중국

Standard Mandarin is the official language in mainland China. Many regions also have strong local dialects. English is spoken in international hotels and by younger staff in major cities, but it is uncommon elsewhere, including in taxis and smaller restaurants. Menus and signage outside tourist areas are often Chinese-only.

Chinese is written in characters rather than an alphabet, so it cannot be sounded out the way Latin-script languages can. A translation app with offline support and a way to show Chinese characters, not just pinyin, makes independent travel much easier.

China blocks access to many foreign apps and websites, including Google (Search, Maps, Gmail), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and most Western news sites. A VPN is the standard workaround, but install and configure it before you arrive — VPN provider websites are themselves blocked once you're in the country.

A local SIM or eSIM requires passport registration, done in person at a phone shop or airport kiosk. An eSIM bought online before departure skips this step and activates on arrival. Alipay and WeChat both include maps, translation, and ride-hailing tools that work without needing any blocked foreign app.

Tap water is not safe to drink; stick to bottled or boiled water, which is standard practice even for locals. Pharmacies are widely available in cities, though staff rarely speak English — bring any prescription medication in its original packaging with a doctor's note, since some common Western medicines are restricted or unavailable.

No vaccinations are required for entry, but check current recommendations with a travel clinic before departure, especially for rural or longer-stay itineraries.

Most visitors need a visa to enter mainland China, arranged in advance through a Chinese embassy or consulate. Citizens of some countries can enter visa-free for short stays under recent unilateral exemptions, and many nationalities can also use short visa-free transit when connecting through major cities. Hong Kong and Macau have separate entry rules and are visa-free for most visitors regardless of mainland requirements.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Queuing is expected, though queues can be less orderly than in Western countries — hold your place in line rather than expecting first-come order to be respected automatically. Loud conversation and slurping noodles are normal at the table and not considered rude.

At temples and religious sites, dress modestly and keep your voice down; photography is sometimes restricted inside halls with active worship, so watch for posted signs. Giving and receiving money, gifts, or business cards with both hands is a small courtesy that's well noticed. Avoid discussing politically sensitive topics with people you've just met, as some subjects remain genuinely sensitive locally.

Two nationwide holidays disrupt travel more than any other: Chinese New Year and the October National Day holiday week. Trains, flights, and hotels get booked out and prices spike well in advance, and many small businesses close for a week or more around Chinese New Year. Book transport and accommodation early if your trip overlaps with either period.

Shops and restaurants generally keep long hours, often open daily into the evening, with fewer fixed rest days than in Europe.

• By train: China's high-speed rail network is extensive and fast, generally more convenient than flying between major cities. Book tickets through the official China Railway 12306 site or app; tickets for popular routes and holiday periods sell out days in advance.
• By air: Domestic flights make sense for longer distances not well served by rail, such as reaching Tibet or Yunnan from the east coast.
• By bus: Long-distance coaches reach smaller towns and rural areas that trains don't cover, though schedules and comfort vary.
• Ride-hailing: Didi is the dominant app; Uber does not operate in mainland China. Foreign visitors can register with an international phone number and a linked international card, though the app defaults to Chinese in some areas — allow time to set it up before relying on it.

Breakfast is often savory: rice porridge, soy milk, and fried dough sticks, or a bowl of noodles from a street stall. Lunch and dinner are typically shared, with several dishes ordered for the table rather than one plate per person. Regional cuisine varies sharply: Sichuan and Hunan food is often spicy, Cantonese cooking favors lighter steamed and stir-fried dishes, and northern China leans toward wheat noodles and dumplings over rice.

Street food and snacks are a major part of eating in China, from skewers and dumplings to regional specialties sold at night markets. Tea is the default drink at most meals, poured continuously rather than ordered once, while baijiu, a strong grain spirit, appears at celebratory dinners for toasts.

Most everyday eating happens at small local restaurants and street stalls rather than sit-down establishments, and canteens are common near offices and universities. Picture menus, or ordering by pointing at a neighboring table's dish, are practical workarounds where English isn't spoken.

China's provinces vary enormously, so choosing a region shapes the whole trip.

Major cities

Shanghai pairs colonial-era riverfront architecture with a skyline of skyscrapers. Chongqing and Tianjin are enormous municipalities in their own right, each with a distinct character. Beijing, the capital, holds the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the bulk of China's imperial history.

Historic heartland

Shaanxi is home to the Terracotta Army near Xi'an. Shanxi preserves entire walled towns like Pingyao, and Henan and Hubei sit along the central plains that shaped early Chinese history.

Natural landscapes

Yunnan and Guizhou offer karst mountains, rice terraces, and ethnic minority villages. Hunan is home to the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie. Sichuan is the easiest place to see giant pandas, and Tibet and Qinghai cover the high Tibetan Plateau. Gansu follows the old Silk Road through desert oases.

Coast and islands

Zhejiang and Jiangsu hold classical gardens and canal towns near Shanghai. Xiamen sits on a mild southeastern coast, Qingdao is known for its German colonial architecture and beer, and Hainan is a tropical island with beach resorts.

North and frontier

Inner Mongolia has open grasslands and Gobi Desert scenery, while Jilin borders both North Korea and Russia, and Liaoning borders North Korea along the coast in China's industrial northeast.