China · Review edition
Only sourced, verified records are shown. Every item includes who published it and when we checked it.
Visa-free for up to 30 days under the China–Singapore mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passports, in force since 9 February 2024
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China — China and Singapore sign mutual visa exemption agreement · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Visa-free for up to 30 days per stay, with cumulative stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, under the China–Malaysia mutual visa exemption agreement in force since 17 July 2025
Chinese Embassy in Malaysia — Notice on the China–Malaysia mutual visa exemption agreement taking effect · verified 2026-11-09 · official
The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia's visa-free FAQ requires a passport valid for at least 6 months when using the mutual exemption
Chinese Embassy in Malaysia — Visa-free policy FAQ (2025-08-01) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Since 17 February 2026, holders of British ordinary passports can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits or transit. The UK government's travel advice states this runs until 31 December 2026; continuation into 2027 had not been announced at the verification date
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — China travel advice (print version) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
US ordinary passports are NOT covered by China's unilateral visa-free policy: a visa (tourist L visa) must be obtained in advance for ordinary tourism. The only visa-free route for US citizens is the 240-hour transit policy, and only when travelling onward to a third country or region — a same-country round trip does not qualify
Juto — China Essentials (checked against official English-language guidance, incl. MFA visa-free Q&A and the NIA transit policy page, 2026-10-17) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
A 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit stay has applied nationwide since 17 December 2024. As of 5 November 2025 it covers 65 entry ports in 24 provinces/regions. Travellers must hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, and the stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after entry
Beijing Municipal Government (English) — NIA ten measures incl. expanded 240-hour transit ports · verified 2026-11-09 · official
The 240-hour transit policy applies to ordinary passports of 57 countries on the NIA list, which includes the US, the UK and Singapore. Malaysia is NOT on the transit list — Malaysian travellers rely on the mutual visa exemption instead
Juto — China Essentials (sources incl. National Immigration Administration transit visa-free policy page, checked 2026-10-17) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
China grants unilateral 30-day visa-free entry to ordinary passports of 50 countries (NIA list as of October 2026), for tourism, business, family visits, exchange and transit; stays are counted from the day after entry and, for most listed countries, the grant currently runs to 31 December 2026
Juto — China Essentials (MFA Q&A on China's visa-free policies, checked 2026-10-17) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
From 20 November 2025, foreign travellers can complete the arrival card online before entry via the NIA website, the 12367 app or mini-programs; paper arrival cards remain available on arrival
Beijing Municipal Government (English) — NIA measures incl. online arrival-card filing from 20 Nov 2025 · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Since 1 November 2023, inbound and outbound travellers no longer need to complete a health declaration card (the QR 'black code' was abolished), per General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 151 of 2023. Travellers with infectious-disease symptoms or a confirmed diagnosis must still declare proactively
Ministry of Commerce reprint — GACC Announcement No. 151 (2023) on cancelling health declaration cards · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Foreign visitors must register their place of stay: hotels register guests automatically at check-in using the passport. If staying in a private home, registration with the local police is required within 24 hours of arrival; online self-registration via the NIA platform has been piloted in several provinces since 20 March 2026
National Immigration Administration (English) — Accommodation registration rules for foreigners · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Your passport is your primary ID in mainland China: the original is required for hotel check-in, domestic flights and trains, SIM purchase and other real-name services. Photos of the passport and foreign driving licences are generally not accepted in its place
A Guide to Working and Living in China for Foreign Business People (MOFCOM / PBOC / NIA et al., 2025 edition) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Renminbi (RMB; symbol ¥; ISO code CNY)
China Customs (English) — International passenger clearance guide · verified 2026-11-09 · official
RMB cash carried across the border is capped at ¥20,000 per person per crossing — carrying more is prohibited. Foreign-currency cash above the equivalent of US$5,000 must be declared in writing on entry
General Administration of Customs — Passenger cash carrying rules · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Since 27 April 2025, overseas visitors qualify for a departure tax refund on purchases of ¥200 or more at the same store on the same day (lowered from ¥500). Cash refunds are capped at ¥20,000 (bank transfer is uncapped), and instant 'buy-and-refund' refunds are promoted nationwide
Ministry of Commerce — Notice on further optimising the departure tax refund policy (2025-04-27) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
RMB cash can be obtained at foreign-exchange outlets and self-service exchange machines at airports and ports, from ATMs bearing your card network's logo, and at bank branches and licensed exchange institutions
People's Bank of China — Payment services for overseas visitors (2024) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Alipay supports binding foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club and Discover cards for spending at mainland merchants (in place since 2023), and registration works with an overseas mobile number
People's Bank of China — Payment Guide for Overseas Visitors (Alipay/WeChat card networks), via Wuhan Municipal Finance Bureau reprint · verified 2026-11-09 · official
WeChat Pay supports binding foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover cards for merchant payments, and registration works with an overseas mobile number
