China Travel Tools
Twelve tools split by when you need them — planning tools for before you book, on-the-ground tools for when you're there. All free, no login required.
Planning Tools
Use before you book or boardBudget, timing, app setup, and route planning — everything to do before you land.
Trip Cost Calculator
Budget your trip by days, style, and city — see a real-money breakdown in seconds.
Jump to tool ↓ 📱Essential Apps
Pick your tech comfort level and get a personalised China app stack in seconds.
Jump to tool ↓ 📈Crowd Prediction Heatmap
Monthly visitor pressure index — find the window when crowds drop by 40–60%.
Jump to tool ↓ 📊Policy Watch
Live dashboard of visa rules, payment changes, and connectivity updates for 2026.
Jump to tool ↓On-the-Ground Tools
Use while you're in ChinaEmergency phrase audio and arrival checklist — for when it matters most.
Holiday Calendar
2026–2027 Chinese public holidays with crowd impact ratings — plan around the peak periods.
Jump to tool ↓ ✅China Arrival Checklist
Tap each item to check it off before you fly.
Jump to tool ↓ 🆘Emergency Phrase Player
Tap any phrase for instant Mandarin audio — hospital, police, lost wallet, hotel address.
Jump to tool ↓ 🤧Allergy Phrase Builder
Select your allergens and get a spoken Chinese phrase to show restaurant staff instantly.
Jump to tool ↓ 🍜Geography of Flavor
Filter all 12 destinations by flavor type — spicy, light, savoury, sweet, or sour — with heat levels and signature dishes.
Jump to tool ↓ 📐Size Converter
Convert US/UK/EU clothing and shoe sizes to Chinese sizing — avoid the guesswork at markets.
Jump to tool ↓Planning Tools
💰 Trip Cost Calculator
Travel Style
Group Size
Not included: international flights, travel insurance, and visa fees — typically the largest single costs of a China trip.
2026 Price Reference
| Item | Budget | Mid | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel/night | ¥200–350 | ¥500–900 | ¥1,500+ |
| Meal | ¥15–25 | ¥60–100 | ¥200+ |
| Metro trip | ¥3–8 | ¥3–15 | — |
| DiDi ride | ¥15–25 Express | ¥30–50 Comfort | ¥80+ Premier |
| Milk tea | ¥15–25 | ¥28–38 | ¥45+ premium |
| Coffee | ¥15 Luckin | ¥38 Starbucks | ¥68+ specialty |
| Attraction | ¥50–100 | ¥100–200 | ¥200–400 |
Prices in RMB (¥). $1 USD ≈ ¥6.80 · May 2026 · YTD avg ¥6.89.
📱 App Stack Recommender
📱 What's your tech comfort level?
Setup Order — Do This at Home
- 1
Install VPN first
Must be done before landing — app stores are geo-restricted in China.
- 2
Set up WeChat Pay
Link your Visa/Mastercard via the International Wallet feature.
- 3
Link Alipay
Works without a Chinese SIM since March 2026. Add ¥500 equivalent.
- 4
Download Amap + offline maps
Google Maps works poorly in China. Amap has English UI.
- 5
Install DiDi International + Trip.com
Book trains as soon as you know your dates — tickets open 15 days before departure and popular routes sell out fast.
- 6
Download DeepL + offline language pack
Best translator for Chinese — download the full offline pack before flying, not at the airport.
📈 Crowd Prediction Heatmap
Monthly visitor pressure index — 100 = absolute domestic peak.
Select up to 5 destinations to compare — click an active chip to remove it.
Reading the scores: Below 55 — queues under 20 min at most sights, hotels available last-minute. Above 80 — expect 1–2 hr waits, sold-out accommodation, and prices 30–50% above baseline.
✅ Best Overall
Apr–May
Typically lower crowds for most destinations — use the chart above to check your specific cities
✅ Shoulder Season
Late September
Moderate crowds before the Golden Week surge — not quiet, but significantly calmer than Oct 1–7
🚨 Avoid
Oct 1–7
Golden Week — crowds up 200–300%, prices double across all destinations
🚨 Avoid
Jan–Feb CNY
Chinese New Year — intercity transport chaos, many attractions at capacity or closed
💡 Any Season Tip
Weekday mornings
Arriving at major sights by 8–10am on a weekday noticeably reduces wait times versus weekend afternoons
⚠️ Exceptions: Harbin peaks Dec–Feb (Ice & Snow Festival); Qingdao peaks Jul–Aug (Beer Festival & beaches).
