Frequently asked questions

China is largely cashless, but foreign visitors are well catered for:

1. Best for daily spending: link a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club or Discover card to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Register with your home phone number and verify with your passport — no Chinese bank account needed. Then simply scan QR codes almost everywhere.
2. Fees: small everyday payments generally carry no fee; a service fee may apply to larger transactions. Splitting a larger bill into smaller ones can help keep it fee-free.
3. Limits: generous per-transaction and annual limits apply once your passport is verified — more than enough for normal travel spending.
4. For big amounts: hotels, department stores and larger shops often have physical card terminals — swiping your card there can avoid the app fee.

Carry a little local cash as a backup, and bring a second card in case one is declined. We will send you a setup guide before your trip.

Many familiar apps and websites are blocked on ordinary Chinese networks, so plan connectivity before you fly:

• Travel eSIM (easiest): install an eSIM from a provider such as Airalo or Holafly before departure. These data plans usually route traffic so that Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail work without any extra setup. Ideal for short trips.
• Local physical SIM: buy a China Unicom / Mobile / Telecom SIM at the airport (passport required). It gives you a +86 number and data, but to reach blocked apps you would still need a VPN.
• VPN: if you bring your own, install and test it before arriving. Public Wi-Fi alone will not reach blocked services.

Many travelers use both — a travel eSIM for data to Western apps, while keeping their home SIM active for bank verification codes.

China has greatly expanded visa-free entry, but rules vary by nationality and are updated often:

• Unilateral visa-free entry: passport holders of around 48 countries — including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and many others — can enter for tourism or business for up to 30 days without a visa (some nationalities on fixed expiry dates).
• 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit: nationals of 57 countries, including the US, Canada and the UK, may enter through 65 designated ports when transiting onward to a third country, for up to 10 days.
• 24-hour transit applies to most nationalities for very short layovers, and there is a special 30-day visa-free policy for Hainan for 61 countries.

These policies do not cover work, study or journalism. Please tell us your nationality and we will confirm the exact current rule for you — or check the official National Immigration Administration.

• Tipping: not part of everyday Chinese culture and never expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. For private tours, a small tip for an outstanding guide or driver is appreciated but entirely optional — there is no obligation.
• Greetings: a handshake or a nod is normal; a smile and "hello" (你好, nǐ hǎo) go a long way.
• Queuing & personal space: queues can feel busier than in the West; it is not rudeness, simply a different pace.
• Eating: dishes are commonly shared. It is fine to lift your rice bowl, and leaving a little food can signal you were well fed.
• Useful apps: Alipay/WeChat Pay for payment, DiDi for rides, and Maps.me or an eSIM-friendly map for navigation.

Your guide will gently walk you through local customs, so you can simply relax and enjoy.

No. On a Commeetbiz private trip your guide speaks English, and all arrangements are handled for you. Away from tourist areas English is less common, but translation apps, pointing and a friendly manner work well — and that is precisely why having a local partner is reassuring. Downloading a translator app with offline Chinese before you fly is a smart backup.