Free Interactive Tools · Updated August 2026
Free Pre-Trip Tools for China 2026
Two free tools to sort the money and the clock before you fly: estimate how much departure tax refund you can claim in China, and check the exact time difference between home and Beijing time (UTC+8) for any country. No signup, no catch — updated August 2026.
Tax Refund Calculator — know your ¥ before you shop
Foreign visitors can claim a refund on the 增值税 (VAT) for eligible goods bought in China, but only above a per-store, per-day threshold on your passport. Our calculator turns your total spend into a realistic refund estimate — and flags the purchases that fall just short so you can combine them at a tax-free store and actually clear the limit.
Remember: the refund is claimed at the airport before baggage drop, with the goods, your passport and the store's refund form in hand. The tool shows the 11% nominal rate and the real-world amount the refund agent will pay out.
Time Difference Checker — never miss a call home
China runs on a single time zone — Beijing Time, UTC+8 — with no daylight saving. That means the gap to your home can swing by an hour depending on the season back home. Pick your country and the tool shows the exact offset right now, plus a quick "when it's 9am in China, what time is it for you" readout so you can schedule calls, video chats and hotel check-ins without the mental math.
Both calculators are part of our free tools hub — explore the rest for visa, connectivity and trip-planning help.
Want the whole pre-trip playbook?
Visa rules, Alipay setup, airport SIM pickup, what's blocked and why, and every other tool in one place — it's all in China Travel Essentials 2026.
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