📊 Policy Watch
Last updated: Updated Feb 2026Active Policies
240-Hour Visa-Free Transit
54 eligible countries. Digital Arrival Card required. Enter and exit through different ports — same-port rule removed Dec 2024.
30-Day Unilateral Visa-Free (50 countries)
Citizens of 50 countries enter visa-free for up to 30 days. No application required. Covers most European, US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, and Korean passport holders.
Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) — Mandatory
All foreign arrivals must complete the China Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing. Available via NIA website, 12367 app, or WeChat/Alipay mini-programs.
Alipay International Wallet
Foreign Visa/MC accepted without Chinese SIM card. Widely accepted across major cities.
WeChat Pay International
Foreign Visa/MC linkable without a Chinese SIM or bank account. Accepted alongside Alipay at virtually all merchants — link both before departure.
DiDi International App
Accepts foreign credit cards. English UI. Available across major cities.
Major Attractions — Advance Booking Required
Forbidden City, Zhangjiajie, Terracotta Warriors, and Mutianyu Great Wall require advance online booking. Peak-season slots sell out 2–3 weeks ahead.
15-Day Visa-Free (ASEAN+)
Separate from the 50-country 30-day unilateral policy. Select ASEAN passport holders get 15-day entry under bilateral agreements — check the visa-free guide for your country.
Caution
Tibet Individual Permits
Processing now 15 business days (was 7). Apply early. Group permits unaffected.
Xinjiang Border Crossings
Land border with Kazakhstan requires advance permit. Air entry still standard.
Hong Kong–Macau Multiple Entry
Permit processing queue extended to 3 weeks. Apply well in advance.
Drone Photography — Permit Required
Drone flights in national parks require advance permit registration via the UTMISS system (7+ days lead time). Restrictions strictly enforced at Zhangjiajie, Huangshan, and similar sites.
Cash Increasingly Not Accepted
Many transit gates, ride-hailing apps, and modern food courts no longer accept cash. Foreign visitors without Alipay or WeChat Pay set up before arrival face real friction.
Western Internet Access Blocked
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are inaccessible without a VPN. VPN must be installed before arrival — app stores are geo-restricted inside China.
VPN Usage Enforcement
Using a VPN as a tourist is a grey area — enforcement targets local businesses, not tourists.
On-the-Ground Tools
📅 Chinese Public Holiday Calendar
Every public holiday for 2026 and 2027 with crowd impact ratings. Use alongside the Crowd Prediction Heatmap above.
Minimal disruption. Most attractions open.
CNY falls Feb 17 (Year of the Horse). Intercity transport chaos, many restaurants and smaller businesses closed. Major tourist sites at maximum capacity.
Tomb-sweeping festival. Parks and cemeteries crowded locally. Light impact on tourist sites.
Major domestic travel surge. Hotels book out early, popular attractions at peak capacity.
Moderate domestic travel. Waterfront and riverside cities busiest.
Moderate travel. Often marks the start of National Day planning. Mooncakes everywhere.
The busiest week in the Chinese travel calendar. Avoid all major tourist sites. 200–300% normal crowds, prices double, accommodation sells out months ahead.
⚠️ Exact dates for minor holidays may shift by ±1 day depending on the official government calendar announcement. National Day (Oct 1–7) and New Year's Day (Jan 1) are fixed.
✅ China Arrival Checklist
Tap each item to check it off before you fly.
- VPN installed and tested before boardingCritical
- WeChat Pay / Alipay linked to foreign cardCritical
- Digital Arrival Card filled (mandatory)Required
- Hotel address saved in Chinese charactersRequired
- eSIM purchased and set to activate on landingRecommended
- DiDi International + Amap downloaded, offline maps savedRecommended
- DeepL offline language pack downloadedRecommended
- Trip.com account set up with passport details savedRecommended
- 20,000mAh power bank packed (carry-on only)Recommended
- Travel insurance with China medical coverRecommended
⚠️ Most Missed Items
- ✗ VPN: Most travelers underestimate this. A VPN cannot be installed after landing — app stores are geo-restricted inside China.
