 days around New Year's Eve. - The counterintuitive bit: big destination cities are calmer during the holiday itself, because hundreds of millions of people leave them. The crowded places are transport hubs and hometown provinces. The Forbidden City still needs a booked ticket — it sells out, just on a softer curve than Golden Week. - Firecrackers are legal in designated areas of many cities and loud after dark on New Year's Eve — earplugs for light sleepers. ### Planning checklist for February 2027 - Now: hold refundable hotels and flights around 5–8 February if your dates are firm; note the lunar dates above in your calendar. - November 2026: re-check this page for the official block and makeup workdays; compute your train release dates (travel date minus 15). - December 2026: book destination-city hotels — holiday pricing moves in steps. - Mid-January 2027: spring travel opens; set alarms for your departure stations' on-sale minutes and use 12306's official waitlist for anything sold out. **When is Chinese New Year 2027?** Saturday 6 February 2027 — the first day of the Year of the Goat. New Year's Eve is 5 February. The extended public-holiday block around it has not been announced yet; the State Council typically publishes the schedule the preceding November. **When will the 2027 Chinese holiday schedule be announced?** Around November 2026, following the pattern of the 2026 schedule (published 4 November 2025). This page will be updated with the exact dates and train-ticket release calendar within a day of publication. **When do train tickets for Chinese New Year 2027 go on sale?** Fifteen days before each travel date, once the holiday dates are fixed. If the holiday block matches the 2026 pattern, tickets for a 6 February New Year's Day would open in late January 2027. Each departure station also has its own on-sale minute — see our station on-sale times page for the lookup. **Is China worth visiting during Chinese New Year 2027?** Yes — big destination cities empty out as people travel home, so Beijing and Shanghai sightseeing is calmer than usual, with festive atmosphere as a bonus. The friction is transport (holiday trains sell out fast) and family-run businesses closing for a few days around New Year's Eve. **Do museums close for Chinese New Year?** Headline museums stay open on statutory holidays — Monday closures are suspended — and keep their normal advance-booking windows, such as the Forbidden City's 7-days-ahead 20:00 release. Smaller attractions may run reduced hours near the holiday. ## Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 in China: Dates, Mooncakes and Travel Notes for Visitors Source: https://chinapass.app/help/mid-autumn-festival-2026-for-visitors/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 runs Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September — a 3-day public holiday with no makeup workdays. The 25th brings domestic travel crowds, mooncake stalls everywhere, and evening moon-viewing at lakes, rooftops and city walls — the pattern to expect each year. Take 3 days of leave on 28–30 September and Golden Week connects: 13 consecutive days off, the longest window of the Chinese year. That festival has now passed — 25 to 27 September 2026 is behind us. The page is kept as a record of how the holiday runs, and the next festival that matters for planning a trip is Chinese New Year on Saturday 6 February 2027; the full statutory calendar, including the fact that December has no public holiday at all, is on the holidays overview page. ### The dates, and the 13-day super window The State Council's 2026 schedule sets Mid-Autumn at 25–27 September, a clean 3-day weekend break — no makeup workdays before or after, unlike Golden Week which needs two. The festival itself is the 25th, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its roundest. Because the holiday ends on a Sunday and Golden Week starts 1 October, taking 28–30 September off creates a 13-day run from 25 September to 7 October. Domestic travelers discovered this the moment the schedule was published in November 2025, so late September is no longer shoulder season: trains and hotels for the 25th–30th get as contested as the holiday week itself — that is what the 2026 dates looked like too. ### What actually happens during the festival - Mooncakes (月饼) appear in every bakery, hotel lobby and supermarket from August onward. They are dense, rich, and shared rather than eaten alone — gift boxes dominate because families and companies exchange them. Try one before committing to a box: flavors run from lotus paste and red bean to salted egg yolk, fresh-meat pork (a Jiangnan specialty that surprises everyone), and increasingly odd modern fillings. - Moon-viewing (赏月) is the core ritual: families gather outdoors in the evening. For visitors, any waterfront or elevated terrace works — West Lake in Hangzhou, the Bund in Shanghai, Xi'an's city wall, and Beijing's Jingshan park are classic picks. No tickets or events are required; it is a do-it-yourself festival. - Lanterns in some cities and temple fairs in others, plus tea houses doing extended evening service. Unlike Golden Week, museums and attractions keep normal hours and normal booking windows. - Greetings you will hear: 中秋快乐 (Happy Mid-Autumn). Merchants may run short promotions — Mid-Autumn sales exist but are far tamer than Golden Week or Singles' Day. ### Travel notes for the holiday weekend - Trains for 25 September went on sale 11 September (15-day presale) — if you are reading this after the 11th, book the waitlist or shift dates to mid-week before the holiday. - Hotels in scenic cities spike for the 25th–27th weekend, though less brutally than Golden Week. - The Forbidden City and other big museums follow their normal 7-day advance windows through the holiday — no special Mid-Autumn rules — and the festival is a statutory holiday, so any Monday closure would not apply (in 2026 the 27th is a Sunday anyway). - Banks and government offices close; shops, restaurants, delivery and payment apps all run normally. Nothing about daily survival changes — see our city guides for the booking mechanics. ### Mid-Autumn or Golden Week — which should you pick? If your dates are flexible and you want China's headline sights without the year's worst crowds, the days just after Mid-Autumn (28–30 September) and just after Golden Week (8–10 October) are the sweet spots of the entire autumn. | Factor | Mid-Autumn (25–27 Sep) | Golden Week (1–7 Oct) | | --- | --- | --- | | Crowds at headline sights | Moderate | Peak of the year | | Hotel prices | Elevated | Highest of the year | | Museum ticket difficulty | Normal 7-day windows | Sell out in minutes | | Atmosphere | Family festival, moonlit evenings | National holiday, big events | | Weather | Early autumn, often clear | Same, slightly cooler | **When is Mid-Autumn Festival 2026?** The public holiday runs Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September 2026, with the full-moon festival day on the 25th. There are no makeup workdays attached to this holiday. **Is Mid-Autumn Festival a good time to visit China?** Yes — it is the mildest of China's major holidays: 3 days, family-oriented, with normal museum booking windows and moderate crowds. Combine it with 28–30 September leave and Golden Week for a 13-day trip, or visit right after either holiday for the calmest autumn travel. **Do museums and attractions close for Mid-Autumn Festival?** No. Mid-Autumn is a statutory holiday, so sites that close on Mondays stay open when the festival lands on one, and all attractions follow their normal booking rules. Book the Forbidden City and similar timed museums through their standard 7-day advance windows. **When did train tickets for the Mid-Autumn holiday go on sale?** Fifteen days before travel: tickets for 25 September opened on 11 September 2026. If you missed the opening, use 12306's official waitlist or shift to travel dates just before or after the holiday weekend. **What is a mooncake, and which flavor should a first-timer try?** A dense baked pastry with a filling, eaten and exchanged during the festival. First-timers usually do best with lotus-seed paste (sometimes with a salted duck-egg yolk center symbolizing the moon) — sweet, rich, familiar. Fresh-meat mooncakes are a savory Jiangnan specialty worth trying once; modern ice-skin versions are served cold and are the gentlest introduction of all. ## What a China trip costs: verified ticket prices and daily budgets Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-trip-cost/ · Verified: 2026-09-13 **Short answer:** China is cheap by Western European or North American standards, and unusually predictable: the big attractions publish fixed ticket prices, high-speed rail fares are per-kilometre and stable, and there is no tipping. As a planning rule for two people sharing a room, budget roughly ¥700–1,200 per person per day for a comfortable mid-range trip (three-star-plus hotel, restaurant meals, metro and occasional taxis, one paid attraction a day), ¥350–600 for a hostel-and-street-food trip, and ¥1,500–2,500+ for four-star hotels and private guides. The charges that surprise people are not the tickets but the payment fees: foreign cards on Alipay/WeChat cost about 3% on transactions over ¥200, and cash withdrawals are capped per transaction. ### Fixed prices you can look up before you go - Forbidden City: CNY 60 peak (Apr 1–Oct 31) / CNY 40 off-peak, plus CNY 10 each for the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery. - Terracotta Army: CNY 120. Xi'an City Wall: CNY 54, plus CNY 45 for a 3-hour bike rental. - Chengdu panda base: CNY 55 adult, CNY 27 student, CNY 168 annual pass. Wuhou Shrine: CNY 50 / CNY 25 half fare. - Canton Tower: from CNY 150 depending on the deck. West Lake, Shanghai Museum and Shenzhen Museum: free (museums still need a reservation). - Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu cable car, Li River rafts: each priced separately — the pattern in China is that the park ticket and the cable car or boat inside it are always separate purchases. - Metro: a stored-value card costs CNY 20 and the deposit is non-refundable — only the balance comes back. ### Per-day planning ranges (2026) - Budget, ¥350–600 per person per day: hostel dorm or budget double, street food and noodle shops, metro, one free or cheap sight a day. - Mid-range, ¥700–1,200: three-star-plus hotel double shared by two, sit-down dinners, metro plus some ride-hailing, one paid attraction a day. - Comfort, ¥1,500–2,500+: four-star or boutique hotel, a private guide or car for a day, business-class rail upgrades, fine dining. - These are planning ranges, not quotes: hotel rates swing with season (Golden Week and the Lunar New Year can double them), and the city pages on this site give the best months per destination. - Two structural savings: travel in shoulder season (Apr–May, Sep–Oct), and stay one or two metro stops outside the tourist core — the same room is routinely 30–50% cheaper. ### The charges visitors forget to budget for - Foreign card fees: Alipay/WeChat charge roughly 3% on transactions above CNY 200 and nothing below that — so a ¥500 dinner costs about ¥15 extra. - ATM limits: foreign cards typically withdraw CNY 2,500–5,000 per transaction with a daily cap near CNY 10,000, plus your bank's own fee. Carry CNY 300–500 in cash as a fallback. - Tax refund: same store, same day, minimum CNY 200 since April 2025; you get back about 11% (13% VAT minus a ~2% fee), and only at your final departure port — not at a domestic transfer. - No tipping: restaurants, taxis and hotels do not expect tips. A restaurant may add a per-person tea/seat charge (茶位费), which is normal, not a scam. - Overstay fines: CNY 500 per day up to CNY 10,000 for visa-free overstays — the most expensive mistake in this list and the easiest to avoid. ### Where the money actually goes - Transport is usually the largest single line for a multi-city trip: high-speed rail between cities is roughly ¥0.45–0.60 per kilometre in second class (Shanghai–Hangzhou, 1h, is CNY 73). - Accommodation is the most volatile: book 3–6 weeks ahead outside holidays, and check whether the hotel accepts foreign passports before you pay. - Food is where you control the budget most: a bowl of noodles is ¥15–30, a sit-down dinner with beer ¥80–150 per person, a high-end restaurant ¥400+. - Attractions are a small share if you book directly: agency packages add 30–100% for the same timed-entry tickets you can reserve yourself in five minutes. ### Cutting the bill without cutting the trip - Book the timed entries yourself (Forbidden City, Terracotta, museums) — agencies mark up tickets you can get at face value. - Use second class on high-speed rail: it is comfortable, and first class is roughly 60% more for the same journey time. - Eat lunch as the set menu and dinner as the small local place; the same kitchen charges less at midday. - Museums: most national and provincial museums are free with a reservation — build a free-museum afternoon into each city. - Do not rent a car. Ride-hailing in cities is cheap; intercity driving needs a Chinese licence and insurance. **How much is a hotel in China?** Budget doubles start around CNY 200–350, mid-range three-star-plus rooms CNY 400–800, four-star and boutique CNY 900–2,000. Rates roughly double during Golden Week (early October) and the Lunar New Year, and drop in the shoulder months. **Do I need cash in China?** Almost never for daily spending — Alipay and WeChat Pay cover everything from metro to street stalls. Carry CNY 300–500 for the rare cash-only counter, and note that ATMs limit foreign-card withdrawals per transaction. **Is it cheaper to travel with a tour or independently?** Independently, usually by 30–100% on tickets and hotels, because the same timed-entry tickets and rooms are bookable directly. The trade-off is your time: expect to spend a few evenings booking the next two days. **How much should I budget for the 240-hour visa-free transit?** There is no visa fee, so the trip costs the same as a normal one of that length: roughly ¥700–1,200 per person per day mid-range, plus the onward ticket you already need to hold. ## Which apps should I install before flying to China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-travel-apps-checklist/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Install and verify a payment wallet, a local map, the rail app, a ride-hailing option and an offline translation pack before you fly. Everything that needs identity verification or an SMS code should be finished at home — those are the steps that fail at the airport. ### The short list - Alipay or WeChat — payments, and the transport code for every metro - Amap — street-level maps and directions - 12306 — high-speed rail booking with a passport - DiDi, or the ride-hailing mini-program inside your wallet - An offline translation pack that works without signal ### Finish these at home, not at the airport - Bind your card and complete passport verification — both may need an SMS - Install a travel eSIM and confirm the phone is unlocked - Activate the metro code for your first city - Download offline maps and the phrase pack ### Install sources Use your home app store before departure where possible, since some regional stores do not carry these apps. The ChinaPass app lists reliable install sources for each one. **Do I need a Chinese app store account?** No. All of the essentials install from a normal international store, or run as mini-programs inside the wallet you already set up. **Should I install everything, or just payments?** Payments first, then maps. The rest can wait until you are online in China. **What about a VPN?** Plan around it rather than depending on it: download offline content before you fly and keep the essentials working without a connection. --- # Visas & entry ## Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners: Hotels, Friends and Hosts Source: https://chinapass.app/help/police-registration-staying/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Hotels normally register foreign guests with the public-security authorities as part of check-in. If you stay with friends, relatives or a private host, Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China requires the foreigner or the host to register with the public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after check-in. The National Immigration Administration has provided online registration channels in some areas, but actual availability must be confirmed with the local authority. Keep your passport and entry record available and do not assume an online accommodation booking replaces registration. ### Staying in a hotel Bring the original passport. The property records the identity information required for foreign-guest registration and should return the document after check-in. If a booking site does not clearly say it accepts foreign passports, confirm before paying. ### Staying with friends or a private host Under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, the foreigner or the host must register with the public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after check-in. Bring your passport, the accommodation address and the check-in date. The National Immigration Administration has provided online registration channels in some areas, but confirm actual availability with the local public security authority; the availability of an online channel does not extend the statutory 24-hour deadline. ### If you move hotels Each property may record the new address. Keep the previous booking and new check-in information available in case an authority or transport booking asks for your current address. **Does a hotel register me automatically?** A licensed hotel normally records foreign-guest identity information during check-in. Confirm the property accepts foreign passports and follow its registration process. **Do I need to register a friend's home?** According to Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, the foreigner or the host must register with the local public security organ in the place of residence within 24 hours after check-in. The National Immigration Administration has online registration channels in some areas, but confirm their actual availability with the local authority; an unavailable online channel does not change the 24-hour deadline. **What if I change hotels?** Tell the new property and keep your current address details. The new hotel may record the changed accommodation details. **Can a travel platform register me?** A booking platform can help with the reservation, but accommodation registration is handled through the property or the relevant local authority. ## China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 57 Countries and All 65 Ports Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-240-hour-transit-ports/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** Citizens of 57 countries can transit China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when continuing to a third country or region. You can enter at any of 65 open ports — from Beijing Capital to Xi'an Xianyang, Chengdu Tianfu and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge — and travel across provinces within the permitted areas of 24 provincial-level regions. ### The 57 eligible countries (verified October 2026) Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added on 20 August 2026, bringing the total to 57. You must hold an ordinary passport of one of these countries: #### Europe (40 countries) - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France - Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta - Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia - Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belarus, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina #### Americas (6 countries) - United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile #### Oceania (2 countries) - Australia, New Zealand #### Asia (9 countries) - South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam ### All 65 open ports of entry You may apply for 240-hour visa-free transit at any of these ports, regardless of which country you are from on the list. Airports are the practical route for almost all travellers; the sea, rail and road ports matter for regional itineraries such as the Hong Kong–Shenzhen high-speed rail or the Mohan land crossing from Laos. | Port of entry | Province / region | | --- | --- | | Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing | | Beijing Daxing International Airport | Beijing | | Tianjin Binhai International Airport | Tianjin | | Tianjin Port (passenger) | Tianjin | | Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport | Hebei | | Qinhuangdao Port (passenger) | Hebei | | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport | Liaoning | | Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport | Liaoning | | Dalian Port (passenger) | Liaoning | | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | Shanghai | | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | Shanghai | | Shanghai Port (passenger) | Shanghai | | Nanjing Lukou International Airport | Jiangsu | | Sunan Shuofang International Airport | Jiangsu | | Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport | Jiangsu | | Lianyungang Port (passenger) | Jiangsu | | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | Zhejiang | | Ningbo Lishe International Airport | Zhejiang | | Wenzhou Longwan International Airport | Zhejiang | | Yiwu Airport | Zhejiang | | Wenzhou Port (passenger) | Zhejiang | | Zhoushan Port (passenger) | Zhejiang | | Hefei Xinqiao International Airport | Anhui | | Huangshan Tunxi International Airport | Anhui | | Fuzhou Changle International Airport | Fujian | | Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport | Fujian | | Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport | Fujian | | Wuyishan Airport | Fujian | | Xiamen Port (passenger) | Fujian | | Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport | Shandong | | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport | Shandong | | Yantai Penglai International Airport | Shandong | | Weihai Dashuipo International Airport | Shandong | | Qingdao Port (passenger) | Shandong | | Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport | Henan | | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport | Hubei | | Changsha Huanghua International Airport | Hunan | | Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport | Hunan | | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Guangdong | | Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport | Guangdong | | Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport | Guangdong | | Nansha Port (passenger) | Guangdong | | Shekou Port (passenger) | Guangdong | | Guangzhou Pazhou Ferry Terminal | Guangdong | | Zhongshan Port (passenger) | Guangdong | | Hengqin Port | Guangdong | | Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge Port | Guangdong | | West Kowloon Station Port (Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong express rail) | Guangdong | | Haikou Meilan International Airport | Hainan | | Sanya Phoenix International Airport | Hainan | | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | Chongqing | | Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport | Guizhou | | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport | Shaanxi | | Taiyuan Wusu International Airport | Shanxi | | Harbin Taiping International Airport | Heilongjiang | | Nanchang Changbei International Airport | Jiangxi | | Nanning Wuxu International Airport | Guangxi | | Guilin Liangjiang International Airport | Guangxi | | Beihai Fucheng Airport | Guangxi | | Beihai Port (passenger) | Guangxi | | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Sichuan | | Chengdu Tianfu International Airport | Sichuan | | Kunming Changshui International Airport | Yunnan | | Lijiang Sanyi International Airport | Yunnan | | Mohan Railway Port | Yunnan | ### Where you can go during the 240 hours Transit travellers may move across provinces within the permitted stay areas of 24 provincial-level regions — the December 2024 rules relaxed the old single-city stay. Each port's permitted area covers the whole province or municipality in most cases; Shanxi covers Taiyuan and Datong cities, Jiangxi covers Nanchang and Jingdezhen, Guangxi covers 11 cities, Yunnan covers 9 cities and prefectures. ### Conditions you must meet at the border - Hold a valid international travel document with at least 3 months' validity. - Hold confirmed interline tickets to a THIRD country or region, departing within 240 hours. A direct return to your origin country does not qualify. - Fill in the Arrival Card for Temporary Entry Foreigners and cooperate with immigration inspections. - Your stay is counted from midnight of the day after entry — 240 hours is effectively up to 10 full days and nights. ### What the 240 hours does NOT allow - No employment, study or journalism — those need a proper visa. - No return to your origin country as the onward leg (Shanghai → Beijing → Shanghai fails; Shanghai → Beijing → Tokyo passes). - No leaving the permitted stay area of your port of entry's region. **Which countries are eligible for China's 240-hour visa-free transit?