China travel resources
Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Shanghai's skyline, the terracotta army at Xi'an and the karst hills around Guilin.
Quick facts
- Currency
- Renminbi (CNY)
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese
- Best time to visit
- Apr–May and Sep–Oct Compare countries by month
- Emergency
- 110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance
- Plug types
- A, I
- Drives on
- Right
- Government travel advice
- UK Canada How to read it
General guidance; seasons vary by region. Plug types from Wikipedia's mains electricity by country table; currency and driving side from Wikidata; emergency numbers checked against UK government travel advice in . Check the latest advice for entry rules and safety before you book.
Top destinations in China
Travel resources
- National Immigration Administration (visas and visa-free entry)
- China Railway 12306
- Visit Beijing
- Meet in Shanghai
Travel tips
- Check visa-free entry and transit rules for your passport with the National Immigration Administration; they have expanded in recent years.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go: both accept many foreign cards, and cash and foreign cards are less widely accepted.
- Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked; download offline maps and translation apps before you arrive.
- Book high-speed train tickets with your passport, and carry it with you: hotels and stations check it.
- Avoid travelling during Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week, when trains and sights are at their busiest.
Booking a hotel or tour in China? See which review sites to trust and five checks before you pay.