Before you book a flight to China
The "before you book" stage for foreign travelers — visa requirements by nationality, 240-hour visa-free transit, when to visit, and the practical setup questions that come up two months before the flight.
Do you need a visa?
China's policy varies sharply by passport — fully visa-free for many EU/SE-Asia nationalities, transit-only for the US, full L-visa for some others. Start with the checker.
China Visa Requirements Checker
Tool103 nationalities · refreshed monthly
Check your specific nationality — visa-free / transit-eligible / visa-required, with max stay days and entry conditions.
Open the tool240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Planner
Tool58 eligible nationalities · 60+ ports
Plan a 3–10 day stay without a visa. Eligibility check, entry/exit ports, and pre-built itineraries by region.
Open the toolChina visa for US citizens
GuideFull L-visa application path for US passport holders — required documents, the 33mm × 48mm photo specs, the ~$185 reciprocity fee, processing time, and the 10-year multi-entry visa restored in 2023. Includes when the 240-hour visa-free transit beats applying for a visa.
240-hour visa-free transit
GuideChina's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy explained — who qualifies, the 60+ approved entry ports, what 'third-country' means, the documents to show at the gate, and how it compares to full visa-free entry and the L-visa. Use the visa-checker tool for your specific nationality.
When to go
China spans 5 climate zones. The right month depends on the region — and avoiding the three Chinese holiday weeks when prices triple.
Best time to visit China
GuideThe decisive month-by-month answer for China travel timing — late Sep–Oct and late Mar–May for Beijing/Shanghai/Xi'an, year-round for Yunnan, Apr–Oct only for Tibet. Plus the 3 Chinese holiday weeks (Spring Festival, May 1, Oct 1) when prices triple and trains sell out, and how to choose by traveler type (first-timer, photographer, low-budget).
Already picked a month? See routes
Once timing is locked, the rail map decides which cities pair well — durations, prices, and daily train counts for 36 routes across China.
Open the rail map
Practical setup
Payments and connectivity are the two biggest "I should have figured this out before I left" friction points. Coverage in progress.
Alipay Tour Pass for Foreigners
Coming soonSet up Alipay with a foreign card so you can pay anywhere in China — including 12306 and street food.
Getting a Chinese SIM or eSIM
Coming sooneSIM options that work day one, plus the registration steps for a physical SIM at the airport.
Once you've decided to go
The next questions are where and how to get around.