** 57 countries as of 20 August 2026: 40 in Europe (including Russia, the UK, Ukraine, Serbia and Belarus), 6 in the Americas (US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile), 2 in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) and 9 in Asia (South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam). **Can I enter on the 240-hour transit and exit through a different city?** Yes. You must enter and exit through ports that offer the policy (65 of them nationwide), and stay within the permitted areas — but your exit port does not have to be your entry port, and cross-province travel within permitted areas is allowed. **Does the onward ticket have to be bought before boarding?** Yes. The ticket to a third country or region must be confirmed with a fixed departure date within 240 hours before you check in for the flight to China. Airlines verify this at check-in. **Is Hong Kong or Macao a qualifying 'third country'?** Yes. China's mainland treats Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as separate destinations for transit purposes — flying Shanghai → Beijing → Hong Kong qualifies as onward travel to a third region. **How is the 240 hours counted?** From midnight (00:00) of the day after your entry. In practice this gives you up to 10 full days and nights depending on your arrival time. **Can I apply for 240-hour transit at any Chinese airport?** No. Only the 65 listed ports offer the policy. Most major international airports are included, but smaller airports such as Lanzhou or Hohhot are not. ## China Arrival Card Online Form: How Foreigners File It Before You Fly Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-arrival-card-online-filing/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Since 20 November 2025 the National Immigration Administration lets foreign visitors file the China arrival card online, before the flight. It is free, and the official channels are the NIA website, the government service platform, the "移民局12367" app, the WeChat or Alipay mini-programme, or scanning the arrival-card QR code. **The paper card has not been withdrawn** — if you cannot file online, you can use the on-site smart devices at the port, or fill in the paper card at the counter. You do not need this form if you hold a Foreign Permanent Resident ID, you are transiting without leaving the restricted port area for 24 hours, you are on a group visa-free tour, or you enter through the express lane. ### What the online arrival card is, and what it is not This is an entry-information form, not a visa. Filing it does not give you permission to enter China — your visa, visa-free eligibility or transit permission is a separate question. The most common misunderstanding is that the paper card was abolished. It was not. The NIA's own notice says that foreigners who cannot file online may still use the on-site smart devices at the port, **or fill in the paper foreigner arrival card**. Why it is worth doing before you fly: the NIA reports that at Beijing ports alone more than 3 million foreigners arrived in 2025, and filling the paper card on the spot cost each of them roughly 5 to 8 minutes at the border. The NIA also reports that more than 15.55 million foreign travellers had completed their filing online in the period after the measure started. ### The official channels, and the fake sites to avoid The NIA publishes the filing portal itself and warns, in the same notice, that criminals have set up look-alike sites to collect money. **Filing is free. If a site asks you to pay, it is not the official one.** The channels the NIA names are: the NIA government website, the government service platform, the "移民局12367" app, the WeChat and Alipay mini-programmes, and the arrival-card QR code scanned on a phone. Two practical notes. The help hotline is **12367** — not 12360. And the official portal is a JavaScript application: if you open the link from a page that is not the NIA's, check the address bar before you type in a passport number. ### Who does not have to file The filing form itself lists eight categories that are exempt, including holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID, 24-hour transit visitors who stay inside the port's restricted area, members of group visa-free or group-visa tourist groups, and foreigners entering through the border inspection express lane. If you are transiting and **do** need to leave the restricted port area — within the 24-hour or the 240-hour limit — you are not exempt, and you can use this system to file. ### For Russian passport holders Russia is named in the NIA's current visa-free lists, so the arrival card is a separate step rather than a substitute for anything: the 240-hour transit visa-free policy covers nationals of 57 countries including Russia, allowing stays of up to 10 days through 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, with an ordinary passport and confirmed onward tickets. The Hainan 30-day visa-free policy also lists Russia, among 61 countries. The arrival card form is the same one for every nationality. File it, and keep your visa or visa-free basis with you — the card does not grant either. **Is the paper arrival card cancelled?** No. The NIA states that foreigners who cannot file online may use on-site smart devices at the port, or fill in the paper foreigner arrival card. The paper card is still accepted. **Does filing the online arrival card cost anything?** No. The NIA states the measure collects no fee. A site that asks for payment to file an arrival card is not the official one — the NIA has issued a warning about look-alike sites set up to defraud foreigners. **Is the arrival card a visa?** No. It is an entry-information form. Your visa, visa-free eligibility or transit permission is decided separately; the card records information, it does not grant entry. **I am transiting for 24 hours and staying inside the airport. Do I file?** No — 24-hour transit visitors who do not leave the port's restricted area are among the categories exempt from filing. If you need to leave that area within the 24-hour or 240-hour limit, you are not exempt and can file through the same system. ## China Travel Policy Updates 2026: Visa, Transit and Ticketing Changes Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-travel-policy-updates-2026/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** 2026's changes so far: 240-hour visa-free transit expanded to 57 countries (20 August); the 50-country 30-day visa-free list confirmed through 31 December 2026 for 48 of them; Russia's exemption extended to 2027; 12306 added a free ticket-correction refund (19 January); and the 2026 holiday schedule sets Golden Week at 1–7 October. The next date to watch: 31 December 2026, when the 48-country visa-free policy currently expires. ### 2026 timeline: what changed, when Every entry below was checked against an official source at the time of writing — the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular service, gov.cn, or China Railway. When a policy changes, this page gets a new row and a re-push to search engines, so it stays safe to cite. | Date | Change | Who it affects | | --- | --- | --- | | 20 Aug 2026 | 240-hour visa-free transit expanded from 55 to 57 countries — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joined | Citizens of the 57 listed countries transiting to a third country | | Jul 2026 | Russia began reciprocating visa-free entry for Chinese citizens (20 July), completing the May agreement | Chinese and Russian ordinary passport holders | | Jul 2026 | Foreign Ministry consolidated the unilateral visa-free list at 50 countries, 30 days per entry | All 50 nationalities; purposes limited to tourism, business, family visits, exchange and transit | | 20 May 2026 | China extended Russia's unilateral visa-free policy to 31 December 2027 | Russian ordinary passport holders | | 19 Jan 2026 | 12306 launched free correction refund: cancel a mis-bought ticket within 30 minutes of payment and 4+ hours before departure, once per person per day | Anyone booking China Railway tickets | | Late 2025 | The 48-country 30-day visa-free policy extended to 31 December 2026 | 48 of the 50 unilateral visa-free nationalities | | 4 Nov 2025 | State Council published the 2026 holiday schedule: Mid-Autumn 25–27 September; National Day Golden Week 1–7 October | Everyone booking around Chinese holidays | ### The next date to watch: 31 December 2026 The 30-day unilateral visa-free policy for 48 of the 50 countries currently expires on 31 December 2026 (Russia runs to 2027, Brunei has no set expiry). Every previous extension was announced only weeks before expiry, so there is nothing to announce yet. If you are booking travel for December 2026 or into 2027, re-check this page or en.nia.gov.cn first. An entry on 30 December still earns the full 30 days — expiry governs entry, not exit — but planning around a policy's final weeks without a re-check is how travellers get burned. ### What did not change in 2026 - The 240-hour transit rule still requires a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region — see the full 57-country list and all 65 ports. - Visa-free stays still permit only tourism, business meetings, family visits, exchange and transit — never employment, study or journalism. - Museum and attraction booking still runs on real-name passports: the Forbidden City (7 days ahead at 20:00), Tiananmen Square (free, 1–7 days ahead) and most headline museums kept their 2025 mechanics. - Train tickets still go on sale 15 days ahead, with per-station on-sale times. ### How to verify any of this yourself - Visa-free lists and transit rules: National Immigration Administration (en.nia.gov.cn) — the announcement text, not a blog quoting it. - Consular answers and consolidated lists: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Service Network (cs.mfa.gov.cn). - Holiday schedules: State Council notices on gov.cn, published the November before the year in question. - Ticketing rules: 12306 announcements in the app, and the Palace Museum's own ticketing page for museum rules. **Will the 48-country visa-free policy be extended past 31 December 2026?** Unknown as of October 2026. The policy has been extended repeatedly, but each extension was announced only a few weeks before expiry. Check this page or en.nia.gov.cn before booking travel in December 2026 or later. **What changed for the 240-hour transit policy in 2026?** The country list grew from 55 to 57 on 20 August 2026, when Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joined. The mechanics are unchanged: up to 10 days, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, entry through one of the 65 designated ports. **What is the 12306 free correction refund?** Since 19 January 2026, if you buy the wrong ticket on 12306, you can cancel it online for free within 30 minutes of payment, as long as departure is more than 4 hours away. One correction per person per day; change-of-plan refunds still follow the normal tiered fee schedule. **Where can I read the official policy instead of blogs?** National Immigration Administration (en.nia.gov.cn) for visa-free and transit announcements, the MFA Consular Service Network (cs.mfa.gov.cn) for consolidated lists, and gov.cn for holiday schedules. All sources used on this page are linked below. ## China Visa-Free Countries 2026: The Complete 50-Country List Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-visa-free-countries-2026/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** Citizens of 50 countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchange or transit. The policy runs until 31 December 2026 for 48 of them, until 2027 for Russia, and Brunei has no set expiry. On top of that, 57 more nationalities can use 240-hour visa-free transit. ### The 50 unilateral visa-free countries (verified October 2026) China grants unilateral visa-free entry, up to 30 days per visit, to ordinary passport holders of the following 50 countries. The stay is counted from midnight of the day after you enter. Source: National Immigration Administration (NIA) list, as consolidated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2026. #### Europe (35 countries) - France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg - Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland - Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta - Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom #### Asia (7 countries) - Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain #### Oceania (2 countries) - Australia, New Zealand #### Americas (6 countries) - Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Canada ### How long each policy lasts The 50-country policy does not all expire at the same date — this is the part most travellers get wrong: - China announced the extension to 31 December 2026 in late 2025; Russia's exemption was extended to 2027 on 20 May 2026, with Russia reciprocating for Chinese citizens on 20 July 2026. - If you enter on 30 December, you still get 30 days — the expiry governs entry, not exit. But never plan around a policy's final weeks without re-checking, because extensions are announced only weeks in advance. | Passport group | Policy valid until | Max stay per entry | | --- | --- | --- | | Brunei | No set expiry date | 30 days | | Russia | 31 December 2027 | 30 days | | The other 48 countries | 31 December 2026 | 30 days | ### Countries covered by mutual visa-free agreements (29 more) Separately, China has mutual visa-waiver agreements that allow entry for ordinary passport holders of these countries (agreement terms — allowed days and purposes — vary by country, so check your specific agreement): - Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Maldives - Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar - Europe: San Marino, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Serbia, Albania - Americas: Ecuador, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname - Africa & Oceania: Seychelles, Mauritius, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands ### What you can and cannot do on a visa-free stay - Allowed: tourism, business meetings and trade, family and friend visits, exchange visits, transit. - Not allowed: employment, study, journalism, or anything requiring prior approval — those need a proper visa before you fly. - Hotels register you automatically at check-in. Staying at a friend's home? Register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. ### Not on the list? Two more routes in - 240-hour visa-free transit: citizens of 57 countries can stay up to 10 days when transiting to a third country or region — see the full 57-country list and all 65 entry ports. - Hainan 30-day visa-free entry: 61 countries, but only within Hainan province and only through its open ports. ### The rule airlines check before you board Check-in staff — not Chinese immigration — are the first gate. They verify your passport against the current list and will deny boarding if they apply an outdated rule. Print or save the NIA announcement for your nationality and show it if challenged. **Will the 30-day visa-free policy be extended past 31 December 2026?** Unknown as of October 2026. Every previous extension was announced only a few weeks before expiry, so re-check this page or en.nia.gov.cn before booking travel in December 2026 or later. **How is the 30-day stay counted?** From midnight (00:00) of the day after your date of entry. Entering on the 1st means your 30 days run to the 30th, with exit on or before that day. **Can I visit China twice on the visa-free policy?** Yes, there is no limit on the number of visa-free entries, but immigration officers can refuse entry if they suspect you are living in China on back-to-back tourist entries. Frequent re-entries with short gaps may trigger questioning. **Does the US or India have visa-free entry to China?** No. US and Indian passport holders are not on the 50-country list, but US citizens can use the 240-hour visa-free transit if continuing to a third country. Indian citizens have no visa-free option and need a standard visa. **Can I work or study on visa-free entry?** No. Only business meetings, tourism, family visits, exchange and transit are permitted. Employment, study and journalism require the appropriate visa obtained before travel. **Do I need to show an onward ticket for 30-day visa-free entry?** The 30-day unilateral policy does not formally require an onward ticket, but airlines may still ask for proof of onward travel at check-in. For the 240-hour transit route, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country is mandatory. ## Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Entry 2026: The Complete 61-Country List Source: https://chinapass.app/help/hainan-30-day-visa-free-entry/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** Citizens of 61 countries can enter Hainan province without a visa for up to 30 days, through any of Hainan's open ports of entry, for tourism, business, visits, family matters, medical treatment, conventions or sports. The catch: you must stay within Hainan — this policy does not let you travel onward to Beijing or Shanghai. It matters most for nationalities NOT on the nationwide 50-country list, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia. ### How the Hainan policy differs from the nationwide one China's headline visa-free policy covers 50 nationalities and lets them enter anywhere in the country. The Hainan policy is separate and regional: 61 nationalities, 30 days, but the entire stay must be inside Hainan province — the tropical island south of mainland China that includes Haikou, Sanya and the Duty-Free shopping zone. Entry and exit must both happen through Hainan's open ports of entry (Haikou Meilan and Sanya Phoenix international airports, plus the cruise ports). You cannot fly into Sanya and fly out of Beijing on this policy. Why it matters: five notable nationalities qualify for Hainan but not the nationwide 30-day policy — the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia (Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joined both lists on 20 August 2026). If your passport is US or Canadian, a Hainan beach week is visa-free even though a Beijing trip is not. ### The 61 countries (National Immigration Administration list) Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added by NIA Announcement No. 4 of 2026, effective 20 August 2026, bringing the total to 61. The authoritative enumeration is on the NIA's regional visa-free policy page. Two lists are worth comparing side by side: the Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) and Ecuador are on the nationwide 50-country list but NOT on Hainan's — irrelevant in practice, since the nationwide policy is strictly more flexible. The reverse gap is the one that matters: the US, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia are on Hainan's list only. #### Europe (40) - Russia, UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, Belarus #### Americas (6) - United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile #### Asia-Pacific, Central Asia & Middle East (15) - Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar ### The rules the airline checks - Ordinary passport, 30 days maximum, counted from midnight of the day after entry. - Allowed purposes: tourism, business and trade, visits, family and friends, medical treatment, conventions and exhibitions, sports competition. Not allowed: work, study, or journalism — those need a proper visa before you fly. - Entry AND exit through Hainan's open ports. No side trips to the mainland — the activity range is the administrative boundary of Hainan province. - Staying at a hotel: it registers you automatically. Staying with friends: register at a local police station within 24 hours of arrival. - Check-in staff are the first gate — they verify your passport against the current list and can deny boarding. Carry a copy of the NIA announcement if challenged. ### Three more regional routes in (for the record) - Hong Kong/Macau-organized tour groups: citizens of any country with diplomatic relations can enter Hainan for 6 days when organized by a travel agency registered in Hong Kong or Macau, group in and group out. - Cruise groups: foreign tour groups of 2+ arriving on cruises through 13 Chinese cruise ports (including Haikou and Sanya) can enter visa-free for up to 15 days along the coastal provinces and Beijing. - Guilin and Xishuangbanna: ASEAN tour groups can visit these two areas for up to 6 days, group in and group out. **Can US citizens enter China visa-free?** Not on the nationwide policy — the US is not among the 50 countries. But US citizens can enter Hainan province visa-free for up to 30 days under the Hainan regional policy, and can use the 240-hour visa-free transit when continuing to a third country. For Beijing, Shanghai or Xi'an, a US passport needs either the 240-hour transit route or a visa. **Can I enter Hainan visa-free and then travel to Beijing?** No. The Hainan policy confines your entire stay to Hainan province, and both entry and exit must be through Hainan's ports. To visit the mainland on the same trip you would need a qualifying nationwide policy (50-country visa-free or 240-hour transit) or a visa. **Which nationalities qualify for Hainan but not the nationwide 30-day visa-free policy?** Notably the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia. Most European and Gulf nationalities qualify for both policies, in which case the nationwide policy is more flexible since it covers the whole country. **How many countries can now enter Hainan visa-free in total?** After Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam joined on 20 August 2026, the regional Hainan policy covers 61 countries, and stacking it with nationwide policies means 88 nationalities in total can enter Hainan without a visa by some route. **Does the 30 days count the day I arrive?** No — the stay is counted from midnight of the day after entry, like the nationwide policy. Entering on the 1st gives you through the 30th. ## How to Extend a China Visa or Stay Permit: Steps Before Expiry Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-visa-extension/ · Verified: 2026-09-24 **Short answer:** Apply for an extension before your current visa, stay permit or visa-free admission period ends. The process is handled by the local public-security Exit-Entry Administration, and the exact eligibility and documents depend on your nationality, visa type and reason for staying. There is no safe automatic extension: overstaying can lead to fines, detention or future entry problems. ### Start before the expiry date Treat the expiry date on your passport entry record or permit as a hard deadline. Contact the local Exit-Entry Administration early, explain your reason and ask which application form, appointment and documents they require. Do not assume a ticket, hotel booking or invitation letter changes the legal status of your stay. ### Documents to prepare - Original passport and current visa, stay permit or entry record - Application form issued or accepted by the local Exit-Entry Administration - Proof of the reason for the extension, such as work, study, family or medical documentation - Passport photos and payment receipt when the office requests them ### If you are already overdue Go to the local Exit-Entry Administration immediately and do not book another journey assuming you can resolve it at the airport. Explain the full situation honestly and ask for the official route to regularise the status. **Can I extend a visa-free stay automatically?** No. Visa-free admission and visa extensions are different processes. Ask the local Exit-Entry Administration whether your nationality and purpose qualify before the allowed stay ends. **Can I travel out of China while an extension is pending?