Plan your China trip without the guesswork.
Find out in 30 seconds whether you need a visa, then set up payments, trains and mobile data before you fly.
China entry rules right now
Start here
The five things every first-time visitor sorts out before the flight.
How to Set Up Alipay and WeChat Pay as a Foreigner
Link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before your China trip: step by step, with the official limits ($5,000 per payment), the 3% fee rule, and fixes for declined cards.
How to Buy China Train Tickets on 12306 (and When to Use Trip.com)
Register on China Railway 12306 with a passport, get verified, book high-speed train tickets, and understand refund fees, plus when an agent like Trip.com is the easier choice.
eSIM, SIM Cards and Internet Access in China: What Visitors Should Know
Roaming, a travel eSIM or a local Chinese SIM? A plain-English comparison for visitors, with the real-name rules for local SIM cards and what to set up before you fly.
China Arrival Checklist: Documents, Arrival Card, Customs and First Day
Everything to prepare before you land in China: visa or visa-free check, the free online arrival card, customs cash limits, accommodation registration and first-day setup.
Tax Refund for Foreigners in China: How to Claim VAT Back When You Leave
How China's departure tax refund works for visitors: the ¥200 same-day minimum, refund rates, the 'instant refund' option, the documents you need, and how to claim at the airport.
Visa-free checker
Passport + entry port + dates → which scheme applies, how long you can stay, and the official sources.
How the checker works
- Tell us your passport and plan
Nationality, entry city or port, dates, and where you go next. - We test every scheme
Mutual agreements, 30-day unilateral, Hainan 30-day, 240-hour and 24-hour transit. - You get a clear answer and sources
Leave-by date, allowed areas, conditions, and links to the official notices.
Recent policy changes
From official announcements.
Vietnam & Kyrgyzstan join 240-hour transit and Hainan 30-day
Transit list grows to 57 countries; Hainan list to 61. NIA notice
5 Guangdong ports added for 240-hour transit
Including Hengqin, the HK–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and West Kowloon station: 65 ports in total. NIA
Arrival card can be filled online, for free
Beware of fake sites that charge a fee. How to do it
Do you need a visa for China?
Pick your passport, entry city and dates. We check the 30-day visa-free list, 240-hour transit, mutual agreements and Hainan rules, using official data verified on 12 November 2026.