People's Bank of China — Payment Guide for Overseas Visitors (Alipay/WeChat card networks), via Wuhan Municipal Finance Bureau reprint · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Under PBOC guidance, foreign visitors paying by mobile payment with a foreign card have a single-transaction limit of US$5,000 and an annual cumulative limit of US$50,000 (raised in March 2024 from US$1,000 / US$10,000)
People's Bank of China (Dalian branch) — Payment service guide for overseas visitors · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Visitors from Singapore and Malaysia can pay in mainland China with their home e-wallets — including Changi Pay (Singapore) and Touch'n Go eWallet (Malaysia) — through the Alipay/WeChat acceptance networks; 13 overseas wallets are supported, with no Chinese app download required
People's Bank of China — Payment convenience measures for overseas visitors ('foreign wallet used domestically') · verified 2026-11-09 · official
220 V
World Power Plugs & Sockets (IEC World Plugs data) — China · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
50 Hz
World Power Plugs & Sockets (IEC World Plugs data) — China · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Types A (two flat pins), C (two round pins) and I (three angled flat pins, Australian-style) are all in use; hotels often have combination sockets, while newer buildings increasingly fit A + I only, so a universal A/C/I adapter is the safe choice
World Power Plugs & Sockets (IEC World Plugs data) — China · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
All mobile SIMs are real-name registered (MIIT rules since 2013). Foreign visitors must buy in person at a carrier's own service hall with their original passport, with a passport scan and facial verification; SIMs cannot be bought by proxy, and anonymous SIMs are not sold
Shanghai Municipal Government (English) — Guide to buying a SIM card in Shanghai for foreigners · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Mainland carriers did not offer consumer phone eSIM until recently: on 13–14 October 2025, MIIT approved commercial eSIM trials for China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, launched across 31 provinces. During the trial, activation is in-store only with real-name verification — there is no online sign-up
CCTV News — MIIT approves carrier eSIM commercial trials (2025-10-14) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
On mainland local networks, widely used international services are not reachable, including Google (Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube), WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, Telegram and ChatGPT. In OONI measurement data for 8 Sep – 8 Oct 2026, sampled tests recorded 0 successful loads for Google Search and for WhatsApp; a censorship monitor run on 2026-11-08 found 54 of 67 tested popular sites blocked
vpnAlert — China censorship monitor (OONI-based measurements) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Foreign passports can register and book on the official 12306 English website and app. Rail tickets are real-name e-tickets tied to the passport — you board by scanning the original passport at the gate. Sales open 15 days before departure; foreign bank cards, Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted and there is no booking fee
Trip.com official blog — How to buy China train tickets on 12306 (checked against the 12306 English service pages) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
The DiDi-Greater China app offers an English interface, registration with a foreign phone number and payment by a linked international card. DiDi mini-programs inside Alipay and WeChat bill the wallet's linked card instead. DiDi rides are paid in-app — drivers do not take cash
Chinista — How to use DiDi in China (citing the State Council's Working and Living in China guide and Shanghai Municipal Government guidance) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Capital Airport Express: flat fare ¥25 for the full route, trains about every 10 minutes, serving T2/T3 via Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen to Beixinqiao
ChinaTravel City — Beijing Capital Airport to city (fare checked against the operator's published fare) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
Maglev: ¥50 single / ¥80 return, about 8 minutes to Longyang Road — not the city centre, change there to Metro Line 2. Airport-station Maglev service runs 07:02–21:42. Metro Line 2 from the airport to People's Square costs about ¥7 and takes about 1 hour
ChinaTravel City — Shanghai Pudong Airport to city (fares checked against operator pages) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
2026 statutory holidays (State Council General Office notice): Spring Festival 15–23 February (9 days), National Day 1–7 October (7 days), Labour Day 1–5 May (5 days), plus 3-day breaks for New Year, Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival — 33 days off in total. The system uses adjusted working weekends: some Saturdays/Sundays (e.g. 14 and 28 February) are working days
Beijing Municipal Government — State Council General Office notice on 2026 public holidays · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Beijing, CMA 1991–2020 station normals: January daily mean −2.7°C (average high 2.3°C, low −6.9°C, 2.2 mm precipitation). July is the wettest month (169.7 mm) with a daily mean of 27.2°C; August daily mean 26.1°C. Annual precipitation is 528 mm, concentrated in June–August
Beijing climate data table — China Meteorological Administration 1991–2020 normals (via Wikipedia weatherbox) · verified 2026-11-09 · reputable
The UK FCDO warns of invitation scams: strangers invite visitors for tea or a massage, after which an excessive bill is demanded, sometimes with threats or credit-card fraud. It also warns about QR-code phishing — only scan codes from trusted sources. Report incidents to the police on 110
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — China travel advice (print version) · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Traffic police 122. These are free nationwide numbers; expect the call to be answered in Chinese
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — China travel advice: Getting help · verified 2026-11-09 · official
The National Immigration Administration's 12367 hotline gives 24/7 advice on visas, stay and registration, with English and other language support. It is a service hotline, not an emergency dispatch number
Beijing Municipal Government (English) — NIA 12367 service platform · verified 2026-11-09 · official
Internet access in mainland China is restricted. The sourced facts above describe the current regime without offering legal advice or instructions.