** Do not assume pending application means you may leave. Ask the issuing office what happens to the current permission and re-entry eligibility before booking a flight. **What happens if I overstay?** Overstaying can bring fines, detention, a blacklist record or future entry restrictions. The exact consequence depends on the case; contact the authorities promptly. **Can a hotel extend my visa?** A hotel can explain the local process or help you contact the office, but it cannot extend your immigration permission for you. ## What Documents Do You Need to Travel to China: Passport, Visa, Arrival Card and Tickets Source: https://chinapass.app/help/documents-needed-to-travel-to-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Five things, in this order. **1) A valid ordinary passport** — official guidance requires nothing more; there is no stated six-month minimum, so the passport simply has to cover your stay. Travel documents, temporary passports and emergency passports are not accepted for visa-free entry. **2) A visa, or the right visa-free basis** — China's unilateral policy covers 50 countries for up to 30 days, and the expiry differs by country: Brunei has no set expiry, Russia runs to 31 December 2027, the other 48 to 31 December 2026. If none of those apply you need a visa, unless you qualify for the 240-hour transit exemption (57 countries, up to 10 days, onward ticket required) or the Hainan 30-day route (61 countries). **3) The arrival card** — file it online free through the National Immigration Administration, or fill in the paper card at the port. **4) Your accommodation address** — hotels register you automatically; staying with friends needs police registration within 24 hours of arrival. **5) The passport you booked with** — Chinese rail tickets are real-name: the passport you bought with is the one you show at the gate. ### The passport: valid, and nothing more specific The rule that catches people out is the one people invent. There is no official six-month requirement. The Exit and Entry Administration Law speaks only of holding a **valid** exit/entry document, and the only official page that addresses passport validity at all — the Chinese Embassy in the UK's visa-free FAQ — says an ordinary passport must be "valid for at least the duration of intended stay in China". If your airline or your onward booking imposes a six-month rule, that is the carrier's rule, not China's. Two things do disqualify a document. **Travel documents, temporary passports and emergency passports are not accepted for visa-free entry** — the rule is an ordinary passport specifically. And the law does not bar entry to anyone holding no valid exit/entry document, so an expired passport is not a shorter version of this problem. ### The visa-free basis, and why the expiry date differs by country China's unilateral visa-free policy covers 50 countries for stays up to 30 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular FAQ, published 21 July 2026, states the expiry three ways: **Brunei has no set expiry, Russia runs to 31 December 2027, and the other 48 countries to 31 December 2026.** Two further routes exist independently of that list. The **240-hour transit visa-free** policy covers 57 nationalities including Russia, allows stays up to 10 days through 65 designated ports in 24 provinces, and requires confirmed onward tickets. The **Hainan 30-day** policy covers 61 nationalities including Russia but only inside Hainan Province. Under all of them the stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after you enter. ### The arrival card, and the 24-hour accommodation registration The arrival card is an entry-information form, not a visa. Since 20 November 2025 you can file it online, free, before you fly, through the National Immigration Administration's website, its 12367 app, the WeChat and Alipay mini-programmes, or the arrival-card QR code. The paper card is still accepted at the port. Accommodation registration is the requirement people forget. Under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, **hotels register foreign guests themselves** as part of check-in, but foreigners staying in a private home must — or their host must — register with the public security organs **within 24 hours of arrival**. As of 21 September 2026 that registration can be done online anywhere in China through the NIA website, the 12367 app, or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programmes, and online registration has the same legal effect as doing it at a police station. ### The train ticket is bound to the passport you bought it with China's railway system runs real-name ticketing, and for foreigners the passport is the identity document. China Railway's own English FAQ states that foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with valid passports, that the e-ticket record stores the identity document used at purchase, and that **the same document must be shown to check in and out of the station and to board the train**. The practical consequence: buy with the passport you will travel with, and carry that passport at the gate. A booking made on one passport and presented with another will not match, which is the single most common cause of a 12306 verification failure. **Do I need a passport valid for six months to enter China?** No official source states a six-month minimum. The Exit and Entry Administration Law refers only to a valid exit/entry document, and the Chinese Embassy in the UK's visa-free FAQ says an ordinary passport must be valid for at least the duration of your intended stay. Some airlines impose six months as their own boarding rule — that is the carrier's requirement, not China's entry requirement. **Can I enter China on a temporary or emergency passport?** Not for visa-free entry. Official guidance states that holders of travel documents or temporary or emergency documents other than ordinary passports are not allowed to enter China without a visa. **How long is my visa-free stay counted from?** From 00:00 on the day after the day you enter. This applies under the unilateral policy, the 240-hour transit policy and the Hainan 30-day policy alike. **I am staying with friends rather than a hotel — what must I do?** You or your host must register with the public security organs within 24 hours of your arrival in China. Since 21 September 2026 you can do this online through the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app, or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programmes, and online registration carries the same legal effect as registering at a police station. --- # Entry ## Do I need a visa for China in 2026? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/do-i-need-a-visa-for-china-2026/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** It depends on the passport. China's unilateral visa-free policy covers 50 countries for up to 30 days, and **the expiry date is not the same for every country**: Brunei has no set expiry, **Russia runs to 31 December 2027**, and the other 48 countries run to 31 December 2026. If your country is not on that list you need a visa, unless your routing qualifies for the 240-hour transit exemption (57 countries, up to 10 days, onward ticket required) or the Hainan 30-day route (61 countries). ### The three routes in - Unilateral visa-free: 50 countries, up to 30 days — Brunei has no set expiry, Russia to 31 December 2027, the other 48 to 31 December 2026 - 240-hour transit: 57 nationalities including Russia, up to 10 days, requires an onward ticket to a third country or region - Hainan 30-day: 61 nationalities including Russia, up to 30 days, limited to Hainan Province ### How to check your own passport The only authoritative list is the National Immigration Administration at en.nia.gov.cn. Policies change quickly and were extended twice in recent years, so check the current list before booking rather than relying on a forum post. ### What does not change - You need a valid ordinary passport — official guidance says nothing about a six-month minimum, so the passport simply has to be valid for your stay - Visa-free does not permit work or long-term study - Hotel check-in registers you automatically; staying with friends requires police registration within 24 hours of arrival, now available online nationwide **Do I need a return ticket for visa-free entry?** For the 30-day unilateral policy, airlines usually want proof of onward travel. For the 240-hour transit exemption it is strictly required — and it must be to a third country or region, not back to where you flew in from. **Can I extend a visa-free stay?** Not as a tourist. You would exit and re-enter, or apply for a visa at an exit-entry administration office before the stay expires. **Is visa-free entry guaranteed at the border?** No. Entry is always at the discretion of the immigration officer. Have your accommodation address and onward travel ready to show. ## How does China's 240-hour visa-free transit work? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/china-240-hour-transit-visa/ · Verified: 2026-10-10 **Short answer:** The 240-hour transit exemption lets holders of 57 nationalities stay up to 10 days in permitted areas without a visa, provided they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, bought before boarding. You must enter and leave through a designated port. ### The two conditions people get wrong - The onward ticket must be to a THIRD country or region — flying back to your departure country does not qualify - The ticket must be purchased before you board the flight into China ### Where you can go Rules relaxed in December 2024: transit travellers may move across provinces inside the permitted areas rather than staying in a single city. The permitted areas cover most of the eastern and central provinces. Check the NIA list for your specific itinerary before you rely on it. ### At check-in and on arrival - Airline staff verify the onward ticket — this is the step that fails, not immigration - Have the onward booking and your first night's accommodation printed or offline - Hotel check-in registers you; staying privately means registering with police within 24 hours **Do Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as a third region?** Under the transit rule they are treated as separate regions from the mainland, so an onward ticket to Hong Kong, China or Macao, China generally satisfies the third-region requirement. Confirm on en.nia.gov.cn for your passport. **Can I enter in one city and leave from another?** Yes, as long as both are designated ports and your route stays inside the permitted areas. **What if my onward flight is cancelled?** Visit the exit-entry administration office before your 240 hours expire to regularise your stay. Overstaying is taken seriously. --- # Safety ## Is China safe for tourists? What actually goes wrong Source: https://chinapass.app/help/is-china-safe-for-tourists/ · Verified: 2026-09-13 **Short answer:** For most visitors China is a low-crime, low-hassle destination. Serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare, and the risks that do materialise are petty: the “tea tasting” or “massage” scam in tourist areas, unlicensed taxis, and pickpocketing at crowded sites. The rule visitors break most often is procedural rather than dangerous — you must carry your passport at all times, because police conduct random checks and printed copies are not accepted. Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic police 122. ### The honest summary - Serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare, but incidents do happen (UK FCDO travel advice). - Watch your belongings at major tourist sites and other busy places, particularly where foreign visitors gather. - Isolated violent attacks — knife attacks, vehicles used as weapons — have occurred in public places including schools, supermarkets and hospitals. Rare, but real. - Penalties for fighting range from fines to detention regardless of who started it, and compensation claims are commonplace. Walk away from a shoving match over a queue or a fare. ### The scams that actually target visitors - The “tea tasting” / “massage” scam: a friendly stranger invites you for tea, a drink or a massage, and the venue then demands an enormous bill — sometimes followed by threats or card fraud. - QR-code phishing: QR codes are used for everything here, so never scan one handed to you by a stranger offering a deal. Pay through the merchant's own screen or your wallet app. - Unmarked or unmetered taxis: robbery and assault against foreign nationals have been reported. Use the ride-hailing app or a marked taxi, insist on the meter, and keep the receipt — it carries the taxi number. - Fare and queue disputes escalate fast. Do not put your hands on anyone: in China, a physical altercation can end in detention for both parties. ### Carry your passport — the rule visitors get wrong - Always carry your passport. Police carry out random checks, especially during heightened security and major events. - Printed copies and phone photos are not accepted as ID (UK FCDO). - Failure to produce ID can lead to a fine or detention. - Your hotel registers your stay by law. Keep the registration slip, and carry a hotel card with the address in Chinese to show a driver. - Leave a photocopy in the hotel safe — useful if the original is lost, never a substitute for carrying it. ### Solo women, nights out and drinks - Personal attacks and sexual assaults are rare, but they happen — including through drinks being spiked. Women travelling alone or with female friends may be at higher risk (UK FCDO). - Do not leave drinks unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers, including in hotel bars and clubs. - Major-city streets are busy and well lit late into the evening. Use the same precautions you would in any large city: avoid unlit side streets, use ride-hailing after midnight, share your live location with someone. - Bar streets (Sanlitun, the Bund side streets, bar districts in Chengdu) are the places where drink-spiking is most often reported. ### Emergency numbers and what to do first - Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Traffic police 122 · Maritime search and rescue 12395 (UK FCDO). - 110 dispatchers may not speak English. Say your location slowly and clearly, or hand the phone to hotel staff or a passer-by. - Lost or stolen passport: report it at the nearest police station or Public Security Bureau and get a written report before contacting your embassy or consulate. - Keep your embassy number and insurance hotline saved offline. In an emergency you may have no mobile data. - For anything non-urgent, 12345 is the city services hotline in most cities, with some English support in the largest ones. ### Laws that surprise visitors - Drug offences carry zero tolerance: heavy fines, long prison sentences or the death penalty — including for cannabis and including for personal use. - The authorities can randomly test foreign nationals, including on entry, and can test everyone present when a bar or club is raided. - Drones and drone components are strictly regulated. Contact the Civil Aviation Administration of China before bringing one. - National security laws are broad and can apply to activity that happened outside mainland China, including online. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and do not photograph military or restricted areas (UK FCDO). - Exit bans exist: in civil or commercial disputes you can be barred from leaving, sometimes without knowing until you try to depart. - Same-sex relationships are legal; public attitudes are less tolerant than in Western Europe or North America. ### Internet and connectivity - Google, Facebook, YouTube and X are permanently blocked. Access can be restricted further around political events (UK FCDO). - Chinese cybersecurity law requires VPN products and services to be licensed by the government (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). - International roaming and travel eSIMs route your traffic through your home carrier's network, which is why many visitors find their usual apps work on a roaming connection. See the VPN page for the practical picture. **Is it safe to walk around at night?** In major cities, yes: streets stay busy and well lit, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Apply normal big-city precautions — avoid unlit side streets when alone, use the ride-hailing app after midnight, and keep your phone out of sight in crowds. **Do I really need to carry my passport?** Yes. Police conduct random checks and printed copies or phone photos are not accepted. Failure to produce ID can lead to a fine or detention. Leave a copy in your hotel safe but carry the original. **Is China safe for solo female travellers?** Most women report few problems, but drink-spiking and harassment do occur. Do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, and be more careful in bar districts late at night. The UK FCDO flags women travelling alone or with female friends as potentially at higher risk. **Which number do I call in an emergency?** 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, 122 for traffic police, 12395 for maritime search and rescue. Dispatchers may not speak English — speak slowly or hand the phone to a local. **Are demonstrations a risk?** Avoid them. Chinese authorities enforce public order strictly and foreigners can face arrest, detention and deportation. Political statements — including ones posted online — can be treated as illegal. --- # Emergency ## I lost my passport in China — what do I do first? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/lost-passport-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-28 **Short answer:** Do it in this order: report the loss at the nearest police station and keep the loss report, contact your embassy or consulate to apply for an emergency travel document, then visit the exit and entry administration to update your stay record before you fly. ### Step 1: police report Go to the nearest police station (dial 110 for help finding it). The loss report is the document everything else depends on — hotels, the embassy and immigration all ask for it. Bring any photocopy or photo of the passport you have. It turns a long process into a short one. ### Step 2: embassy or consulate - Book an appointment — most consulates will not handle walk-ins - Bring the police report, passport photos and proof of identity - You will usually receive an emergency travel document rather than a new passport ### Step 3: before you fly Visit the exit and entry administration to transfer your stay registration to the new document. Airlines check this at boarding, and it is the step people miss. **How long does it take?** Plan for several days. An emergency travel document is often issued within a day or two of the appointment, but appointments and the exit-entry step add time. **Can I still travel inside China?** Hotels may refuse without a physical document. Carry the police report and keep a digital copy of everything until you hold the travel document. **What should I do before travelling?** Photograph your passport and visa page and store copies in two places. Offline copies are the single highest-value preparation for this scenario. --- # Food ## Do You Tip in China? The Short Answer and the Exceptions Source: https://chinapass.app/help/tipping-in-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** No — tipping is not expected anywhere in China: not in restaurants, taxis, hairdressers or bars. Staff may chase you down the street to return money they assume you left by mistake. The narrow exceptions: tour guides and drivers on private or group tours, hotel porters in international chains, and spa or housekeeping staff in five-star hotels, where ¥20–100 is appreciated. The best 'tip' elsewhere is simply saying thank you — 谢谢 (xièxie). ### Where tipping will be refused or cause confusion - Restaurants of every price level: the bill is the bill. Small family-run places may have no cash-change culture for tips and will wave the money off or chase you with it. - Taxis and Didi: fares are metered and final. Round up to the nearest yuan for your own convenience, not as a tip — drivers won't interpret it as one. - Street food, convenience stores, cafes: QR payment or exact cash, no tip line anywhere. - Hairdressers, delivery riders, museum staff: no tipping. A delivery rider asking you to confirm receipt just wants the app confirmation. ### The genuine exceptions - Private tour guides and drivers: ¥100–200 per day for a guide is a normal gesture for good service, and on multi-day trips it is genuinely appreciated. It is optional, never demanded. - Hotel porters at international-chain hotels: ¥10–20 per bag is fine. - Housekeeping and spa staff at five-star hotels: ¥20–50 left in the room or handed directly. - Free walking-tour guides in Shanghai and Beijing: these run on tips by design — ¥50–100 is the local norm for a good tour. ### What to do with the urge to overpay - In QR payments, the amount you type is the amount charged — there is no 'add tip' step, so over-tipping by mistake is rare. Double-check the figure before confirming, not out of tip anxiety but because typos charge for real. - Want to reward great service in a local restaurant? Come back again, or leave a sincere review on Dianping (the local Yelp) — owner-visible and genuinely valued. - Cash is still king for the one scenario that catches visitors: small vendors returning change from large notes. Carry ¥10–20 notes rather than relying on ¥100s. **Is tipping rude in China?** Not rude, just unfamiliar. In ordinary restaurants, taxis and shops a tip may be refused outright or treated as a mistake — staff have been known to run after customers to return 'forgotten' money. In tourist-facing services (guides, porters, five-star hotel staff) it is understood and appreciated. **Do I tip tour guides in China?** For private or group tours, ¥100–200 per day for a guide who did well is a normal, appreciated gesture. It is optional. Free walking tours run on tips, so those are the one context where tipping is genuinely the payment model. **Do taxi drivers in China expect tips?** No. Metered fare or the app-charged amount is final. Rounding up loose change is for convenience and is not read as a tip. **Should I tip at restaurants in China?** No — not at hotpot chains, not at dim sum halls, not at fine dining. Some high-end Western-style restaurants in Shanghai or Beijing add a service charge to the bill (around 10%); that printed charge covers everything and no additional tip is needed. ## How do I order food from a QR menu in China? Source: https://chinapass.app/help/order-food-qr-code-china/ · Verified: 2026-09-11 **Short answer:** Scan the QR code on the table, which opens the restaurant's menu inside Alipay or WeChat. Add dishes to the order and pay in the app. If the menu is Chinese-only, translate it with your camera or show a phrase card for allergies and spice levels. ### The flow at the table - Scan the QR on the table or ask for it — some places still have paper menus - The menu opens as a mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat - Add dishes, submit the order, and pay in the app or at the counter - Some restaurants require payment before the food arrives ### When the menu is Chinese-only Point your camera translation at the screen for a live overlay. Where the dish names are poetic rather than literal, look for the price and the photo instead of the name. For allergies and spice, do not rely on translation. Show a phrase card — it is unambiguous and works with no signal. ### Things that surprise visitors - There is often no itemised bill until you ask for it - Water and tea may be charged, and hot water is usually free - Tipping is not expected and may be refused **Can I order without Alipay or WeChat?** Sometimes — some restaurants still take orders with a waiter, and tourist areas often have picture menus. Coverage is far better with a wallet set up. **How do I say I am allergic to peanuts?** Show the allergy phrase card in the ChinaPass app rather than translating on the spot — the wording is what a kitchen actually understands. **What if I cannot pay in the mini-program?