Coming to China
Daily life & getting around
Intercity trains: book with your passport on 12306
The official 12306 railway service (app and website, both in English) supports ticket purchases with a passport, no agent needed. Your passport normally serves as the real-name travel document, so a paper ticket is generally unnecessary. Try a passport-enabled gate; if it cannot read the document, use the staffed lane. Allow extra time at large stations, on your first journey and during holidays. Fares, train types and journey times vary by service — check second/first/business class, sleepers and current prices in 12306 by date and train.
| Class | Notes |
|---|---|
| G-train (HSR) | Fastest tier; some stations have passport e-gates, many still require the staffed lane |
| D-train | Slower; often scenic routes and overnight services |
| Z/K/T conventional trains | Soft and hard sleepers available; the most economical intercity option |
City transport: metro QR, DiDi, and shared bikes
Payment options vary by city and may include single-journey tickets, transit cards, transport QR codes or supported contactless bank cards. QR transport services usually need city-specific activation and should not be assumed to work nationwide. Follow station signs, ticket-machine instructions or the service desk. Shared bikes (Meituan, Hello, Qingju) are widespread via Alipay or WeChat mini-programs; real-name, payment and parking rules vary by platform and city — confirm the app has locked the bike before ending the ride. Use official taxi queues or app-recorded rides, check the plate before boarding, and follow the app's pickup-point guidance.
If your driver calls and you don't speak Chinese, type '请用DiDi聊天' in the chat window. DiDi's built-in chat auto-translates both sides — far faster than trying to speak over the phone.
Navigation: local maps and Chinese addresses
Local services such as Amap and Baidu Maps generally provide detailed transit, walking and entrance information. Apple Maps can be a backup on supported devices. Some international map services may be inaccessible on mainland networks or show incomplete or displaced local data (the GCJ-02 coordinate offset). Save the destination's Chinese name, full address and entrance screenshot.
Some international map services may be inaccessible on mainland networks; even when they load, local data can be incomplete, and the coordinate-system difference (GCJ-02 vs WGS-84) displaces positions by tens to hundreds of metres. Switch to a local map after arrival and save destinations by Chinese name with an entrance screenshot.
Chinese addresses run large to small: province → city → district → street → building → unit — the reverse of western convention. When directing a driver or entering a delivery address, paste the full Chinese-character address. Save your accommodation's Chinese-script address as a phone screenshot before heading out each morning.
Language: prepare Chinese materials in advance
English signage and support vary by city, venue and staff member. Save addresses, bookings and key requests in Chinese, download offline translation resources, and use screenshots or map pins to support communication.
- A translation app's photo mode — download the Simplified Chinese offline pack before entry; works offline for menus, signs and receipts
- A dictionary app for looking up individual characters on the spot
- Screenshot key phrases in Chinese characters (not pinyin)
- Many restaurants have picture menus or illustrated scan-to-order; ask staff for help when needed
- In-app chat translation in your ride-hailing app for driver communication
Food: scan-to-order, delivery, and the vegetarian trap
Scan-to-order menus and delivery platforms are common, but English availability, foreign-number registration, delivery range and timing vary by restaurant, address and platform. Ask for a paper menu or staff assistance when needed. Review platforms such as Dianping help find restaurants and read reviews.
"Vegetarian" does not automatically exclude animal stock, lard, oyster sauce or other animal-derived ingredients. State restrictions by ingredient. For halal food, look for a clearly identified restaurant that can confirm ingredients and preparation.
Travelers with severe allergies should carry a Chinese allergy card and prescribed emergency medicine. A written Chinese note is far more reliable than spoken explanation; still, translation tools and verbal assurances cannot guarantee that cross-contact will be avoided — confirm ingredients dish by dish.
Water and toilets
Do not assume that water from an unfamiliar tap is ready to drink. Use sealed bottled water, properly boiled water or water explicitly marked as potable. Public-toilet facilities vary, so carry tissues and hand sanitizer. Squat and seated toilets, toilet paper and accessible facilities vary by venue.