- ✗ Hotel addr: DiDi drivers don't speak English. Show them your hotel address in Chinese — save it before you fly.
- ✗ Arrival Card: Mandatory for all foreign arrivals. Complete before boarding — ideally before you leave home.
🆘 Emergency Phrase Player
Tap any phrase to hear Mandarin pronunciation via your device speaker. Requires a Chinese (Mandarin) voice installed on your device — available in iOS Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content, or via your Android TTS settings.
Help!
救命！
Jiùmìng!
Call the police
报警！
Bàojǐng!
I need a doctor urgently
我需要看医生，很紧急
Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng, hěn jǐnjí
Call an ambulance
请叫救护车
Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē
I don't feel well
我不舒服
Wǒ bù shūfu
Where is the nearest hospital?
最近的医院在哪？
Zuìjìn de yīyuàn zài nǎ?
Take me to this address (show phone)
带我去这个地址
Dài wǒ qù zhège dìzhǐ
I'm lost
我迷路了
Wǒ mílù le
My wallet was stolen
我的钱包被偷了
Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le
Please take me to the police station
请带我去警察局
Qǐng dài wǒ qù jǐngchájú
My payment failed — can I pay cash?
付款失败了，可以付现金吗？
Fùkuǎn shībài le, kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?
I am allergic to peanuts
我对花生过敏
Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn
No spice please
不要辣
Bù yào là
The bill please
买单
Mǎidān
🤧 Allergy Phrase Builder
Select your allergens — your personalised Chinese phrase builds instantly. Tap play and show the screen to restaurant staff.
Select your allergens — your phrase builds automatically:
🍜 Geography of Flavor
Why does Sichuan numb while Shanghai goes sweet? Filter by flavor type to see which destinations match your palate — useful before you order in an unfamiliar city.
Shanghai
Shanghainese (沪菜)
Heavy use of Shaoxing wine and rock sugar. Dishes taste sweet before savoury.
Beijing
Beijing (京菜)
Northern wheat culture — noodles, dumplings, flatbreads dominate over rice.
Xi'an
Shaanxi (陕菜)
Cumin and lamb from the Muslim Quarter. Thick, hand-torn noodles are the staple.
Chengdu
Sichuan (川菜)
Sichuan peppercorn produces a unique numbing (麻) sensation alongside heat (辣). Unlike any other spice.
Chongqing
Chongqing (重庆菜)
Even oilier and more intensely spiced than Chengdu. Hotpot broth is almost black with chili.
Yunnan
Yunnan (滇菜)
16 minority cuisines. Wild mushrooms, sour pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs dominate.
Zhangjiajie
Hunan (湘菜)
Dry-chili heat without Sichuan numbing — sharper and more aggressive. Sour pickled veg used throughout.
Guilin
Guangxi (桂菜)
Guilin rice noodles are a breakfast institution — thin noodles in clear pork-bone broth.
Guangzhou
Cantonese (粤菜)
Minimal seasoning — ingredient quality is everything. The most technique-driven of all Chinese cuisines.
Qingdao
Shandong (鲁菜)
Coastal Shandong has the best seafood in northern China. Salty, savoury, and direct.
Suzhou
Jiangsu (苏菜)
The most delicate of Chinese cuisines. Sweet and savoury are in perfect balance — easily approachable for first-time visitors.
Harbin
Northeastern (东北菜)
Cold-climate cooking — generous portions, preserved meats, and pickled vegetables. The most Western-adjacent of Chinese cuisines.
📐 Clothing & Shoe Size Converter
Convert US, UK, and EU sizes to Chinese sizing for clothes and shoes. Chinese sizes run 1–2 sizes smaller — check before you buy.
| US | UK | EU | 🇨🇳 China |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS (0–2) | 6–8 | 32–34 | XS / 155 |
| S (4–6) | 8–10 | 36–38 | S / 160 |
| M (8–10) | 12–14 | 40–42 | M / 165 |
| L (12–14) | 16–18 | 44–46 | L / 170 |
| XL (16–18) | 20–22 | 48–50 | XL / 175 |
| 2XL (20–22) | 24–26 | 52–54 | 2XL / 180 |
⚠️ Chinese clothing sizes run 1–2 sizes smaller than Western equivalents. If you normally wear US M, try L or XL in Chinese stores.