** Many venues let you pay at the counter, which accepts the same bound card or cash. --- # Cities (24) Canonical index: https://chinapass.app/en-US/cities/ ## Beijing Travel Guide: Forbidden City, Great Wall & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/beijing/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *An imperial capital with a lived-in hutong heart* Almost every first trip to China starts in Beijing: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven all sit on one metro network, while hutongs, roast duck and 798 keep the old capital from feeling like a museum. A QR code gets you into nearly every headline sight, so transport needs almost no planning. **At a glance:** Best time: April–May and September–October (clear, dry, fewer crowds) · How long: 4–5 days · Getting there: Beijing Capital (PEK) / Daxing (PKX); Beijing, Beijing South and Beijing West rail stations · Getting around: Metro lines 1/2/4/8 reach the main sights — tap in with a QR code; taxis start around CNY 13 ### What to see and do - **Forbidden City & the central axis** — The largest surviving wooden palace complex on earth, on an axis that runs from the Meridian Gate all the way to Jingshan Hill. - Tip: Do not leave from the north gate straight away — climb Jingshan's Wanchun Pavilion for the classic view down the axis, best at sunset. - Cost: CNY 60 peak / CNY 40 off-season - Official site: https://www.dpm.org.cn/ - **Mutianyu Great Wall** — Roughly half the crowds of Badaling, with two kilometres of wall rippling along a ridge — cable car up, toboggan down. - Tip: Arrive before 8am to miss the 10:00–14:00 coach groups; late October is peak autumn colour. - Cost: From CNY 45, cable car and toboggan extra - **Temple of Heaven & the hutongs** — The Hall of Prayer's blue-tiled roof is one of the most photogenic buildings in China, and the lanes around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang are still lived in. - Tip: Go early to watch locals practise tai chi and opera in the park; cycling beats walking in the hutongs. - Cost: CNY 34 combined ticket - **National Museum of China** — Home to the Houmuwu ding and the Four-goat Square Zun — free, capped daily, and the fastest way to make sense of the country. - Tip: Tickets drop 7 days ahead at 17:00; you can register with a passport. Closed Mondays. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Peking duck** — Crisp skin dipped in sugar, meat rolled in pancakes — locals rate Siji Minfu and Da Dong above the tourist names - **Zhajiangmian** — Hand-pulled noodles with six vegetable garnishes and fermented bean sauce, the old Beijing home staple - **Luzhu huoshao / douzhi** — The acquired-taste end of Beijing food: stewed offal with wheat cakes, and fermented mung-bean drink ### Booking & tickets - **Forbidden City (Palace Museum)** — Real-name reservation required — no third-party resellers are authorized. Visitors from outside mainland China book on the official international site intl.dpm.org.cn with a passport; mainland visitors use the Palace Museum WeChat mini program. - intl.dpm.org.cn (official international site): Register with your passport, pick a date and time slot, book with the passport number; enter by showing that same passport (no paper ticket). If it is sold out, foreigners can buy at the on-site ticket office with a passport, subject to availability - WeChat mini program 「故宫博物院」 (Palace Museum mini program): The mainland channel; a passport can also be registered and used to book, and entry is by passport plus a face check - Official website ticket.dpm.org.cn (online booking): The museum’s own booking entry, same inventory as the mini program - **Great Wall: Mutianyu & Badaling** — Badaling requires real-name reservations; Mutianyu draws many international visitors and its ticketing is friendly to foreign documents — cable car and toboggan tickets can be bought on site. - WeChat mini program 「八达岭长城」 (Badaling Great Wall mini program): Make a real-name reservation and buy tickets with your passport number - Mutianyu official website mutianyugreatwall.com: Your passport works for both online purchase and on-site ticket windows - **Beijing: General Booking Rules** — The National Museum of China (free, advance real-name reservation), Tiananmen Square (reservation and security check) and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall all have separate reservation channels. ### Common questions **How many days do I need for Beijing, and when is it least crowded?** Four to five days. April to May and September to October are the clear, dry windows with fewer crowds; the Forbidden City and the central axis alone take a full day if you walk the axis properly. **Can a passport get me into the Forbidden City, and how far ahead do tickets go?** Yes, and the passport is the whole ticket: book on intl.dpm.org.cn, then show the same document at the Meridian Gate, because one reservation is tied to one person for one day. A given date appears at 20:00 exactly seven days earlier, and nothing is left to buy on the day itself — admission runs CNY 60 from April to October, CNY 40 otherwise, with the Treasure and Clock galleries CNY 10 each. Mondays are dark outside public holidays, so pick a date that survives all of that. **Is the National Museum of China free, and do I still need a reservation?** Free, but still reservation-only — it is real-name, released on its own 7-day window, usually at 17:00, and capped daily with no on-site fallback. That release time is later than the Palace Museum’s 20:00, so the two are booked on separate days rather than in the same hour. ## Shanghai Travel Guide: The Bund, Wukang Road & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/shanghai/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *Art-deco waterfront, plane-tree lanes, soup dumplings* Shanghai is where most visitors land, and the least 'typical' city in China: 52 colonial-era facades line the west bank, Lujiazui's glass skyline faces them, and one turn later you are under plane trees and old villas. The metro is the densest in Asia, so two days covers the core. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and October–November · How long: 3–4 days · Getting there: Pudong (PVG) / Hongqiao (SHA) + Hongqiao railway station · Getting around: Metro 1/2/10 covers the centre; maglev from the airport takes 8 minutes; ferries cost CNY 2 ### What to see and do - **The Bund & Lujiazui** — Fifty-two historic facades on one bank, Lujiazui's glass skyline on the other — two eras across a single river. - Tip: The public ferry to the east bank costs CNY 2 and beats the sightseeing tunnel; the North Bund is quieter with a wider view. - Cost: Free - Official site: https://www.orientalpearltower.com/ - **Wukang Road & the former French Concession** — Plane trees, old villas, coffee and independent shops packed into one kilometre — Shanghai's most pleasant walk. - Tip: Come on a weekday afternoon; weekends are shoulder-to-shoulder. Look for the ship-prow corner of the Normandie Apartments. - Cost: Free - **Yu Garden & the old town** — A Ming-dynasty garden, the zigzag bridge and City God Temple snack stalls sit together, next to shikumen lanes rebuilt as Xintiandi. - Tip: Enter before 9am to miss the crush; eat Nanxiang dumplings upstairs where the queue is far shorter. - Cost: Yu Garden CNY 40 - **Zhujiajiao or Disneyland** — A day out of the city: Zhujiajiao's stone bridge and canal lanes, or the largest Disney castle in the world. - Tip: Disney is half as busy midweek; Zhujiajiao is on metro line 17, no tour needed. - Cost: Disney from CNY 475 ### What to eat - **Shengjian bao** — Crisp-bottomed pork buns full of soup — bite a small hole first - **Xiaolongbao** — Nanxiang and Jiajia both have fans; dip in vinegar with ginger - **Benbang cuisine** — Red-braised pork, flash-fried shrimp and scallion-oil noodles — dark, sweet, rich ### Booking & tickets - **Shanghai Museum** — Two-venue setup: the East Building (Pudong) plus the People's Square Building. The permanent exhibitions are now reservation-free; special exhibitions require reservation and a ticket. Official channels = the Shanghai Museum website / mini program. - Shanghai Museum official website shanghaimuseum.net (Visit Reservation): On the website's reservation page, pick the venue and date and register with your passport number - WeChat mini program 「上海博物馆」 (Shanghai Museum mini program): Reserve and buy special-exhibition tickets inside the mini program - **Yu Garden & the Bund** — Yu Garden requires a ticket (online or on site); the Bund's public open areas need no reservation — only the observation decks up in the buildings are ticketed. - WeChat mini program 「豫园」 (Yu Garden mini program): Pick a date and buy the ticket; show the QR code at the gate, and passport details can be added afterwards - **Shanghai: General Booking Rules** — Shanghai's top sights are generally easier to book than Beijing's: most venues are reservation-free or sell on site, with special exhibitions the main exception. ### Common questions **Do I need a reservation for the Shanghai Museum?** For the permanent exhibitions, no — they are now reservation-free. Special exhibitions require a reservation and a ticket. It is a two-venue setup: the East Building in Pudong plus the People’s Square Building, so check which venue the exhibition you want is at. The official channels are the museum’s own site and mini program. **How many days for Shanghai, and when is the weather best?** Three to four days, in March to May or October to November. ## Guangzhou Travel Guide: Canton Tower, Dim Sum & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/guangzhou/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *The city that takes morning tea seriously* Guangzhou is where Cantonese cooking comes from, and one of the first Chinese cities foreigners ever landed in: dim sum until eleven, arcades and Shamian Island in the afternoon, then Canton Tower lighting up along the Pearl River at night. It is smaller than Beijing or Shanghai — two or three days is plenty, and Hong Kong, China and Macao, China are an easy add-on. **At a glance:** Best time: October–December and March–April (summers are humid with typhoons) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Baiyun International (CAN); Guangzhou South (about 1h to West Kowloon, Hong Kong, China) · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3/5 covers the centre; night cruises leave from Tianzi Pier ### What to see and do - **Canton Tower & Pearl River cruise** — The 600 m 'slim waist' is the tallest tower in China, with a rooftop Ferris wheel and glass walkway more than 450 m up. - Tip: You do not need to go up: a night cruise from Tianzi Pier after 20:00 shows both banks lit and costs far less. - Cost: Tower from CNY 150 / cruise from CNY 80 - **Chen Clan Ancestral Hall & Shamian Island** — The ancestral hall gathers Lingnan brick carving, woodwork and plasterwork in one compound, while Shamian is a whole island of colonial-era facades under banyan trees. - Tip: The hall is quieter and better lit in the morning; do Shamian in the afternoon with coffee, then watch the sunset from Renmin Bridge. - Cost: Hall CNY 10 - **Morning tea in the old Xiguan quarter** — Yum cha is a ritual rather than a meal: shrimp dumplings, siu mai, chicken feet and rice rolls with a pot of pu'er, and you can sit until noon. - Tip: Old names like Taotaoju and Diandude queue at weekends — arrive before 9; a per-head tea charge is normal, not a scam. - Cost: About CNY 60 per person ### What to eat - **Har gow & siu mai** — The two pillars of dim sum — thin translucent wrappers, visible filling - **Roast goose** — Charcoal-roasted over lychee wood, crisp skin, plum sauce - **Rice rolls & double-skin milk** — Steamed rice-sheet rolls, finished with a bowl of Shunde milk custard ### Booking & tickets - **Guangdong Museum** — Free admission does not mean walk-in entry: everyone (children included) needs a timed real-name reservation, tickets are released daily at 22:00, weekend and holiday slots go fast, and there is no on-site ticket office as a fallback. - WeChat mini program 「广东省博物馆」 (Guangdong Museum — the ticket-reservation mini program linked in the official website footer): Register with your real name → choose a date and time slot → attach an ID document for each visitor; tickets are released daily at 22:00 - Official website gdmuseum.org.cn, 「门票预约」 (Ticket Reservation) section: The website publishes the reservation rules, ticket-release times and closure notices; actual booking goes mainly through the mini program - **Canton Tower** — A commercial, ticketed observation tower (600 m) with no reservation lottery: buy online through official channels or on site, then ride up with your ticket. Official = the website cantontower.com and its PC ticketing portal mallpc.cantontower.com. - 广州塔官网 PC 购票端 — Canton Tower official-website PC ticketing portal mallpc.cantontower.com: Book tickets → choose ticket type and time slot → pay → redeem the e-ticket/exchange voucher on arrival; the page has an ENGLISH interface - **Guangzhou general booking rules** — Guangzhou's booking barriers split in two: free venues require real-name ticket snatching, commercial attractions sell tickets directly; the real timing variable is the Canton Fair — during its spring and autumn sessions, transport and hotels tighten up across the city. ### Common questions **Is the Guangdong Museum really free, or is there a catch?** Free, but the door is a timed booking rather than a counter: admissions are dated, tied to your ID and released in a daily batch at 22:00, so a Saturday slot is decided days earlier. Monday is the standing closure day outside statutory holidays, and there is no booth to rescue a walk-up — if the passport field refuses you, the museum's own line is 020-38046877. **How many days do I need for Guangzhou, and when is the weather kind?** Two to three days. October to December and March to April are the sensible windows — summers are humid and bring typhoons. If you have the time, the Canton Tower observation deck is 600 m up and the Pearl River cruise is a different way to see the same skyline. ## Shenzhen Travel Guide: Theme Parks, Shenzhen Bay & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/shenzhen/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-20 *A forty-year-old city between the hills and the sea* Shenzhen is China's youngest big city: a fishing village forty years ago, now a continuous stretch of tech parks, design districts and seafront greenways. The appeal is not monuments but contemporary life — independent bookshops in OCT Loft, cycling Shenzhen Bay, and the Ming coastal fortress at Dapeng. **At a glance:** Best time: October–December and March–April · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Bao'an International (SZX); Shenzhen North (15 min to West Kowloon, Hong Kong, China) · Getting around: Metro 1/2/4/8 covers the centre; cross to Hong Kong, China via Futian, Luohu or Shenzhen Bay ### What to see and do - **Window of the World & theme parks** — The Eiffel Tower and the pyramids shrunk into one park, with Happy Valley next door — one of China's first generation of theme parks. - Tip: Weekends are family-heavy; weekdays are far better. The evening light show is a bonus. - Cost: From CNY 220 - Official site: https://www.szwwco.com/ - **OCT Loft and the design districts** — Old factory blocks turned into bookshops, galleries and coffee — the part of Shenzhen that feels most lived in. - Tip: Markets and small gigs run at weekends and evenings; combine with Shenzhen Bay Park to see Hong Kong, China across the water. - Cost: Free - **Cycling Shenzhen Bay** — A 15 km seafront cycleway with mangroves and migratory birds on one side and the Houhai skyline on the other. - Tip: Set off after 5pm for the best light; shared bikes unlock by QR — keep to the bike lane. - Cost: Free - **Dapeng Fortress & Jiaochangwei** — A Ming-dynasty coastal defence town survives almost intact, next to Shenzhen's only guesthouse beach village. - Tip: About 1.5 hours from the centre — stay a night; the fortress is free and closed Mondays. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Chaoshan beef hotpot** — Beef cut to order by part, dipped for eight seconds - **Rice rolls / Hakka盆菜** — Cantonese breakfast rolls, and the Hakka one-pot feast - **Seafood stalls** — Pick your own around Nan'ao and Shekou, priced by weight ### Booking & tickets - **Window of the World & theme parks** — Standard ticketing — buy online or at the gate with no real-name quota; separate day and night sessions, with dedicated price categories for overseas visitors. - Window of the World official WeChat / on-site ticket windows: Buy day or night tickets with your passport; e-tickets scan at the gate - On-site ticket windows: Passport accepted directly - **Shenzhen Museum (free, no reservation)** — The rare big-city museum that is free AND walk-in — just bring your passport; two venues in Futian. - **Shenzhen: General Booking Rules** — Most Shenzhen sights are walk-in; the real "reservations" here are border crossings and holiday crowds. ### Common questions **Do theme park tickets need a passport or a real-name booking?** No — it is standard ticketing. You can buy online or at the gate, with no real-name quota. Day and night sessions are separate, and there are dedicated price categories for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas visitors. **When should I go to Shenzhen?** October to December and March to April. Two to three days covers it because the parks sell standard tickets rather than quotas and most city sights are walk-in — only Golden Week forces you to buy ahead, so no morning goes to queueing. ## Wuhan Travel Guide: Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Museum & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/wuhan/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-13 *Two rivers, three towns, and 65 bronze bells* Wuhan is where the Han meets the Yangtze, and the city is really three: Wuchang on the south bank, with Yellow Crane Tower on Snake Hill and the Hubei Provincial Museum out by East Lake; Hankou on the north, still full of treaty-port streets and the ferry landing at Wuhan Pass; Hanyang in between. The headline sights are cheap or free, but the three that matter in spring and at holidays all run on advance booking, and the metro reaches every one of them. **At a glance:** Best time: March–April and October–November (mild and dry); June–August is the hot, wet window, when about 40% of the year's rain falls · How long: 3–4 days · Getting there: Tianhe International Airport (Wuhan Tianhe); Wuhan, Hankou and Wuchang rail stations · Getting around: Metro Line 2 runs to the airport, Line 5 to the tower (Pengliuyang / Simenkou Huanghelou) and Line 8 to the museum (Shengbo–Hubei Daily); ferries cross the Yangtze between Wuhan Pass in Hankou and Zhonghua Road in Wuchang ### What to see and do - **Yellow Crane Tower** — The five-storey tower rebuilt on Snake Hill in 1985 stands where Cui Hao and Li Bai wrote their poems; from the top gallery you look straight down the Yangtze at the road-rail bridge. - Tip: At peak periods the park sells timed entry slots through its WeChat account and Ctrip, so buy before the day; the on-site ticket window (sales 08:30–17:00) is the fallback. - Cost: CNY 70 full / CNY 35 concession - Official site: http://www.cnhhl.com/ - **Hubei Provincial Museum** — The tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng fills one hall with a 65-piece bronze chime-bell set, and upstairs the sword of Goujian is still bright after 2,500 years — the two objects most visitors come for. - Tip: Free, but real-name booking opens 5 days ahead and Mondays are closed; a passport books fine and produces a QR code instead of a gate swipe. - Cost: Free; chime-bell concert CNY 50 - Official site: https://www.hbww.org.cn/ - **Wuhan University cherry blossom** — The old cherry trees along the campus's Sakura Avenue on Luojia Hill are the most photographed blossom in central China, and the hillside itself is a set of 1930s university buildings. - Tip: During the season a real-name reservation with a daily cap is the only way onto campus, and the official booking site is shut the rest of the year — check whu.edu.cn or the 武大发布 account in early March for that year's dates. - Cost: Free - Official site: https://yh2021.whu.edu.cn/ - **East Lake greenway** — A long car-free loop of lakeside path east of Wuchang, with causeways, bridges and pavilions — the city's weekend, and a half-day that costs almost nothing. - Tip: Rent a bike at a trailhead, or take the sightseeing bus if you want the far sections; nothing here needs a reservation. - Cost: No entry ticket; sightseeing bus CNY 20–40 - Official site: http://www.donghulvdao.com/ ### What to eat - **Hot dry noodles (reganmian)** — Sesame-paste noodles tossed dry with pickles and chilli oil — Wuhan's breakfast, eaten standing in five minutes - **Doupi** — Sticky rice, mushroom and pork folded into a thin egg-and-mung-bean skin and cut into squares, from the same breakfast stalls - **Lotus-root and pork-rib soup** — Hubei lotus root stewed until it goes starchy and pink — the dish locals order when they come home ### Booking & tickets - **Yellow Crane Tower (Huanghelou Park)** — Ticketed at CNY 70, open all year, and the park's own booking channel is a WeChat account, with Ctrip as the alternative. The park has published timed entry — four slots a day — for peak periods rather than a year-round reservation rule, so book ahead when your dates fall on a holiday, and treat the ticket window as your fallback. - WeChat account 「黄鹤楼公园」 (Huanghelou Park) — the park's own channel, named in its official notices: Pick a date and one of the timed entry slots, pay in the app, then enter inside that slot. The flow and payment are Chinese-language; a passport is not named among the accepted documents in the park's published ticket rules, so if the app will not take one, buy at the on-site window instead. - Ctrip / 携程 — the second channel the park names for the same timed slots: Ctrip's international site takes foreign cards and passports, which makes it the path of least resistance for non-Chinese visitors; it is the same park ticket, only the counter differs. - On-site ticket window, sales 08:30–17:00 all year — the walk-up fallback: Pay over the counter with your passport when the online flow rejects a foreign document or a foreign card. The park's own rules assume visitors present original documents at the gate, so carry the passport you booked with. - **Hubei Provincial Museum** — Free, but nobody walks in without a real-name reservation. Individual visitors book through the museum's official WeChat account or its own website, up to 5 days ahead, and the day's quota simply runs out. A passport is an accepted booking document and, unlike a Chinese ID card, it produces a QR code that staff scan at the gate. - WeChat account 「湖北省博物馆」 (Hubei Provincial Museum) — the channel the museum names for individual visitors: Real-name booking up to 5 days ahead, with the passport number entered as the document. Non-ID documents produce a QR code rather than a gate swipe: bring the original passport on the day and have staff scan the code. If the name will not go through the system, the museum's own guidance is to register on site at the South Gate. - Official website https://www.hbww.org.cn (visitor services): The museum lists its official website and official WeChat account among the authorized individual-booking channels, alongside Meituan, Hubei Wenlü zhisheng and the Ehuiban app. It states plainly that no other site or third-party platform is authorized to book museum entry — treat resellers as touts. - **Booking, paying and getting around Wuhan** — Three things in Wuhan need planning: the museum (free, five-day booking window), the tower (CNY 70, timed entry at peak) and the university's cherry blossom (free, real-name quota, season only). All three publish their own booking channel and warn against resellers; for the rest of the city you just turn up. ### Common questions **How much is the Yellow Crane Tower, and do I need a time slot?** CNY 70 for a full ticket, half that for concessions, and the tower opens every day of the year. A slot is only forced at peak periods, when the park splits the day into four entry windows sold through its WeChat account or Ctrip; outside those dates you can simply buy at the window. Build the visit around the 17:00 last ticket sale. **How many days for Wuhan, and when is the heat a problem?