The five most-asked questions: cards work in cities, cash is dying, Google is blocked, Mandarin helps but isn’t required, and the food is safe — just bring an allergy card. The rest of this FAQ covers the next twenty questions you didn’t know to ask.
1 Can I use my card / cash?
Cards: international cards work at major hotels, malls and airports; elsewhere, mobile pay rules. Cash: still accepted but increasingly rare at small vendors. Set up Alipay/WeChat with a linked foreign card — that's the real key to paying anywhere.
2 Will my internet work?
Google, Gmail, Meta, X and some Western sites are blocked. Install a VPN before you arrive if you need them; local apps (WeChat, Alipay, Baidu, Amap) cover daily life. Hotel Wi-Fi sometimes allows blocked services — don't rely on it.
3 Is it safe?
China is very safe for travelers — low violent crime, walkable cities, helpful strangers. Main risks are petty theft in crowds, scams at tourist traps, and food/heat adjustment. Use the same street sense you would anywhere.
4 Do I need a visa?
Often not — many nationalities now have visa-free or 240-hour transit entry. Run the Visa Eligibility Checker for your passport before booking.
5 Quick tips
- Assume mobile pay, not cash or plastic, for daily spending.
- Get the VPN at home; you can't easily download one once in China.
- Check visa-free rules per your specific passport.
Most "is it hard?" worries (money, internet, safety) disappear once Alipay is set up and a VPN is installed.