Must-Know Basics
for China
Small everyday differences that make a first trip smoother, easier, and less stressful.
Quick answer
Essential basics
Practical details to know before you book hotels, trains, attractions, or daily transport.
One country, one official time zone
China uses one official time zone across the whole country: UTC+8.
One country, one official time zone
China uses one official time zone across the whole country: UTC+8.
- All train, flight, hotel, and attraction times use Beijing Time.
- Sunrise and sunset can feel different depending on where you travel.
- When booking tickets from abroad, double-check the local date and time after time-zone conversion.
Electricity is 220V in China
China uses 220V power. Bring the right adapter for your devices.
Electricity is 220V in China
China uses 220V power. Bring the right adapter for your devices.
- Most phone chargers and laptop chargers support 100–240V, but always check the label.
- You may still need a plug adapter depending on your device plug type.
- Hotels often have limited sockets, so a small travel adapter can be useful.
Your phone is essential
Your phone will help with payments, maps, translation, tickets, QR codes, and transport.
Your phone is essential
Your phone will help with payments, maps, translation, tickets, QR codes, and transport.
- Prepare mobile data, roaming, or eSIM before arrival.
- Install key apps before your trip, especially payment, map, translation, and ride-hailing apps.
- Keep your phone charged because QR codes and confirmations are often checked digitally.
Keep key details ready in Chinese
Chinese names and addresses make hotels, taxis, restaurants, and stations easier.
Keep key details ready in Chinese
Chinese names and addresses make hotels, taxis, restaurants, and stations easier.
- Save your hotel name and address in Chinese.
- Save major attraction names in Chinese.
- For taxis or DiDi, Chinese destination names reduce pickup and drop-off confusion.
Daily life basics
Small everyday habits that make travel smoother once you are in China.
Tap water is not for direct drinking
Do not assume tap water is drinkable. Use bottled, boiled, or filtered water.
Tap water is not for direct drinking
Do not assume tap water is drinkable. Use bottled, boiled, or filtered water.
- Tap water in China is generally not drunk directly without boiling or filtering.
- Hotels usually provide bottled water or an electric kettle in the room.
- For daily travel, buy bottled water from convenience stores or supermarkets.
- If you have a sensitive stomach, be cautious with ice, cold drinks, or drinks from very small local shops.
Carry tissues with you
Some public toilets may not provide toilet paper, tissues, or hand soap.
Carry tissues with you
Some public toilets may not provide toilet paper, tissues, or hand soap.
- Carry small tissue packs when you go out.
- Hand sanitizer or wet wipes are useful for long travel days.
- Shopping malls, hotels, and larger venues usually have better facilities.
Warm water is common
Restaurants, hotels, and trains may offer warm or hot water more often than cold water.
Warm water is common
Restaurants, hotels, and trains may offer warm or hot water more often than cold water.
- Warm water is often considered normal and polite to offer.
- Cold water may not always be served automatically.
- You can ask for cold drinks, bottled water, or ice, but availability varies by place.
Busy places can feel fast-paced
Major stations, metro systems, shopping streets, and attractions can feel crowded and efficient.
Busy places can feel fast-paced
Major stations, metro systems, shopping streets, and attractions can feel crowded and efficient.
- Prepare tickets, QR codes, and passports before reaching the checkpoint.
- During holidays, crowds can be much larger than usual.
- Give yourself extra time for security checks, queues, and station transfers.
Food and dining basics
Useful dining habits to know before eating in restaurants, food courts, or local shops.
Forks are available if you ask
Chopsticks are standard, but many restaurants can provide forks or spoons if requested.
Forks are available if you ask
Chopsticks are standard, but many restaurants can provide forks or spoons if requested.
- Large restaurants, hotels, and tourist-friendly places are more likely to have forks.
- Small local restaurants may only offer chopsticks and spoons.
- A simple translation app phrase can help when asking staff.
Sharing dishes is common
Many Chinese meals are served family-style, with several dishes shared by the table.
Sharing dishes is common
Many Chinese meals are served family-style, with several dishes shared by the table.
- People often order multiple dishes for the table rather than one dish per person.
- Rice, noodles, or soup may be ordered separately.
- If you have dietary restrictions, check ingredients before ordering because dish names may not fully explain what is inside.
Emergency and practical details
Important numbers and backup habits that help when something unexpected happens.
Save emergency numbers
Know the main emergency numbers before you travel around China.
Save emergency numbers
Know the main emergency numbers before you travel around China.
- 120 = ambulance / medical emergency.
- 110 = police.
- 119 = fire emergency.
- Save your hotel address and emergency contacts somewhere offline as well.
Passport details are often needed
Hotels, train tickets, flights, and some attractions may require passport information.
Passport details are often needed
Hotels, train tickets, flights, and some attractions may require passport information.
- Keep your passport available for hotel check-in.
- Use your passport name exactly when booking trains, flights, and attraction tickets.
- Save digital copies of key documents, but keep the original passport secure.
Mobile payment is very important
Cash is less useful than before, and mobile payment is widely used in daily life.
Mobile payment is very important
Cash is less useful than before, and mobile payment is widely used in daily life.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before relying on them during the trip.
- Small shops, restaurants, taxis, and attractions often prefer QR-code payment.
- Hotels and major malls may accept international cards, but daily payments are usually easier by mobile app.
Ask for help when unsure
Staff at hotels, airports, major stations, and large attractions can often help with practical issues.
Ask for help when unsure
Staff at hotels, airports, major stations, and large attractions can often help with practical issues.
- Use simple English plus translation apps when needed.
- Show screenshots, Chinese addresses, or booking confirmations.
- For route or ticket problems, official staff are safer than unofficial helpers nearby.