** Three to four days, in March to April or October to November, which are mild and dry. June to August is the hot, wet window. ## Xi'an Travel Guide: Terracotta Army, City Wall & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/xian/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *Thirteen dynasties, and a wall you can cycle* Xi'an is the fastest way to understand where China comes from: an army of clay soldiers has stood underground for two thousand years, a Ming wall rings the old town, and after dark the Tang-themed street performs that history back at you. Metro lines 2/3/4 link the main sights; two or three days is enough. **At a glance:** Best time: April–May and September–October · How long: 3 days · Getting there: Xianyang International (XIY); Xi'an North for high-speed rail (about 4h to Beijing) · Getting around: Metro 2/3/4 covers the city; one lap of the wall by bike takes about 1.5 hours ### What to see and do - **Terracotta Army & the First Emperor's Mausoleum** — More than 8,000 life-size figures arranged in battle formation — Pit 1 is far bigger in person than in any photograph. - Tip: Hire the official guide or an audio guide or you will just see three pits; start with Pit 1 in the morning for light and thinner crowds. - Cost: CNY 120 - Official site: https://www.bmy.com.cn/ - **Cycling the city wall** — The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km around the old town, and you can ride the whole loop on top. - Tip: Enter at the South Gate, exit at the East Gate; go up about an hour before sunset. The bricks are bumpy — pick a bike with suspension. - Cost: Wall CNY 54 + bike CNY 45/3h - **Big Wild Goose Pagoda & Tang night street** — After 8pm the whole street becomes a free procession of roly-poly girls, Tang-costume parades and light shows. - Tip: The fountain show at the pagoda's north square runs on a fixed schedule (around 20:30) — claim a spot 20 minutes early. - Cost: Free - **Muslim Quarter & Yongxingfang** — Old-city street food in one stretch: roujiamo, paomo, persimmon cakes, sour plum drink. - Tip: The main drag is touristy; walk 200 m towards Sajinqiao for better prices and more local cooking. - Cost: About CNY 50 per person ### What to eat - **Roujiamo** — Braised pork in a flatbread bun — ask for a mix of lean and fat - **Yangrou paomo** — Tearing the bread yourself is the ritual; small pieces soak up more broth - **Youpo mian / liangpi** — Noodles dressed with sizzling chilli oil, and cold wheat noodles ### Booking & tickets - **Terracotta Army (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum)** — Real-name reservation only; no third-party agents are authorized. The official website and the two official WeChat accounts accept Chinese ID cards and passports alike; enter in your booked time slot and have your original document verified at the gate. - 博物院官网「购票」入口（www.bmy.com.cn）— Official museum website, 'Buy Tickets' entry (www.bmy.com.cn): Book and pay with real-name details from your passport (or ID card). Ticket checks are timed: enter within your booked slot and have your original passport verified at the gate. - 微信公众号「秦始皇帝陵博物院」或「兵马俑票务在线」— WeChat official accounts 秦始皇帝陵博物院 (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum) or 兵马俑票务在线 (Terracotta Army Ticketing Online): Book tickets inside the official account; foreign visitors can book exactly the same way. - **Shaanxi History Museum** — Admission is free, but everyone still needs a timed reservation — the only official channel is the Shaanxi History Museum WeChat official account. Tickets are released 5 days ahead at 17:00 daily and peak slots sell out in seconds; passports and Foreign Permanent Resident ID Cards are both accepted. - 微信公众号「陕西历史博物馆」— WeChat official account 陕西历史博物馆 (Shaanxi History Museum): The only official booking channel. Tickets are released 5 days ahead at 17:00 daily. Choose passport (or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card) as your document type and book with real-name details; enter by ID-document match check with your original document plus your order. - **General Booking Rules in Xi'an** — Every headline venue is real-name reservation only, with zero fallback outside official channels. Foreign visitors use the same official channels with a passport or permanent residence card, and go to the on-site manual service window when verification fails. ### Common questions **Can a passport holder book the Terracotta Army, and are there resellers?** Yes to the passport — book through the official site or either of its two WeChat accounts; the document goes in exactly as a Chinese ID would, and the gate matches your original to the slot you booked. No to the resellers: the museum states that no agency or platform may sell on its behalf, and since entry is tied to your identity a bought-on ticket would be useless. Holiday batches appear at 10:00, 15:00 and 20:00. **How many days for Xi’an, and when?** Three days, in April to May or September to October. Every headline venue in the city is real-name reservation only, with no fallback outside the official channels. ## Nanjing Travel Guide: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Qinhuai River & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/nanjing/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *Six dynasties, plane trees and lantern-lit canals* Nanjing wears its layers in the open: the Ming and Sun Yat-sen mausoleums sit on Purple Mountain, six dynasties lie under the city wall, and the Qinhuai riverfront pairs snack streets with lantern-lit boats. High-speed rail reaches Shanghai and Beijing in under three and a half hours, which makes it a good two-day stopover. **At a glance:** Best time: March–April and October–November · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Lukou International (NKG); Nanjing South (1h05 from Shanghai, 3h30 from Beijing) · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3 covers the centre; shuttle buses move you around Purple Mountain ### What to see and do - **Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum & Ming Xiaoling** — 392 steps climb to Sun Yat-sen's tomb, while Ming Xiaoling is Zhu Yuanzhang's — its spirit path lined with six kinds of stone beast is the finest Ming carving in the country. - Tip: The mausoleum is free but needs a reservation and closes Mondays; walk up the plane-tree avenue from Xiamafang if you can. - Cost: Mausoleum free / Ming Xiaoling CNY 70 - **Confucius Temple & Qinhuai night cruise** — The imperial examination hall, Wuyi Lane and lantern-lit pleasure boats crowd one stretch of riverbank — Nanjing at its liveliest. - Tip: Take a boat after 19:00 when both banks are lit; the main snack street is touristy, Laomendong is better value. - Cost: Cruise about CNY 80 - **Nanjing Museum** — One of China's three great museums, with a full-scale reconstruction of a Republican-era street and the glazed arch from the Porcelain Pagoda. - Tip: Free but reserved in advance and weekend slots go fast; the museum closes Monday afternoons. - Cost: Free - Official site: https://www.njmuseum.com/ ### What to eat - **Salted duck** — Pale skin, tender meat, served cold — locals call the autumn version osmanthus duck - **Duck-blood vermicelli soup** — Blood, intestine and fried tofu in one bowl: the local breakfast - **Soup dumplings / pidumian** — Sip the soup first; pidumian is Nanjing's own fried-pork-skin noodle ### Booking & tickets - **Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (Zhongshan Ling)** — Free does not mean no reservation: the mausoleum area is free, but real-name booking is mandatory — without one you cannot enter the core area above the 'Tianxia Weigong' gate. The mausoleum closes on Mondays for maintenance. - 微信小程序「钟山风景区」/ 订阅号「南京钟山风景区」— WeChat mini program 钟山风景区 (Zhongshan Scenic Area) / WeChat subscription account 南京钟山风景区 (Nanjing Zhongshan Scenic Area): Pick Free Reservation Ticket, then the Zhongshan Ling reservation ticket, then a date and time slot. Foreign visitors enter their passport number as the document info; if booking fails or the passport is not an accepted document type, call the reservation hotline for manual help. - 官网 www.zschina.org.cn（7:00-22:00）— Official website www.zschina.org.cn (7:00-22:00): The online booking entry here shares the same ticket quota as the mini program. - 游客自助服务终端（8:00-17:00）— Self-service kiosks on site (8:00-17:00): Book at the self-service machines in the scenic area — the in-person fallback when online channels fail. - **Nanjing Museum** — Free, but every visitor books by real name. Tickets drop daily at 18:00 for the next 7 days and are gone once a day fills up. Foreign visitors can book online themselves with a passport, then complete in-person verification at the Service Center green channel on the day of the visit. - 微信小程序「南京博物院」/ 官网预约入口 ticket.njmuseum.com.cn — WeChat mini program 南京博物院 (Nanjing Museum) / official booking site ticket.njmuseum.com.cn: Choose passport (or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card) as the document type and book with real-name details. On the day of your visit, take your original passport and the booking confirmation to the green-channel service window at the Service Center to complete entry formalities. - **General Booking Rules in Nanjing** — Nanjing's headline free attractions are all 'free does not mean no reservation': real-name booking via the official mini program or WeChat account is the only way in. Passports can be filled in online; if the system stalls, call the hotline or use the on-site manual service window. ### Common questions **Is the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum really free, or do I need a booking?** Free to enter, impossible without a reservation. The core above the Tianxia Weigong gate opens only to booked visitors, and Monday is the weekly maintenance day — the tomb chamber is narrower still, Tuesday to Friday. There is no ticket desk that will let you in without an order, so book before you take the metro. **How many days for Nanjing, and when is the best time?** Two to three days, in March to April or October to November. ## Suzhou Travel Guide: Classical Gardens, Pingjiang Road & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/suzhou/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-11 *Gardens, pingtan ballads and a bowl of noodles* Suzhou is 25 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed rail and runs on a completely different clock: no towers in the old city, the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove and Master of the Nets within two kilometres of each other, lanes along Pingjiang Road where people still live, and pingtan ballads in teahouses at dusk. One day covers it; two days does it justice. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and September–November · How long: 2 days · Getting there: Sunan Shuofang (WUX); Suzhou / Suzhou North (25 min from Shanghai) · Getting around: Metro 1/4 reaches the old-city edge; walk and use buses inside, taxis are hard to flag ### What to see and do - **Humble Administrator's Garden & Lion Grove** — The first of China's four great gardens uses borrowed scenery and framed views to make five hectares feel endless; Lion Grove's rock maze can absorb half an hour. - Tip: In high season book real-name tickets for the 07:30 opening — fewer people, softer light. The two gardens are a kilometre apart. - Cost: Humble Administrator CNY 70 low season / CNY 80 high season, Lion Grove CNY 40 - Official site: https://ylj.suzhou.gov.cn/ - **Pingjiang Road & Shantang Street** — Song-dynasty canal lanes survive intact: white walls, dark tiles, arched bridges, with teahouses, bookshops and pingtan halls still trading. - Tip: Go at dawn when Pingjiang Road is nearly empty — the only way to photograph it without crowds; Shantang is better after dark for lanterns. - Cost: Free - **Suzhou Museum & Tiger Hill** — I. M. Pei's museum turns white walls and grey tiles into modern geometry, while Tiger Hill's leaning Yunyan Pagoda has been off-vertical for a thousand years. - Tip: The museum is free but reserved ahead and holiday slots vanish instantly; Tiger Hill is further out, give it half a day. - Cost: Museum free / Tiger Hill CNY 70 ### What to eat - **Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish** — Scored, fried and dressed in sweet-sour sauce — the signature Suzhou dish - **Aozhao noodles** — Fine springy noodles with red-oil fried fish or white broth braised duck - **Shengjian / sweet congee** — One savoury, one sweet, with a pot of Biluochun tea ### Booking & tickets - **Humble Administrator's Garden & the classical gardens** — Humble Administrator's Garden, Lion Grove, Tiger Hill and Lingering Garden all use real-name timed reservations with no same-day on-site ticket sales; the official WeChat channels take passports and you enter inside your booked time slot. - WeChat official account 「苏州园林旅游」 / Suzhou Gardens Tourism website: Pick date and time slot, pay with passport details, enter with the SMS QR code and your original passport - On-site comprehensive service window (综合服务窗口): Passport holders who cannot book online get manual ticketing help and an entry voucher - **Suzhou Museum (designed by I.M. Pei)** — Free but strictly real-name timed reservation — the 7-day window (including same day) opens at 08:00 and weekend slots vanish within seconds. - WeChat mini program 「苏州博物馆全预约」: Real-name registration with your passport, pick a slot, enter with reservation number + original passport - www.szmuseum.com official website: Same inventory as the mini program - **Suzhou: General Booking Rules** — Gardens, museums and water towns all run real-name booking on official channels; the comprehensive service window is the passport fallback almost everywhere. ### Common questions **Can I buy a Suzhou garden ticket on the spot?** Not at the gate, no. The headline gardens — Humble Administrator's, Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill and Lion Grove — went to named, timed entry and dropped day-of sales, so the booking has to exist before you arrive. Suzhou's window rolls forward seven days instead of dropping at a fixed hour, checkout has a passport option, and at the gate you show the original passport with the SMS code. **How many days for Suzhou, and when?** Two days, in March to May or September to November. The classical gardens are the reason to come, and each one is separately ticketed. ## Hangzhou Travel Guide: West Lake, Lingyin Temple & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/hangzhou/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *Lake, hills and tea, 45 minutes from Shanghai* Hangzhou is 45 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed rail, and West Lake has been free to enter since 2011 — the 15 km loop takes two hours by bike. Beyond the lake there are the Buddhist grottoes of Feilai Peak, the tea terraces of Longjing village, and the Grand Canal you can actually ride a boat on. Two days is enough. **At a glance:** Best time: March–April (blossom) and October–November (osmanthus) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Xiaoshan International (HGH); Hangzhou East (45 min from Shanghai Hongqiao) · Getting around: Metro 1/2 reaches the lake; cycling or walking is best around the water and the loop buses run often ### What to see and do - **West Lake and the Su Causeway** — China's most famous lake, cut into sections by the Su and Bai causeways, with Leifeng Pagoda and the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon as the classic view. - Tip: Mist on the water between 6 and 8am is the shot; rent a public bike from Broken Bridge to the Su Causeway and avoid weekends. - Cost: Free (a few small sights charge separately) - **Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak** — More than three hundred carvings from the Five Dynasties to the Song cover Feilai Peak's cliff, and Lingyin itself is the busiest Buddhist temple in the region. - Tip: Free since 2025-12-01, but you must book a timed slot in advance; go early and mind the slippery stone steps. - Cost: Free (timed reservation required) - Official site: https://www.lingyinsi.com/ - **Longjing tea village & Nine Creeks** — Tea bushes grow right up the slope in Longjing village and you can watch leaves roasted in the pan during picking season; Nine Creeks is where locals paddle in summer. - Tip: Do not get pulled into a 'tea tasting' at the village entrance — walk further towards Meijiawu; tea is sold in 50 g lots. - Cost: Free (tea extra) - **Songcheng and the Romance Show** — A theme park that rebuilds Southern Song Lin'an, plus an hour-long stage show using flood effects and machinery to tell Hangzhou's history. - Tip: Show times are fixed, usually one afternoon and one evening slot, and tickets should be booked ahead; the daytime park suits families. - Cost: Show from CNY 320 ### What to eat - **West Lake vinegar fish** — Freshwater fish in sweet-sour sauce — judged on tenderness with no muddy taste - **Longjing shrimp** — River shrimp stir-fried with new-season tea leaves: clean and fresh - **Pian'erchuan / dingsheng gao** — Noodles with pickled greens, bamboo and pork, plus a sweet sticky street cake ### Booking & tickets - **West Lake scenic area (incl. Leifeng Pagoda & boat cruises)** — The lakeshore is free and open with no reservation needed; tickets only apply at paid spots — Leifeng Pagoda and similar are ticketed separately, cruises are sold by boat type and dock, and on-site ticket windows and docks are the most foreigner-passport-friendly. - WeChat official account 「西湖旅游」 (West Lake Tourism): In the menu, tap 【景区门票】 (Scenic-area Tickets), pick a date and buy; Leifeng Pagoda and other paid spots go on sale 7 days ahead. Requires a mainland-China phone number - Ticket offices at the individual cruise docks (各游船码头售票处): Buy on site and board — boat tickets are not tied to any ID; island cruises CNY 55-70 per person, rowing/sculling boats CNY 150/180 per hour per boat - Leifeng Pagoda on-site ticket windows (雷峰塔景区售票窗口): If you have no mainland-China phone number, buy in person at the window and show your original passport - **Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak** — Free admission from 2025-12-01 with a timed real-name reservation — no same-day tickets and no offline ticket sales. Official channels = the 「杭州灵隐飞来峰」 (Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak) mini program on WeChat/Alipay, where passports can book directly; when a same-day slot is not full, on-site registration is the fallback. - Mini program 「杭州灵隐飞来峰」 (Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak) on WeChat/Alipay: Make a real-name reservation and pick date and time slot; passport / foreigner's permanent residence ID numbers can be entered directly. Show the original document at entry for an in-person ID check - On-site registration channel at the scenic area (景区现场登记通道): Open only when same-day slots are not full: register with your original passport, one person per document, first come first served - **Hangzhou general booking rules** — Hangzhou is a 'free-entry city': the bulk is free, and mandatory reservation exists only at Lingyin-Feilai Peak; paid spots all route through the 「西湖旅游」 (West Lake Tourism) WeChat account, and in peak season (Sep-Nov weekends and holidays) traffic controls need more advance planning than tickets. ### Common questions **Do I need a ticket or reservation for the West Lake?** Neither for the lakeshore — it is free and open, with no reservation. Tickets only exist at the paid spots: Leifeng Pagoda and similar towers are ticketed separately, and the cruises are sold by boat. The on-site windows and the piers are the most passport-friendly way to buy. **How many days for Hangzhou, and when are the two seasons?** Two to three days. March to April is blossom season and October to November is osmanthus season; the West Lake shore itself is walkable between them, with the paid points scattered along it. ## Huangshan Travel Guide: Granite Peaks, Cableways & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/huangshan/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-13 *Granite peaks above a sea of clouds* Huangshan — Yellow Mountain — is a granite forest of sheer pillars, twisted pines and hot springs, and the one Chinese mountain that everybody means when they say 'the classic mountain'. The park is entered through four gates and moves on cableways and compulsory shuttle buses, so a visit is as much logistics as hiking. Since 2020 it has run on strict real-name, time-slotted, direction-specific reservations made only through the official Huangshan Tourism Platform mini program, and it is one of the few headline sights in China where a single ticket stays valid for three days. **At a glance:** Best time: April–May and October–November for clear ridges and cloud seas; 20 December–20 January is the official winter season, when tickets and cableways are cheapest · How long: 2–3 days, including one night on the summit for sunrise · Getting there: Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN); Huangshan North (Huangshan Bei) high-speed rail station, with direct buses to the South Gate and to Hongcun · Getting around: Private cars stop at the transfer centres: shuttles up to the cableway stations are compulsory and ticketed separately, cableways are a third ticket, and the park ticket itself lasts three days ### What to see and do - **The summit circuit** — Bright Summit is the highest of the three main peaks, Lotus Peak and Celestial Capital Peak flank it, and the Greeting-Guess Pine at Yuping is the tree on every poster of China. - Tip: Ride up the back way (Yungu) and down the front (Yuping) to walk the ridge in one direction; the park opens 07:00 on weekdays and 06:30 at weekends. - Cost: Park ticket CNY 190 (winter CNY 150), valid 3 days - Official site: https://www.huangshan.com.cn/ - **The five cableways** — Yungu and Yuping are the classic back-and-front pair, Taiping climbs the northern face, the West Sea Grand Canyon funicular drops into the gorge, and the East Sea cableway has flown to the Northern Sea since June 2026. - Tip: Cableway tickets are bought separately from the park ticket and sell out before the park does; the last car down leaves with the last shuttle bus, not with the sunset. - Cost: One way CNY 80 Yungu / CNY 80 Taiping / CNY 90 Yuping / CNY 100 West Sea; winter CNY 65 / 65 / 75 / 80. East Sea CNY 125 peak, CNY 100 winter - **Hongcun and Xidi** — The two World Heritage Huizhou villages below the mountain: Hongcun's Moon Pond and water lanes, Xidi's memorial archways and Ming-Qing merchant courtyards. - Tip: They are separate tickets, so pick one if you only have a spare morning; stay overnight in a village courtyard house rather than day-tripping from Tunxi. - Cost: CNY 104 each (Hongcun, Xidi) - **Sunrise over the sea of clouds** — The cloud sea is why people climb in the dark: the official daily bulletin even publishes a cloud-sea probability alongside the sunrise time. - Tip: Sleep on the summit — a 4am start from Tangkou is impossible because the first shuttle only runs shortly before the cableway. Summit camping is suspended, so tents have to be left at the bottom. - Cost: Summit hotel or hostel bed, booked together with the park ticket ### What to eat - **Stinky mandarin fish** — Fermented freshwater fish braised with chilli and bamboo — the dish that proves Huizhou cooking is a cuisine, not a footnote - **Hairy tofu** — Fuzzy mould-fermented tofu, pan-fried and dipped in chilli sauce; sold in squares on Tunxi Old Street - **Cured pork with bamboo shoots** — Huizhou ham or wind-dried pork steamed over mountain bamboo shoots — the mountain's own larder ### Booking & tickets - **Huangshan Scenic Area: ticket, cableways and transfer buses** — Three separate tickets, one reservation system. Entry is 'strong real-name, time-slotted, direction-specific' and bought only through the official Huangshan Tourism Platform (黄山旅游官方平台) mini program inside WeChat or Alipay: the park gate ticket, the shuttle bus to the trailhead and each cableway ride are billed separately, and the park ticket then stays valid for three days from first check-in. - 黄山旅游官方平台 — Huangshan Tourism Official Platform, as a mini program inside WeChat or Alipay (the English web mirror is www.huangshan.com.cn): Choose the park, then the ticket type (park ticket, shuttle bus, each cableway are separate line items), then the gate direction and the entry time slot, and pay inside the mini program. The platform shows a QR code 'to scan and buy'; the booking is then checked by swiping an ID card or by the platform QR code. Hotline 0559-2590999. - On-site ticket offices and service windows: The fallback when online booking will not take a foreign document: the park's ticket offices at the gates and the service windows handle first check-in and repeat-entry formalities in person. - **Hongcun, Xidi, Huizhou Ancient City and Tunxi Old Street** — The Huizhou villages are separate tickets, not one pass, and the two World Heritage villages are priced identically at CNY 104. Huizhou Ancient City has gone the other way and scrapped its gate: the walled town is free to walk, and only the old government office and the night show are ticketed. - 黄山旅游官方平台 — Huangshan Tourism Official Platform (WeChat / Alipay mini program), which also sells Hongcun and Xidi: Hongcun and Xidi are separate real-name products on the same platform used for the mountain; the Xidi operator's own site links its ticket button straight to the platform's Xidi ticket page. Enter with your identity document or the platform QR code. - Ticket offices at the village gates: Hongcun and Xidi both keep staffed ticket windows at the entrance, which is the practical route when an online real-name form insists on a Chinese ID number. - **Getting to Huangshan and booking around the traps** — Huangshan is a rail-and-bus destination, not a drive-up one. High-speed trains land at Huangshan North on the edge of Tunxi, buses run from there to the South Gate and to Hongcun, and the last connection up the mountain is always the park's own shuttle. Book the mountain first, then the transport that feeds it. - 黄山旅游官方平台 — Huangshan Tourism Official Platform, 'transport booking' section (WeChat / Alipay mini program): Used for the high-speed-rail-station shuttle links to the South Gate, North Gate and Hongcun, alongside the park ticket and cableways. Coach tickets out of the South Gate centre are also sold through the 'Huangshan Scenic Area Bus Station' and 'Huangshan Changyun Travel' WeChat accounts. - 畅行黄山 — 'Travel Huangshan' WeChat mini program, run by the city transport bureau: A one-stop query for onward travel between 46 A-level scenic areas, 9 headline non-ticketed spots, the airport, five rail stations and twelve coach hubs, covering 140 tourist routes. Useful for working out how to chain Huangshan with Hongcun, Xidi or Huizhou Ancient City. ### Common questions **How many days for Huangshan, and do I need to sleep on the summit?