China

China rewards thoughtful planning, especially when your route spans cities as different as Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai. Start with a realistic pace: three or four nights in a major city gives you time for landmark sights, neighbourhood wandering and a slower meal or two. Use Hello’s trip planning tools to organise day-by-day ideas, rail journeys, hotel details and entrance reservations in one place. Before departure, check visa requirements, attraction booking rules and holiday dates, when popular sites and transport can become extremely busy. China’s distances are vast, so combine regions rather than trying to see everything in one trip. A first itinerary might pair Beijing’s Forbidden City and Great Wall with Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, then finish with Shanghai’s skyline. For nature, consider Zhangjiajie, Guilin and Yangshuo, or the panda reserves around Chengdu. Save hotel names and addresses in Chinese characters; showing them to taxi drivers or using them in map apps can make arrivals much smoother.

China’s high-speed railway is one of the easiest ways to connect major destinations. The official Railway 12306 website and app accept foreign passports, and the English interface allows international travellers to enter passport details when booking. Names and passport numbers must match your document exactly, so copy them carefully and carry the same passport used for the reservation. Book popular routes early, particularly around Lunar New Year and national holidays. Second-class seats are comfortable and practical; first class offers more space on longer journeys. At stations, arrive early for security screening and follow signs for your train number rather than relying only on destination names. In cities, metro systems are clean, extensive and inexpensive, while taxis and ride-hailing are useful for late arrivals or attractions beyond the network. Keep your accommodation address in Chinese, and allow extra time for large stations. Hello’s Hello eSIM can help you access maps and translation tools after landing without roaming charges; buy and activate it before you travel.

Eating in China is an itinerary highlight in its own right. Try xiaolongbao in Shanghai, hand-pulled noodles in Xi’an, fiery hotpot in Chengdu, roast duck in Beijing and Cantonese dim sum in Guangzhou. Regional cooking varies dramatically, so ask whether a dish is spicy and mention allergies clearly; carrying a translated allergy card can help. Meals are often shared, with dishes placed in the centre of the table. In busy restaurants, QR-code menus may be standard, though staff can usually help if you point to photographs or use a translation app. Chopsticks are easy to master, but avoid standing them upright in rice, which resembles funeral incense. Markets and street stalls offer memorable snacks, yet choose busy vendors with high turnover and eat food served piping hot. Keep tissues and hand sanitiser available, as some smaller restaurants have limited supplies. When splitting a group meal, Hello’s expense splitting feature can simplify the arithmetic, while budget tracking lets you monitor spending in yuan across food, transport and admissions.

Daily life in China is highly digital. International visitors can often link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, but set them up before leaving and complete passport verification in advance. Keep some yuan cash as a backup for small shops, rural areas, transport kiosks or a phone battery emergency. A small amount such as ¥300–500 can be reassuring, while larger purchases may require card or mobile payment. Check whether your bank adds foreign-transaction fees, and keep a physical payment card separate from your wallet. Reliable connectivity makes translation, navigation, ride bookings and payment verification much easier. Hello eSIM lets you stay connected without roaming charges, so purchase and activate it before landing; confirm that your phone is unlocked and compatible with eSIM technology. Download essential maps, booking confirmations and Chinese addresses in advance in case service is temporarily slow. Hello’s budget tracking can record expenses in local currency, helping you see where your trip budget is going without mentally converting every purchase.