Money & apps · 11 min read
How to Pay in China as a Foreigner: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards & Cash
Set up two mobile wallets, link an eligible international card and keep a physical card plus RMB cash as practical backups.
Individual facts checked Independent China travel, city by city
Start planning your first China trip.
Explore a two-week route, understand the tradeoffs, and prepare for trains, payments and arrival.
Compare cities before choosing
Free preparation aid · progress stays in this browser when saving is available · 13 researched destinations
01 / Remove the friction
Land ready for the practical parts.
Set up payments, understand rail booking and choose the right transfer from Pudong before those details consume your first day.
Trains · 12 min read
China Train Tickets for Foreigners: How to Book on 12306
Prepare foreign-passport verification, check the release time for the exact train and carry the original booking document. Follow the account's instructions if a check fails.
Individual facts checked
Arrival guide · 10 min read
Shanghai Pudong Airport to the City: Metro, Maglev or Taxi?
Compare metro, Maglev, taxi, night bus and Airport Link against your actual departure time from the terminal, destination address, luggage and willingness to change.
Individual facts checkedExample · general checklist
See what the checklist looks like
Two example tasks with cities and transport still undecided.
- Still to check
Check the entry requirements that apply to you
Read the current entry guide and verify your position against an official source before travel.
- Still to check
Set up a primary way to pay
Follow the payment guide to prepare one primary method and test the setup steps available before departure.
02 / Compare the cities
See what each city is really good for.
Start with six featured cities, using character, signature sights and traveler perspectives to narrow the options. Open any city for ranked sights, reviews and practical tradeoffs.
01
Shanghai
上海
Walk the Bund, compare the skyline with residential lanes and choose a museum. For travelers who enjoy architecture and everyday city exploration.
Start with
The Bund · Yuyuan Garden
02
Beijing
北京
Explore imperial palaces, courtyard neighborhoods and the Great Wall. A strong starting point for travelers drawn to history and large historic sites.
Start with
Forbidden City / Palace Museum · Mutianyu Great Wall
03
Xi’an
西安
See the Terracotta Army, explore the old-city streets and choose a section of the City Wall. Best suited to an interest in archaeology and urban history.
Start with
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum · Xi’an City Wall
04
Chengdu
成都
A food-led Sichuan capital connecting giant-panda conservation, Three Kingdoms memory, Tang poetry and Ancient Shu archaeology.
Start with
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · Sanxingdui Museum
05
Guilin & Yangshuo
桂林与阳朔
A karst landscape cluster linking Guilin city, the Li River corridor, Yangshuo countryside and Longji rice terraces.
Start with
Li River core cruise · Yulong River countryside
06
Hangzhou
杭州
A lake-and-hills city where landscape, tea culture and Southern Song history are part of the urban fabric.
Start with
West Lake · Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak
Before you book
Can you enter China visa-free?
It depends on your passport, purpose and route. Entry rules stay easy to reach, but separate from the cities and experiences you choose. Checked 20 Aug 2026.
Method & sources
Useful detail beats a longer list of places.
City character and recommendations are editorial judgments. Attractions, access constraints and practical claims sit beside sources and review dates.
Read our editorial standards