** Two to three days, and yes — the sunrise is the reason to pay for a summit bed, which is also why autumn rooms go weeks ahead. Three days buys the mountain plus one Huizhou village; two is mountain only. The gate ticket already stretches to three days from first check-in, so the constraint on the summit night is beds, not entry. **Are the ticket, the shuttle bus and the cableways bought separately?** Yes — the park gate, the transfer bus to the trailhead and each cableway stage are three separate payments, all booked through the one official platform. Buy the mountain before the transport that feeds it: trains land at Huangshan North outside Tunxi, and the final leg is the park's own bus, which no outside ticket covers. **When is Huangshan cheapest and clearest?** April to May and October to November for clear ridges and cloud seas. The official winter season, 20 December to 20 January, is when tickets and cableways are cheapest — and the Huizhou villages beside the mountain are separate tickets rather than one pass, with the two World Heritage villages priced identically at CNY 104. ## Zhangjiajie Travel Guide: Avatar Peaks, Tianmen Mountain & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/zhangjiajie/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-11 *The sandstone peaks that inspired Avatar* Zhangjiajie's three thousand quartz-sandstone pillars were the model for Avatar's floating mountains: in Yuanjiajie they rise straight out of the valley floor, and the Tianmen cableway flies over the city before climbing the cliff. The park is enormous and its shuttle buses and cableways are essential, so allow three to four days. **At a glance:** Best time: April–June and September–October · How long: 3–4 days · Getting there: Hehua International (DYG); Zhangjiajie / Zhangjiajie West rail stations · Getting around: Inside the park you rely on shuttle buses plus cableways and lifts; the ticket is valid 4 days — do not buy a one-day pass ### What to see and do - **Wulingyuan & Yuanjiajie** — More than three thousand sandstone pillars rise from the forest floor; the Qiankun Pillar and the 'Number One Bridge Under Heaven' are the most overwhelming stretch. - Tip: Enter at the Wulingyuan gate and ride the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie; the first buses beat the groups, and pillars emerge one by one as the mist clears. - Cost: Park from CNY 227 (4 days) + elevator CNY 65 - **Tianmen Mountain & glass walkway** — One of the world's longest cableways runs from the city centre up to Heaven's Gate, and the glass walkway clings to a vertical cliff at the top. - Tip: Book the cableway and ticket ahead with a time slot; the glass walk uses rented shoe covers — if you fear heights, the ordinary path has the same view. - Cost: Cableway + ticket CNY 278 - **Golden Whip Stream hike** — A seven-kilometre trail along the valley floor, with pillars on both sides and forest and water throughout — the easiest and coolest walk in the park. - Tip: About 2 hours from the Oxygen Bar square to Water Winding Around Four Gates, with shuttle buses at both ends; wear grippy shoes in the rainy season. - Cost: Included in the park ticket - **Baofeng Lake & Yellow Dragon Cave** — A lake cupped between cliffs, and a cave system with ten-thousand-year stalactites and an underground river — the area's other kind of landscape. - Tip: The boat trip on Baofeng Lake takes about 40 minutes; Yellow Dragon Cave has many steps, so skip it if stairs are difficult. - Cost: Lake CNY 96 / Cave CNY 100 ### What to eat - **Sanxiaguo** — The local signature: cured pork, intestine and radish in one pot, better the longer it simmers - **Blood-cake duck** — Sticky-rice blood cake braised with duck — western Hunan flavour - **Mushroom stew / sour fermented fish** — Wild mountain mushrooms, and fish fermented with chilli and rice ### Booking & tickets - **Wulingyuan / Zhangjiajie National Forest Park** — One 4-day ticket (CNY 227 including the shuttle buses) with real-name face-scan entry — but each extra entry day needs its own timed reservation, at the same gate you booked. - WeChat mini program 「张家界一机游」 (official): Real-name booking by date/gate/time slot; if the system won't take a passport number, use the window channel below - Official ticket windows at the park gates: Where online booking requires a Chinese ID, buy with your original passport at the window - **Tianmen Mountain** — The hardest ticket in Zhangjiajie: real-name timed slots, released 7 days ahead at 07:00 — peak-season morning slots sell out in about an hour. - 「张家界一机游」 mini program / 「张家界天门山景区」 official account: Timed-slot booking; passport holders use windows if the online form needs a Chinese ID - **Zhangjiajie: General Booking Rules** — Three scenic areas, three ticket systems — the Grand Canyon glass bridge is a third real-name timed booking. ### Common questions **One ticket for the whole park, or one for each day?** One purchase covers four consecutive days and includes the shuttle buses, with face recognition at the gate — but the days are not interchangeable. On each morning you intend to go in, the city's official mini program issues a fresh timed entry, and it must name the same gate you actually walk up to. The CNY 227 is the ticket; the reservations are the daily ritual. **What is the hardest ticket in Zhangjiajie?** Tianmen Mountain, no contest: its named time slots appear at 07:00 exactly seven days out, and in peak season the morning ones go within the hour. The park and the glass bridge at the Grand Canyon keep their own clocks on top of that — three separate systems, three separate bookings, so do not assume one reservation covers the day. ## Pingyao Travel Guide: the walled old town, the Qiao and Wang compounds, and what to eat Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/pingyao/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-30 *A whole Ming–Qing county town that people still live in, not one big compound* What makes Pingyao different from other walled towns is that it is not a single ticketed compound but an entire Ming–Qing county town: the wall, the lanes and the courtyard grid are all still part of daily life. Jinzhong's city portal put it plainly in its 2026 photography report — the festival uses 'the whole old town as its natural exhibition ground'. The rail station sits right by the town, so there is no need to route via Taiyuan. **At a glance:** Best time: Mid-April to end of May, and mid-September to end of October (China Weather city page: mean 10.1 °C, 158 frost-free days, only 439 mm of rain — a dry, crisp climate that makes spring and autumn the easiest seasons; the wall has no shade in July–August, and nights are windy from November to March) · How long: 2 days · Getting there: Pingyao Ancient City station (12306 code PDV, right by the town) and Pingyao station (PYV); Taiyuan (TYV) is the regional hub, 94 km away by the climate page's own figure · Getting around: Walking and the sightseeing carts inside the town; the Qiao compound is in Qixian (QXV) and the Wang compound in Lingshi (LSV) — different directions, each needing its own day ### What to see and do - **Pingyao Ancient Town (World Heritage)** — Inside the walls is a grid of lanes and courtyards, not a single attraction — the Jinzhong city portal described its photography festival as using 'the whole old town as its natural exhibition ground'. - Tip: Two layers: the old town itself is worth walking on its own, while individual sites inside charge separately. - Cost: Prices for the inner-site pass are not confirmed on any official page - **First: 'Pingyao Ancient Town' and 'Pingyao county' are one place** — Pingyao is a county under Jinzhong city, not a standalone tourist city — treating them as two places will mess up your transport planning. - Tip: The city and county portals list Pingyao's photography and film festivals as city-level news, which is a good signal of where it sits regionally. - Cost: — - **Wang Family Compound (Lingshi)** — A very different kind of Shanxi merchant house from the Qiao compound, worth a day trip of its own; Lingshi has its own high-speed station (LSV). - Tip: The compound's own ticket and booking arrangements are not confirmed on any readable official page — check before you set off. - Cost: Not confirmed on an official page - **Qiao Family Compound (Qixian)** — A separately ticketed compound in Qixian, not inside Pingyao — Qixian station (QXV) and Pingyao Ancient City station (PDV) are different stations. - Tip: I could not confirm an official booking page; do not plan around the numbers that turn up in search summaries. - Cost: Not confirmed on an official page ### What to eat - **Pingyao beef** — The most common thing in town — braised, sliced and eaten cold; the stalls are dense along the lanes - **Wantuo (steamed buckwheat cakes)** — A Shanxi staple steamed from buckwheat or wheat flour; the Pingyao version differs a little from elsewhere in Jinzhong - **Kaolaolao (rolled buckwheat tubes)** — Buckwheat noodles hand-rolled into tubes and steamed, eaten with vinegar or soup — an unusual preparation among Shanxi noodles ### Common questions **Are "Pingyao Ancient Town" and "Pingyao county" two different places?** No, they are one place. Pingyao is a county under Jinzhong city, not a standalone tourist city — treating them as two places will mess up both your booking and your map. **Is the Qiao Family Compound inside the Pingyao walls?** No. The Qiao Family Compound is a separately ticketed compound in Qixian, and the Wang Family Compound is in Lingshi — a different kind of Shanxi merchant house, and worth a day trip of its own. Inside the walls of Pingyao itself is a grid of lanes and courtyards rather than one big attraction. Qixian station (QXV) and Pingyao Ancient City station serve different towns. **How many days do I need, and when is the weather best?** Two days. Mid-April to end of May and mid-September to end of October are the easiest seasons — the city page for the area gives a mean of 10.1 °C, 158 frost-free days and only 439 mm of rain, a dry, crisp climate. The wall has no shade in July–August, and nights are windy from November. ## Kaifeng Travel Guide: Millennium City Park by night, Dragon Pavilion & the Iron Pagoda Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/kaifeng/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-30 *Northern Song Tokyo rebuilt from Along the River During the Qingming Festival, and a park that only starts at dusk* Kaifeng is best known for Millennium City Park, a walkable reconstruction of the Northern Song capital painted by Zhang Zeduan in Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Its value is density: the site states 30-plus performances and over 100 scheduled shows a day, so you can fill a day without a guide. After dark the night programme runs 17:30 to 22:00, with show times decided by the park on the day. **At a glance:** Best time: The night season, May to October (the programme page states: opens 09:00, night programme 17:30, closes 22:00) · How long: 2 days · Getting there: Kaifeng station (12306 code KFF) and Kaifeng North (KBF); the site's transport page also lists the Zheng–Kaifeng avenue and the Zheng–Kaifeng intercity train · Getting around: Kaifeng has no civil airport; buses and ride-hailing cover the town and the park ### What to see and do - **Millennium City Park** — A 5A site that recreates Northern Song Tokyo at 1:1 from the painting. The site names individual set pieces: Rainbow Bridge, Fuyun Pavilion, Shangshan Gate, Shuixin Isle and more. - Tip: The night programme starts 17:30; the main show, Dreams of Dongjing, plays on Jinglong Lake and its times are set by the park on the day. - Cost: The site has no ticket page — confirm the price through the official channel - Official site: https://www.qmsyun.com/Mobile_page/o_program.php - **Dragon Pavilion and the Iron Pagoda** — The palace precinct and a surviving brick pagoda of the Northern Song — the half of Kaifeng's history that is not the park. - Tip: The Iron Pagoda is among the earliest tall glazed pagodas still standing; it and the Dragon Pavilion make a sensible half-day on foot. - Cost: As posted on site - **Kaifeng Prefecture yamen** — A rebuilt Northern Song government compound with courtroom, performance and folk-craft scenes — it makes the difference between Song officialdom and Song street life concrete. - Tip: It sits in a different district from Millennium City Park; put them on different half-days. - Cost: As posted on site - **Dongjing Food Street** — The park's food quarter, listed on its own site: soup dumplings, baked noodles with fish, cold noodles, wontons, lamb baked flatbread, oil tea, bean milk, peppery soup and almond tea. - Tip: The site also notes that Sunyang Zhengdian, one of the Song dynasty's 72 official restaurants, has been recreated and seats over 500. - Cost: No prices on the site ### What to eat - **Carp with baked noodles (liyü bei mian)** — Kaifeng's signature dish, named on the park's food page — the noodles are baked over charcoal and served with the fish - **Soup dumplings** — The anchor of Kaifeng breakfast: thin skin, hot broth inside. Restored inns like Sunyang Zhengdian seat several hundred - **Peppery soup and almond tea** — Both listed breakfast staples on the park's food page, served with fried dough sticks or baked flatbread; almond tea in particular is hard to find outside the north ### Booking & tickets - **Millennium City Park** — An all-day performance park: opens 09:00, night programme from 17:30, closes 22:00. **The site has no ticket page and no online booking page at all** — the prices and the 'how do I buy' steps floating around online are not confirmed by any official page, so confirm through the official channel before you go. ### Common questions **How many days do I need for Kaifeng?** Two days. Millennium City Park alone runs from 09:00 to 22:00 with the night programme starting at 17:30, and the rest of the city — Dragon Pavilion, the Iron Pagoda, the prefecture yamen — sits outside the park. **What time does Millennium City Park open, and how late can I go?** Doors at 09:00, the night programme begins 17:30, and the last exit is 22:00 — so the evening is a second visit, not an afterthought, and the day runs to well over a hundred scheduled performances. What cannot be planned from abroad is the running order: the park publishes no ticket page, its programme shifts, and the on-site notice governs, so ring tickets on 0371-25664874 for the day's schedule. **Is every show on one ticket, or do I have to book them separately?** Separately. The main show and secondary shows such as Defence of Dongjing are separate lines in the programme — check them individually when booking. One specific show, the Chinese Giant Horse, is closed for maintenance on Mondays, so do not plan that one for a Monday. ## Xiamen Travel Guide: Gulangyu, Island Ring Road & How to Book Ferry Tickets Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/xiamen/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *Sea breeze, arcaded streets and a car-free piano island* Xiamen is Fujian's easiest seaside city: a car-free island, Gulangyu, is linked to the mainland by ferry, the Island Ring Road runs from beach to fishing village, and the arcades of the old town shelter shacha noodles and oyster omelettes. The city is compact and the metro is clean, so two and a half days covers both coast and town. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and October–December (July–September is typhoon season) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Gaoqi International (XMN); Xiamen / Xiamen North rail stations · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3 plus the BRT cover the island; Gulangyu is reached by ferry only — no cars ### What to see and do - **Gulangyu Island** — Colonial villas, old mansions and a piano museum packed onto 1.9 km² with no motor vehicles at all — you walk everywhere. - Tip: Climb Sunlight Rock first for the whole-island view, then take the evening ferry back for the city skyline; the lanes have no street signs, so following the crowd usually works. - Cost: Ferry plus a separate island ticket - **Island Ring Road & Zengcuoan** — One of China's best-known coastal cycleways — sea on one side, rocks and fishing villages on the other, ending at Zengcuoan's food lanes. - Tip: Rent a shared bike at White City Beach and ride east to avoid the midday sun; Zengcuoan is crowded, so duck into the side lanes for better stalls. - Cost: Free - **Nanputuo Temple & Xiamen University** — Nanputuo sits under Five Old Men Peak and is famous for vegetarian food, while the neighbouring university's red-brick halls and Fuyong Tunnel are the most photogenic campus in town. - Tip: The two are next door — allow half a day. Campus visitor numbers are capped, so check the current official notice before planning. - Cost: Temple free - Official site: https://www.nanputuo.com/ - **Eighth Market & the old town** — The Eighth Market is where locals actually buy fish and vegetables, next to the arcaded shopping street and the Shapowei art district. - Tip: The market is liveliest in the morning and you can buy seafood and have it cooked; Zhongshan Road is better for a walk after dark. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Shacha noodles** — Peanut-based shacha broth with toppings you pick — a Xiamen breakfast - **Oyster omelette** — Small oysters in a sweet-potato starch batter, fried crisp with sweet chilli sauce - **Tu sun dong / peanut soup** — A savoury seafood jelly with mustard and soy, finished with sweet peanut soup ### Booking & tickets - **Gulangyu: the ferry and getting on the island** — Gulangyu has no cars and does not allow private vehicles, so visitors reach it by scheduled ferry from designated piers. Tickets are real-name and sold per departure; a passport works for both registration and boarding. - Official Xiamen ferry platform xmferry.com: Register with your passport number → choose pier and departure → pay; scan your passport to board - Official 「厦门轮渡」 WeChat account: Same ticket pool as the website, with same-day availability and timetables - **Nanputuo Temple & Xiamen University** — Nanputuo is free but requires a real-name reservation to enter; the neighbouring university caps visitor numbers and requires booking under its current published rules. - Official Nanputuo reservation channel: Real-name reservation; a passport can be used to register - Official Xiamen University visitor booking: Quota released under the university's published notice, book ahead - **Xiamen booking rules in general** — Booking works very differently by sight: Gulangyu is all about the ferry slot, temples and campuses run on reservations, and the coast and old town are mostly free. ### Common questions **How do I get onto Gulangyu, and does the ferry need a passport?** By boat and only by boat — the island bans cars outright, so the crossing is the entry ticket. Sailings are named and sold per departure, and a passport is both the document you register with and the one that gets you aboard; daytime boats leave from Xiagu pier, evening ones switch to Lundu. Around holidays and the summer break a departure can be gone three days out, so reserve before you build the itinerary. **When should I avoid Xiamen?** July to September is typhoon season. March to May and October to December are the windows; two to three days fits because the ferry slot fixes your arrival and the island's core sights come on one combined ticket. ## Qingdao Travel Guide: Zhanqiao Pier, Badaguan, Laoshan & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/qingdao/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *Red roofs, green trees, blue sea and a bag of fresh beer* Qingdao packs a German-era old town, a coastline and a Daoist mountain into an hour's drive: gulls at Zhanqiao Pier, a stroll through Badaguan's villas, a bag of unfiltered draft beer with spicy clams at noon, then Laoshan in the afternoon. Summer is high season but also the best of it; September is quieter with warm water. **At a glance:** Best time: May–June and September–October (July–August is busiest and liveliest) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Jiaodong International (TAO); Qingdao station (by the old town) / Qingdao North · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3 covers the main districts; the old town is hilly — wear proper shoes ### What to see and do - **Zhanqiao Pier & Badaguan** — The pier is Qingdao's emblem, its Huilan Pavilion facing the bay, while Badaguan is eight streets named after passes, lined with villas from a dozen countries. - Tip: The pier is best early for gulls and sunrise; in Badaguan walk from Huashilou towards Taipingjiao and you will meet almost nobody. - Cost: Free - **Laoshan** — Billed as the finest mountain on the sea, it drops straight into the Yellow Sea, and Taiqing Palace is one of the ancestral temples of Daoism's Quanzhen school. - Tip: Laoshan is split into separate routes (Jufeng, Taiqing, Yangkou and more) and one day realistically covers one; Taiqing is easiest and Yangkou has the best sea views. - Cost: Ticketed by route, shuttle bus included - Official site: https://www.qdlaoshan.cn/ - **Tsingtao Beer Museum & Dengzhou Road** — Housed in the 1903 brewhouse, with a tasting bar where you drink unfiltered beer straight off the line. - Tip: The ticket includes tastings; afterwards, Dengzhou Road's beer street sells draft by weight in plastic bags — stick in a straw and drink. - Cost: Museum about CNY 60 - **Xiaomai Island & Yandao Island sunsets** — Two small peninsulas reaching into the sea; at sunset the rocks and water turn orange and half the city shows up. - Tip: Arrive an hour before sunset and bring a jacket — it is windy; the rocks are slippery, so do not edge out for the photo. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Spicy clams** — Qingdao's default beer snack, ordered with draft lager - **Spanish mackerel dumplings** — Best in spring when the fish is fattest — a fine, juicy filling - **Bagged draft beer / kelp jelly** — Unfiltered draft sold by weight, and a chilled bowl of seaweed jelly ### Booking & tickets - **Laoshan scenic area** — Laoshan is split into several routes — Jufeng, Taiqing, Yangkou, Beijiushui and others — each ticketed separately with real-name reservations. Holidays have daily caps, so fix your route before buying. - Official Laoshan platform qdlaoshan.cn: Choose route and date → buy with real-name (passport) → enter by code and document, then transfer to the shuttle - **Tsingtao Beer Museum** — The museum occupies the 1903 brewhouse; tickets include the production line and two tastings. In high season, book online to avoid a long queue at the door. - Official Tsingtao Beer Museum channel: Book online → enter with QR code and document; passports accepted for registration - **Qingdao booking rules in general** — Qingdao's free waterfront paths and old-town streets need no booking; what needs planning ahead is Laoshan, the museums, and accommodation in peak season. ### Common questions **How do I book Laoshan — is it one ticket or several?** Several, and the route comes first. Jufeng, Taiqing, Yangkou and Beijiushui are separate products, each with its own entrance and shuttle, so a day realistically buys one of them; pick the route, then reserve that route's ticket under your real name — a passport works. Holiday caps close routes early, which is why the order is decide, then book. **When is Qingdao busiest?** July and August are the busiest and liveliest; May to June and September to October are the calmer windows. Two to three days is what the city rewards — the old town, the beer museum and a single Laoshan route each take about half a day, and the coastline in between is the reason not to compress it. ## Sanya Travel Guide: Wuzhizhou Island, Tianya Haijiao & Hainan Visa-Free Entry Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/sanya/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-13 *Palm coast, island ferries and the 18th parallel* Sanya sits on the southern tip of Hainan island, on the 18th parallel: 200 km of coast, 19 bays and 40-plus islands, with an average 25.7°C and no real winter. The city beaches (Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, Yalong Bay) are open public shoreline, the headline sights are either free-with-a-reservation or real-name ticketed, and the whole trip can be done visa-free by 61 nationalities at 30 days — as long as you stay inside Hainan. **At a glance:** Best time: November–April; typhoons are possible in August–September (rain gear is worth packing May–October) · How long: 3–5 days · Getting there: Sanya Phoenix International (SYX), 11 km from the centre and with its own HSR station; Haikou Meilan (HAK) connects to Sanya by train in 1h40 · Getting around: Hainan Ring High-Speed Railway (Sanya / Yalong Bay / Phoenix Airport / Yazhou stations), city buses CNY 2–12, the 3-yuan tram, taxis and free hotel shuttle buses ### What to see and do - **Wuzhizhou Island** — A 5A island off Haitang Bay with 27 m visibility, coral reefs and 30-plus water sports — the boat crossing is part of the fun. - Tip: Boats run up 8:30–16:00 and back 9:00–19:30; buy the 门船票 (admission + round-trip ferry) on the official site first and arrive before the last morning sailing. The island is real-name, so bring the passport you booked with. - Cost: Ferry + admission from CNY 136 (half-price categories CNY 68) - Official site: https://www.wuzhizhou.com/ticket/ - **Tianya Haijiao** — The 'End of the Earth' boulders carved in the Qing dynasty are Sanya's signature view, on a 5.5 km stretch of coast 23 km west of town. - Tip: Admission has been CNY 0 since 1 June 2023, but 'free is not ticketless': book a 0-yuan slot by real name first, then show your passport. Walking the loop takes about 90 minutes; the shuttle car is optional. - Cost: Free (real-name reservation); shuttle car CNY 25 / 68 / 98 - Official site: http://aitianya.cn/ - **Yalong Bay: beach + rainforest park** — Yalong Bay is the classic resort crescent — clear water, fine sand — and the Tropical Paradise Forest Park above it is the film-set rainforest with a full-sea-view glass skywalk. - Tip: The beach itself is free public shoreline; you pay only for extras such as loungers, showers and water sports. In the park the mountain trail shuts at 16:00 and a return walk takes about four hours, so take the shuttle car or start early. - Cost: Beach free; forest park ticket + shuttle CNY 140 (1 May–30 Sep) / CNY 158 (1 Oct–30 Apr) - Official site: https://www.ylwpark.com/notices/ticket.html - **Atlantis Sanya Aquaventure** — Haitang Bay's water park, open year-round, with 36 slides, a 7,000 m² wave pool and the Lost Chambers aquarium next door. - Tip: Open daily 10:00–18:00, with closing time adjusted by season (the resort's Chinese page lists 20:00 — check the day you go). Anyone over 1.5 m pays the adult fare and some rides require a height above 1.22 m. - Cost: Ticket price isn't published online — inquire on site or by phone; cabanas CNY 198–588 - Official site: https://www.atlantissanya.com/marine-and-waterpark/prices ### What to eat - **Coconut chicken soup** — Fresh coconut water simmered with tender chicken — Sanya's most-ordered dish and the mildest introduction to island cooking - **Ginger-and-scallion flower crab** — Wok-fried crab with ginger and spring onion; buy seafood at First Market and have a nearby shop cook it - **Zaopo-cu hotpot** — A sour, faintly spicy hotpot soured with fermented rice vinegar — Hainan's own hotpot, best with fish and shellfish ### Booking & tickets - **Islands, water parks and mountain parks: buy before you go** — Sanya's headline paid sights run on online-first ticketing with real-name entry. Wuzhizhou Island sells admission and ferry together as one 门船票; the Yalong Bay rainforest park sells ticket plus shuttle car; Atlantis sells waterpark tickets on its own site and does not publish the seasonal fare. - Wuzhizhou Island official site wuzhizhou.com/ticket (官方直营): Choose the date, then the 门船票 product (adult / student / child / senior); the ticket includes admission and the round-trip ferry. Check-in uses the order QR code or the Chinese ID card, so ask the hotline 400-114-6666 to confirm a passport can be used before you pay. - Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park — official site ticket page, with booking through the park's own Alitrip (Fliggy) shop: The 票价信息 page publishes walk-up prices and the 门票预订 button opens the park's official online shop. Bring the passport as photo ID for free or half-price categories; if the online shop rejects a foreign card or passport number, buy at the park's ticket window on the day. - Atlantis Sanya official site atlantissanya.com (Book — Tickets and other purchases): Waterpark tickets and add-ons are sold on the resort's own booking pages; cabana and AquaXpress express-pass prices are not fixed online (inquire on site or by phone). - **Free sights that still need a reservation** — Sanya has been dismantling ticket walls on state-owned sights: Luhuitou (from 1 July 2022), Xiaodongtian (from 1 October 2022) and Tianya Haijiao (from 1 June 2023) now charge nothing for the first ticket. Free does not mean walk-in, though — Tianya Haijiao asks every visitor to reserve by real name, and the reservation, not the payment, is what you have to arrange. - WeChat / Meituan / Alipay: search 天涯海角游览区 and take the 0元购票 entry: Pick a date and a time band, register by real name, keep the QR code, and show the passport at the gate with the booking. The scenic area also runs its own WeChat ticket account from its website. - On-site ticket office and information desk at Tianya Haijiao: The fallback when a Chinese booking platform will not accept a passport: staff at the gate can register a 0-yuan entry for a foreign visitor. Telephone 0898-88910131. - Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone — ticket office (08:00–17:00) and the official WeChat ticket account linked from nanshan.com: Nanshan is not free and publishes no online English booking page; the official notice says entry is verified with the visitor's own ID document or a ticket, so show your passport at the ticket window. Concession fares for students and visitors 60–69 must be validated in person with valid ID. - **General rules in Sanya** — Sanya's booking layers stack in a fixed order: visa-free entry first (the Hainan policy is regional, so the whole trip stays inside the island), then the arrival card, then the sight reservation, then payment. Sanya's public beaches and the rainforest are the only things you can simply walk into; everything headline-level needs a real-name booking and a passport. ### Common questions **How many days for Sanya, and when is typhoon season?** Three to five days. November to April is the window; typhoons are possible in August to September, and if you travel between May and October it is worth packing rain gear. **Do the paid sights in Sanya need a passport and a real-name booking?** Yes, and the document you book with is the one you show at the gate. The big three sell differently: Wuzhizhou bundles the crossing with admission in one ticket, the Yalong Bay forest park bundles its shuttle car, and Atlantis keeps the water park on its own site without listing off-season fares. If a platform rejects a passport number, ring the sight's hotline — 400-114-6666 is the one Wuzhizhou publishes. **Are Luhuitou, Xiaodongtian and Tianya Haijiao free now?** For the first ticket, yes. Luhuitou has waived admission since 1 July 2022, Xiaodongtian since 1 October 2022 and Tianya Haijiao since 1 June 2023, so the first ticket costs nothing at all three. What has not gone away is the booking: Tianya Haijiao still wants a real-name reservation before you walk in, and the 0-yuan order is what you collect. ## Chengdu Travel Guide: Pandas, Teahouses, Hotpot & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/chengdu/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *Pandas, teahouses and a slow, very spicy city* Chengdu's appeal is tempo rather than a checklist: watch pandas fight over bamboo in the morning, drink tea and get your ears cleaned in a park all afternoon, then eat red hotpot until midnight. Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain are an hour away, so three or four days fits comfortably. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and September–November · How long: 3–4 days · Getting there: Tianfu (TFU) / Shuangliu (CTU); Chengdu East railway station · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3/7 covers the centre; reach the panda base by metro plus shuttle, or taxi ### What to see and do - **Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding** — The one place you can watch a dozen cubs tumble down grass, wrestle over bamboo and sleep in trees in a single morning. - Tip: Go in at 07:30 opening and head straight for the nursery; pandas are active in the morning and asleep by noon. - Cost: CNY 55 - Official site: https://www.panda.org.cn/ - **People's Park & Kuanzhai Alley** — A covered-bowl tea and an ear cleaning at Heming Teahouse is the most authentic Chengdu afternoon; Kuanzhai Alley turns old courtyard houses into a walkable district. - Tip: Tea in People's Park, photos in Kuanzhai; on weekends you have to fight for a bamboo chair. - Cost: Tea from CNY 20 - **Dujiangyan & Qingcheng Mountain** — An irrigation system still watering the Chengdu plain after 2,000 years, paired with the birthplace of Daoism — both doable in one day. - Tip: See the Fish Mouth and Flying Sand Weir in the morning, then the gentler front route of Qingcheng in the afternoon. - Cost: Dujiangyan CNY 80 / Qingcheng CNY 80 ### What to eat - **Hotpot** — Beef-tallow red broth with tripe and aorta — order a split pot if you need mild - **Chuanchuanxiang** — Hotpot priced by the skewer, liveliest at street stalls - **Dandan noodles / Zhong dumplings** — Numbing, spicy and fragrant — perfectly acceptable for breakfast ### Booking & tickets - **Chengdu Panda Base** — Fully online real-name booking with separate morning/afternoon sessions and capacity caps; official channels release tickets 14 days ahead. A passport works for the entire online booking flow — foreign visitors should pick the morning session (giant pandas prefer cool weather and are most active early in the day). - 官方微信公众号/微信小程序「成都大熊猫繁育研究基地」 (Official WeChat account / WeChat mini program 「成都大熊猫繁育研究基地」 (Panda Base mini program)): Book with real-name info 14 days ahead (choose the morning/afternoon session); foreign visitors enter passport details to buy tickets, then present the original passport at the manual (no-ID) ticket check lane on entry. - 官方授权平台：美团/携程 Trip.com/抖音/同程旅行/成都景区直通车 (Officially authorized platforms: Meituan 美团 / Trip.com 携程 / Douyin 抖音 / Tongcheng Travel 同程旅行 / Chengdu Scenic Area Direct Bus 成都景区直通车): This is the authorized-OTA list published on the official website, with the same inventory as official channels; Trip.com supports international payment methods and is the usual choice for foreign visitors. - 景区线下窗口 (On-site ticket windows at the base): Visitors who genuinely cannot pay online for special reasons may buy same-day tickets at the on-site windows when any remain (availability is not guaranteed). - **Wuhou Shrine & Du Fu Thatched Cottage** — A model of real-name museum booking: the official website / WeChat account releases tickets 14 days ahead and authorizes no third parties. A passport works for online ticket purchase; if you cannot pay online, use the on-site windows. - 武侯祠官网 whpww.cdwuhouci.cn / 微信公众号「成都武侯祠」 (Wuhou Shrine official website whpww.cdwuhouci.cn / WeChat official account 「成都武侯祠」): Register with your passport number → pick a date and buy tickets 14 days ahead (WeChat Pay/Alipay only) → scan the order QR code at the South Gate to enter. - 武侯祠现场综合服务窗口（正大门东侧） (Wuhou Shrine on-site comprehensive service window, east of the main gate): Foreign visitors who cannot pay via WeChat/Alipay buy tickets with cash using their original passport; concession and free tickets are also verified and exchanged here. - 「杜甫草堂博物馆」微信服务号 (Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum WeChat service account 「杜甫草堂博物馆」): Buy real-name tickets 14 days ahead; visitors with a Chinese ID scan the original at entry, while passport holders exchange their order for a paper ticket at the ticket window before entering. - 杜甫草堂现场售票窗口 (Du Fu Thatched Cottage on-site ticket windows): Anyone without an original Chinese ID card (including foreign passport holders) exchanges or buys tickets on site; visitors eligible for free admission exchange their original document for a ticket. - **General Booking Rules in Chengdu** — Chengdu's top attractions run on two mechanisms: real-name booking plus official channels only. Heritage museums accept only the official website/WeChat account, while the Panda Base also publishes an official list of authorized OTAs (including the international channel Trip.com). ### Common questions **How many days do I need for Chengdu, and what is the booking lead time?** Three to four days covers the panda base and one heritage museum without rushing. What sets the calendar is the lead time: the panda base, Wuhou Shrine and the Du Fu cottage all open bookings exactly fourteen days out, and holiday quotas at the panda base are gone soon after they appear, so the date to act on is two weeks before you fly, not the week itself. **Can I book the Panda Base with a passport, and is there a same-day ticket?** A passport works through the entire online booking flow. Booking is fully online and real-name — you enter with the original document you booked with, one document one ticket per person — and same-day sales stop once sold out, with a daily cap of 85,000 visitors. **Morning or afternoon session at the panda base?** Morning. March to October splits into a morning session entering 7:30–12:00 and an afternoon session 12:00–17:00, with the grounds clearing at 18:00. Pandas prefer the cool and are most active early in the day. Note that Panda Enclosure No. 6 runs a rotation schedule and closes every Monday except public holidays. ## Chongqing Travel Guide: Hongyadong, Monorail & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/chongqing/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-08 *An 8D vertical city of cliffs, rivers and chilli* Chongqing is the city where navigation breaks: you think you are on the ground floor and you are actually on the 22nd. Monorails run through apartment blocks, cable cars cross the Yangtze, five-level interchanges stack on each other, and at night Hongyadong lights up an entire cliff face — add a beef-tallow hotpot and two days is a feast. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and September–November · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Jiangbei International (CKG); Chongqing West / Chongqing North rail stations · Getting around: Monorail 2/3 crosses buildings and rivers; check the 'walking level' note in maps and confirm which floor you are on ### What to see and do - **Hongyadong & Jiefangbei** — Stilt houses stacked on a cliff face; after the 6pm switch-on it looks like a tiered market from Spirited Away, and the full silhouette is best from across the river. - Tip: Best viewpoints are the Qiansimen Bridge or the Jiangbeizui bank opposite. The 1st and 11th floors both open onto streets — mind which one you take. - Cost: Free - **Liziba monorail through a tower** — Line 2 runs through the 6th to 8th floors of a residential block — the most famous image of Chongqing's vertical terrain. - Tip: A purpose-built viewing platform outside the station catches each arrival, roughly every 5 minutes; the Jialing river walk is right there. - Cost: Ticket from CNY 2 - **Yangtze River cableway** — An aerial bus that crosses the Yangtze in a few minutes — it used to be how locals commuted. - Tip: Buy online to skip the long queue; the sunset crossing is the one worth paying for. - Cost: CNY 20 one way - **Ciqikou & the hotpot streets** — The old port town keeps its stilt houses and teahouses, and a nine-grid hotpot back in the city is the proper ending. - Tip: Ciqikou is quieter in the morning; order tripe and duck intestine, and note that 'mild' here is still hot for most visitors. - Cost: Hotpot about CNY 80 per person ### What to eat - **Chongqing xiaomian** — Two liang of noodles with peas and pork sauce — the local breakfast - **Beef-tallow hotpot** — Cook in the nine separated grids; dip tripe seven times up, eight down - **Suanlafen / maoxuewang** — Sweet-potato noodles in hot-sour broth, and duck blood stew — the loud end of Sichuan cooking ### Booking & tickets - **Hongya Cave & Jiefangbei** — Free, open-access districts with no reservation needed on ordinary days; reservation/crowd-control measures switch on only during holiday peak crowds via official announcements, and only the paid observation decks involve tickets. - 微信公众号「洪崖洞」 (WeChat official account 「洪崖洞」 (Hongya Cave)): The official free-reservation entry during holiday crowd-control periods; on ordinary days no reservation is needed — just walk in. - WFC会仙楼观景台(解放碑环球金融中心) (WFC Huixianlou Observation Deck, Chongqing World Financial Center at Jiefangbei): Paid observation deck; buy tickets on OTA platforms or on site, billed separately from the free districts. - **Yangtze River Cableway** — This is real-name ticketing, not a date/time-slot reservation system; the bottleneck is queuing, not ticket supply. Online buying via the official WeChat account runs in parallel with on-site staffed windows and self-service machines — the staffed window is the fallback for foreign visitors. - 微信公众号「长江索道」(景区官方公众号) (WeChat official account 「长江索道」 (the scenic area's official account)): Pick a date and buy online, then scan the QR code through the gate; during peak-season holidays, buy 1–2 days ahead. - 现场人工窗口(北站新华路151号/南站上新街) (On-site staffed ticket windows: North Station, 151 Xinhua Road / South Station, Shangxin Street): One of the officially listed ticket channels; passports and other documents are handled at the staffed windows. - **General Booking Rules in Chongqing** — Chongqing's top sights are mostly free and open, with less booking pressure than Beijing or Shanghai; the mechanism hurdles concentrate in holiday crowd-control notices and real-name ticketing channels. The city also sits in the 240-hour visa-free transit zone. ### Common questions **Do I need to book anything for Hongyadong and Jiefangbei?** Not on an ordinary day — both are open streets you walk into, and Jiefangbei never shuts. A crowd is the one thing you cannot pre-book: when the holiday ceiling is hit, the district switches on free reservations by official notice, sometimes hours before you would set out. The only tickets in the area are for the paid decks, such as the WFC Huixianlou floor. **How bad is the queue for the Yangtze River cableway, and do I need a time slot?** It is real-name ticketing rather than a date/time-slot reservation system — the bottleneck is queuing, not ticket supply, and peak-season queues often exceed an hour. Buy online first and then queue to board: that skips the ticket-buying line. Hours run 7:30–22:30 in peak season and 7:30–21:30 off season, with a 22:30 close on all national holidays. ## Guilin & Yangshuo Travel Guide: Li River, Rice Terraces & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/guilin/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-11 *Karst peaks, rice paddies and one very good day on a scooter* Guilin's landscape is the one every Chinese child learns from a textbook: karst peaks lined up along the Li River, bamboo rafts drifting downstream between water buffalo and rice paddies. Yangshuo is the better base — rent a scooter and spend a day following the Yulong River, which is the best part of the trip. **At a glance:** Best time: April–June (high water) and September–October (clear and cool) · How long: 3 days · Getting there: Liangjiang International (KWL); Guilin / Yangshuo stations (high-speed rail to Guangzhou and Shenzhen) · Getting around: A scooter in Yangshuo at about CNY 50/day is the easiest option; rafts leave from Yangdi or Xingping piers ### What to see and do - **Li River raft, Yangdi to Xingping** — The scene printed on the CNY 20 note is at Xingping, where the peaks rise one after another straight out of the water. - Tip: Do the Yangdi–Xingping stretch; mornings are backlit, afternoons front-lit. Rafts stop when the river runs high in the rainy season, so confirm before you go. - Cost: About CNY 200 per raft - Official site: http://www.liriver.com.cn/ - **Yulong River rafting** — A much quieter tributary where rafts run a dozen small weirs, with paddies and cattle on both banks. - Tip: The half-route from Jinlong Bridge to Jiuxian takes about 1.5 hours; bring a dry bag — you will get wet at the weirs. - Cost: About CNY 180 per raft - **Longji rice terraces** — Zhuang and Yao villages have farmed these slopes for six centuries: mirrors in May when flooded, gold in September when ripe. - Tip: Dazhai and Ping'an have separate viewpoints; stay on the mountain if you want sunrise, and allow 2 hours from Guilin. - Cost: CNY 80 - **West Street & Ten-Mile Gallery** — West Street is the lane backpackers found forty years ago; the Ten-Mile Gallery is a country road threading through the peaks. - Tip: West Street is loud at night and calm by day; an afternoon on a scooter covers the gallery comfortably. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Guilin rice noodles** — Mixed with braised sauce and crisp pork — local breakfast for under CNY 10 - **Beer fish** — Yangshuo's signature: Li River fish fried with the scales on, then braised - **Stuffed river snails / Lipu taro pork** — Pork forcemeat packed into snails, and pork belly layered with floury taro ### Booking & tickets - **Yulong River bamboo rafts** — Real-name ticketing with a twist: the online channels only accept Chinese ID numbers, so foreign passport holders CANNOT book online — buy at the dock ticket windows with your original passport and go through manual ticket check. - Dock ticket windows (all piers): Buy with your original passport, manual ticket check, pick up a queue number on site - WeChat 「遇龙河」 official account (Chinese ID only): Next-day tickets pre-sale at 20:00 nightly; show the original ID at the gate - **Li River rafts at Xingping** — The scenery on the 20-yuan banknote is at Xingping — the Li River rafts use the same real-name ticketing; buy at the official Xingping raft ticket hall or the Chaobanshan dock window with your passport. - Xingping raft ticket hall / Chaobanshan dock window: Buy with your passport at the window; keep the ticket for the shuttle and boarding check - **Guilin & Yangshuo: General Booking Rules** — Rafts are the only scarce ticket; most Guilin city sights are standard admission — but buy through official windows only. ### Common questions **Can a foreign passport holder buy the Yulong River bamboo raft ticket online?** No — this is the one booking trap in Guilin. The online channels accept Chinese ID numbers only, so foreign and Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan passport holders cannot book online; buy at the dock ticket window with your original passport and be checked there. **How many days for Guilin, and which stretch of the Li River should I book?** Three days. The reach that most people picture — peaks rising straight out of the water — is the Yangdi to Xingping section, where the scene printed on the CNY 20 note is. April to June is high water; September to October is clear and cool. ## Kunming Travel Guide: Stone Forest, Dianchi Gulls & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/kunming/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *An eternal-spring plateau city with a flock of winter gulls* Kunming is the gateway to Yunnan: 1,900 m up, averaging around 15°C year-round, which is why it is called the Spring City. The Stone Forest is an hour east, tens of thousands of red-billed gulls fly into Dianchi Lake from November to March, and the city holds Asia's largest cut-flower market. Most people just transit here; it deserves two days — which also lets you acclimatise. **At a glance:** Best time: Year-round; March–April for blossom, November–March for the gulls · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Changshui International (KMG); Kunming / Kunming South (high-speed rail to Dali and Lijiang) · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3/6; at 1,900 m the sun is strong — use sunscreen and drink water ### What to see and do - **Stone Forest karst** — Limestone that lay under the sea 200 million years ago now stands as a forest of pillars — Yunnan's strangest landscape and a World Natural Heritage site. - Tip: The park is large: take the shuttle to the Greater Stone Forest and walk from there. Independent travel avoids the shopping stops that coach tours build in. - Cost: See the official listing - Official site: http://shilinheritage.com/ - **Dianchi Lake and the red-billed gulls** — From November to March, tens of thousands of gulls arrive from Siberia to winter on the lake, and on Haigeng Dam you can feed them at arm's length. - Tip: The gulls are most active between 8 and 10am; buy the official gull food rather than feeding bread or snacks. - Cost: Free - **Dounan flower market** — Asia's biggest cut-flower trading floor, where dealing starts before dawn and a bunch of roses costs less than you would believe. - Tip: The night market after 8pm is liveliest and easiest for individual buyers; wrap flowers in newspaper before checking them in. - Cost: Free - **Yunnan Ethnic Village & Dragon Gate** — The village rebuilds homes of 25 ethnic groups, while the Western Hills' Dragon Gate is a Daoist shrine and walkway chiselled into a cliff above the lake. - Tip: Take the cable car up the Western Hills and walk down through the Dragon Gate; on a clear day the lake view is worth an extra half hour. - Cost: Village per official listing / Western Hills from CNY 40 ### What to eat - **Crossing-the-bridge noodles** — Raw ingredients cooked at the table in boiling broth — meat first, greens after, in that order - **Steam-pot chicken** — Not a drop of water added; the broth is condensed steam from the pot itself - **Grilled erkuai / flower cakes** — A grilled rice cake with sauce for breakfast, and rose-filled pastry to take home ### Booking & tickets - **Stone Forest scenic area** — The Stone Forest sells real-name reserved tickets with a daily cap. The site is large and its districts are linked by sightseeing shuttles; prices and hours follow the official listing. - Official Stone Forest channel (via Yunnan provincial tourism platform): Reserve by date with real-name passport → enter with code and document - **Kunming booking rules in general** — What genuinely needs booking ahead in Kunming is the Stone Forest, the Western Hills cable car and the Ethnic Village; Dianchi, Dounan market and Green Lake are open and free all year. ### Common questions **How do I book the Stone Forest, and why do I need the shuttle?** It runs on real-name reserved tickets with a cap on daily numbers, booked through the official channels. The site is big enough that the sightseeing shuttle is how you move between the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest, so treat it as transport rather than an add-on, and confirm the day's hours on the official listing. **Is Kunming worth a trip outside the blossom season?** Yes — March and April bring the blossom, and from November the gulls take over the lakefront, so there are two separate reasons to come outside summer. Two to three days fits because the city sights cluster downtown and the one long day trip, the Stone Forest, is about an hour out — you do not lose whole days to travel. ## Lijiang Travel Guide: Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/lijiang/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *A Naxi town of stone lanes under a snow mountain* Lijiang is Naxi country: the old town has no wall, and meltwater from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is split into three channels that run along every street — follow the water and you will not get lost. Shuhe is half an hour north, Baisha's frescoes a little further. The one thing you must book is the glacier cableway, which is capped daily. **At a glance:** Best time: March–May and September–November (rainy June–August; winter is clear but cold) · How long: 3 days · Getting there: Sanyi International (LJG); Lijiang station (high-speed rail to Kunming and Dali) · Getting around: Walk in the old town (stone lanes, so wheeled cases struggle); use a car or shared van for the mountain and Lugu Lake ### What to see and do - **Lijiang Old Town & Sifang Square** — China's only walled-less old town: Naxi houses, water channels and stone lanes survive intact, and Sifang Square has circle dancing in the evening. - Tip: Before 7am the old town is almost empty — your only window for photos. The old-town maintenance fee is charged by regulation, so keep the receipt. - Cost: Old town free to enter, maintenance fee separate - Official site: https://www.ljgc517.com/ - **Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (glacier cableway)** — The southernmost modern maritime glacier in the northern hemisphere; the big cableway climbs to 4,506 m, above the ice itself. - Tip: The cableway is capped daily and must be booked for a specific slot. Do not exert yourself at 4,506 m, and buy oxygen bottles lower down, where they are cheaper. - Cost: Park fee + cableway + shuttle - **Shuhe & the Baisha frescoes** — Shuhe is far quieter than the main old town, and Baisha's Ming frescoes paint Tibetan Buddhism, Daoism and Confucian imagery onto a single wall. - Tip: Shuhe is worth a night; Baisha sits on the road to the mountain and needs about an hour. - Cost: Baisha per official listing - **Lashi Lake & Lugu Lake** — Lashi is a wetland that fills with migratory birds in winter; Lugu Lake, over the ridge, is the Mosuo highland lake and deserves two extra days. - Tip: Horse rides at Lashi vary hugely in quality — use the official ranch. Lugu Lake is 3–4 hours each way, so it is not a day trip. - Cost: Lashi free (activities extra) ### What to eat - **Cured rib hotpot** — Naxi classic: salted ribs simmered to a white broth with potato and mushrooms - **Naxi grilled fish** — A whole fish charcoal-grilled, then dressed with chilli and herbs - **Chickpea jelly / Lijiang baba** — Jelly made from peas, and a sweet or savoury griddled flatbread ### Booking & tickets - **Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & the glacier cableway** — The mountain charges in stages — park fee, cableway and shuttle bus — and the glacier cableway runs on capped, time-slotted reservations. It is the one ticket on the mountain you must secure in advance. - Official Jade Dragon Snow Mountain channel (via the Lijiang official platform): Pick a date and cableway slot → reserve and pay with real-name passport → exchange code and document on site - **Lijiang booking rules in general** — The old-town lanes themselves need no ticket; what needs planning is the mountain cableway, the old-town maintenance fee, and accommodation and transport in peak season. ### Common questions **What is the hardest ticket in Lijiang?** The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain glacier cableway — it runs on capped, time-slotted reservations, and it is the one ticket on the mountain you have to fight for in advance. The mountain charges in stages: park fee, cableway and shuttle bus, counted separately. **How many days for Lijiang, and when should I skip it?** Three days. March to May and September to November are the workable windows; June to August is the rainy season, and winter is clear but cold. ## Harbin Travel Guide: Ice World, Central Street & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/harbin/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *A city built of ice at minus twenty* Harbin is what Chinese winter looks like: January averages minus 18°C, Ice and Snow World lights up whole castles cut from river ice, Central Street's cobbles run between Russian-era facades, and Saint Sophia's onion dome is a turn away. The Songhua freezes solid enough to walk on. Coming in winter is the whole point; July and August are for escaping the heat. **At a glance:** Best time: December–February (ice season) and July–August (summer escape) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Taiping International (HRB); Harbin / Harbin West rail stations · Getting around: Metro 1/2/3; Central Street and Laodaowai are best on foot; nights feel far colder — layer up ### What to see and do - **Ice and Snow World** — Castles, towers and slides built from natural Songhua river ice; after dark the lights glow from inside the blocks. It is one of the largest ice parks anywhere. - Tip: Enter around 3:30pm to ride the slides first and then watch the switch-on — you see both versions. Phones die fast in the cold: keep them in an inside pocket and bring a power bank. - Cost: Priced per day — see the official listing - Official site: https://ice.hrbicesnow.com/ - **Central Street & Saint Sophia** — One of Asia's longest pedestrian streets, on cobbles laid a century ago, with Saint Sophia's green onion dome as the city's signature silhouette. - Tip: Photograph the cathedral by day and eat a Modern ice bar on Central Street at dusk — eating ice cream at minus 20 is the local ritual. - Cost: Free (cathedral interior charges separately) - **Sun Island snow sculpture expo** — Where Ice World works in ice, Sun Island works in snow: whole buildings, figures and scrolls carved from packed snow. - Tip: Snow sculpture is best in daylight when detail reads clearly — which pairs neatly with Ice World after dark in one day. - Cost: Seasonal ticket - **Laodaowai Chinese Baroque** — Chinese craftsmen added local carving to Baroque facades a century ago, creating a district of shopfronts and inner workshops — and the most lived-in part of the old city. - Tip: Walk south from Jingyu Street and pick a small restaurant with an old-name sign; it is quieter and cheaper than Central Street. - Cost: Free ### What to eat - **Guo bao rou** — Harbin's own sweet-and-sour fried pork — best eaten immediately, while it is crisp - **Red sausage** — Qiulin Lidaosi is the famous one: smoked, garlicky, sliced cold - **Modern ice bar / Russian food** — Ice cream on the street at minus 20, plus borscht with a loaf of dark bread ### Booking & tickets - **Ice and Snow World** — The park sells by date within a defined season, usually opening in late December depending on that year's temperatures and official notices. Holiday dates cost more and sell out, so book online with a chosen date. - Official Harbin Ice and Snow World channel hrbicesnow.com: Pick an entry date → buy with real-name (passport) → enter with the e-ticket and your document - **Harbin booking rules in general** — Only the big ice-season parks need booked tickets; Central Street, the cathedral exterior and Laodaowai stay free all year. ### Common questions **How do I buy Ice and Snow World tickets, and can I use a passport?** By date, once the season opens — the park usually lights up in late December, and that date shifts with the year's temperatures and the operator's notice. Registration is real-name and a passport is accepted wherever the official channels ask for an ID; holiday dates carry caps and go first, so fix the day before you book transport. **When is Harbin worth the trip?** December to February for the ice, July to August if you want the city without the cold. Two to three days fits because the parks sit outside town and each one costs half a day in travel — and because the cold shortens every outdoor stretch, so the day ends earlier than the clock suggests. ## Dunhuang Travel Guide: Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake & How to Book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/dunhuang/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-12 *Painted caves and a crescent spring at the edge of the desert* Dunhuang is the oasis at the end of the Silk Road: on one side the Singing Sand Dunes press right up against the town, on the other the Mogao Caves hold 1,600 years of murals across some 700 caves. Ride a camel to Crescent Lake, watch the sunset from the dunes, and spend half of the next day underground — this small city is worth the flight. **At a glance:** Best time: May–June and September–October (July–August is scorching, winter is cold but empty) · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Dunhuang Mogao International (DNH); Dunhuang station (high-speed rail to Lanzhou and Xi'an) · Getting around: Sights are reached by hired car or shared van; the dunes are best in the evening — bring sand covers for your shoes ### What to see and do - **Mogao Caves** — 735 surviving caves and 45,000 m² of murals, carved continuously from the Northern Liang to the Yuan dynasty — the largest Buddhist art treasury anywhere. - Tip: You must reserve through the official channel. Watch the dome film at the digital centre first, then take the shuttle to the caves; photography inside is forbidden and the guide's torch is the only light. - Cost: Tiered by ticket type — see the official listing - Official site: https://www.mgk.org.cn/ - **Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Lake** — Dunes hard against the southern edge of town, with a spring at their centre that has not dried up in two millennia — Dunhuang's signature image. - Tip: Enter after 5pm, ride a camel to the ridge for sunset, then slide down; the sand is extremely fine, so protect phones and cameras. - Cost: See the official listing - **Yardang World Geopark** — Wind has carved an ancient lakebed into rows of 'ships'; at sunset the buttes throw enormous shadows. This is the 'demon city' of the old records. - Tip: About 180 km out, usually combined with Yumen Pass and the Han Great Wall on a west-line day trip; the sunset session photographs best, so plan the drive back. - Cost: Official ticket + shuttle - **Yumen Pass & the Han Great Wall** — The frontier gate of the famous poem is now a single rammed-earth square, with a surviving stretch of 2,000-year-old Han wall beside it. - Tip: It shares a district with Xiaofangpan and Hecang forts, so a combined ticket is better value; the Gobi wind is strong — carry water and sunscreen. - Cost: Combined ticket per official listing ### What to eat - **Donkey meat with yellow noodles** — Dunhuang's signature: springy noodles with braised donkey meat - **Apricot juice** — A sweet-sour drink brewed from dried Li Guang apricots — essential in the heat - **Mutton soup with noodles / braised flatbread with lamb** — A hot bowl with bread, and lamb braised together with layered flatbread ### Booking & tickets - **Visiting the Mogao Caves** — Mogao runs strictly on reservations with a firm daily cap: you must choose a date and time slot on the official booking platform. The visit is two-stage — a film at the digital centre, then a shuttle to the caves with a guide. - Official Mogao booking site mogaoku.net: Register → choose date and slot → pay with real-name passport → collect at the digital centre at your ticket time - Dunhuang Academy site dha.ac.cn: Official information and booking entry, with notices on cave openings and conservation - **Dunhuang booking rules in general** — Every major site in Dunhuang — Mogao, the dunes, Yardang, Yumen Pass — sells real-name reserved tickets, and they are far apart, so the trip normally splits into an east and a west day. ### Common questions **How do I get to the Mogao Caves, and why must I book a slot?** You choose a date and an entry hour on the official platform, because the caves run to a hard daily ceiling rather than a queue — a number, not a line, decides whether you get in. On the day the visit has two stages: the film comes first at the digital centre, then the shuttle out to the cliff, where a guide leads you through the open grottoes. **How many days do I need in Dunhuang, and when should I avoid it?** Two to three days, split into an eastern day and a western one: Mogao and the dunes on one side, Yardang and Yumen Pass on the other, with real-name reservations needed for each because they sit far apart. May–June and September–October are the workable months; July and August turn the desert into a furnace. ## Luoyang Travel Guide: Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple & how to book Source: https://chinapass.app/en-US/city/luoyang/ · Reviewed: 2026-09-30 *Grotto sculpture, China's first Buddhist temple, and a palace city dug back out of the soil* Luoyang splits into three areas: Longmen Grottoes on the Yi River south of town, Luoyang Museum in Luolong to the east, and the old town on the Jian River with the White Horse Temple and the Sui–Tang palace ruins. The grottoes' own site lists Longmen high-speed rail station as the way in — roughly 4 km from the gate. **At a glance:** Best time: Early to mid-April for the peony festival (all three museums single it out as a schedule-changing event — busiest, but the flowers are real); mid-October to mid-November is the calmer window, with the grottoes running shorter winter hours · How long: 2–3 days · Getting there: Luoyang Longmen high-speed rail station (12306 code LLF; the grottoes' own transport page: about 4 km from the site, 10 minutes by road). Luoyang Beijiao airport (same page: about 19 km, 30 minutes by road) · Getting around: Buses listed on the grottoes' own site: bus 71 from Luoyang Longmen station, about 42 minutes; from the airport, bus 1 then 81, about 1 h 45 min ### What to see and do - **Longmen Grottoes** — One ticket covers four separate areas — West Hill caves, East Hill caves, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. The site also states a hard daily capacity of 68,900 visitors, so peak dates really can sell out. - Tip: The single-direction route needs four ticket checks, so give it a full day. The evening 'Lights on Longmen' ticket only opens West Hill and Xiangshan Temple. - Cost: CNY 90 full (CNY 120 night tour) - Official site: http://www.lmsk.cn/Pwxx_id_2.html - **White Horse Temple** — China's first Buddhist temple, the first state-run monastery after Buddhism reached the country — a completely different thread of history from the imperial sculpture at the grottoes. - Tip: It sits second on the city's cultural-heritage authority list of nationally protected sites. - Cost: No published ticket price found — check the official channel - **Luoyang Museum** — Free, and the key to understanding the city: the permanent 'Heluo civilisation' gallery runs prehistoric, Xia–Shang–Zhou, Han–Wei, Sui–Tang and Five Dynasties–Northern Song — exactly the five peaks of Luoyang's history as a capital. - Tip: Its booking notice states outright that a passport is accepted and checked in person at the gate — the easiest museum here for a foreign visitor. - Cost: Free for the permanent gallery - Official site: https://www.lymuseum.cn/tzgg/2108.html - **Sui–Tang Luoyang City and the old-city gate** — Yingtian Gate was the first palace gate excavated at Sui–Tang Luoyang City, where Wu Zetian held her enthronement in 690 — while today's Lijing Gate in the old town dates from the Jin dynasty. The two are routinely confused. - Tip: The local saying is that a trip to Luoyang without Lijing Gate is wasted; the old town works well in the late afternoon. - Cost: Ruins park is free - Official site: https://wwj.ly.gov.cn/2024/10-18/310899.html ### What to eat - **Luoyang water banquet (peony swallow dish as the starter)** — A 24-course running banquet whose first dish carves a peony out of radish — the signature of any local banquet - **Jiangmian noodles (fermented-milk-soup noodles)** — The everyday staple, built on a fermented dough soup base — the 'noodles' side of life, against the banquet's 'feast' side - **Bufantang (non-turning soup)** — Beef-bone broth with a pepper-flatbread on the side; a standard early-morning breakfast here, as common as the noodles ### Booking & tickets - **Longmen Grottoes** — Real-name timed-entry tickets, entry verified against a valid ID. The ticketing section of the site also runs a separate 'Inbound tourists purchase tickets' channel marked for inbound visitors only — but the visiting notice only names ID cards, and **how a passport is checked is not stated**. - Official WeChat accounts 「龙门石窟」 or 「龙门石窟景区」: Follow the account and book a slot; e-invoices are under '一站购票 → 电子发票' in the same account - Site ticketing section: 'Inbound tourists purchase tickets': The site states this channel is for inbound visitors only; mainland residents book via the WeChat mini program - On site: Northwest Service Area ticket centre (the only physical counter): Buy at the window; this is the fallback when online slots sell out on holidays - **Luoyang Museum** — The permanent gallery is free but **advance real-name booking is mandatory**. Clause 3 of the booking notice spells out the passport route: if you book with a passport, Mainland Travel Permit, foreign permanent-residence ID or similar, staff check the original document at the gate on the day. - Luoyang Museum official WeChat account: Real-name booking → arrive in your slot → present the booking document; passports and other foreign documents are checked manually at the gate - **Luoyang Ancient Tomb Museum** — The permanent exhibition is free, booking is **required for everyone**, tickets drop in the early hours of each day and close at 16:30. The visiting notice states the passport route too: anyone booking with a document other than an ID card has it checked by staff on site, then scans the QR code in their order. - The museum's official booking channel on its own site, or its official WeChat account: Real-name booking → present your document at the gate → staff check it and scan your QR code. For the audio guide, follow the official WeChat account and enter the number on the guide sign ### Common questions **How many days do I need for Luoyang, and is one ticket enough for the Longmen Grottoes?** Two to three days, and at Longmen a single CNY 90 full ticket does cover the whole visit — West Hill, East Hill, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden are one purchase, not four. Note the asymmetry: the CNY 45 half-price rate is written for Chinese citizens, and among the free categories only children under 1.4 m qualify whatever passport they hold. **Do I need a passport to get into the Luoyang Museum?** Yes, and bring the original — the booking is free but mandatory, and at the gate staff compare the document in your hand with the one on the order; that passport route is written into clause 3 of the museum's own notice. Hours are 09:00 to 19:00 with last entry at 18:30, and the Monday closure lifts during the peony season and on statutory holidays. **What time of year should I go, and when is it busiest?** Early to mid-April for the peony festival: all three museums single it out as a schedule-changing event, so expect it to be the busiest time — and the flowers are real. Mid-October to mid-November is the calmer window, with the grottoes running shorter winter hours.